Simultaneous Production of Electricity and Liquid Fuels from Municipal Solid Wastes

Abstract

An energy self sufficient process for treatment of municipal solid waste includes the production of mixed alcohols. The process also includes gasification of the solid waste producing a gas that can provide either or both electricity and heat to further power the process.

1 . An energy self sufficient process for the production of mixed alcohols from components of municipal solid waste, which comprises:
 gasifying combustible portions of municipal solid waste producing a synthesis gas having CO and hydrogen at temperature at around or above 700° C.;   sending portion of said synthesis gas to a boiler or a turbine wherein excess electricity and heat produced operates process equipment;   sending remainder of said synthesis gas to a gas conditioning system reducing temperature and increasing the pressure of said synthesis gas;   sending the synthesis gas from said gas conditioning system to a catalytic conversion system producing said mixed alcohols;   sending unconverted (excess/unused/unneeded) synthesis gas back to said boiler or said turbine;   condensing product fluid from said catalytic conversion system; and   separating said mixed alcohols from hydrocarbons and other combustible liquids wherein waste liquids from condensing step are regasified.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising maintaining supercritical pressure for the synthesis gas reaction mixture within the catalytic conversion system. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising maintaining supercritical temperature for the synthesis gas reaction mixture within the catalytic conversion system. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 2  further comprising:
 monitoring the gas and liquid compositions from the catalytic reactor; and   adjusting the pressure to maintain a supercritical state.   
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 3  comprising:
 monitoring the gas and liquid compositions from the catalytic reactor; and   adjusting the temperature to maintain a supercritical state.   
   
   
       6 . An energy self sufficient process for the production of mixed alcohols and pipeline quality natural gas from components of municipal solid waste, which comprises: gasifying combustible portions of municipal solid waste producing a synthesis gas having methane, lower hydrocarbons, CO and hydrogen at temperature at around or above 700° C.;
 sending the synthesis gas from said gas conditioning system to a catalytic conversion system producing said mixed alcohols;   sending residual from alcohol producing unit to a gas conditioning system to produce pipeline quality gas; and   condensing product fluid from said catalytic conversion system.   
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising maintaining supercritical pressure for the synthesis gas reaction mixture within the catalytic conversion system. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising maintaining supercritical temperature for the synthesis gas reaction mixture within the catalytic conversion system. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 monitoring the gas and liquid compositions from the catalytic reactor; and   adjusting the pressure to maintain a supercritical state.   
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 8  comprising:
 monitoring the gas and liquid compositions from the catalytic reactor; and   adjusting the temperature to maintain a supercritical state.