Gasification process

Abstract

A method for converting biomass into syngas by converting the biomass into a viscous, pumpable pyrolysis liquid and feeding this liquid into a gasifier. The biomass is first fed to a pyrolysis unit which will convert the biomass in part to the viscous, pumpable pyrolysis liquid. This pyrolysis liquid is then fed into a gasifier either by itself or with a solid carbon-containing component where it will react to form syngas.

1 . A method of gasifying biomass comprising the steps of converting the biomass into a liquid, adding a solid carbon-containing component and feeding the combination of liquid biomass and solid carbon-containing component into a gasifier. 
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said biomass comprises wood, straw, plant deposits, woodchips, grasses forestry waste, municipal solid waste, waste water sludge, manure, and waste fats. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein biomass is converted into liquid in a pyrolysis unit 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said liquid is pyrolysis liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said pyrolysis unit further yields char and gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein syngas is recovered from said gasifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  said pyrolysis liquid is purified prior to being fed into said gasifier. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein char is recovered from said gasifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the combination of liquid biomass and solid carbon-containing component remains pumpable. 
     
     
         10 . A method of gasifying biomass comprising the steps of converting the biomass into a liquid and feeding the liquid into a gasifier. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said biomass comprises wood, straw, plant deposits, woodchips, grasses forestry waste, municipal solid waste, waste water sludge, manure, and waste fats. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein biomass is converted into liquid in a pyrolysis unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said liquid is pyrolysis liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said pyrolysis unit further yields char and gas. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein syngas is recovered from said gasifier. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  said pyrolysis liquid is purified prior to being fed into said gasifier. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein solid carbon-containing components are mixed with said liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein char is recovered from said gasifier. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said pyrolysis liquid remains pumpable. 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing syngas comprising the steps of converting biomass into a liquid, gasifying the liquid and recovering syngas. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said biomass comprises wood, straw, plant deposits, woodchips, grasses forestry waste, municipal solid waste, waste water sludge, manure, and waste fats. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein biomass is converted into liquid in a pyrolysis unit. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said liquid is pyrolysis liquid. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said pyrolysis unit further yields char and gas. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  said pyrolysis liquid is purified prior to being fed into said gasifier. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein solid carbon-containing components are mixed with said liquid. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein char is recovered from said gasifier. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said pyrolysis liquid remains pumpable.