A low cost production of hydrogen from carbonaceous wastes

Abstract

A method of gasifying carbonaceous materials such as coal, shredded waste tire or waste oil into syngas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas), and an apparatus therefore are presented. The method comprises the steps of supplying syngas and oxygen gas into syngas burners of the gasification reactor to produce steam and carbon dioxide gas, which in turn react with organic materials fed into the reactor to produce syngas. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas are discharged from the top of the reactor. And a portion of the discharged carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas is fed into the syngas burner and produces more steam and carbon dioxide gas to react with the organic materials. Thus, carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas is continuously produced as the product gas is recycled into the reactor to provide the heat source and reactant gases, steam and carbon dioxide. This method facilitates the control of uniform temperature in the gasification reactor as well as produces syngas of high quality by increasing the concentration of hydrogen. Hydrogen gas produced is measured through a gas flowmeter, and it corresponds to the total content of the hydrogen elements in the feed samples. At the reactor temperature above 1200°C, the reformation reaction proceeds rapidly to completion.