INTEGRATED GASIFIER POWER PLANT
Described herein are gradual oxidation systems that receive and process solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. The system can include a solid fuel gasifier that extracts and cleans gas fuel from a solid fuel. The system can also include a reaction chamber that receives the gas fuel and maintains a gradual oxidation process of the fuel. In some embodiments, liquids containing contaminants can be oxidized within the gradual oxidation chamber. Liquid fuels and gas fuels may be communicated to the oxidation chamber separately or in combination.
1 . A solid fuel gasifier gradual oxidation system comprising:
a solid fuel gasifier that extracts gas fuel from a solid fuel;
a scrubber that cleans the gas fuel;
a flameless combustion chamber that is configured to receive the cleansed gas fuel via a first inlet and to maintain a gradual oxidation process of the gas fuel, the flameless combustion chamber comprising a second inlet; and
an introducer, coupled to the second inlet, configured to receive contaminants from the scrubber and to introduce the contaminants into the flameless combustion chamber;
wherein the flameless combustion chamber is configured to maintain an internal temperature sufficient to oxidize the contaminants.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flameless combustion chamber is configured to maintain the gradual oxidation process without a catalyst.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas fuel is cleansed by the scrubber with water.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the contaminants received from the scrubber are within the water.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the introducer comprises a compressor to pressurize the water prior to introducing the water into the flameless combustion chamber.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flameless combustion chamber is configured to maintain the internal temperature sufficient to oxidize the gas fuel in between about 0.1 seconds and about 1 second.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a turbine, in fluid communication with the flameless combustion chamber, the turbine configured to receive heated and compressed gas from the flameless combustion chamber and to expand the gas.
8 . A method of oxidizing solid fuel comprising:
extracting gas fuel from a solid fuel with a solid fuel gasifier;
scrubbing the gas fuel with a scrubber to remove contaminants from the gas fuel;
gradually oxidizing the gas fuel with a flameless combustion chamber that is configured to receive the cleansed gas fuel via a first inlet and to maintain a gradual oxidation process of the gas fuel;
introducing the contaminants from the scrubber into the flameless combustion chamber; and
maintaining an internal temperature within the flameless combustion chamber sufficient to oxidize the contaminants. (using water could go into a dependent claim)
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising maintaining the gradual oxidation process within the flameless combustion chamber without a catalyst.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising compressing the gas fuel prior to gradually oxidizing the gas fuel with the flameless combustion chamber.
11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising compressing the water prior to introducing the water into the flameless combustion chamber.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising maintaining the internal temperature of the flameless combustion chamber sufficient to oxidize the gas fuel in between about 0.1 seconds and about 1 second.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising expanding compressed and heated gas from the flameless combustion chamber with a turbine, in fluid communication with the flameless combustion chamber.
14 . A solid fuel gasifier gradual oxidation system comprising:
a solid fuel gasifier that extracts and cleans gas fuel from a solid fuel;
a flameless combustion chamber that is configured to receive the cleansed gas fuel via an inlet and to maintain a gradual oxidation process of the gas fuel; and
an introducer configured to receive contaminants from the gasifier and to introduce the contaminants into the flameless combustion chamber;
wherein the flameless combustion chamber is configured to maintain an internal temperature sufficient to oxidize the contaminants.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the flameless combustion chamber maintains the internal temperature without a catalyst.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the gasifier comprises a scrubber that cleans the gas fuel.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the gas fuel is cleansed by the scrubber with water.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the contaminants received by the introducer are within the water.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the introducer comprises a compressor to pressurize the water prior to introducing the water into the flameless combustion chamber.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the flameless combustion chamber is configured to maintain the internal temperature sufficient to oxidize the gas fuel in between about 0.1 seconds and about 1 second.
21 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a turbine, in fluid communication with the flameless combustion chamber, the turbine configured to receive heated and compressed gas from the flameless combustion chamber and to expand the gas.