GAS GENERATING PLANT AND GAS GENERATION PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN-CONTAINING SYNTHESIS GAS

Abstract

A gas generation plant for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas includes a gas generation reactor which is oriented in the vertical direction being greater in length vertically than width. A gas inlet is designed for the passage of superheated water vapor into the gas generation reactor. Through an upper outlet, a gas/water vapor mixture can exit the gas generation reactor and be reused in the second heating element after having been superheated. Synthesis gas can exit through a lower gas outlet. In the vertical direction, the gas inlet is arranged at a smaller distance from the lower end than the lower gas outlet. The upper gas outlet is arranged at a smaller vertical distance from the upper end than the lower gas outlet. The vertical distance between the upper gas outlet and the lower gas outlet is greater than the vertical distance between the lower gas outlet and the gas inlet.

Claims

1. A gas generation plant for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas with a gas generation reactor having a greater height than width, where the gas generation reactor comprises: a gas inlet for receiving superheated water vapor; an upper gas outlet for discharging a gas/water vapor mixture; a lower gas outlet for discharging synthesis gas; wherein, along a longitudinal axis of the gas generation reactor, an inlet lock for receiving raw material in solid form is provided at an upper end of the gas generation reactor with the gas generation reactor being gas-sealed; and an outlet lock for discharging residual material in solid form is present at a lower end of the gas generation reactor opposite the upper end with the gas generation reactor being gas-sealed; wherein the gas inlet is arranged closer to the lower end than the lower gas outlet and wherein the upper gas outlet is arranged closer to the upper end than the lower gas outlet and the distance between the upper gas outlet and the lower gas outlet is greater than the distance between the lower gas outlet and the gas inlet.

2. The gas generation plant according to claim 1, wherein a synthesis gas collector for receiving the synthesis gas is arranged in the gas generation reactor, which is fluidically connected to the lower gas outlet.

3. The gas generation plant according to claim 2, wherein the synthesis gas collector is tubular and/or is arranged on the inner wall of the gas generation reactor in a completely circumferential and/or annular manner.

4. The gas generation plant according to claim 1, wherein a steam gas collector for discharging the gas/water vapor mixture into the gas generation reactor is arranged in the gas generation reactor, which is fluidically connected to the gas inlet.

5. The gas generation plant according to claim 4, wherein the steam gas collector is tubular and/or is arranged on the inner wall of the gas generation reactor in a completely circumferential and/or annular manner.

6. The gas generation plant according to claim 5, wherein the steam gas collector comprises nozzles with a plurality of openings.

7. The gas generation plant according to claim 1, including a first heating element, wherein the first heating element is arranged at the lower end of the gas generation reactor.

8. The gas generation plant according to claim 7, including a gas distributor for receiving the synthesis gas from the gas generation reactor, wherein the gas distributor is designed to deliver at least part of the synthesis gas to the first heating element and the first heating element is designed to burn the synthesis gas from the gas distributor.

9. The gas generation plant according to claim 8, wherein the gas distributor is designed to deliver water into the synthesis gas taken from the gas generation reactor.

10. The gas generation plant according to claim 9, including a second heating element for receiving and heating the gas/water vapor mixture from the gas generation reactor, wherein the second heating element comprises a fluidic connection to the gas inlet for the delivery of the gas/water vapor mixture and/or a fluidic connection to the upper gas outlet via a gas suction pump.

11. The gas generation system according to claim 10, wherein the second heating element is designed to generate microwaves.

12. The gas generation plant according to claim 11, wherein the gas distributor is designed to deliver synthesis gas from the gas generation reactor to a generator for generating electricity, wherein the second heating element is designed to heat the gas/water vapor mixture by using the electricity.

