Pulse detonation shockwave gasifier

Abstract

Gasifiers, gasification systems, and methods for producing synthesis gas are disclosed. A gasifier can include a gasifier body. A feeder can be positioned to feed an organic material into the gasifier body. A pulse detonation burner can be located under or above the gasifier body and connected to the gasifier body to direct supersonic shockwaves upward into the gasifier body to heat the organic material and to form a jet spouted bed of the organic material or to operate as an entrained flow reactor. An outlet can be located at the gasifier body to allow removal of synthesis gas, residual ash, and other reaction products.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulsed detonation shockwave gasifier comprising:
 a gasifier body;   a feeder positioned to feed an organic material into the gasifier body;   a pulse detonation burner located either:
 under the gasifier body and connected to the gasifier body to direct supersonic shockwaves upward into the gasifier body to heat the organic material and to form a jet spouted bed of the organic material or 
 above the gasifier body and connected to the gasifier body to direct supersonic shockwaves downward into the gasifier body to heat the organic material as an entrained flow reactor; 
   an outlet connected to the gasifier body.   
     
     
         2 . The gasifier of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse detonation burner produces shockwaves at a frequency of at least 2 Hz. 
     
     
         3 . The gasifier of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse detonation burner produces hot gas at a temperature from 750° C. to 1550° C. 
     
     
         4 . The gasifier of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse detonation burner is located under the gasifier body and the gasifier body comprises a conical portion expanding upward from a lower portion of the gasifier body. 
     
     
         5 . The gasifier of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel source to supply a hydrocarbon fuel to the pulse detonation burner and an oxygen-enriched air source to supply oxygen enriched air to the pulse detonation burner. 
     
     
         6 . A gasification system, comprising:
 a gasifier according to  claim 1 ;   a reformer connected to the outlet of the gasifier to receive synthesis gas and residual ash from the gasifier, wherein the reformer comprises:
 a reformer body, 
 a second pulse detonation burner located either above or below the reformer body and connected to the reformer body to direct supersonic shockwaves downward or upward into the reformer body to heat the synthesis gas and residual ash. 
   
     
     
         7 . The gasification system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pulse detonation burner of the gasifier and the second pulse detonation burners produces shockwaves at a frequency of at least 2 Hz. 
     
     
         8 . The gasification system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pulse detonation burner of the gasifier and the second pulse detonation burners produces hot gas at a temperature from 750° C. to 1550° C. 
     
     
         9 . The gasification system of  claim 6 , wherein the reformer body comprises a venturi throat connected to the second pulse detonation burner such that hot gas from the pulse detonation burner acts as a motive fluid to draw the synthesis gas and residual ash from the gasifier into the reformer. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing synthesis gas, comprising:
 introducing an organic material into a gasifier comprising a gasifier body and a pulse detonation burner connected to the gasifier body;   firing supersonic shockwaves from the pulse detonation burner into the gasifier body to heat the organic material using a detonation fuel including a mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen-enriched air; and   removing synthesis gas and residual ash from the gasifier through an outlet located at an upper portion of the gasifier body.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pulse detonation burner is located under the gasifier body and wherein the firing directs the supersonic shockwaves upward into the gasifier body sufficient to form a jet spouted bed of the organic material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the firing directs the supersonic shockwaves downward or sideways into the gasifier body to operate as an entrained flow reactor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the supersonic shockwaves are fired at a frequency of at least 2 Hz. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the supersonic shockwaves travel at a velocity from 100 m/s to 3,000 m/s. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pulse detonation burner produces hot gas at a temperature from 750° C. to 1550° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the oxygen-enriched air has 30 mole % to 90 mole % oxygen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel comprises carbon-char residues recycled from the gasifier. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the supersonic shockwaves comminute the organic material to a smaller particle size than an initial particle size of the organic material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the initial particle size of the organic material is from 1 mm to 10 cm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising feeding effluent from the gasifier to a reformer, wherein the reformer comprising a reformer body and a second pulse detonation burner located above or below the reformer, wherein the second pulse detonation burner fires supersonic shockwaves downward or upward into the reformer body to heat the effluent. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the reformer body comprises a venturi throat connected to the second pulse detonation burner such that hot gas from the pulse detonation burner acts as a motive fluid to draw the effluent into the reformer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the synthesis gas comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide.