Gas-solids separation system having a partitioned solids transfer conduit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329506-B2
Application number	US-201715483356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2017
Priority date	Apr 10, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A solids discharge system (SDS) is configured to separate solids from product gas. The system includes a solids separation device and at least one solids transfer conduit configured to receive solids from the solids separation device. The solids transfer conduit is selectively partitioned into a plurality of compartments (or “sections”) along its length by isolation valves. A gas supply conduit and a gas discharge conduits are connected to one of the sections to facilitate removal of solids. A filter in fluid communication with that section is configured to prevent solids from passing through the gas discharge conduit so that the solids can be removed from one of the sections of the solids transfer conduit. A product gas generation system incorporates first and second reactors, the latter of which receives products created by the second reactor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solids discharge system (SDS) configured to separate solids from gas, the system comprising:
(a) a solids separation device ( 250 ) having:
(a1) an interior ( 251 );
(a2) a separation input ( 252 ) configured to receive a gas;
(a3) a separation solids output ( 254 );
(a4) a separation gas output ( 256 );

(b) a first solids transfer conduit ( 234 A) configured to receive solids from the solids separation device ( 250 ) and comprising:
(b1) a first solids transfer conduit input ( 261 A) in fluid communication with the separation solids output ( 254 ) of the solids separation device ( 250 );
(b2) a first isolation valve (YV 1 A), a second isolation valve (YV 2 A), and a third isolation valve (YV 3 A) spaced apart from one another along the length of the first solids transfer conduit ( 234 A) with the second isolation valve (YV 2 A) positioned between the first and third isolation valves such that the first solids transfer conduit ( 234 A) is partitioned into an upper section (Y 06 ), an upper-middle section (Y 08 ), a lower-middle section (Y 10 ), and a lower section (Y 12 );
(b3) an output (Y 13 ) connected to said lower section (Y 12 ) that is configured to discharge solids ( 232 A);

(c) a gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) in fluid communication with said lower-middle section (Y 10 ) for introducing a gas into the lower-middle section (Y 10 );
(d) a gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) in fluid communication with said lower-middle section (Y 10 ) for removing a gas from the lower-middle section (Y 10 );
(e) a lower-middle section pressurization valve (YV 4 A) that is positioned on the gas supply conduit (Y 20 );
(f) a lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A) that is positioned on the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 );
(g) a filter (Y 33 ) in fluid communication with the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) and configured to prevent solids from leaving the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) through the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 );
(h) a computer (COMP) configured to control the solids discharge system (SDS);
wherein:
the filter (Y 33 ) has pore sizes or openings ranging from 0.1 microns to 100 microns; and
the filter (Y 33 ) has an area ranging from 5 square inches to 10,000 square inches.

2. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , further including a first restriction orifice (YRO) installed on the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) in between the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) and the lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A).

3. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 2 , wherein the first restriction orifice (YRO) has an open area ranging from 0.008 square inches to 7 square inches.

4. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , further including a first restriction orifice (YRO) installed on the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) in between the filter (Y 33 ) and the lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A).

5. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 4 , wherein the first restriction orifice (YRO) has an open area ranging from 0.008 square inches to 7 square inches.

6. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , further including a pressure control valve (YV 6 A) positioned on the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ), said pressure control valve (YV 6 A) is configured to regulate the pressure of a gas (Y 28 ) introduced to the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ).

7. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 6 , further including a first gas supply conduit pressure sensor (YP 4 ) positioned on the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) upstream of the pressure control valve (YV 6 A), wherein said first gas supply conduit pressure sensor (YP 4 ) configured to measure the pressure of gas (Y 28 ) introduced to the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ).

8. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 6 , further including a first gas supply conduit pressure sensor (YP 4 ) configured to measure the pressure within the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) upstream of the lower-middle section pressurization valve (YV 4 A).

9. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , further including a second gas supply conduit pressure sensor (YP 5 ) positioned on the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) upstream of the lower-middle section pressurization valve (YV 4 A), wherein said second gas supply conduit pressure sensor (YP 5 ) is configured to measure the pressure of gas (Y 28 ) that passes through the lower-middle section pressurization valve (YV 4 A).

10. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , further including a solids separation system pressure sensor (YP 1 ) configured to measure the pressure within the solids separation device ( 250 ).

11. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 10 , further including:
a lower-middle section pressure sensor (YP 6 ) configured to measure the pressure within the lower-middle section (Y 10 ).

12. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the upper section (Y 06 ) has a first length (Y 07 ) that ranges from 1 foot to 70 feet;
the upper-middle section (Y 08 ) has a second length (Y 09 ) that ranges from 1 foot to 50 feet; and
the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) has a third length (Y 11 ) that ranges from 1 foot to 50 feet.

13. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter (Y 33 ) is comprised of a sintered metal.

14. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter (Y 33 ) is comprised of one or more from the group consisting of metal, ceramic, cloth, particulate filter, candle filter, ceramic fiber, filter cartridge, fiber, and mesh.

15. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter (Y 33 ) is configured to have a face velocity during depressurization ranging from 0.5 feet per minute to 50 feet per minute.

16. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) is connected to the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) via a gas discharge port (Y 32 );
the filter (Y 33 ) is installed on the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) in between the gas discharge port (Y 32 ) and the lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A); and
the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) is connected to the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) via a gas inlet port (Y 18 ).

17. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 16 , wherein:
the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) is connected to the filter (Y 33 ) via a first connection (Y 38 ) and a second connection (Y 40 ); and
the first connection (Y 38 ) is connected to the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) via the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) and the gas discharge port (Y 32 ).

18. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ) is connected to the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) via a gas supply and discharge port (Y 31 );
the filter (Y 33 ) is installed between the gas supply and discharge port (Y 31 ) and the lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A) positioned on the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ); and
the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) is connected to the lower-middle section (Y 10 ) via the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ); and
the gas supply conduit (Y 20 ) is connected to the gas discharge conduit (Y 34 ), either in between the filter (Y 33 ) and the lower-middle section depressurization valve (YV 5 A), or in between the filter (Y 33 ) and the gas supply and discharge port (Y 31 ).

19. The solids discharge system (SDS) according to claim 18 , wherein:
the gas discharge con

Assignees

• Thermochem Recovery Int Inc

Inventors

• Chandran Ravi
• Newport Dave G
• Leo Daniel Michael
• Burciaga Daniel A
• Miller Justin Kevin
• Harrington Kaitlin Emily
• Attwood Brian Christopher
• SCHULTHEIS Emily Jane
• Kishton Kelly Ann

Classifications

• C01B2203/0216

  containing a non-catalytic steam reforming step · CPC title

• C10G2/34 Primary

  Apparatus, reactors · CPC title

• C01B2203/02

  Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas · CPC title

• C01B2203/062

  Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process · CPC title

• C01B2203/0283

  containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step · CPC title