13. A gas generation method for generating the synthesis gas with the gas generation plant according to claim 7, comprising the following steps: a. introducing raw material containing hydrocarbons into the gas generation reactor through an inlet lock at the upper end of the gas generation reactor; b. heating the gas generation reactor by the first heating element at the lower end on an outer skin; c. introducing superheated water vapor into the gas generation reactor through the gas inlet at the lower end of the gas generation reactor; d. flowing the water vapor in a direction of the upper end of the gas generation reactor, wherein a temperature gradient occurs with a higher temperature T.sub.1 at the lower end and a lower temperature T.sub.2 at the upper end of the gas generation reactor; e. conveying the raw material towards the lower end of the gas generation reactor; f. passing the raw material through a drying zone with a temperature T.sub.3 at which the raw material is dried; g. passing the raw material through a carbonization zone with a temperature T.sub.4 at which the raw material is, at least partially under elimination of water, converted into a carbonaceous carbonation product; h. passing the carbonaceous carbonation product through a conversion zone with a temperature T.sub.5 at which the carbonaceous carbonation product is at least partially converted with the water vapor into the synthesis gas; i. discharging the synthesis gas from the gas generation reactor through the lower gas outlet in the conversion zone; j. discharging residual material from the generation of the synthesis gas from the gas generation reactor as an ash from the outlet lock at the lower end of the gas generation reactor.

14. The gas generation method according to claim 13, wherein at least part of the synthesis gas generated in the gas generation reactor is, by means of a gas distributor, introduced into the first heating element for combustion purposes.

15. The gas generation method according to claim 14, wherein the gas/water vapor mixture is passed from the gas generation reactor to a second heating element, heated by the second heating element and then reintroduced again into the gas generation reactor through the gas inlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gas generation plant;

[0057] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a vertical cross section through a gas generation reactor of the gas generation plant;

[0058] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a horizontal cross section through the gas generation reactor;

[0059] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a method for generating synthesis gas with the gas generation plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0060] The gas generation plant 10 for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas 12 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a gas generation reactor 14. Superheated water vapor 18 and, in particular, gases generated with the gas generation method enter the gas generation reactor 14 through a gas inlet 16 of the gas generation reactor 14. A gas/water vapor mixture 22 is released from the gas generation reactor 14 through an upper gas outlet 20a of the gas generation reactor 14, in particular to a second heating element 38b in the form of a microwave generator (see below). A gas suction pump 24, in particular a suction device with a suction pump, is arranged at the upper gas outlet 20a for suctioning off and further using the gas/water vapor mixture 22 from the gas generation reactor 14. Synthesis gas 12 flows out of the gas generation reactor 14 through a lower gas outlet 20b of the gas generation reactor 14. An inlet lock 28a is formed along a longitudinal axis LA of the gas generation reactor 14 at an upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14, through which the raw material 30 containing hydrocarbons can be introduced into the gas generation reactor 14 in solid form. An outlet lock 28b is formed at a lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14, through which residual material 32, in particular residues from the synthesis gas generation, preferably in solid form, can be conveyed out of the gas generation reactor 14. The inlet lock 28a and/or the outlet lock 28b comprise a screw conveyor 34a, 34b (see FIG. 2) for transporting the raw material or the residual material 32 as well as lock gates or slides 36a, 36b for sealing the locks 28a, 28b.

[0061] A first heating element 38a at the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14 is used to heat the gas generation reactor 14 at its lower end 26b. Flue gas (not shown) from the first heating element 38a flows along the outer skin of the gas generation reactor 14, in particular through a fluidic connection 40a, and through a heat exchanger 42a for setting the temperature of the flue gas before the flue gas is released to the environment. The gas/water vapor mixture 22 flows in the direction of the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14, wherein a temperature gradient occurs with a higher temperature T.sub.1 at the lower end 26b and a lower temperature T.sub.2 at the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14. The raw material 30 is conveyed towards the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14, in particular by gravity.

