Process for biomass conversion to synthesis gas
View Patent ↗Biomass is processed through a biomass fractioning system that creates, through the application of selective temperature ramps and pressure shocks, a series of useful volatile components and BMF char, wherein the BMF char is reacted sacrificially with any one stream of methane, carbon dioxide, steam or oxygen to create highly pure synthesis gas with a controllable range of compositions. The resulting synthesis gas may be used in any desired manner, including conversion to oxygenates such as methanol and dimethyl ether, and to hydrocarbons.
1. A method for producing synthesis gas from biomass, comprising:
dispensing biomass particles into sheets;
subjecting the sheets of biomass to a treatment including sequential ramps of temperature followed by pressure shocks, or pressure shocks concurrent with ramps of temperature; and
recovering a residual non-volatile biomass component from the treatment and reacting the component with at least one of methane, oxygen, steam, and carbon dioxide, at high temperatures.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass particles have a diameter in the range of 0.001 inch to 1 inch, and wherein the sheets have a thickness that is a multiple of the biomass particle diameter.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the sheets is between 1 and 30 times the biomass particle diameter.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ramps of temperature vary from about 0.001° C./sec to about 1000° C./sec.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ramps of temperature are varied over a period of time ranging from about 1 microsecond to about 1 week.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure shocks are incremented over a range of pressures.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure shocks are applied over a range of times varying from about 1 microsecond to about 1 week.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure shocks vary in magnitude from about 0.2 MPa to about 10 GPa.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein an admixture of pressure shocks of differing magnitudes are applied over a range of times.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass is subjected to a controlled gas atmosphere or supercritical fluid while being subjected to a temperature ramp.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass is subjected to a controlled gas atmosphere or supercritical fluid while being subjected to pressure shocks.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one collected gas component is from the group consisting of: lipids, furans, hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon fragments, and synthesis gas.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature ramps include a sufficiently high temperature to create a non-volatile carbonaceous material from the biomass.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the temperature is above 300° C.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure shocks increase thermal conductivity of formed non-volatile carbonaceous material within the biomass.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile biomass component reacts sacrificially with methane.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the methane is derived from a wet gas source.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reactant comprises oxygen and the oxygen is pure oxygen, part of a mixture of oxygen and an inert agent, or is derived from the decomposition of an oxygen-containing species, selected from the group consisting of: H 2 O, H 2 O 2 , and N 2 O.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile component is activated prior to executing synthesis gas generation reactions.
20. A method for adjusting the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in synthesis gas, comprising:
dispensing biomass particles into sheets having a thickness that is a multiple of the biomass particle diameter;
subjecting the sheets of biomass particles to a treatment including sequential ramps of temperature followed by pressure shocks, or pressure shocks and concurrent with ramps of temperature;
selectively collecting at least one of various groups of volatile compounds as they are released from the biomass;
collecting a remaining non-volatile component of the sheets;
reacting the non-volatile component with one of oxygen, methane, steam, and carbon dioxide; and
adjusting a ratio of reacted oxygen, methane, steam, or carbon dioxide to the non-volatile component to produce synthesis gas having a hydrogen/carbon ratio in a range of 0 to 100.