초록 ▼

The invention provides a practical and efficient method and apparatus for thermally processing organic based raw materials of either primary or secondary (recycled) origin, in order to extract volatile organic vapors and to selectively produce either condensable hydrocarbon gases or, more preferably

The invention provides a practical and efficient method and apparatus for thermally processing organic based raw materials of either primary or secondary (recycled) origin, in order to extract volatile organic vapors and to selectively produce either condensable hydrocarbon gases or, more preferably, non-condensable synthesis gases that are rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide for use as a raw material in chemical processes, or as a fuel. In particular, the invention provides a single rotary reactor having two contiguous hearth reaction areas, i.e., a drying and volatizing area and a reformation area, the areas being separated from each other by a bed-retaining refractory weir. The weir has an aperture for fluidly connecting the two hearth reaction areas of the single reactor. In each of the two reaction areas, the temperature, pressure, and chemical characteristics of the internal gaseous atmosphere can be selectively controlled to achieve the degree of volatizing, cracking, dissociation and/or reforming of vaporous hydrocarbon gases required to meet the desired operating objective. Thus, a variety of synthesis gases having differing degrees of richness in hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be produced in a single reactor, eliminating the need for a downstream secondary reformation or "finishing" reactor.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for selectively producing condensable hydrocarbon gases and non-condensable synthesis gases from organic materials in a single reactor, comprising the steps of:providing a single rotating reactor having a drying and volatizing hearth reaction area contiguous with a reformat

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for selectively producing condensable hydrocarbon gases and non-condensable synthesis gases from organic materials in a single reactor, comprising the steps of:providing a single rotating reactor having a drying and volatizing hearth reaction area contiguous with a reformation hearth reaction area, and a refractory weir separating the two contiguous reaction areas, wherein the weir has an aperture for fluidly connecting the two reaction areas;feeding an organic material into the drying and volatizing area;heating the organic material in the drying and volatizing area to a temperature of about 500.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C.;retaining the organic material as a rotating bed in the drying and volatizing area by means of the refractory weir until the material is substantially completely dried and volatized to form a hot process gas and a hot residual solid matter;flowing the hot process gas through the aperture in the weir and into the reformation area;flowing the hot residual solid matter over the weir to form a rotating bed of residual solid matter in the reformation area;elevating the temperature of the hot process gas and the hot residual solid matter in the reformation area to a selected temperature of from about 600.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C.;thermally reforming the hot process gas to achieve a selected equilibrium gas composition; anddischarging the hot gases and the hot residual solid matter from the reactor.