[0062] The raw material 30 passes through a drying zone 44a with a temperature T.sub.3 at which the raw material 30 is dried. The raw material 30 then passes through a carbonization zone 44b with a temperature T.sub.4 at which the raw material 30 is, at least partially under elimination of water, converted into a carbonaceous carbonation product 46, in particular coal. Thereafter, the carbonaceous carbonation product 46 passes through a conversion zone 44c with a temperature T.sub.5 at which the carbonaceous carbonation product 46 is at least partially converted with the water vapor 18 into the synthesis gas 12. The synthesis gas 12 is discharged from the gas generation reactor 14 through the lower gas outlet 20b in the conversion zone 44c. Residual material 32, in particular residues from the generation of the synthesis gas 12, are discharged from the gas generation reactor 14 as ash 48 from the outlet lock 28b at the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14.

[0063] A gas distributor 50 receives the synthesis gas 12 from the gas generation reactor 14 via a fluidic connection 40b. The gas distributor 50 conveys a first part 12a of the synthesis gas 12 to the first heating element 38a through a fluidic connection 40c. The first heating element 38a is designed to burn the synthesis gas 12. The gas distributor 50 conveys a second part 12b of the synthesis gas 12 through a fluidic connection 40d to the surroundings of the gas generation plant 10, for example into a tank (not shown). The gas distributor 50 comprises a water tank 52 from which water 54 is supplied to the synthesis gas 12.

[0064] A second heating element 38b for receiving and heating the gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular water vapor 18, from the gas generation reactor 14 comprises a fluidic connection 40e with the gas inlet 16 for the delivery of the heated gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular the heated water vapor 18. The second heating element 38b is designed to generate microwaves which are used to heat, in particular superheat, the gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular the water vapor 18. The gas distributor 50 is designed to deliver synthesis gas 12 from the gas generation reactor 14 through a fluidic connection 40f to an internal combustion engine 56 which, while generating exhaust gases 58, drives a generator 60 to generate electricity, wherein the second heating element 38b is designed to heat the second gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular water vapor 18, by using the electricity. The gas distributor 50 comprises a heat exchanger 42b to be able to set a desired temperature for the synthesis gas. A heat exchanger 42c, which is arranged at the fluidic connection 40b between the lower gas outlet 20b and the gas distributor 50, transfers heat through a pipe 64 to the second heating element 38b to generate the water vapor 18. An electric generator 66 is used to start the second heating element 38b at the beginning of the gas generation process. At the beginning of the gas generation process, water vapor 18 is generated by a steam generator 68 and introduced into the second heating element 38b through a fluidic connection 40g.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the gas generation reactor 14 with a synthesis gas collector 70 for receiving the synthesis gas 12 and then releasing the synthesis gas 12 from the gas generation reactor 14. The synthesis gas collector 70 is fluidically connected to the lower gas outlet 20b. A steam gas collector 72 is used to discharge the water vapor 18 into the gas generation reactor 14. Nozzles 74a, 74b of the steam gas collector 72 directed into the interior of the gas generation reactor 14 comprise a plurality of openings 76a, 76b for a uniform distribution of the water vapor 18. Also shown is the gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular comprising water vapor 18, that rises from the drying zone 44a, the carbonation zone 44b and the conversion zone 44c to the upper gas outlet 20a and is transferred through the gas suction pump 24 to the second heating element 38b, in particular in the form of the microwave generator. The gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular superheated water vapor 18, is reintroduced into the gas generation reactor 14 through the gas inlet 16. Also shown are the first heating element 38a for heating the gas generation reactor 14 and the second heating element 38b for heating the gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular the water vapor 18, that is introduced into the gas generation reactor 14 through the gas inlet 16.

[0066] The gas generation reactor 14 has a greater height H.sub.R than width B.sub.R. The vertical distance A.sub.1 between the gas inlet 16 and the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14 is smaller than the distance A.sub.2 between the lower end 26b and the lower gas outlet 20b. The distance A.sub.3 between the upper gas outlet 20a and the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14 is smaller than the distance A.sub.4 between the lower gas outlet 20b and the upper end 26a. The distance A.sub.5 between the upper gas outlet 20a and the lower gas outlet 20b is greater than the distance A.sub.6 between the lower gas outlet 20b and the gas inlet 16.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the gas generation reactor 14 through the sectional plane designated by AA in FIG. 2. The synthesis gas collector 70 comprises a pipe 78, in particular an escape pipe, for receiving synthesis gas 12. The escape pipe 78 runs completely circumferentially on the inner wall 82 of the gas generation reactor 14 in the form of a ring 80a. The escape pipe 78 leads to the lower gas outlet 20b. Inwardly pointing pipe sections 84a, 84b for receiving the synthesis gas 12 are formed on the escape pipe 78. The first heating element 38a on the gas generation reactor 14 is shown as well.

