WO2009156761A2 - Traitement de déchets - Google Patents

Traitement de déchets

Info

Publication number
WO2009156761A2
WO2009156761A2 PCT/GB2009/050731 GB2009050731W WO2009156761A2 WO 2009156761 A2 WO2009156761 A2 WO 2009156761A2 GB 2009050731 W GB2009050731 W GB 2009050731W WO 2009156761 A2 WO2009156761 A2 WO 2009156761A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
waste
plasma
gases
processing apparatus
pyrolysis
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2009/050731
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2009156761A3 (fr
Inventor
Leonid Rusnac
Original Assignee
Horizon Ventures Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Horizon Ventures Limited filed Critical Horizon Ventures Limited
Priority to EP09769602A priority Critical patent/EP2303996A2/fr
Publication of WO2009156761A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009156761A2/fr
Publication of WO2009156761A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009156761A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J3/00—Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels
    • C10J3/58—Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels combined with pre-distillation of the fuel
    • C10J3/60—Processes
    • C10J3/64—Processes with decomposition of the distillation products
    • C10J3/66—Processes with decomposition of the distillation products by introducing them into the gasification zone
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J19/087—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy
    • B01J19/088—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
    • C10B47/00—Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials with indirect heating, e.g. by external combustion
    • C10B47/28—Other processes
    • C10B47/32—Other processes in ovens with mechanical conveying means
    • C10B47/44—Other processes in ovens with mechanical conveying means with conveyor-screws
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10K—PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE
    • C10K3/00—Modifying the chemical composition of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide to produce an improved fuel, e.g. one of different calorific value, which may be free from carbon monoxide
    • C10K3/02—Modifying the chemical composition of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide to produce an improved fuel, e.g. one of different calorific value, which may be free from carbon monoxide by catalytic treatment
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G5/00—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor
    • F23G5/02—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor with pretreatment
    • F23G5/027—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor with pretreatment pyrolising or gasifying stage
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G5/00—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor
    • F23G5/08—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor having supplementary heating
    • F23G5/085—High-temperature heating means, e.g. plasma, for partly melting the waste
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62D—CHEMICAL MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES OR FOR COMBATING OR PROTECTING AGAINST HARMFUL CHEMICAL AGENTS; CHEMICAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN BREATHING APPARATUS
    • A62D2203/00—Aspects of processes for making harmful chemical substances harmless, or less harmful, by effecting chemical change in the substances
    • A62D2203/10—Apparatus specially adapted for treating harmful chemical agents; Details thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/00002—Chemical plants
    • B01J2219/00004—Scale aspects
    • B01J2219/00006—Large-scale industrial plants
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J2219/0873—Materials to be treated
    • B01J2219/0875—Gas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J2219/0894—Processes carried out in the presence of a plasma
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2200/00—Details of gasification apparatus
    • C10J2200/12—Electrodes present in the gasifier
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
    • C10J2300/0903—Feed preparation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
    • C10J2300/0903—Feed preparation
    • C10J2300/0906—Physical processes, e.g. shredding, comminuting, chopping, sorting
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
    • C10J2300/0913—Carbonaceous raw material
    • C10J2300/0946—Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/12—Heating the gasifier
    • C10J2300/123—Heating the gasifier by electromagnetic waves, e.g. microwaves
    • C10J2300/1238—Heating the gasifier by electromagnetic waves, e.g. microwaves by plasma
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/16—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant
    • C10J2300/1671—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant with the production of electricity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
    • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
    • C10J2300/16—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant
    • C10J2300/1693—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant with storage facilities for intermediate, feed and/or product
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G2201/00—Pretreatment
    • F23G2201/30—Pyrolysing
    • F23G2201/303—Burning pyrogases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G2201/00—Pretreatment
    • F23G2201/60—Separating
    • F23G2201/603—Separating recyclable material
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G2201/00—Pretreatment
    • F23G2201/80—Shredding
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
    • F23G2204/00—Supplementary heating arrangements
    • F23G2204/20—Supplementary heating arrangements using electric energy
    • F23G2204/201—Plasma
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E20/00—Combustion technologies with mitigation potential
    • Y02E20/12—Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste

Definitions

  • This invention relates to waste processing.
  • this invention is directed to apparatus for and a method of processing waste to generate useful components therefrom.
  • waste refers to matter that contains hydrocarbons and which can be treated by pyrolysis and/or gasification. It would usually encompass material of high calorific value such as plastics and rubbers, but can apply to any matter generally containing hydrocarbons such as organic and synthetic material. Further whilst it is envisaged that the present invention will find particular use in treating rubbish and industrial byproducts (and will predominantly described with reference thereto), it is equally possible that the present invention can be used to convert non-waste material (e.g. that which is specifically made or provided for that purpose) with the correct chemistry into more useful components.
  • non-waste material e.g. that which is specifically made or provided for that purpose
  • waste disposal methods include landfill disposal or incineration, but these methods destroy natural resources, squander energy and cause pollution from air emissions and toxic ash. Even when a waste can be incinerated the efficiency of the energy recovery is low.
  • thermal processing technique where hydrocarbon matter undergoes thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen.
  • Other processing techniques include gasification, which is often used after pyrolysis to breakdown the hydrocarbons it produces, using high temperatures and a controlled amount of oxygen.
  • plasma technology This method uses a lot of electrical energy and a high temperature created by an electrical arc gasifier, to breakdown waste. These plasma waste technologies operate at high temperatures with high power consumptions.
  • waste processing systems produce desirable components such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, they also produce a range of undesirable multinuclear molecules.
  • These multinuclear molecules form various structures which, when cooled, can condense in pipelines, valve mechanisms, turbines and compressors, causing operating problems.
  • a greater problem is the creation of chlorine atoms, which replace hydrogen atoms forming polychlorinated polycyclic connections. These possess powerful immunosuppressive and mutagenic effects and are carcinogenic and embryo-toxic.
  • These molecular structures are difficult to split and they collect within human organisms, as well as in the biosphere of the planet.
  • a plasma pyrolysis process for the treatment of waste is described in International Patent Publication No. 2007/000607. This describes a process of treating the waste in a pyrolysis unit to produce an off-gas and char, followed by a plasma treatment step, whereby the off-gas and char are subjected to a plasma treatment in a plasma treatment unit.
  • This process suffers from the same problems as described above, utilising high temperatures, ultimately resulting in the evaporation of heavy metal particles within the waste stream. The process thus does not provide full decomposition of the waste and does not provide a catalytic or rapid cooling process to prevent reformation of the undesirable, multinuclear molecules.
  • British Patent Publication No. 2436429 describes a method and apparatus for the plasma treatment of waste using two plasma arc torches. This process also involves treating the waste at extremely high temperatures, which would cause evaporation of any heavy metal from within the waste and the formation of heavy metal oxides.
  • catalysts are dependent upon many factors, including; the chemical compounds used as cracking products, temperatures, pressure, properties and size of the surface of the catalyst and other limiting factors.
  • waste processing apparatus comprising:
  • At least one plasma processing unit that receives the pyrolysis gases comprising:
  • the present invention acts to destroy these under the influence of the variable electric field on a moving stream of charged particles in a heated gas stream. This influence causes add itional excitation of atoms and as a consequence breaks the intermolecular bonds, and by changing the parameters of the field, one can change the speed of reaction and interaction without changing the power capacity of the heating devices.
  • This process may be considered in the following stages:
  • High energy plasma gases are oxidised by the application of electrical arc discharge (without electrodes) or otherwise, to create a stream of heated ionized gas and charged particles.
  • a variable electric field is created between the two electrodes located along the axis of movement of the pyrolysis gas.
  • the electric field may have an oscillatory pattern synchronized by means of an external electrical circuit, and acts upon the ionized gas and the charged particles provided from the plasma gas stream.
  • Control of the interaction between the electrical field and charged particles of the ionized gas may be made by measurement of the electrical parameters of: amplitude of the current, voltage, and load; and the nonelectrical parameters of: pressure, temperature, spectrum, brightness and the characteristic sound of the plasma.
  • the waste is exposed to heat and is continuously mixed in the reactor vessel to produce pyrolysis gases.
  • the reactor vessel may advantageously comprise a central rotating member having a helical screw configuration to enable effective mixing and transference of the waste along the length thereof, to ensure efficient generation of pyrolysis gases.
  • Drive means to enable rotation of the central member of the reactor vessel may be provided at a suitable location.
  • the drive means would most conveniently be located externally of the reactor vessel.
  • rotation of the central member is adjustable and can be controlled.
  • the drive means may be connected to control means for the control thereof.
  • the waste to be processed will, if possible, be subjected to a preparation treatment process prior to its introduction to the reactor vessel. Part of the function of this could be to remove metals, as if heavy metals are subjected to extreme heat under pyrolysis they will evaporate and form heavy metal oxides. Once in a gaseous form, heavy metals are very difficult to get back to a manageable state. Even if a preparation process is performed, it is likely that heavy metal particles will remain in the waste. It is therefore important that the temperature of the reactor vessel is not too high, to ensure only organic matter turns to gas.
  • the heat required to effect pyrolysis is provided from the central rotating member to provide heat therethrough.
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises preparation means to separate and remove metal particles.
  • This may comprise any suitable means but preferably comprises a magnetic separator.
  • the preparation means may further comprise apparatus, adapted to reduce the average particle size of the raw material waste before processing thereof. Reducing the average particle size ensures that the waste is not too large to be efficiently processed.
  • the particle size is reduced using a shredder.
  • the shredder may comprise a single fixed rotor, two counter-rotating rotors or any suitable design. Ideally, the particles are shredded so that the diameter of each particle is no greater than about 10mm.
  • Pyrolysis gases formed from the waste in the reactor vessel are transported into the plasma chamber, where they undergo chemical-electrical processing to produce a mix of gases, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the plasma generator heats up the plasma chamber.
  • the pyrolysis gases are heated to temperatures in the range 1200 - 1800 ° C in the presence of ionised plasma gases and a high power variable electromagnetic field.
  • the electrodes preferably comprise a first electrode facing a second electrode.
  • a direct current power supply may be used, but ideally, the power supply is an alternating current power supply for the creation of an alternating electric field between the plates.
  • the changing polarity of the electric field acts upon the macromolecular bi-polar chains of the pyrolysis gases, applying forces of alignment and turning moments of sufficient energy to overcome the internal atomic bonding energy within the molecule chain which causes fragmentation and destruction thereof.
  • the electrodes will ideally be located along the axis of movement of the pyrolysis gases so that the field is generally parallel thereto.
  • the strength of the electric field, between the two electrodes may preferably be greater than 10KV/cm.
  • a constant mixing of the gas flow is created in the plasma chamber, preventing the occurrence of an electrical discharge.
  • Changing the parameters of the variable frequency electromagnetic field affects the movement of the electrically charged plasma gas particles, causing them to become highly excited and mobile. This creates opportunities for high energy collisions between the micro molecular plasma gas particles and the macro molecules of the pyrolysis gases, causing their subsequent fragmentation and destruction.
  • By changing the parameters it is possible to change the speed of reaction and interaction without changing the power capacity of the heating devices.
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises control means for the control of the interaction between the electric field and charged particles of the ionised gas.
  • the electric field has an oscillatory pattern which may be synchronised by the control means.
