IP Library Granted Patent US 8,636,818
Granted Patent B2
US 8,636,818 · App. 12/865,868 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Fuel gas purification apparatus, power generation system, and fuel synthesis system

Inventors: Makoto Kawase (Kanagawa, JP); Kazuyoshi Ichikawa (Kanagawa, JP); Maromu Ohtaka (Kanagawa, JP); Hiroshi Morita (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,636,818
App. No.
12/865,868
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus which includes: a carbonizer ( 1 ) which pyrolyzes a biomass to yield a pyrolysis gas and a carbonization product; a furnace ( 2 ) in which the carbonization product supplied from the carbonizer ( 1 ) is burned; a closed vessel ( 3 ) which is disposed in the furnace ( 2 ) and holds therein a carbonate ( 4 ) which has been melted by the heat generated by the carbonization product burned in the furnace ( 2 ); an introduction pipe ( 5 ) disposed so that the pyrolysis gas is introduced into the molten carbonate ( 4 ) in the closed vessel ( 3 ); and a fuel gas supply pipe ( 6 ) disposed so that a fuel gas, which is the pyrolysis gas sent through the introduction pipe ( 5 ), passed through the molten carbonate ( 4 ), and purified by reaction with the molten carbonate ( 4 ), is sent from the closed vessel ( 3 ) to the outside of the furnace ( 2 ).

Claims (35)

1. A fuel gas purification apparatus, comprising:

a carbonizer which pyrolyzes biomass to produce a pyrolysis gas and a carbonization product;

a furnace which is supplied with the carbonization product produced by the carbonizer and which burns the carbonization product;

a closed vessel accommodating a molten carbonate which is a carbonate melted by heat of the carbonization product burned in the furnace;

an introduction pipe disposed to introduce the pyrolysis gas produced by the carbonizer into the molten carbonate in the closed vessel; and

a fuel gas supply pipe disposed to send a fuel gas, which is the pyrolysis gas sent through the introduction pipe, passed through the molten carbonate, and purified by reaction with the molten carbonate, from within the closed vessel to an outside of the furnace.

2. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the carbonizer is adapted to pyrolyze the biomass by waste heat of the furnace.

3. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the closed vessel is disposed within the furnace.

4. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

hydroxide supply means for supplying a hydroxide to the molten carbonate.

5. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the molten carbonate contains a catalyst.

6. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

bubble subdividing means for finely dividing bubbles of the pyrolysis gas having passed through the molten carbonate.

7. The fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the carbonizer contacts an outer surface of the furnace.

8. A power generation system, comprising:

the fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

power generation means for generating electric power with use of the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply pipe.

9. The power generation system according to claim 8 , wherein

the power generation means is equipped with a high temperature fuel cell having a fuel electrode which is fed with the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply pipe.

10. The power generation system according to claim 8 , wherein

the power generation means is equipped with a gas engine which is operated by the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply pipe, and a generator which is actuated by operation of the gas engine.

11. The power generation system according to claim 8 , wherein

the power generation means includes a turbine combustor which burns the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply pipe, and a gas turbine which obtains power upon expansion of the fuel gas from the turbine combustor to drive a generator.

12. The power generation system according to claim 8 , wherein

the carbonizer is adapted to pyrolyze the biomass by waste heat of the power generation means.

13. A fuel synthesis system, comprising:

the fuel gas purification apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a liquid fuel synthesizer which synthesizes a liquid fuel from the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply pipe; and

water supply means which supplies water into the carbonizer or the closed vessel so that a proportion of water in the fuel gas supplied to the outside of the furnace can be adjusted.

14. The fuel synthesis system according to claim 13 , wherein

the carbonizer is adapted to pyrolyze the biomass by waste heat of the liquid fuel synthesizer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2010
From: KAWASE, MAKOTO; ICHIKAWA, KAZUYOSHI; OHTAKA, MAROMU; MORITA, HIROSHI
To: CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
Reel/Frame 024777/0972 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-025597 · Feb 5, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100326087A1 · Dec 30, 2010