Improvements to the gasifier furnace design and process method to facilitate continuous production of mainly H.sub.2, CO and granulated solid from molten liquid or the liquid slag in the presence of carbonaceous material. It is a method of quenching molten liquid and cooling post quenched hot granulated solid which is done within a long horizontal reaction chamber space of the furnace in the presence of C and H.sub.2O. A moving layer of continuously gas cooled granulated solid protects the moving floor underneath by substantially reducing the possibility of heat transfer from the horizontal reaction chamber to such moving floor and its parts and preventing direct contact between the post quenched hot solid granulates and such moving floor. Such moving floor having plurality of gas passages and is disposed above a plenum that receives gas from outside source and uniformly distributes the gas to pass through all the gas passages.

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing syngas, typically from municipal waste. In particular, a gasifier is used in combination with a plasma furnace. The system is configured so that non-airborne char generated in the gasifier is removed from the system prior to delivery to the plasma furnace. This enhances the energy efficiency of the system whilst still yielding excellent yields of syngas.

A process to efficiently convert organic feedstock material into liquid non-oxygenated hydrocarbons in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range is disclosed. The process can utilize gaseous, liquid or solid organic feedstocks containing carbon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen. The feedstock may require preparation of the organic feedstock for the process and is converted first into a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then cleaned and conditioned and extraneous components removed, leaving substantially only the carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It is then converted via a series of chemical reactions into the desired liquid hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are suitable for combustion in a vehicle engine and may be regarded a replacement for petrol made from fossil fuels in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.2 carbon backbone range. The process also recycles gaseous by-products back through the various reactors of the process to maximize the liquid hydrocarbon in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range yield.

A module for fueling a hydrogen cell is provided including a hydrogen production device, a hydrogen purification device and a hydrogen cell power generation system. The hydrogen production device comprises: a housing, a cavity being formed in the housing, and a first opening, a second opening and a third opening which all communicate with the cavity being formed in the housing; a plasma generating unit contained in the cavity and comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being close to the first opening, and the second electrode being close to the second opening; a voltage supply unit, a power supply end of the voltage supply unit being electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a potential difference exists between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate plasma; a feeding unit communicating with the first opening; and an exhaust unit.

A two-step gasification process and apparatus for the conversion of solid or liquid organic waste into clean fuel, suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner, is described. The waste is fed initially into a primary gasifier, which is a graphite arc furnace. Within the primary gasifier, the organic components of the waste are mixed with a predetermined amount of air, oxygen or steam, and converted into volatiles and soot. The volatiles consist mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and may include a variety of other hydrocarbons and some fly ash. The gas exiting the primary gasifier first passes through a hot cyclone, where some of the soot and most of the fly ash is collected and returned to the primary gasifier. The remaining soot along with the volatile organic compounds is further treated in a secondary gasifier where the soot and the volatile compounds mix with a high temperature plasma jet and a metered amount of air, oxygen or steam, and are converted into a synthesis gas consisting primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then quenched and cleaned to form a clean fuel gas suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner. This offers higher thermal efficiency than conventional technology and produces a cleaner fuel than other known alternatives.

A first voltage source produces a first voltage such as an AC voltage. Further, a first electrode of a hydrogen generation system conveys the first voltage. The first voltage conveyed over the first electrode generates low-temperature plasma extending between the first electrode and the mass of material. Presence of the low-temperature plasma releases gas from the mass of material.

Apparatus for converting Spent Pot Lining (SPL) into inert slag, aluminum fluoride and energy includes a plasma arc furnace such that the destruction of SPL occurs therein. The furnace generates an electric arc within the waste, which arc travels from an anode to a cathode and destroys the waste due to the arc's extreme temperature, thereby converting a mineral fraction of SPL into vitrified inert slag lying within a crucible of the furnace. The furnace gasifies the carbon content of the SPL and produces a well-balanced syngas. The gasification takes place due to the controlled intake of air and steam into the furnace. The gasification reaction liberates significant amount of energy. Steam captures this excess energy, to provide part of the oxygen requirement for gasification and to contribute to raise the syngas H2 content. Steam also contributes to converting some SPL fluorides (NaF and Al2F3) into hydrogen fluoride. The plasma SPL processing system is compact (occupying less area than some competitive methods of SPL treatment), can be installed in close proximity to the aluminium plant (minimizing transportation of SPL and AlF3), and requires only electricity as its energy source and thus no fossil fuels.

A method for preparing high-temperature, active particle-containing steam. The method includes: 1) preparing steam; selecting one or several non-oxidizing gases as a working gas; ionizing the working gas into a plasma working medium by using a plasma generator; and 2) injecting the plasma working medium into a high-temperature steam generator to form high-temperature ionized environment while introducing the steam into the high-temperature steam generator for allowing the steam to contact with the plasma working medium so that the steam is heated and activated to form active particle-containing steam. A device for preparing the high-temperature, active particle-containing steam is also provided.

A reactor for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a two stage process is disclosed in which a first reactor is coupled to a second stage reactor having a reaction volume greater than the first reactor. In the first reactor, the liquid hydrocarbon fuel is partially reformed and thereafter is inputted into the second stage reactor for complete partial oxidation. The reaction product is at last partially synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, as well as other low hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene, ethane, and acetylene. The low hydrocarbons can be reformed further in a solid oxide fuel cell. A portion of the gaseous, rotating contents of the second stage reactor may be input into the first reactor to help generate and sustain rotation within the first reactor.

An apparatus comprises: a gasifier vessel; an orifice in a wall of the gasifier vessel; a plasma torch; a torch support structure connected to the wall of the gasifier vessel and having an opening configured to receive the plasma torch, the torch support structure including a shroud gas spool configured to inject shroud gas into the opening and around the torch and an isolation valve configured to prevent gas flow between an internal environment of the gasifier and an external environment outside of the torch support structure when the plasma torch is retracted; and an actuator configured to extend the plasma torch into the gasifier vessel through the orifice and to retract the plasma torch from the gasifier vessel.