  • the control means may comprise an external electrical circuit. Control of the reaction between the electric field and charged particles of the ionised gas may be made by measurement of parameters such as, but not limited to electrical parameters including the amplitude of the current, voltage and load and non-electrical parameters such as pressure, temperature, spectrum, brightness and the characteristic sound of the plasma.
  • the constricting effect of the induced electromagnetic field acting upon the flow within the plasma/pyrolysis gas mix may cause sharp increases in conductivity, creating an electrical discharge.
  • the control means may also be adapted to limit the increase of current under such conditions.
  • the control means may also be adapted to control other parameters such as the flame and draft required for suitable combustion within the central rotating member and the speed or rotation thereof.
  • the control means may comprise a digital controller programmed to control parameters of the apparatus such as the operating temperatures. The controller may then be programmed with different parameters dependant upon the waste being processed.
  • the plasma generator is specially adapted to create hot ionised plasma gases having a high temperature flame.
  • the plasma generator may comprise any means for creating the hot ionised plasma from plasma forming gases.
  • the plasma forming gas comprises a steam/hydrogen mixture that is introduced into the plasma generator via an inlet thereto.
  • the steam/hydrogen mixture is used because it maximises the calorific value of the resultant gas, though it is to be understood that any gas suitable for forming plasma may be used and this would not depart from the scope of this invention.
  • the steam/hydrogen gas mixture is oxidised in the plasma generator up to temperatures of 2500 ° C in order to form plasma.
  • the plasma generator may comprise an AC resonance device for the ignition and stabilisation of a burning electric arc, which heats the plasma gas flow to ionisation temperature.
  • the plasma generator may comprise a microwave device to provide additional heat energy to the plasma gas flow.
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises at least one catalytic chamber in communication with a plasma chamber to receive processed gases therefrom.
  • the catalytic chamber may comprise a catalytic layer containing metal atoms which are capable of affecting the course and speed of chemical reactions.
  • Each plasma chamber shall have a plasma generator associated therewith and the term processing unit is used to refer to a plasma chamber and the associated generator thereof.
  • the optimum number of processing units required is wholly dependent upon the type of waste being processed.
  • the ratio of processing units to catalytic chambers is an important aspect but this too is dependent upon the type of waste being processed.
  • the ratio of processing units to catalytic chambers in most cases will be 1 :1 , but of course some types of waste may require more or less than one catalytic chambers for each processing unit and vice versa, so the ratio of these components will vary depending on the application.
  • the output of more than one processing unit may be combined and fed to the, or each, catalytic chamber.
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises at least one cooler adapted to receive the gases from the catalytic chamber(s).
  • the cooler may be any device suitable to provide rapid cooling of the gases, but preferably comprises a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat to water flowing in or around the cooler.
  • the cooling chamber acts also to recover thermal energy that may be reused within the system or externally.
  • cooling chamber There may be more than one cooling chamber. Ideally, there is one cooler associated with each catalytic chamber, though multiple coolers for each catalytic chamber may be used to ensure rapid cooling of the gases.
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises a gas compressor for the compression of the gaseous product after processing.
  • a low pressure gas reservoir may be connected to the output of the cooling chamber(s) and adapted to receive cooled gas therefrom. The gas may then be compressed by the gas compressor and stored in a high pressure gas reservoir, in communication therewith.
  • the waste processing apparatus of this invention may be compact in size and may be capable of being operated within and/or transported by an ISO container, ideally a 40ft one.
  • the apparatus is adaptable and mobile.
  • the main components of the processing apparatus may be built substantially within such a container such that it may be brought to its site of operation and then set up with minimal effort.
  • the waste processing apparatus is adaptable to connect with additional add-on modules for different end uses. These could be in additional containers that are similarly transported and then integrated with the main components of the processing apparatus.
  • a method of processing organic waste comprising:
  • the waste processing apparatus further comprises a feed compression barrel connected to the reactor vessel and adapted to compress waste.
  • Waste may be fed to the feed compression barrel after it has undergone a preparation process or simply as the initial processing step, if a preparation process is not employed.
  • the feed compression barrel compresses the waste and continually feeds the compressed waste into the reactor vessel.
  • the waste and reactor vessel must have little or no oxygen. Any means suitable for the creation of air tight seals may be used.
  • an airtight seal is provided by the constant barrier of compressed waste material being fed in.
  • the feed compression barrel may apply a different degree of compression for different types of waste, sufficient for the removal of air and thus create the ideal gas environment inside the reactor vessel.
  • the waste processing apparatus and method of the present invention provides continuous, completely automated processing of fuel from waste for the production of usable products and then electrical and/or thermal energy if so required. In this way, waste can truly be considered a valuable high-energy fuel.
  • the low temperature of the pyrolysis process and the modified power source of the present invention reduces the overall power required to operate the apparatus, with the consequence that there will be a net surplus of energy created from operation of the apparatus.
  • a high service life of the apparatus can be expected due to the lower temperature during pyrolysis, the application of special thermal coverings to protect against corrosion and the application of control devices to manage the system.
  • the apparatus provides efficient processing of waste whilst, preventing the release of harmful synthetic products, heavy metals and their oxides into the atmosphere.
  • Some of the gases produced by the apparatus and process of the present invention may be fed back to provide heating and supply plasma forming gases.
  • Figure 1 is a front view of a systematic representation of the waste processing apparatus of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the waste processing apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a front partially cut away view of the plasma chamber of Figures 1 and 2.
  • the apparatus includes a reactor vessel 11 within which waste undergoes pyrolysis to generate gaseous products, which are fed sequentially to plasma chambers 12 for plasma treatment and then to catalytic chambers 14 and coolers 15 before being stored.
  • Waste to be treated is pre-processed before its introduction to the reactor vessel.
  • the nature of this pre-processing varies according to what types of material are contained within that waste.
  • the waste is sorted in someway to remove undesirable components, such as metals, and is then shredded to reduce particle size.
  • waste is introduced into a magnetic separator 20 which separates and thereafter removes metal particles - which may subsequently be passed to a suitable recycling process.
  • the waste then passes to a shredder 19 which is adapted to reduce the particle size of the waste to a diameter no greater than 10mm. This assists the efficient thermal processing of the waste when undergoing the pyrolysis process.
  • the ground waste is transferred, by a belt 18 to a waste feed hopper 16.
  • the waste particles are then compressed in a waste compression barrel 23 thereby expelling any atmospheric air which is removed by means of the exhaust fan 25.
  • the waste compression barrel 23 has a helical drive screw 24 which is driven by a drive unit 26 to rotate and thereby to both compress the waste and force it into the reactor vessel 11.
  • Waste is continuously feed into the waste feed hopper 16 and the arrangement within the compression barrel creates a constant stream of compressed waste to be received by the reactor vessel 11.
  • This constant stream caused by the helical drive screw 24 combined with the constant feed of waste causes an airtight plug to the reactor vessel 11 , thus preventing or minimising the entry of air sufficient for effective pyrolysis.
  • the reactor vessel 11 comprises a drive member 28 (as shown in Figure 3), extending axially inside the reactor 11 and having a helical screw formation 29 thereon.
  • the drive member 28 is rotatably driven by drive means 31 to cause the contents of the reactor vessel 11 to move therealong in a generally left to right direction (as viewed in Figures 1 to 3).
  • a gas burner 32 is adapted to heat the drive member 28 from the inside thereof as it rotates.
  • the gas burner 32 is adapted to burn gas derived from the process.
  • the combustion products produced by the operation of the gas burner 32 are disposed of by means of an exhaust fan 33 mounted at the opposite end of the drive member.
  • the drive member 28 passes in and out of the reactor vessel and seals are provided at these points.
  • Pyrolysis gases flow from an upper part of the reactor vessel 11 through a plasma chamber feed pipe 30 to the plasma chamber 12.
