US6519926B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrothermal conversion and separation
Assignee: General Atomics Corp
•
Filing: 2001-05-01
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Granted: 2003-02-18
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Expires: 2021-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A system for processing organic material to produce energy includes a reactor vessel for hydrothermally treating the organic material with water to produce an effluent. In the reactor vessel, the organic material is gasified to produce an effluent containing combustible gases, steam, particulates, salts and corrosive species. The effluent is passed to a heat exchanger for cooling to a temperature sufficient to condense any water vapor in the effluent. The cooled effluent is subsequently separated into a relatively clean gaseous portion and a residual portion containing the condensed water, particulates, salts, and other corrosive species. The gaseous portion is fed into the combustion chamber of a gas turbine, along with air, to produce energy. The heat extracted from the effluent and the waste heat from the gas turbine can be used to preheat the organic material before hydrothermal treatment or to drive a steam turbine.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Hazlebeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0643; C; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; C10G9/00; C10J; C10J3/00; C10J3/72; C10J3/78; F; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/067; C10J2300/00; C10J2300/09; C10J2300/0913; C10J2300/0916; C10J2300/0946; C10J2300/0953; C10J2300/0973; C10J2300/0979; C10J2300/0983; C10J2300/0993; C10J2300/16; C10J2300/164; C10J2300/1643; C10J2300/1646; C10J2300/165; C10J2300/1696; F05; F05B; F05B2220/00; F05B2220/10; F23; F23G; F23G2201/00; F23G2201/40; F23G2206/00; F23G2206/20; F23G2206/202; F23G2206/203; F23G2900/00; F23G2900/50003; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/12; Y02E20/16; Y02E20/18; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10; Y02E50/30; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10; Y02P20/129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for processing an organic material to produce energy, said method comprising the steps of: hydrothermally treating the organic material with water to produce an effluent containing gases; cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent to create a condensate; extracting gas from said cooled effluent; introducing said extracted gas into a gas turbine to produce energy and waste heat; and using said waste heat from said gas turbine to preheat the organic material prior to said hydrothermally treating step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for processing an organic material to produce energy, said method comprising the steps of: hydrothermally treating the organic material with water to produce an effluent containing gases; cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent to create a condensate; extracting gas from said cooled effluent; introducing said extracted gas into a gas turbine to produce energy and waste heat; and using said waste heat from said gas turbine to preheat the organic material prior to said hydrothermally treating step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said hydrothermally treating step is accomplished at a temperature between approximately 374° C. and approximately 800° C. and a pressure above approximately 25 bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a heat exchanger is used to cool said effluent and the heat obtained by said heat exchanger is used to preheat the organic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein an exchange fluid is used to transport heat from said heat exchanger to the organic material to preheat the organic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said effluent is cooled to a temperature below approximately 374° C. during said cooling step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein an exchange fluid is used to transport heat from said gas turbine to the organic material to preheat the organic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: using waste heat from said gas turbine to produce steam; and passing said steam through a steam turbine to produce energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: reducing the pressure of said extracted gas; and separating said reduced pressure gas into fractions using a gas separator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of: using at least one said fraction in a fuel cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of: reducing the pressure of at least one said gas fraction in a gas pressure let-down device to produce energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the steps of: reducing the pressure of at least one said gas fraction in a gas pressure let-down device that is coupled to an air compressor; using said air compressor to compress air; and injecting said compressed air into said gas turbine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: depressurizing said condensate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for processing an organic material to produce energy, said system comprising: a reactor vessel for hydrothermally treating the organic material with water to produce an effluent; a first heat exchanger for cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent; a gas-liquid separator for separating said cooled effluent into a gaseous stream and a residnal stream; a gas turbine for combusting at least a portion of said gaseous stream to produce energy and waste heat; and a second heat exchanger for removing said waste heat from said gas turbine and using said waste heat to preheat the organic material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for processing an organic material to produce energy, said system comprising: a reactor vessel for hydrothermally treating the organic material with water to produce an effluent; a first heat exchanger for cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent; a gas-liquid separator for separating said cooled effluent into a gaseous stream and a residnal stream; a gas turbine for combusting at least a portion of said gaseous stream to produce energy and waste heat; and a second heat exchanger for removing said waste heat from said gas turbine and using said waste heat to preheat the organic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a means for passing the organic material directly through said first heat exchanger to preheat the organic material prior to introducing the organic material into said reactor vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising: a third heat exchanger for preheating the organic material prior to introduction into said reactor vessel; and a means for passing an exchange fluid through said first and third heat exchangers to transfer heat from said effluent to the organic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising: a third heat exchanger for preheating the organic material prior to introduction into said reactor vessel; and a means for passing an exchange fluid through said second and third heat exchangers to transfer said waste heat from said gas turbine to the organic material prior to introduction into said reactor vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising: a third heat exchanger for preheating the organic material prior to introduction into said reactor vessel; and a means for passing an exchange fluid through said first, second and third heat exchangers to transfer said waste heat from said gas turbine and said heat from said effluent to the organic material prior to introduction into said reactor vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as recited in claim 13 wherein said first heat exchanger is configured to cool said effluent to a temperature below approximately 374° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising: a third heat exchanger for using waste heat from said gas turbine to produce steam; and a steam turbine for using said steam to produce energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a means for maintaining the organic material and water at a temperature between approximately 374° C. and approximately 800° C. and a pressure above approximately 25 bar in said reactor vessel to gasify at least a portion of the organic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a partial pressure reduction valve and a gas separator to depressurize and separate said gaseous stream into fractions.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for processing feedstock having an organic constituent, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said feedstock into a reactor vessel; hydrothermally treating said feedstock to produce an effluent containing gases; cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent to create a condensate; extracting gas from said cooled effluent; introducing said extracted gas into a gas turbine to produce energy and waste heat; and using said waste heat to preheat said feedstock prior to said hydrothermally treating step.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for processing feedstock having an organic constituent, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said feedstock into a reactor vessel; hydrothermally treating said feedstock to produce an effluent containing gases; cooling said effluent to a temperature sufficient to condense water vapor in said effluent to create a condensate; extracting gas from said cooled effluent; introducing said extracted gas into a gas turbine to produce energy and waste heat; and using said waste heat to preheat said feedstock prior to said hydrothermally treating step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock comprises a waste material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock comprises sewage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock comprises municipal solid waste.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock comprises biologically digested sewage.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock comprises a petroleum based raw material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock is processed to produce a gas product.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock is processed to produce a liquid product.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock is processed to produce energy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feedstock is processed to convert a hazardous constituent in said feedstock into a non-hazardous constituent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of introducing an additive into said reactor vessel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said additive is introduced to neutralize said effluent.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 33 wherein said additive is selected from the group of neutralizers consisting of NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH) 2 , H 2 SO 4 , H 3 PO 4 , and HCl.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 34 wherein said waste heat is used to regenerate Ca(OH) 2 from CaCO 3 .
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said additive is introduced to assist salt transport.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of H 3 PO 4 , NaH 2 PO 4 , Na 2 HPO 4 and Na 3 PO 4 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said additive is an inert solid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said additive is a catalyst.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said additive is a CO 2 getter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 40 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH and Ca(OH) 2 .
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of: using a catalytic converter to convert said extracted gas prior to introducing said extracted gas into said gas turbine.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 42 further comprising the step of: heating said extracted gas prior to catalytic conversion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 43 wherein heat from said cooling step is used to heat said extracted gas.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 42 further comprising the step of: recovering heat from said converted gas and using said heat to preheat said feedstock.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of: recovering heat from said condensate and using said heat to preheat said feedstock.
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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) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |