Abstract:
A method and system for converting waste using plasma into ethylene. The method uses minimal fossil fuel, and therefore produces a minimal carbon footprint when compared to conventional processes. The method includes the steps of supplying a fuel material to a plasma melter; supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter; supplying steam to the plasma melter; extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; extracting hydrogen from the syngas; and forming ethylene from the hydrogen produced in the step of extracting hydrogen.
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:
Gasification, slagging, melting, and vaporizing components of waste materials and reactive carbon fuel, in variable proportions, at low pressures, using oxygen and steam reactants, effects very high temperatures, producing syngas (14) (hydrogen and carbon monoxide), molten slag (24) and molten metals (32). Integration provides steam and electricity from cogeneration plants (47). Treatment of coal or thermal separation of coal-methanol suspensoids, delivered by pipeline, provides the reactive carbon fuel. Syngas is cleaned and purified, then used to produce methanol (15), ammonia, or methanol and ammonia. Foamed light-weight nodules (aggregates) (22) and dense rock-like aggregates (27) are produced from molten slag. Recovery of molten metals effects optimum recycling. Some metals are produced by thermochemical reduction reactions. Byproducts of syngas cleaning are recovered and marketed. No remaining solids, no disposal problems.
Abstract:
Spent potliner (SPL) from aluminum reduction cells includes carbbon, inorganic brick and refractory material, and fluoride, sulfur, and cyanide compounds, and is considered hazardous. It is treated by introducing it into a vessel (14) and exposing it to the heat of a plasma torch (12) at a temperature of at least 1000 °C. As a result, carbon is gasified and converted to combustible carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons, or to carbon dioxide; inorganic material is melted to form slag; fluoride compounds are melted, vaporized, or reduced to gaseous HF; cyanide compounds are destroyed; and all other materials, including sulfur compounds, are either melted or gasified.
Abstract:
A combustion method in which a fuel gas having a velocity less than 50 feet/second is mixed with a stream of motive gas having a velocity of a least 200 feet/second to form a stream with a velocity greater than 50 feet/second, and the mixed stream is combusted with oxidant. In particular the fuel with low velocity is produced when heated flue gas heats a regenerator through which a mixture of fuel and flue gas is then passed to undergo endothermic reactions that produce syngas which is fed into a furnace together with a motive gas stream. The motive gas stream can be fed inside the firing port, in the duct for the fuel or from points in a wall outside of the furing port at a specific distance. All embodiments lead to better control of the shape of the flame.
Abstract:
Process for melting vitrifiable material in a flame-fired melting furnace (1), whereby, during a first-high-temperature heat recovery stage, at least one combustion reactant (31, 32) is preheated through indirect heat exchange with the hot flue gas from the furnace (1) and whereby, during a second low-temperature heat recovery stage, the tempered flue gas (21) obtained in the first stage are cleaned and used to heat a working fluid (13) of a Rankine cycle.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for de-stabilizing foam produced in submerged combustion melters. A molten mass of glass and bubbles is flowed into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus includes a floor, a roof and a wall connecting the floor and roof, but is devoid of submerged combustion burners and other components that would increase turbulence of the molten mass. The molten mass has foam on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. Certain methods include imposing a de-stabilizing force directly to the foam or to the molten mass and foam, where the de-stabilizing force may be a vibratory force, an acoustic wave force, a particulate-based force, or a non-particulate-based mechanical force. Systems for carrying out the methods are described.
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:
Methods and systems for de-stabilizing foam produced in submerged combustion melters. A molten mass of glass and bubbles is flowed into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus includes a floor, a roof and a wall connecting the floor and roof, but is devoid of submerged combustion burners and other components that would increase turbulence of the molten mass. The molten mass has foam on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. Certain methods include imposing a de-stabilizing force directly to the foam or to the molten mass and foam, where the de-stabilizing force may be a vibratory force, an acoustic wave force, a particulate-based force, or a non-particulate-based mechanical force. Systems for carrying out the methods are described.