  • the walls of the plasma chamber 12 define a reaction space 34 in the flow path from the plasma chamber feed pipe 30 to a catalysis chamber feed pipe 35.
  • the reaction space 34 is wider than the diameter the pipes 30 and 35.
  • First and second electrodes 36, 37 are provided within the reaction space 34, and an AC power supply (not shown) is applied across these plates to create an alternating electromagnetic field therebetween.
  • the orientation of this field is such that it is applied generally parallel to the flow path through the chamber. The strength, direction, frequency and other parameters of this field may be varied.
  • Hot ionised plasma gases are generated by a plasma generator (generally indicated 13 in Figures 1 and 2 but not illustrated in Figure 3) using a variety of techniques and are transferred to the reaction chamber 34 through a plasma fed pipe 38.
  • the pyrolysis gases interact with the plasma gases under the influence of the electromagnetic field to enable full decomposition of the components therein.
  • the changing polarity of the electromagnetic field causes fragmentation and destruction of the macro molecular bi-polar neutral chains of the pyrolysis gases.
  • the reaction between the electromagnetic field and the gases can be controlled by changing parameters such as the temperature of the gasification of waste, the intensity and frequency of the electric field, the temperature in the reactor vessel; and speed of supplying and movement of the waste.
  • the varying nature of the electromagnetic field causes the charged plasma gas particles to become highly excited and mobile causing more and stronger collisions with the macromolecular polar chains of the pyrolysis gases.
  • the gases have undergone processing in the plasma chamber 12 they have been reduced to far smaller molecules and they flow to the catalytic chambers 14 through the associated feed pipe 35.
  • the catalytic chambers 14 they are passed over catalytic layers having metal atoms, which are capable of affecting the course and speed of chemical reactions to ensure the formation of desirable compounds rather than undesirable ones.
  • the out flow of gases from the catalytic chambers 14 is directed through cooler feed pipes 39 to coolers 15 to rapidly cool the gases after processing.
  • the catalytic process followed by rapid cooling in the coolers 15 is important in the prevention of the reformation of any hydrocarbons macromolecules, including dioxins and other undesirable substances.
  • the coolers 15 comprise a heat exchanger 43 adapted to allow water circulated by coolant feed pipes 44 to rapidly cool the gases by absorbing their heat. The heat recovered by this water may be used in other applications.
  • the resultant clean gas is a mixture including significant proportions of H 2 and CO (often referred to as syngas) and is transferred to a low pressure gas reservoir 45. It may be subsequently compressed by a gas compressor 46 and stored in a high pressure gas reservoir 47 before use.
  • Remnants from the pyrolysis process within the reactor vessel are discharged therefrom through a discharge port 54 that is provided with a motor drive 55.
  • Such material sometimes known as char may, depending on its composition, be a useful product.
  • Control of the whole system's operation and the various parameters that affect it may be achieved by an integrated control means 49 (shown only in Figure 2).
  • the control means is connected to the apparatus at many points by electric wires contained in the electrical wiring harness 51.
  • Sensors adapted to detect conditions within the system may provide information that is used to alter parameters of various operating conditions.
  • An electric service panel 50 may be provided.
  • the control means can be used to control all parameters of the apparatus' operation including: the temperatures of the catalytic chambers 14; the speed of cooling in the coolers 15; the input of waste to the reactor vessel 11 , the pre-processing of the waste, such as sorting and shredder particle output size; speed of the drive member 28; the temperature in the reactor vessel; the electrical field in the plasma chamber; the plasma generated by the plasma generators; the overall process speed and many other factors.
