Integrated whole bale feed plasma pyrolysis gasification of lignocellulosic feed stock

Abstract

A method for gasifying a wide variety of biomass into hydrogen and carbon monoxide (syngas) using plasma torch technology. Generally, biomass is converted into syngas by feeding biomass into a reaction chamber, directing the beam of a plasma torch across the face of the biomass in the chamber, and extracting hydrogen and carbon monoxide rich gas from the reaction chamber. The extracted gas can then be used as a gaseous fuel substitute for natural gas or as a feedstock for conversion to synthetic liquid fuels.

1 . A method for converting biomass into synthetic fuel gas comprising: 
 feeding biomass into a reaction chamber;    directing the flame of a plasma torch across a face of said biomass in said reaction chamber; and    extracting hydrogen and carbon monoxide rich gas from said reaction chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plasma torch is directed in a prescribed pattern via a preset control parameter strategy.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further including supplying additional oxygen, air or steam to said reaction chamber as the plasma torch is made to traverse said face in the prescribed pattern.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said biomass is whole baled biomass  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the biomass is corn stover.  
   
   
       6 . A gasification system comprising: 
 a reaction chamber;    an inlet coupled to said reaction chamber;    means adapted to feed a biomass material into said reaction chamber through said inlet;    a plasma torch configured to scan its flame across a face of the biomass material within said reaction chamber for producing a synthetic fuel gas; and    an outlet from the reaction chamber through which said synthetic fuel gas exits the reaction chamber.    
   
   
       7 . The gasification system of  claim 6  wherein said plasma torch is directed in a predetermined rastorizing pattern.  
   
   
       8 . The gasification system of  claim 7  further including an additional inlet in said reaction chamber for introducing oxygen, air, or steam.  
   
   
       9 . The gasification system of  claim 6  wherein said biomass material comprises a bale of biomass, such as corn stover.  
   
   
       10 . A method for converting biomass into gaseous synthetic fuel comprising: 
 feeding biomass into a reaction chamber;    supplying at least one of oxygen, air and steam to said reaction chamber;    directing the flame of a plasma torch across a surface of said biomass in a continuous pattern; and    extracting hydrogen and carbon monoxide rich gas from said reaction chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said biomass comprises a whole bale of biomass.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the biomass is corn stover.