US4289625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hybrid bio-thermal gasification
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1980-01-18
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 2000-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification wherein a biological feed is anaerobically digested with product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas withdrawn from the digester and biological residue separately withdrawn from the digester and introduced into a thermal gasifier wherein at least a substantial portion of the biological residue is gasified under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue with at least a portion of the thermal gasifier products or their derivatives being returned to the digester. The process provides high conversion of the carbonaceous material and biological feed stocks to gas products and permits gasification of a wider variety of biological feeds by anaerobic digestion processes while requiring less external nutrient feeding to the process. The process of this invention provides a highly efficient process for production of substitute natural gas. Various advantages of interrelation between the anaerobic digester and thermal gasification are taught.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul B. Tarman
- 👤 David P. Chynoweth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:03
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P5/00; C12P5/02; C12P5/023; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/10; C02F3/00; C02F3/28; C05; C05F; C05F9/00; C05F9/04; C10; C10J; C10J3/00; C10J3/02; C10J3/20; C10J3/46; C10J3/48; C10J3/482; C10J3/54; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/04; C12M29/00; C12M29/18; C12M29/24; C12M43/00; C10J2300/00; C10J2300/09; C10J2300/0903; C10J2300/0906; C10J2300/0913; C10J2300/0916; C10J2300/092; C10J2300/0946; C10J2300/0953; C10J2300/0973; C10J2300/0976; C10J2300/16; C10J2300/164; C10J2300/1656; C10J2300/1662; C10J2300/1668; C10J2300/1681; C10J2300/18; C10J2300/1807; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/20; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/30; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/141; Y02P20/145; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/40; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; introducing a gasification product to said active liquid culture during said anaerobic digesting; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, at least a portion of said thermal gasifier products or their derivatives being passed through said digester as said gasification product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; introducing a gasification product to said active liquid culture during said anaerobic digesting; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, at least a portion of said thermal gasifier products or their derivatives being passed through said digester as said gasification product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier products is hydrogen containing gas at least a portion of which is converted to methane by said active culture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier products is carbon monoxide containing gas at least a portion of which is converted to methane by said active culture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier products is carbon dioxide containing gas at least a portion of which is converted to methane by said active culture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier product gas is methane containing gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier products is ammonia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermal gasifier products is gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said thermal residue is added to said anaerobic digester to provide inorganic nutrients.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biological residue is dewatered to less than about 80 weight percent water prior to introduction to said thermal gasifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the supernatant from said dewatering is recycled to said anaerobic digester.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said biological residue is dewatered to less than about 50 weight percent water prior to introduction to said thermal gasifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the supernatant from said dewatering is recycled to said anaerobic digester.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said thermal gasifier products is gas used as a feed for ammonia synthesis to provide ammonia to said biological digester.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said thermal gasifier products is gas fed to said biological digester.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester is withdrawn from the process for use in medium Btu fuel gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said thermal gasifier products is hydrogen containing gas and is withdrawn from the process as hydrogen containing gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester is steam reformed to hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and fed to said biological digester.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said product methane and carbon dioxide from said anaerobic digester is additionally purified resulting in substitute natural gas (SNG).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said thermal gasifier product gas is hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide containing gas and is additionally subject to a carbon monoxide shift reaction and methanation resulting in substitute natural gas (SNG).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biological feed comprises terrestrial plant material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biological feed comprises aquatic plant material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biological feed comprises organic waste.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biological feed comprises peat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said thermal gasifier is operated at temperatures of about 1200° to about 1800° F.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
97 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, said thermal gasifier providing thermal energy to raise the temperature of said active liquid culture for improved methane production.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
97 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, said thermal gasifier providing thermal energy to raise the temperature of said active liquid culture for improved methane production.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 25 wherein said thermal gasifier is operated at temperatures of about 1200° to about 1800° F.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, at least a portion of thermal energy from said thermal gasifier being used for dewatering said biological residue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A hybrid bio-thermal gasification process for improved carbonaceous gasification comprising: adding biological feed to an anaerobic digester; anaerobically digesting said biological feed under thermophilic or mesophilic conditions in an active liquid culture; withdrawing product methane and carbon dioxide containing gas from said digester; separately withdrawing biological residue from said digester and introducing it into a thermal gasifier; gasifying at least a substantial portion of said biological residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermal gasifier products and thermal residue, at least a portion of thermal energy from said thermal gasifier being used for dewatering said biological residue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said thermal gasifier is operated at temperatures of about 1200° to about 1800° F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-14 | 1985-03-16 | 1985-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-03-16 | 1989-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | 1993-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |