System and method for gasifying a liquid substrate

Abstract

A system for gasifying a liquid substrate which comprises a gasification tank, means for pumping a liquid substrate into the gasification tank, wherein said liquid substrate comprises a liquid fraction and solid fuel particles dissolved and/or in suspension in said liquid fraction; an injection tube connected to the gasification tank for injecting a liquid substrate into the gasification tank; a control valve positioned in the injection tube; a first gasifying agent inlet to the interior of the gasification tank, said first inlet comprising a burner, wherein at least one part of the gases forming said gasifying agent are burned; a tube for conducting fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for gasifying a liquid substrate which comprises a gasification tank ( 1 ), characterized in that it also comprises:
 means for pumping a liquid substrate into the gasification tank ( 1 ), wherein said liquid substrate comprises a liquid fraction and solid fuel particles dissolved and/or in suspension in said liquid fraction;   an injection tube ( 3 ) connected to the gasification tank ( 1 ) for injecting a liquid substrate into the gasification tank ( 1 );   a control valve ( 2 ) positioned in the injection tube ( 3 );   a first gasifying agent inlet ( 5 ) to the interior of the gasification tank ( 1 ), said first inlet ( 5 ) comprising a burner ( 6 ), wherein at least one part of the gases forming said gasifying agent are burned;   a tube for conducting ( 11 ) fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the injection tube ( 3 ) discharges into one point of the gasification tank ( 1 ), wherein the temperature of the gasifying agent is such that the total or partial evaporation of the liquid fraction of the liquid substrate is produced. 
     
     
         3 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the temperature of the gasifying agent at the point where the injection tube ( 3 ) of the liquid substrate discharges into the gasification tank ( 1 ) is substantially equal to or greater than 400° C. 
     
     
         4 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a second gasifying agent inlet ( 7 ) to the interior of the gasification tank ( 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the gasification tank ( 1 ) comprises:
 a base ( 8 ) connected to a collection tube ( 9 ) for circulating both the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate and solid residues generated during the gasification process;   a separation device ( 10 ) connected both to the collection tube ( 9 ) and to the conduction tube ( 11 ), wherein said separation device ( 10 ) is connected, by the lower part thereof, to an ashtray vessel ( 12 ).   
     
     
         6 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the separation device ( 10 ) comprises a cyclone. 
     
     
         7 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the conduction tube ( 11 ) is connected to a gas filter ( 13 ) for separating undesired gases and/or solid residues from the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the conduction tube ( 11 ) connects to a system for rinsing the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the conduction tube ( 11 ) connects to a first heat exchanger ( 17 ) for utilizing the thermal heat contained in the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one temperature probe ( 14 ) situated in the interior of the gasification tank ( 1 ). 
     
     
         11 . The system for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one measurement probe ( 15 ) situated in the interior of the gasification tank ( 1 ) for measuring the quantity of oxygen contained in the gasifying agent. 
     
     
         12 . A method for gasifying a liquid substrate, characterized in that it comprises:
 introducing a determined quantity of liquid substrate, which comprises solid fuel particles dissolved and/or in suspension within a current of gasifying agent wherein said gasifying agent comprises any combination of at least the following constituents:
 air; 
 oxygen; 
 water vapor; 
 carbon dioxide; 
 hot gases coming from external combustion processes; 
 fuel gases; 
 increasing the temperature of the liquid substrate until the evaporation of the liquid part of the liquid substrate is produced; 
 gasifying the solid fuel particles of the liquid substrate; 
 collecting fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate; 
 wherein the method comprises heating the gasifying agent, wherein said heating comprises at least the following steps: 
   a first step consists of heating the gasifying agent to a temperature substantially equal to or greater than 400° C. prior to the introduction within the gasifying agent of a determined quantity of liquid substrate;   a second step consists of heating the gasifying agent to a temperature of between 700° C. and 1,400° C.   
     
     
         13 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises:
 pressurizing the liquid substrate prior to the introduction thereof within a current of gasifying agent to a pressure equal to or greater than the evaporation pressure, at a determined temperature, of the liquid fraction contained in the liquid substrate;   preheating the liquid substrate prior to the introduction thereof within a current of gasifying agent;   spraying the liquid substrate in small drops of liquid substrate, injecting them within the current of gasifying agent.   
     
     
         14 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that in the second step of heating the gasifying agent, said gasifying agent is heated to a temperature of between 1,000° C. and 1,200° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises burning at least one part of the constituents of the gasifying agent prior to the introduction of the liquid substrate within the gasifying agent. 
     
     
         16 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises separating ashes and/or solid residues from the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises filtering the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises circulating the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate through a first heat exchanger ( 17 ) to utilize the thermal energy contained in the fuel gas for other processes. 
     
     
         19 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises:
 measuring the temperature of the gasifying agent during the gasification of said liquid substrate at least once and at at least one point of an area where the gasifying agent and the liquid substrate are mixed;   regulating the temperature and/or the quantity of oxygen contained in the gasifying agent as a function of the measured temperature of the gasifying agent.   
     
     
         20 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises:
 preheating gasifying agent ( 21 );   introducing ( 22 ) a current of gasifying agent into a gasification tank ( 1 ) by way of a first gasifying agent inlet ( 5 );   pressurizing ( 23 ) the liquid substrate to a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid fraction of the liquid substrate at a preheating temperature of the liquid substrate;   preheating a liquid substrate ( 24 ) which comprises solid fuel particles dissolved and/or in suspension;   injecting ( 25 ) inside the gasification tank ( 1 ) and by way of an injection tube ( 3 ) the liquid substrate within the current of gasifying agent, wherein the liquid substrate is sprayed in small drops which are dispersed in the current of gasifying agent;   regulating the temperature of the gasifying agent and the pressurization of the liquid substrate to evaporate ( 26 ) the liquid fraction of the liquid substrate through the effect of a temperature increase and a pressure decrease of the liquid substrate;   regulating the temperature and the quantity of oxygen of the gasifying agent to gasify ( 27 ) the solid fuel particles of the liquid substrate by means of a thermochemical reaction with the gasifying agent;   collecting in a collection tube ( 9 ) connected to a base ( 8 ) of the gasification tank ( 1 ), fuel gas, product of the gasification of the liquid substrate, together with ashes and/or solid residues;   separating ( 28 ) ashes and/or solid residues from the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate in a separation device ( 10 );   circulating ( 29 ) the fuel gas obtained as a product of the gasification of the liquid substrate through a first heat exchanger ( 17 ) to utilize the thermal energy of the fuel gas.   
     
     
         21 . The method for gasifying a liquid substrate according to  claim 20 , characterized in that it comprises introducing gasifying agent into the gasification tank ( 1 ) by way of a second gasifying agent inlet ( 7 ) situated below the injection nozzle ( 3 ).