Device for combustion of a carbon containing fuel in a nitrogen free atmosphere and a method for operating said device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for combustion of a carbon containing fuel in a nitrogen free atmosphere, and a method for operating said device. The device may be integrated with a power generation plant (i.e. gas turbine(s)) to obtain an energy efficient process for generation of power with reduced emission of carbon dioxide and NOx to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the device may be integrated with a chemical plant performing endothermic reactions.

1 - 17 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       18 . A device for combustion of a carbon containing fuel in a nitrogen free atmosphere, wherein said device comprises a hollow shell having an inlet for conveying said fuel, an inlet for conveying a compressed oxygen containing gas stream, an outlet for discharging an oxygen depleted gas stream and an outlet for discharging a bleed stream; 
 and said shell encloses one or more heat exchange modules arranged to heat the incoming compressed oxygen containing gas stream;    one or more mixed conducting membrane modules arranged to separate oxygen from said oxygen containing gas stream resulting in an oxygen rich gas stream and said oxygen depleted gas stream;    a first and possibly a second combustion chamber for combustion of said fuel having an inlet connected to said inlet for fuel to convey fuel to said chamber, an inlet connected to said heat exchange module(s) to convey hot oxygen rich gas to said chamber and an outlet connected to said membrane module(s) to convey exhaust gas from the combustion chamber to the membrane module;    a pressure booster installed prior to the first combustion chamber;    means ( 11 , 21 ) for connecting said heat exchanger module(s) and membrane module(s);    means ( 7 , 23 ) for connecting said heat exchanger module(s) and said membrane module(s) to the inlet for the compressed oxygen containing gas stream and the outlet for the oxygen depleted gas stream and    means for conveying a part of said exhaust gas stream directly to said heat exchange module(s) and back to said inlet from the combustion chamber.    
   
   
       19 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said heat exchange module(s), said membrane module(s), said means ( 7 , 11 , 21 , 23 ), an outlet for said hot oxygen rich gas stream, said outlet for discharged oxygen depleted gas stream, an inlet for said exhaust gas and said inlet for compressed oxygen containing gas stream are all installed in a pressure vessel (reactor).  
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said heat exchange module(s), said membrane module(s), said second combustion chamber, said means ( 7 , 11 , 21 , 23 ), an outlet for said hot oxygen rich gas stream, said outlet for discharged oxygen depleted gas stream, an inlet for said exhaust gas and said inlet for compressed oxygen containing gas stream are all installed in a pressure vessel.  
   
   
       21 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said modules and said second combustion chamber are vertically interconnected one above the other.  
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said modules are vertically interconnected one above the other.  
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said membrane module is installed between two heat exchange modules.  
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said second combustion chamber is installed between one of the heat exchange module and a membrane module.  
   
   
       25 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein said outlet for said hot oxygen rich gas stream is connected to the inlet to the first combustion chamber and said inlet for said exhaust gas is connected to the outlet from the first combustion chamber.  
   
   
       26 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said pressure booster is a fan or a compressor.  
   
   
       27 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said heat exchange module(s) and said membrane module(s) comprise a multichannel monolithic structure.  
   
   
       28 . A method for operating a device according to  claim 18 , wherein said method comprises the following steps: 
 a compressed oxygen containing gas stream is fed to a first heat exchange module where it is heated by means of heat generated by combustion of a fuel in a combustion chamber;    said heated gas stream is fed to a mixed conducting membrane module(s) where most of the oxygen is separated from said gas stream and an oxygen depleted gas stream is obtained;    a sweep gas is fed to said membrane module to pick up oxygen and the oxygen enriched sweep gas is further fed to a pressure booster;    the pressurized sweep gas stream enters the combustion chamber where it is mixed with a fuel for combustion;    and said oxygen depleted gas stream is fed to another heat exchange module for further heating before leaving said device.    
   
   
       29 . A method for operating a device according to  claim 28 , wherein said combustion product; the exhaust gas, is applied as sweep gas.  
   
   
       30 . A method for operating a device according to  claim 28 , wherein a part of the exhaust gas is taken out as a bleed stream to prevent accumulation of mass in the device.  
   
   
       31 . Use of a device and a method according to  claim 18  in a plant for generation of power.  
   
   
       32 . Use of a device and a method according to  claim 18  in a chemical plant performing an endothermic reaction.