Plasma-based apparatus for gasifying bio-waste into synthetic gas

Abstract

An apparatus for producing synthetic gas from bio-waste includes a chamber, a feeder, a plasma torch, a steam-providing and water-circulating system and a synthetic gas cleaner. The feeder is in communication with the chamber. The feeder feeds the bio-waste into the chamber. The plasma torch is in communication with the chamber. The plasma torch provides plasma into the chamber for gasifying the bio-waste into the synthetic gas. The steam-providing and water-circulating system circulates water for cooling the chamber and the plasma torch. Furthermore, the steam-providing and water-circulating system and provides steam into the plasma torch for the generation of the plasma. The synthetic gas cleaner is in communication with the chamber. The synthetic gas cleaner receives the produced synthetic gas and polishes it into fuel-class gas.

1 . An apparatus for producing synthetic gas from bio-waste comprising:
 a chamber;   a feeder in communication with the chamber so that the feeder provides the bio-waste into the chamber;   a plasma torch in communication with the chamber so that the plasma torch provides plasma into the chamber for gasifying the bio-waste into the synthetic gas;   a steam-providing and water-circulating system for circulating water to cool the chamber and the plasma torch and for providing steam into the plasma torch for the generation of the steam plasma; and   a synthetic gas cleaner in communication with the chamber so that the synthetic gas cleaner receives the synthetic gas from the chamber and cleans the same.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a water inlet defined therein, a water outlet defined therein, a gas inlet defined therein and a gas outlet defined therein. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  comprising:
 a heat-isolating lining disposed in the chamber; and 
 a water jacket provided between the heat-isolating lining and the chamber so that water can travel into the water jacket through the water inlet of the chamber and leave the water jacket through the water outlet of the chamber. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a crucible disposed in the chamber for receiving ash. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasma raises the temperature in the chamber to 800 to 1600 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam-providing and water-circulating system comprises:
 a steam reservoir in communication with the plasma torch; and   a water reservoir in communication with the plasma torch and the chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasma torch comprises:
 a rear electrode;   a front electrode in communication with the rear electrode;   an isolator provided around the rear and front electrodes;   a swirl generator provided around the isolator and formed with a steam inlet element and a steam outlet; and   a plasma outlet element is provided near the front electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the plasma torch comprises a power supply between the rear and front electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at the center of the plasma torch is as high as 10,000 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder executes a two-phased feeding process. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder comprises:
 a tube in communication with the chamber;   a case in communication with the tube;   a chute for sending the bio-waste into the case;   a gate provided between the case and the chute;   a horizontal pusher for pushing the bio-waste into the tube from the case; and   a vertical pusher for pushing the bio-waste down the tube into the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam-providing and water-circulating system comprises:
 a central control unit for controlling the operation of the steam-providing and water-circulating system;   a water reservoir for detecting the level of water contained therein and taking in more water if necessary to keep the level in a predetermined range, wherein the water reservoir is in communication with the steam reservoir so that the former can provide water into the latter that can turn the water into steam, the water reservoir is in communication with the steam plasma torch so that the former can send water into the latter, and the water reservoir is in communication with the chamber so that the water reservoir can provide water into the water jacket of the chamber;   a steam reservoir for detecting the level of water contained therein and taking in more water if necessary to keep the level in a predetermined range, i.e., keeping the space for containing steam in a predetermined range, and the steam reservoir is in communication with the steam re-heater so that the former sends steam into the latter;   a steam re-heater for heating the steam from the steam reservoir again so that the steam reaches a predetermined temperature and is super-heated; and   a steam flow controller provided between the steam re-heater and the steam plasma torch so that the steam re-heater sends the steam into the steam plasma torch at a predetermined flow rate under the control of the steam flow controller.