Abstract:
A method to control a process, wherein the status of the process can be altered by a multitude of actions, wherein the action is controlled by basic control units, wherein at least one basic control unit is coordinated by at least one group control unit and wherein this basic control unit has the following functions: (b1) means to receive and priority handle a request for a basic control action from one or more group control units or from the operator to be performed by said basic control unit, (b2) means to receive and transform information from the process and/or output from basic control unit(s) and/or output from group control unit(s) into a permit required to start or to continue to execute said action, (b3) means to receive lockouts from basic control unit(s) and/or from group control unit(s) and/or from the operator and/or from the basic control unit itself to prevent the start or to initiate the termination of said action and force the default status or shut-down sequence of the basic control unit until the received lockout(s) has (have) been removed and also a reset has been activated, (b4) means to process an internal lockout and/or export an output or lockout, which output/lockout is related to the status of said action and (b5) means to execute said required action according to a logic or sequence according to which the basic control unit operates, and wherein at least one of these group control unit comprises the following functions: (g1) means to receive and priority handle a request for a group control action from an even higher hierarchy control unit or from the operator to be performed by said group control unit, (g2) means to receive and transform information from the process and/or from basic control unit(s) and/or from group control unit(s) into a permit required to start or to continue to execute said group action, (g3) means to receive lockouts from basic control unit(s) and/or from group control unit(s) and/or from the operator and/or from the group control unit itself to prevent the start or to initiate the termination of said action and force the default status or shut-down sequence of the group control unit until the received lockout(s) has (have) been removed and also a reset has been activated, (g4) means to process an internal lockout and/or export an output or lockout which output/lockout is related to the status of said group action and (g5) means to execute said required group action according to a logic or sequence according to which the group control unit operates.
Abstract:
A process for thermochemical conversion of heavy oil and petroleum coke to fluid fuels includes the steps of: providing a fossil fuel selected from the group consisting of heavy oil, petroleum coke and mixtures thereof; and exposing the fossil fuel to an external source of concentrated radiation so as to increase the temperature of the fossil fuel, supply high-temperature heat required for the desired endothermic conversion process, and convert the fossil fuel to a product selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, gaseous hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for producing hydrogen and a hydrogen production plant are provided. In the method, hydrogen production requiring high temperature is performed at low cost using energy of relatively low-temperature exhaust heat discharged form various types of heat processes, and the apparatus can readily start and suspend operation and whose running cost and equipment cost are reduced. These are achieved by a method for producing hydrogen and a hydrogen production apparatus and plant for realizing the method. The method includes the step of heating a fluid to turn into a high-pressure gas having a pressure at least five times as high as the internal pressure of the hydrogen production apparatus before reaction by heat exchange with a heat source; the step of instantaneously releasing the high-pressure gas into the hydrogen production apparatus to generate a shock wave; the step of feeding a raw material into the hydrogen production apparatus before the generation of the shock wave; and the step of impact-compressing the raw material by the shock wave to heat the raw material, thereby producing hydrogen.
Abstract:
An apparatus as a suitable embodiment, wherein a reactor (102) has a nozzle (means for supplying a raw material, an oxidizing agent and water) (103), a high temperature and high pressure gas formed by reacting the raw material with oxygen or the like in an oxidizing agent under a water-containing atmosphere is introduced to a heat exchanger (104) which is provided between a pressure vessel (101) and the reactor (102), the pressure vessel (101) has a water inlet (114) connected with a water supply line (106) and an opening (117) for a discharge line (105) for a formed gas which is connected with the heat exchanger (104), and the nozzle (103) has a flow route for supplying water present between the pressure vessel (101) and the reactor (102) to the inside of the reactor(102); and a method for pyrolysis and gasification using the apparatus. The apparatus can be used for carrying out the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon material with good efficiency, without the use of a catalyst and the supply of hydrogen from outside, and for improving the yield of an oil fraction and a pyrolysis gas, through gasifying the residue generated as a result of pyrolysis into a combustion gas to thereby use the whole of the material. Further, the method allows the separation of metal impurities in a raw material as s solid, which leads to the reuse of such metal impurities as a resource.
