Methods and systems of reducing viscosity of gasification system slag
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for gasifier fines recycling system are provided. The system includes a gasifier slag removal system configured to separate first fines from a particulate slag removed from a gasifier by at least one of settling and filtering, a second fines handling system configured to receive second fines from a source other than the gasifier, and an injection system configured to mix the first fines and the second fines and a fuel for injection into the gasifier.
1. A gasification system comprising:
a pressure vessel comprising a combustion zone;
a lockhopper coupled in flow communication with said pressure vessel for removing particulates discharged from said pressure vessel;
a water-filled trough coupled in flow communication with said lockhopper and configured to separate first fines from slag, said water-filled trough comprising:
at least one conveyor; and
a conveying pump configured to separate first fines from slag such that said at least one conveyor removes slag from said water-filled trough, and said conveying pump forces first fines suspended in said water-filled trough out of said water-filled trough;
a recycle tank coupled in flow communication with said water-filled trough and configured to:
receive the first fines channeled from said water-filled trough and second fines recovered from a location other than the pressure vessel; and
mix the first fines with the second fines to form a fines combination; and
a fuel injection system configured to inject a mixture of a fuel and the fines combination into the combustion zone, such that when the mixture is combusted, the fines combination facilitates reducing a viscosity of a sludge generated when the fuel is combusted without the fines.
2. A gasification system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fuel comprises at least one of Nickel and Vanadium in a concentration such that the ash generated from combustion of the fuel comprises a fusion temperature greater than the operating temperature of the combustion zone.
3. A gasification system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second fines comprise flyash.
4. A gasification system in accordance with claim 1 wherein combustion of said fuel in the combustion zone generates a sludge having a first viscosity and wherein combustion of said mixture in the combustion zone generates a slag having a second viscosity, the second viscosity being less than the first viscosity.
5. A gasification system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recycle tank is further configured to receive a first slurry comprising the first fines and to receive a second slurry comprising the second fines.
6. A gasification system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recycle tank is further configured to receive the first fines and to receive the second fines in relative proportion to generate a mixture having a predetermined viscosity slag when the mixture is combusted in the combustion zone.