  • the control means 49 may be programmed with different programs for the various types of waste to be processed, and the various requirements of the end-product.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil (10) de traitement de déchets comportant : un récipient de réacteur (11) où des déchets sont reçus et décomposés par pyrolyse pour produire des gaz de pyrolyse; et au moins une unité de traitement par plasma qui traite les gaz de pyrolyse. L’unité de traitement par plasma comprend un générateur (13) de plasma qui crée des gaz chauds ionisés de plasma; une chambre (12) à plasma dans laquelle les gaz de plasma et les gaz de pyrolyse se mélangent; et des électrodes (36, 37) situées à l’intérieur de la chambre à plasma qui appliquent un champ électromagnétique aux gaz mélangés de plasma et de pyrolyse pour réaliser la décomposition de composants nocifs des déchets. Les électrodes peuvent comprendre une première et une deuxième électrode entre lesquelles est appliqué un potentiel électrique constant ou variable. L'invention concerne également un procédé de traitement de déchets comportant les étapes consistant à : A) décomposer thermiquement les déchets par pyrolyse pour générer des gaz de pyrolyse; B) chauffer les gaz de pyrolyse à l’intérieur d’une chambre à plasma en présence de plasma chaud ionisé, tout en appliquant un champ électrique aux gaz de pyrolyse, afin de décomposer lesdits gaz; C) faire passer les gaz décomposés par un processus catalytique; et D) refroidir rapidement les gaz formés.
PCT/GB2009/050731 2008-06-25 2009-06-25 Traitement de déchets WO2009156761A2 (fr)

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EP09769602A EP2303996A2 (fr) 2008-06-25 2009-06-25 Traitement de déchets

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GB0811631.1 2008-06-25
GB0811631A GB0811631D0 (en) 2008-06-25 2008-06-25 Processing of waste

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Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012150871A1 (fr) * 2011-05-03 2012-11-08 FRÂNCU, Bogdan-Sabin Procédé et installation pour le traitement thermique par plasma d'un mélange gazeux
RU2504443C1 (ru) * 2012-11-30 2014-01-20 Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение "Национальный исследовательский центр "Курчатовский институт" Способ плазменно-каталитической переработки твердых бытовых отходов
WO2014039695A1 (fr) * 2012-09-05 2014-03-13 Powerdyne, Inc. Procédés pour la génération d'hydrogène gazeux à l'aide de sources de plasma
CN104114264A (zh) * 2012-01-20 2014-10-22 纽卡斯尔大学 用于气体向液体转化的一体化强化生物精炼
US8931278B2 (en) 2011-05-16 2015-01-13 Powerdyne, Inc. Steam generation system
US9067849B2 (en) 2013-03-12 2015-06-30 Powerdyne, Inc. Systems and methods for producing fuel from parallel processed syngas
US9273570B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-03-01 Powerdyne, Inc. Methods for power generation from H2O, CO2, O2 and a carbon feed stock
RU2588220C1 (ru) * 2015-01-19 2016-06-27 Федеральное государственное унитарное предприятие "Центральный институт авиационного моторостроения им. П.И. Баранова" Способ сжигания низкокалорийного топлива
US9382818B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-07-05 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
US9410452B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-08-09 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
US9458740B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-10-04 Powerdyne, Inc. Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates
US9500362B2 (en) 2010-01-21 2016-11-22 Powerdyne, Inc. Generating steam from carbonaceous material
US9550148B2 (en) 2015-06-02 2017-01-24 Paragon Waste Solutions, Llc Heavy metal removal
US9561486B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2017-02-07 Powerdyne, Inc. System for generating fuel materials using Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and plasma sources
US9765270B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2017-09-19 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