[0068] The steam gas collector 72 comprises an injection tube 86 through which water vapor 18 flows. The injection pipe 86 with the nozzles 74a, 74b arranged on the injection pipe 86 runs in the form of a ring 80b at the lower end 26b (see FIG. 1) of the gas generation reactor 14. The gas inlet 16 opens into the injection pipe 86.

[0069] FIG. 4 schematically shows the method 100 for generating synthesis gas 12 with the gas generation plant 10. In a first step 102, in particular after starting the gas generation plant 10, raw material 30 containing hydrocarbons is introduced into the gas generation reactor 14 through an inlet lock 28a at an upper end 26a of a gas generation reactor 14. The raw material 30 is conveyed towards a lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14, in particular by gravity. In a second step 104, the gas generation reactor 14 is heated at its lower end 26b by a first heating element 38a at the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14. In a third step 106, superheated water vapor 18 is introduced into the gas generation reactor 14 through a gas inlet 16 at the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14. The water vapor 18 flows in the direction of the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14, wherein a temperature gradient occurs with a higher temperature T.sub.1 at the lower end 26b and a lower temperature T.sub.2 at the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14. In a fourth step 108, the raw material 30 passes through a drying zone 44a with a temperature T.sub.3 at which the raw material 30 is dried. In a fifth step 110, the raw material 30 passes through a carbonization zone 44b with a temperature T.sub.4 at which the raw material 30 is, at least partially under elimination of water, converted into a carbonaceous carbonation product 46. In a sixth step 112, the carbonaceous carbonation product 46 passes through a conversion zone 44c with a temperature T.sub.5 at which the carbon in the carbonaceous carbonation product 46 is at least partially converted with the water vapor 18 into a synthesis gas 12. In a seventh step 114, the synthesis gas 12 is discharged from the gas generation reactor 14 through a lower gas outlet 20b in the conversion zone 44c. In an eighth step 116, residual material 32 from the generation of the synthesis gas 12 is discharged from the gas generation reactor 14 as ash 48 from an outlet lock 28b at the lower end 26b of the gas generation reactor 14.

[0070] Taking all the figures of the drawing together, the invention relates to a gas generation plant 10 for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas 12. The gas generation plant 10 comprises a gas generation reactor 14. The gas generation reactor 14 is oriented in the vertical direction and has a greater length H.sub.R in the vertical direction than the width B.sub.R. A gas inlet 16 of the gas generation reactor 14 is designed for a gas/water vapor mixture 22, in particular superheated water vapor 18, to pass through the gas inlet 16 into the gas generation reactor 14. Through an upper gas outlet 20a of the gas generation reactor 14, the gas/water vapor mixture 22 can be conveyed from the gas generation reactor 14 through the upper gas outlet 20a. The gas/water vapor mixture 22 can be reused after having been overheated in the second heating element 38b. Synthesis gas 12 can exit the gas generation reactor 14 through a lower gas outlet 20b. In the vertical direction, the gas inlet 16 is arranged at a smaller distance A.sub.1 from the lower end 26b than the lower gas outlet 20b. The upper gas outlet 20a is arranged at a smaller vertical distance A.sub.3 from the upper end 26a of the gas generation reactor 14 than the lower gas outlet 20b. The vertical distance A.sub.5 between the upper gas outlet 20a and the lower gas outlet 20b is greater than the vertical distance A.sub.6 between the lower gas outlet 20b and the gas inlet 16.