Abstract:
A facility comprising integrated systems for the extraction, and optionally upgrading and/or refinement, of unconventional oil sources, using fossil fuels as a primary source of energy. In particular, this facility provides a means to gasify one or more fossil fuels in an efficient manner, converting it into intermediate products such as heat, steam and electricity, which are then used by the system to obtain useful fuel products from unconventional oil sources such as tar sands and oil shale. The design of the components of this facility is optimized such that the overall costs are competitive with an equivalent unconventional oil source processing facility that uses natural gas as a source of processing energy. The facility can be used on its own, may use supplemental natural gas energy sources, or may be used in conjunction with an existing facility that uses natural gas as an energy source in order to improve the overall cost effectiveness of the processing and/or reduce the requirement for other energy sources, such as natural gas.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result. Various sensing elements and response elements are therefore distributed throughout the controlled system and used to acquire various process, reactant and/or product characteristics, compare these characteristics to suitable ranges of such characteristics conducive to achieving the desired result, and respond by implementing changes to in one or more of the ongoing processes via one or more controllable process devices.
Abstract:
A low-temperature gasification system comprising a horizontally oriented gasifier is provided that optimizes the extraction of gaseous molecules from carbonaceous feedstock while minimizing waste heat. The system comprises a plurality of integrated subsystems that work together to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity. The subsystems comprised by the low-temperature gasification system are: a Municipal Solid Waste Handling System; a Plastics Handling System; a Horizontally Oriented Gasifier with Lateral Transfer Units System; a Gas Reformulating System; a Heat Recycling System; a Gas Conditioning System; a Residue Conditioning System; a Gas Homogenization System and a Control System.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a gas conditioning system for processing an input gas from a low temperature gasification system to an output gas of desired characteristics. The system comprises a two-stage process, the first stage separating heavy metals and particulate matter in a dry phase, and the second stage including further processing steps of removing acid gases, and/or other contaminants. Optional processes include adjusting the humidity and temperature of the input gas as it passes through the gas conditioning system. The presence and sequence of processing steps is determined by the composition of the input gas, the desired composition of output gas for downstream applications, and by efficiency and waste minimization.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a gas conditioning system for processing an input gas from a low temperature gasification system to an output gas of desired characteristics. The system comprises a two-stage process, the first stage separating heavy metals and particulate matter in a dry phase, and the second stage including further processing steps of removing acid gases, and/or other contaminants. Optional processes include adjusting the humidity and temperature of the input gas as it passes through the gas conditioning system. The presence and sequence of processing steps is determined by the composition of the input gas, the desired composition of output gas for downstream applications, and by efficiency and waste minimization.
Abstract:
A modular lateral transfer system for use in a horizontally oriented processing chamber is provided. Each module has the ability to deliver process gas in addition to moving the reactant material through the horizontally oriented processing chamber. The modular design enables the operator to remove and replace a module of the system, thereby substantially minimizing the downtime of the chamber required during servicing.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for converting the residue of a carbonaceous feedstock gasification or incineration process into an inert slag and a gas having a heating value. The residue is converted by plasma heating in a refractory-lined residue conditioning chamber. The gas produced is optionally passed through a gas conditioning system for cooling and cleaning to provide a product gas that is suitable for use in downstream applications. The system also comprises a control subsystem for optimizing the conversion reaction
Abstract:
This invention provides a system and method for efficient reformulation of an initial gas with associated characteristics into an output gas with desired characteristic parameters, within a substantially sealed, contained, and controlled environment. The gas reformulating system uses a gas energizing field to disassociate the initial gas molecules and molecules of injected process additives of appropriate types and amounts, into their constituents that then recombine to form the output gas with the desired parameters. The gas reformulating system further comprises a control system that regulates the process and thereby enables the process to be optimized. The gas energizing field may be provided at least partly by hydrogen burners or plasma torches.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result. Various sensing elements and response elements are therefore distributed throughout the controlled system and used to acquire various process, reactant and/or product characteristics, compare these characteristics to suitable ranges of such characteristics conducive to achieving the desired result, and respond by implementing changes to in one or more of the ongoing processes via one or more controllable process devices.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is described for reformulating of an input gas from a gasification reaction into a reformulated gas. More specifically, a gas reformulating system having a gas reformulating chamber, one or more plasma torches, one or more oxygen source(s) inputs and control system is provided thereby allowing for the conversion of an input gas from a gasification reaction into a gas of desired composition.