PROCESS FOR THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS AND THE DEVICE FOR APPLYING SAID PROCESS

Abstract

The invention comprises a process for obtaining a gas from a fluid fuel and an oxidising fluid, said process comprising steps in which the incoming fluid is subjected to temperature, photocatalytic action and reaction with catalysts, all this within a device with a tubular structure which the incoming fluid circulates through in a spiral manner, between a fixed bed attached to the walls of the duct and a circulating bed with an ionised gas stream that occupies a central position of the duct, producing a gas obtained.

Claims

1. PROCESS FOR THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS of the type comprising an oxidation-reduction reaction of an incoming fluid characterised in that: 1. In a first step the incoming fluid (4) comprising fluid fuel (9) and oxidising fluid (10) are introduced into the device and when they arrive in the main body (2) they enter tangentially to the ionised gas stream (5) starting a vortex with the incoming fluid (4). 2. In a second step said vortex starts to circulate along the photo-reactor through the space existing between the fixed bed (7) and the circulating bed (6). 3. In a third step, since the vortex circulates with the incoming fluid (4), the outer edge thereof collides with the fixed bed (7), which comprises a catalyst, whereas the inner edge thereof collides with the molecules of the circulating bed (6), thus taking on the characteristics of a fluid that circulates in a spiral with expansive turbulence. 4. In a fourth step, the spiralling fluid with expansive turbulence induces the rotation of the circulating bed (6) thus forming a single mixed gas that is highly ionised and with homogeneous molecular distribution, called the mixed gas. 5. In a fifth step the mixed gas absorbs the intense heat of the ionised gas stream existing in the circulating bed, with an oxidation-reduction chemical reaction taking place in said mixed gas, producing the gas obtained.

2. PROCESS FOR THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS according to claim 1 characterised in that: a) it comprises a plasma torch system that projects ultraviolet light generating catalytic effects that increase when they interact with at least one catalyst of the fixed bed; b) the holding time of the incoming fluid inside the main body of the photo-reactor is less than 10 seconds; c) the oxidation of the fluid fuel occurs at a temperature of less than 750° C. and the power consumption is less than 1 kWh for each kg of carbon contained in the fluid fuel; d) it also comprises a prior step of heating the incoming fluid; e) it also comprises a prior step of protonating the oxidising fluid and optionally, a prior step of deprotonating the fluid fuel; f) the fluid fuel comprises molecules of at least one non-oxidised carbon atom; g) the oxidising fluid comprises at least one reactive fluid that supplies oxygen such as air, air enriched with oxygen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, steam or preferably protonated steam; h) the catalyst of the fixed bed (7) comprises at least one of the following elements: iron II and III, copper, nickel, alumina, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, quartz, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium and tungsten.

3. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS characterised in that it comprises a photo-reactor, comprising: 1. A main body (2) with one or more inlet openings and one or more outlet openings, said main body having a tubular structure; 2. A component that produces an ionised gas stream (5); 3. A circulating bed (6) with an ionised gas; 4. A fixed bed (7) joined to the inner wall of the main body of the photo-reactor; 5. One or more catalysts in the fixed bed.

4. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that it also comprises a heat exchanger, preferably one that is part of the photo-reactor using the space (3) between the double jacket, thus the heat exchanger being incorporated into the photo-reactor itself such that the gas obtained provides heat to the incoming fluid.

5. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that it also comprises a protonator (10), preferably located before the heat exchanger.

6. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that it also comprises a deprotonator (9), preferably located before the heat exchanger.

7. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that in the fixed bed (7) joined to the inner wall of the main body of the photo-reactor there are a series of projections (8) joined to the wall or forming part thereof.

8. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the ionised gas stream (5) is produced from a gas that preferably comprises deprotonated steam.

9. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the main body of the photo-reactor is tubular, preferably cylindrical or frustoconical, the injector for the ionised gas stream (5) preferably being on the end with the greater cross-section.

10. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the main body of the photo-reactor, which has a tubular structure, has along its path a section with an average inner diameter to that has, for each kg of carbon contained in the oxidising fluid, a minimum of 0.1 cm and a maximum of 5 cm, the preferred range being from 0.4 cm to 1.5 cm.

11. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the main body of the photo-reactor, which has a tubular structure, has for each kg of carbon contained in the oxidising fluid, a minimum length of 0.4 cm and a maximum length of 17 cm, the preferred range being from 2 cm to 8 cm.

12. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the projections (8) must be distributed such that they cover the entire inner perimeter of the main body (2) of the photo-reactor without there being an open channel in a straight line adjacent to and along the inner wall of the duct of the photo-reactor.

13. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the height of the projections (8) is between 3% and 40% of the average inner diameter of the duct of the photo-reactor, the preferred range being between 15% and 25%.

14. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the ionised gas stream (5) preferably comes from a non-transferred electric arc plasma based on direct current and which produces an ionised fluid comprising at least one of the following elements or compounds of the group: air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water or steam, preferably protonated.

15. DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF FUELS PROCESS according to claim 3 characterised in that the ionised gas stream (5) preferably comes from a non-transferred electric arc plasma based on direct current and which produces an ionised fluid comprising at least one of the following elements or compounds of the group: air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water or steam, preferably protonated.

Description

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram for a device wherein the process that is the subject matter of this invention is carried out, depicting the photo-reactor (1) comprising a main body (2), a space (3) between the double jacket through which the incoming fluid (4), after its oxidising fluid passes through a protonator (10) and its fuel fluid passes through a deprotonator (9), circulates until it reaches the inside of the reactor and enters tangentially to the ionised gas stream (5) of the thermal plasma to then, in a vortex, circulates between the circulating bed (6) and the fixed bed (7), colliding with the projections (8) of the fixed bed (7).

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0067] We shall now describe one embodiment of the invention that is only one of many ways of implementing it, using the device of FIG. 1. The temperatures are shown in degrees centigrade.

[0068] The intended patent comprises a process for the partial oxidation of a fluid fuel, for which purpose an incoming fluid, comprising a previously deprotonated fluid fuel and a previously protonated oxidising fluid are introduced into a device comprising:

[0069] A photo-reactor (1) which in turn comprises: [0070] A main body (2) with one or more inlet openings and one or more outlet openings, said main body having a tubular structure, preferably cylindrical or frustoconical, and being covered by a double jacket such that a space (3) is created through which the incoming fluid (4) is introduced, which when circulating absorbs heat from the main body. [0071] A system for producing and injecting ionised gas comprising an ionised gas stream (5) preferably obtained from a thermal plasma the injector of which is preferably on the end of the main body with the largest cross-section. [0072] A circulating bed (6) with an ionised gas. [0073] A fixed bed (7) joined to the inner wall of the main body of the photo-reactor that may optionally comprise partial barriers, that we call projections (8), fixed to said inner wall or forming part of it. [0074] A catalyst in the fixed bed comprising at least one pure compound or alloy, where its main element is at least one from the following group: iron II and III, copper, nickel, alumina, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, quartz, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium or tungsten. [0075] A protonator (10) for the oxidising fluid and optionally a deprotonator (9) for the fluid fuel, both placed before the heat exchanger.

[0076] The main body is enclosed in a double jacket that creates a space (3) that works as a heat exchanger when the incoming fluid (4) circulates in contact with the wall of the main body where, on its inner face, the fixed bed (7) with its projections (8) is joined.

[0077] Inside the main body (2) is the circulating bed (6) such that the incoming fluid (4) circulates in a vortex between the fixed bed (7) and the circulating bed (6).

[0078] The process starts with the passage of the incoming fluid, of which the part corresponding to the fluid fuel has previously passed through a deprotonator (10) and the part corresponding to the oxidising fluid has passed by a deprotonator (9).

[0079] After the protonation and deprotonation operation, the incoming fluid circulates through the space (3) between the double jacket of the photo-reactor where it is heated by circulating in contact with the wall of the main body (2).

[0080] The incoming fluid (4) starts circulating from the bottom upwards through the space (3) of the double jacket until it enters through the top part of the main body and the inside of the photo-reactor, entering tangentially to the ionised gas stream (5) of the thermal plasma, and starts to circulate in a vortex and expansive turbulence within the photo-reactor, from the top downwards; that is, circulating around and in close contact on the inside with the circulating bed (6) with the ionised gas stream of the plasma torch and on the outside with the fixed bed (7) and the projections (8).

[0081] As it circulates like this, the ionised gas from the plasma torch mixes with the fluid fuel and the oxidising fluid until it becomes a single mixed gas forming a highly ionised mist or cloud with homogeneous molecular distribution, wherein the following effects concur: [0082] 1) the effect produced by the incoming fluid due to entering circulating as a vortex, with expansive turbulence and a homogeneous molecular distribution, which multiplies when it collides with the projections (8); said vortex induces rotation in the ionised gas and turns it into a circulating bed (6) and forms a cloud that puts pressure around, along and towards the centre of said ionised gas, creating multiple contacts with the molecules until it forms a single mixed fluid or gas that is highly ionised and with a homogeneous molecular distribution. [0083] 2) the effect of propagating free radicals in the incoming fluid, produced by coming in contact with a circulating fluid bed that comprises the ionised gas, preferably with the oxidising fluid being previously protonated in order to increase its propensity to be reduced, and the fluid fuel being previously deprotonated in order to increase its propensity to be oxidised. [0084] 3) when the ionised gas stream is generated by a plasma torch, the effect produced in the mixed gas due to the radiation of ultraviolet light that is increased by its photocatalytic action when it interacts with at least one catalyst of the fixed bed which, as we have said, comprises at least one pure substance, in a mixture or alloy, from the following group: iron II and III, copper, nickel, alumina, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, quartz, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium and tungsten.

[0085] The three effects described partially oxidise the fluid fuel, resulting in the gas obtained. This process and device allow the aforementioned effects to take place, thus obtaining a partial oxidation process that occurs at temperatures of less than 750° C., at a pressure of 200 millibar, with a holding time of 0.2 seconds and consuming 0.5 kWh per kg of natural gas.