Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods
Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.
1. A method for converting energy, comprising the steps of:
providing an energy-conversion system, the energy-conversion system comprising:
a controller;
a reactor operated by the controller;
a shaftless auger in the reactor, the shaftless auger adapted to rotate in contact with inner walls of the reactor; and
a heater surrounding the reactor and the shaftless auger;
supplying feedstock material to the energy-conversion system;
processing the feedstock material;
supplying the processed feedstock material to the inlet of the reactor;
advancing the processed feedstock through the reactor while the reactor facilitates a phase- change process of at least a portion of the feedstock from solid to liquid to vapor;
maintaining through the heater accurate and consistent temperature within reactor;
maintaining a positive pressure in the energy-conversion system; and
discharging from reactor outlets char and vapor obtained from the reacted feedstock.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing particulates from the discharged vapor;
quenching the discharged vapor to remove impurities from the discharged vapor;
after the quenching, transitioning through a pressure transition component from the positive pressure to a negative pressure in the energy-conversion system; and
supplying the quenched vapor to a vacuum buffer tank.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
advancing the supplied vapor to a regulator;
removing liquid from the advanced vapor; and
cooling the advanced vapor.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of advancing the discharged vapor to a quench station.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising performing a filter-less quenching gas clean-up operation on the advanced vapor; and forming and discharging syngas.
6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of advancing the vapor to an atmospheric fractioning unit.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of advancing the vapor to an automated plunging system.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a length of the reactor is based on a determined residence time.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the feedstock material comprises at least one of metering and/or drying the feed stock material.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the feedstock comprises application of one or more metered sorbents and/or reagents.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein a minimum temperature of the supplied vapor is maintained prior to the quenching.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the quenching comprises passing the supplied vapor through first quenching stage, optionally a multi-tube plunging condenser, and a second quenching stage.
13. The method of claim 2 , further comprising after the quenching cooling and/or condensing at least a portion of the supplied vapor.