Patent ID: 6200430
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: C10J,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for producing synthetic gas by means of an electric arc-activated, non-catalytic burner, comprising the steps of:forming an electric arc between a mobile hollow electrode and a fixed electrode in a heating chamber, wherein both said mobile hollow electrode and said fixed electrode are consumable;injecting a primary fluid through said electric arc, thereby forming a plasma, wherein said primary fluid is a material selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and methane;allowing said primary fluid to create a swirl effect at a tip of said mobile hollow electrode, thereby imposing a rotating movement on said electric arc;allowing a pressure within said heating chamber to increase, thereby changing a length of said electric arc;allowing for an automatic correction of a position of said electric arc based on an electrical response of said electric arc after said pressure is increased;mixing a secondary fluid into said plasma, thereby forming a gas mixture at high temperature which will crack into its elemental components, wherein said secondary fluid is a material selected from the group consisting of carbon powder, coal powder, powder with hydrogen-bearing materials, slurries containing carbon-bearing materials, slurries containing hydrogen-bearing materials, liquids containing carbon-bearing materials and liquids containing hydrogen-bearing materials, and wherein one of said elemental components is carbon in the form of dust when exposed to said plasma;passing said gas mixture into a mixing chamber having a size which provides approximately 0.2 seconds of residence time;injecting a tertiary gas into said mixing chamber at pressures up to 750 psi, thereby mixing said gas mixture with said tertiary gas, wherein said tertiary gas is an oxidant injected to react said dust into carbon monoxide and wherein said tertiary gas is a material selected from the group consisting of steam, CO.sub.2, oxygen, and air, and thereby forming a synthetic gas;removing said synthetic gas from said mixing chamber through an outlet port; and,removing excess dust or solids from said mixing chamber through a dust dropout vessel.