Synthesis gas production from peat using a steam plasma

Abstract

A steam plasma was used to convert peat into a synthesis gas, suitable for methanol production, in a cocurrent transport reactor. A cylindrical stainless-steel reactor 20 cm in diameter and 120 cm long was used. The effects of temperature and the carbon/ steam molar ratio on the product gas composition and carbon conversion were investigated. Finely ground peat (mean particle size, 63 µm; moisture content, 15.5%) was fed continuously through the reactor top and exposed to mean reaction temperatures ranging from 1250 to 1420 K. The plasma inlet temperature was calculated to be of the order of 3500 K and total powers as high as 62 kW were used. A carbon conversion of 89% and a hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio of 1.8 in the product gas were obtained. A simple model of the reacting system suggested that a conversion of 90% (needed for an industrial process) and a hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio of two could be obtained with equipment modifications.