Method of generating an energy source from a wet gas flow

Abstract

A method of generating energy from a gas flow, called the initial flow, including water vapour, the method including the deoxidation of at least some of the water vapour by passing the initial gas flow through a layer of material at high temperature, called the thermal base layer, essentially including high-temperature carbon, the deoxidation making it possible to obtain a first gas flow comprising hydrogen obtained by the reaction of the water vapour with the carbon elements. The initial flow may be a gas flow that has served for the treatment of a charge of wood. The hydrogen obtained constitutes an energy source and may then be used to produce energy by a gas boiler, a gas turbine, a fuel cell, a gas-powered engine, a turboalternator, or the like.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of generating hydrogen from a so-called initial gas flow essentially comprising steam and CO 2 , said method comprising the following stages:
 a first stage of deoxidation of some of the steam molecules with high-temperature carbon elements by passing said initial gas flow through a layer of high-temperature material, called the thermal base, essentially comprising high-temperature carbon elements, said deoxidation producing a synthesis gas flow comprising on the one hand hydrogen and carbon monoxide molecules generated by said deoxidation and, on the other hand, CO 2  and residual steam molecules originating from said initial gas flow, and   downstream of said thermal base, a second stage of deoxidation of said residual steam molecules in contact with said carbon monoxide molecules contained in the synthesis gas, said second deoxidation producing a first gas flow comprising on the one hand hydrogen and CO 2  originating from said deoxidation and CO 2  originating from the initial gas flow;   said thermal base being produced by combustion under O 2  of biomass the moisture content of which has been reduced.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that the second deoxidation is caused by expansion of the synthesis gas flow in an expansion chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that it also comprises a step separating the hydrogen from the other elements contained in the first gas flow. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , characterized in that it also comprises storage of the hydrogen. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that it comprises generation of electricity in a fuel cell from at least some of the hydrogen, said generation also producing a reaction gas comprising steam. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , characterized in that at least some of the steam contained in the reaction gas is recycled in order to be deoxidized again by passing said steam through the thermal base. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that it also comprises combustion of at least some of the hydrogen in a gas-fired boiler, said combustion producing thermal energy and a combustion gas comprising high-temperature, low-pressure steam. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , characterized in that at least some of the thermal energy produced by the combustion of the hydrogen is used to condition a thermodynamic fluid in a second gas flow essentially comprising high-temperature, high-pressure steam. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , characterized in that at least some of the steam contained in the second gas flow is used to produce electricity in a steam turbine, said production also comprising generation of a third gas flow comprising low-pressure, low-temperature steam. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , characterized in that it also comprises compression of at least some of the low-temperature, low-pressure steam contained in the third gas flow bringing said steam to a condensation pressure. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , characterized in that it comprises recovery of at least some of the energy of condensation of the steam obtained after compression. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , characterized in that at least some of the steam is used to produce electricity in a steam turbine. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 28 , characterized in that at least some of the steam contained in the combustion gas is recycled in order to be deoxidized again by passing said steam through the thermal base. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 28 , characterized in that the combustion of the hydrogen is carried out under oxygen. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 28 , characterized in that the combustion of the hydrogen is carried out under air. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that it comprises an injection of oxygen into the core of the thermal base, said injection of oxygen being carried out so as to achieve incomplete combustion of the biomass, said incomplete combustion producing carbon monoxide molecules participating at least in part in the deoxidation of the steam molecules. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 22 , characterized in that the initial gas flow comprises at least part of a gas flow treating a biomass feedstock. 
     
     
         39 . A system comprising means for implementing the method according to claim  1 .