Pulse gasification and hot gas cleanup apparatus and process
View Patent ↗A gasifier system and process comprises a pulse combustion device in communication with a fluid channel for producing a gas stream having heat or fuel value. The pulse combustion device is operated under sub-stoichiometric conditions such that combustion and steam reforming both occur in the fluid channel. The pulse combustion device also produces a pulsating combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave. The acoustic pressure wave serves to cause agglomeration of particles contained within the combustion stream for easy removal. In one embodiment, a sulfur capturing agent is injected into the fluid channel for not only removing sulfur from the combustion product stream but for also facilitating particle agglomeration. Ultimately, a gas stream containing hydrogen is produced that may be used in various processes, such as in the production of electricity.
1. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising:
a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section;
a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section;
a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream;
a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and
wherein the fluid channel in conjunction with the pulse combustion device are configured such that the first stage section of the fluid channel operates at a first exit temperature and the second stage section operates at a second exit temperature, the first exit temperature being greater than the second exit temperature, the second exit temperature being less than about 1900° F.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel.
3. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sulfur capturing agent injection port is positioned at or near the U-shaped section.
4. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sulfur capturing agent injection port is positioned along a middle area of the second stage section.
5. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle for injecting water into the second stage section of the fluid channel.
6. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a steam port and an oxygen port for injecting steam and oxygen into the pulse combustion device.
7. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a slag removal port positioned along the U-shaped section of the fluid channel.
8. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pulse combustion device is configured to create an acoustic pressure wave having a frequency of from about 20 to about 250 Hz.
9. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the particulate removal device comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone, the first cyclone comprising a low velocity cyclone for removing agglomerates, the second cyclone comprising a high efficiency cyclone for removing fines.
10. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a topping burner positioned to receive the combustion stream exiting the particulate removal device, the topping burner comprising a combustor for combusting the combustion stream.
11. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a sulfater that receives particulates collected by the particulate removal device, the sulfater comprising a heated fluidized bed in communication with a gas port configured to inject a fluidizing gas into the fluidized bed, the fluidizing gas comprising oxygen, the sulfater being configured to sulfate any sulfur captured by the sulfur capturing agent.
12. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises a topping burner that is positioned to receive the combustion stream from the particulate removal device, the topping burner comprising a combustor configured to combust the combustion stream, and wherein the sulfater preheats an air stream that is fed to the combustor of the topping burner.
13. A system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an electricity generating device configured to receive the combustion stream exiting the particulate removal device for generating electricity.
14. A system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the electricity generating device comprises a gas turbine or a steam turbine.
15. A system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the electricity generating device comprises a fuel cell.
16. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising:
a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section;
a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to convey the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section;
a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream;
a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream;
a topping burner in communication with the particulate removal device for receiving the combustion stream, the topping burner comprising a combustor that is configured to combust the combustion stream; and
a sulfater for receiving particulates collected by the particulate removal device, the sulfater comprising a heated fluidized bed in communication with a fluidizing gas port that injects a fluidizing gas containing oxygen into the fluidized bed, the sulfater being configured to sulfate any sulfur captured by the sulfur capturing agent.
17. A system as defined in claim 16 , further comprising an electricity generating device for receiving the heated combustion stream from the topping burner and producing electricity.
18. A system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the electricity generating device comprises a gas turbine or a steam turbine.
19. A system as defined in claim 16 , further comprising a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel.
20. A system as defined in claim 16 , further comprising a nozzle for injecting water into the second stage section of the fluid channel.
21. A system as defined in claim 16 , further comprising a steam port and an oxygen port for injecting steam and oxygen into the pulse combustion device.
22. A system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the pulse combustion device is configured to create an acoustic pressure wave having a frequency of from about 20 to about 250 Hz.
23. A system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the particulate removal device comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone, the first cyclone comprising a low velocity cyclone for removing agglomerates, the second cyclone comprising a high efficiency cyclone for removing fines.
24. A system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the fluid channel in conjunction with the pulse combustion device are configured such that the first stage section of the fluid channel operates at a first exit temperature and the second stage section operates at a second exit temperature, the first exit temperature being greater than the second exit temperature, the second exit temperature being less than about 1700° F.
25. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising:
a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section;
a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section;
a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream;
a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and
a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel.
26. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising:
a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section;
a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section;
a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream;
a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and
a slag removal port positioned along the U-shaped section of the fluid channel.