CN107377587A (zh) * 2017-07-31 2017-11-24 安徽诺鑫自动化设备有限公司 一种化工类固废处理过程中的热解装置
CN109647854A (zh) * 2018-12-20 2019-04-19 袁利民 一种铝电解槽阴极炭块的无害化处理方法
WO2021115807A1 (fr) * 2019-12-10 2021-06-17 Basf Se Processus de pyrolyse d'hydrocarbures dans un réacteur à tambour rotatif indirectement chauffé
KR102596746B1 (ko) * 2022-09-07 2023-11-03 한동욱 유기성 폐기물의 바이오차 제조를 위한 반탄화 장치

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EP1728845A2 (fr) * 2005-05-02 2006-12-06 General Atomics Dispositif de gazéification par plasma
WO2008058137A2 (fr) * 2006-11-06 2008-05-15 Kostek Stanislaw Sr Procédés et appareil pour la pyrolyse de matériaux

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JPH06279769A (ja) * 1993-03-26 1994-10-04 Nippon Steel Corp 石炭乾留ガス改質方法
EP1728845A2 (fr) * 2005-05-02 2006-12-06 General Atomics Dispositif de gazéification par plasma
WO2008058137A2 (fr) * 2006-11-06 2008-05-15 Kostek Stanislaw Sr Procédés et appareil pour la pyrolyse de matériaux

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9500362B2 (en) 2010-01-21 2016-11-22 Powerdyne, Inc. Generating steam from carbonaceous material
US9874113B2 (en) 2010-05-03 2018-01-23 Powerdyne, Inc. System and method for reutilizing CO2 from combusted carbonaceous material
WO2012150871A1 (fr) * 2011-05-03 2012-11-08 FRÂNCU, Bogdan-Sabin Procédé et installation pour le traitement thermique par plasma d'un mélange gazeux
US8931278B2 (en) 2011-05-16 2015-01-13 Powerdyne, Inc. Steam generation system
EP2837423A3 (fr) * 2012-01-20 2015-08-05 University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Bioraffinerie intensifiée intégrée de conversion gaz-liquide
CN104114264A (zh) * 2012-01-20 2014-10-22 纽卡斯尔大学 用于气体向液体转化的一体化强化生物精炼
US9677431B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2017-06-13 Powerdyne, Inc. Methods for generating hydrogen gas using plasma sources
WO2014039695A1 (fr) * 2012-09-05 2014-03-13 Powerdyne, Inc. Procédés pour la génération d'hydrogène gazeux à l'aide de sources de plasma
US10065135B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2018-09-04 Powerdyne, Inc. Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates
US9382818B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-07-05 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
US9410452B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-08-09 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
US9458740B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-10-04 Powerdyne, Inc. Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates
US9765270B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2017-09-19 Powerdyne, Inc. Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
US9273570B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2016-03-01 Powerdyne, Inc. Methods for power generation from H2O, CO2, O2 and a carbon feed stock
US9561486B2 (en) 2012-09-05 2017-02-07 Powerdyne, Inc. System for generating fuel materials using Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and plasma sources
RU2504443C1 (ru) * 2012-11-30 2014-01-20 Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение "Национальный исследовательский центр "Курчатовский институт" Способ плазменно-каталитической переработки твердых бытовых отходов
US9067849B2 (en) 2013-03-12 2015-06-30 Powerdyne, Inc. Systems and methods for producing fuel from parallel processed syngas
RU2588220C1 (ru) * 2015-01-19 2016-06-27 Федеральное государственное унитарное предприятие "Центральный институт авиационного моторостроения им. П.И. Баранова" Способ сжигания низкокалорийного топлива
US9550148B2 (en) 2015-06-02 2017-01-24 Paragon Waste Solutions, Llc Heavy metal removal
CN107377587A (zh) * 2017-07-31 2017-11-24 安徽诺鑫自动化设备有限公司 一种化工类固废处理过程中的热解装置
CN109647854A (zh) * 2018-12-20 2019-04-19 袁利民 一种铝电解槽阴极炭块的无害化处理方法
WO2021115807A1 (fr) * 2019-12-10 2021-06-17 Basf Se Processus de pyrolyse d'hydrocarbures dans un réacteur à tambour rotatif indirectement chauffé
KR102596746B1 (ko) * 2022-09-07 2023-11-03 한동욱 유기성 폐기물의 바이오차 제조를 위한 반탄화 장치

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