System and method for production of fischer-tropsch synthesis products and power

Abstract

A gasification system including a gasifier operable to produce, from a carbonaceous feedstock, a gasification product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products and a Fischer-Tropsch tailgas from a first portion of the gasification product gas, and power production apparatus configured to generate power from a second portion of the gasification product gas, at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tailgas, or both. A method for operating the system is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gasification system comprising:
 a gasifier operable to produce, from a carbonaceous feedstock, a gasification product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;   a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products and a Fischer-Tropsch tailgas from a first portion of the gasification product gas; and   power production apparatus configured to generate power from a second portion of the gasification product gas, at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tailgas, or both.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  optionally comprising conditioning apparatus configured to alter the composition of the gasification product gas, and further comprising:
 (a) a fluid connection between the gasifier and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor; a fluid connection between the synthesis gas conditioning apparatus and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor; or both; and 
 (b) a fluid connection between the gasifier and the power production apparatus; a fluid connection between the synthesis gas conditioning apparatus and the power production apparatus; or both. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising product upgrading apparatus configured to alter the composition of at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the product upgrading apparatus is configured to provide at least one product selected from the group consisting of primarily naphtha products and primarily diesel products. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising hydrogen recovery apparatus configured to recover hydrogen from a third portion of the gasification product gas. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the hydrogen recovery apparatus is fluidly connected with a product upgrading apparatus, such that at least a portion of the recovered hydrogen can be introduced into the product upgrading apparatus, wherein the product upgrading apparatus is configured to alter the composition of at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising conditioning apparatus configured to adjust the composition of the gasification product gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the conditioning apparatus is configured to alter the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the gasification product gas, to reduce the amount of at least one undesirable component therein, or both. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the conditioning apparatus comprises a partial oxidation reactor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the partial oxidation reactor is configured for operation at at least one temperature in the range of from about 1100° C. to about 1315° C., and at least one pressure in the range of from about 165 kPa to about 441 kPa. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the partial oxidation reactor is configured to provide a conditioned gasification product gas having a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.5. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the conditioning apparatus comprises at least one apparatus selected from the group consisting of partial oxidation reactors, heat recovery apparatus, quenching apparatus, pressure swing adsorbers, vacuum swing adsorbers, compressors, sulfur removal apparatus, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the conditioning apparatus comprises one or more apparatus selected from the group consisting of partial oxidation reactors, heat recovery apparatus, quenching apparatus, air-enrichment apparatus configured to provide oxygen-enriched air, sulfur removal apparatus, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising feedstock handling apparatus configured to prepare the carbonaceous feedstock for gasification. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gasifier comprises a dual fluidized bed gasifier. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the gasifier is configured to produce a gasification product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a carbonaceous feedstock comprising biomass.