Abstract:
A method of producing syn gas from biomass or other carbonaceous material utilizes a controlled devolatilization reaction in which the temperature of the feed material is maintained at less than 450null F. until most available oxygen is consumed. This minimizes pyrolysis of the feed material. The method and apparatus utilizes the formed synthesis gas to provide the energy for the necessary gasification. This provides for a high purity syn gas and avoids production of slag.
Abstract:
The system for controlling oxygen flow in a gasification process of the instant invention comprises a suction control valve located between the oxygen source and the oxygen compressor. The suction control valve is adapted in order to open to deliver oxygen from the source to the compressor through the first pipe and to move to a reduced flow position to prevent excess delivery of oxygen from the source to the compressor. The system also comprises a second pipe which operably connects the oxygen compressor to a port of a gasifier. The system comprises a normally closed vent valve located between the oxygen compressor and the port of a gasifier. The system comprises a means located in the gasifier or in the gasifier effluent for detecting when it is necessary to change the oxygen flow to the gasifier and to actuate the suction control valve sufficient to change the oxygen flow. Finally, the system comprises a means for a means of controlling the suction control valve and the vent valve to regulate the quantity of oxygen delivered to the gasifier.
Abstract:
A process for minimizing evaporator scaling during the recovery of liquids and solids from the aqueous effluent discharged during a partial oxidation gasification, wherein the aqueous effluent contains ammonium chloride (NH.sub.4 Cl). The aqueous effluent is evaporated to produce a distillate water and a brine having an NH.sub.4 Cl concentration of about 10 to 60 weight percent. The brine can be further concentrated and ammonium chloride crystals are recovered. The distillate water is recycled to the gasification reaction. No effluent discharges to the environment.
Abstract:
The invention is a method for reducing the hydrogen cyanide and ammonia content of a synthesis gas stream exiting a gasifier including mixing an iron-containing compound with a nitrogen-containing coal feed; gasifying the coal feed in the resulting mixture in an entrained flow gasifier have opposed burners under gasifying conditions thereby producing a gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and recovering the gas stream having substantially reduced amounts of hydrogen cyanide.
Abstract:
A process for upgrading plastic material containing inorganic filler or reinforcement material for use as feedstock in partial oxidation gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. The plastic material is granulated and mixed with water to produce the plastic sludge. The plastic sludge is preheated at a temperature in the range of about 350.degree. F. to 475.degree. F. in the absence of air in a closed system. The preheated plastic sludge is then hydrothermally treated at a temperature in the range of about 450.degree. F. to 650.degree. F. at a pressure in the range of about 100 to 1200 psig and above the vapor pressure of water at that temperature. The hydrothermally treated plastic sludge is cooled, degassed, and mixed with ground solid carbonaceous fuel, e.g., coal and water, to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 40 to 60 wt. %. The pumpable aqueous slurry is then reacted by partial oxidation to produce said synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. In one embodiment, a portion of coal is mixed with the plastic sludge prior to the aforesaid preheating and hydrothermal steps.
Abstract:
An improved one stage, upflow process for coal gasification whereby a dry particulate carbonaceous material and an oxygen-containing gas are combusted in a vertical gasifier thereby converting the carbonaceous material (coal) into a hot gas. The hot, entrained flyslag gas is then contacted with a cooled, recycled gas in a quench zone, thus cooling the gaseous product stream and causing the molten slag particles to convert to nonsticky flyslag particles. The high level thermal energy from the flyslag-laden gaseous product stream is recovered in a fire tube heat exchanger and the flyslag particles from the gaseous product stream are separated by conventional means and recycled back to the gasifier. The product raw gas is further treated for use in a gas turbine to produce electricity.