Patent Description:
Organic wastes may seriously damage the environment by decay when landfilled, and should be discarded through a prescribed treatment process after collecting by their properties when discarded. However, since simple disposal of the organic wastes requires securing treatment facilities and consuming a large amount of manpower and is more wasteful than productive, methods and technologies for recycling organic wastes have been developed in recent years. Representatively, a gasification process technology in which syngas is produced using organic wastes and converted into a high value-added product for energization, may be mentioned.

The gasification process generally refers to a series of processes of reacting carbonaceous raw materials such as coal, organic wastes, and biomass under the supply of water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof to convert the raw materials into syngas formed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide as the main components, in which the "syngas" refers to mixed gas which is usually produced by a gasification reaction and contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide as the main component and may further include carbon dioxide and/or methane.

The gasification process technology has expanded to a technology of producing fuels and raw materials of various compounds, and for example, the syngas may be used as the raw material of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction to manufacture high value-added products such as light oil, heavy oil, diesel oil, jet oil, and lube oil. Besides, it is known that hydrogen in the syngas which is the main product of the gasification process is used to be applied to hydrogen power generation, ammonia manufacture, an oil refining process, and the like, and methanol manufactured from the syngas may be used to obtain high value-added chemicals such as acetic acid, olefin, dimethylether, aldehyde, fuel, and an additive.

Recently, as a process for manufacturing syngas, a gasification process using a catalyst has been carried out, but due to the formation of coke and the like in the gasification process, the catalyst is inactivated to cause process trouble in continuous operation. In addition, for securing economic feasibility, relatively expensive catalysts need to be recovered, but in order to recover catalyst discharged in the state in which coke is agglomerated, a plurality of subsequent processes (such as hot-water extraction and lime digestion) should be carried out, and thus, process efficiency is significantly deteriorated.

In addition, since the conventionally performed gasification process of organic wastes has a significantly low manufacturing yield of syngas which may be converted into a high value-added product of <NUM>% or less and has poor productivity, commercialization using the process is limited. Further, in terms of environmental protection, it is preferred to suppress CO<NUM> emission, but since the gasification reaction product of organic wastes contains CO<NUM> in addition to H<NUM> and CO, carbon dioxide emission is higher than that in landfill or pyrolysis treatment, and thus, the gasification process has a serious problem of rather causing more environmental pollution.

<CIT> discloses a method of producing a syngas composition from biomass raw-material and <CIT> discloses a method for preparing synthetic natural gas from synthesis gas obtained by gasifiying one or more of biomass, solid carbon and coal.

Thus, a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of syngas which increases a manufacturing yield of syngas which may be converted into a high value-added product and minimize carbon dioxide formation in the gasification process of organic wastes and a manufacturing apparatus of syngas are needed.

The present invention aims to providing a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of syngas which have a significantly improved manufacturing yield of syngas from organic wastes.

The present invention further aims to providing a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of syngas which may minimize carbon dioxide formation.

Against this background, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a syngas, the method comprising: (S1) heat-treating organic waste under hydrogen in a first reactor; (S2) separating hydrogen from a product of (S1) and recovering a first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed; (S3) reforming the first mixed gas recovered in (S2) with water vapor under a catalyst in a second reactor; (S4) separating the catalyst and carbon dioxide from a product of (S3) and recovering a second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed; (S5) converting carbon dioxide separated in (S4) into carbon monoxide through a reverse Boudouard reaction in a third reactor; and (S6) mixing hydrogen separated in (S2), the second mixed gas recovered in (S4), and carbon monoxide converted in (S5) to produce syngas.

In an exemplary embodiment, the product of (S1) may include methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

In an exemplary embodiment, <NUM> vol% or more of methane may be included with respect to the total volume of the product of (S1).

In an exemplary embodiment, the first mixed gas of (S2) may include methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and the product of (S3) may include carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.

In an exemplary embodiment, in (S3), the catalyst may be a composite catalyst in which a metal hydride is supported on zeolite.

In an exemplary embodiment, the metal hydride may include at least one selected from nickel, vanadium, iron, platinum, palladium, or ruthenium.

In an exemplary embodiment, the zeolite may include ZSM-<NUM>, ZSM-<NUM>, USY zeolite, ferrierite, mordenite, MCM-<NUM>, SUZ-<NUM>, or L-type zeolite.

In an exemplary embodiment, (S5) may further include (S5-<NUM>) introducing the catalyst separated in (S4) to the third reactor and regenerating the catalyst through a reverse Boudouard reaction; and (S5-<NUM>) recirculating and resupplying the regenerated catalyst to (S3).

In an exemplary embodiment, (S1) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, (S2) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, the reverse Boudouard reaction of (S5) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, the syngas produced in (S6) may include hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a molar ratio between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide may satisfy <NUM> to <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the molar ratio between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide may be adjusted by controlling the reverse Boudouard reaction depending on a flow rate of the hydrogen separated in (S2), the carbon monoxide produced in (S3), or the carbon monoxide converted in (S5).

In an exemplary embodiment, the molar ratio between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide may be adjusted by supplying separate carbon dioxide to (S3) depending on the flow rate of the hydrogen separated in (S2), the carbon monoxide produced in (S3), or the carbon monoxide converted in (S5).

In an exemplary embodiment, the organic wastes in (S1) may be at least one selected from waste plastic, solid wastes, biomass, waste oil, or waste tires.

In an exemplary embodiment, before (S2), purifying the mixed gas produced in (S1) may be further included.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for manufacturing syngas by a method of the invention, the apparatus comprising: a first reactor configured to receive a feed of organic waste and allow for a gasification reaction under hydrogen to be performed; a hydrogen separation unit configured to receive a product from the first reactor, to separate hydrogen, and to recover a first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed; a second reactor configured to receive a first mixed gas which hydrogen has been removed from the hydrogen separation unitand to allow for a water vapor reforming reaction to be performed under a catalyst; a carbon dioxide separation unit configured to receive a product from the second reactor, to separate carbon dioxide, and to recover a second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed; a third reactor configured to receive carbon dioxide separated from the carbon dioxide separation unit and to allow for a reverse Boudouard reaction to be performed; and a syngas production unit configured to receive and mix hydrogen separated from the hydrogen separation unit, second mixed gas recovered from the carbon dioxide separation unit, and carbon monoxide recovered from the third reactor, and to allow for a production of syngas.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor or a fixed bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the third reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen separation unit may include a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) device.

In an exemplary embodiment, a purification unit may be further included between the first reactor and the hydrogen separation unit.

In an exemplary embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus of syngas may further include a cyclone configured to separate catalyst from a product of the second reactor; a supply line configured to supply separated catalyst from the cyclone to the third reactor; and a recirculation line configured to resupply regenerated catalyst from the third reactor to the second reactor.

Yet further, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid hydrocarbon, the method comprising: manufacturing syngas by a method of the invention; supplying the syngas to a fourth reactor; and performing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction in the fourth reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the fourth reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid hydrocarbon may include naphtha having a boiling point of <NUM> or lower, kerosene having a boiling point of <NUM> to <NUM>, LGO having a boiling point of <NUM> to <NUM>, and VGO having a boiling point of <NUM> or higher.

Other features and aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

<NUM>: feed, <NUM>: first reactor, <NUM>: hydrogen separation unit, <NUM>: second reactor, <NUM>: carbon dioxide separation unit, <NUM>: third reactor, <NUM>: syngas production unit, <NUM>: purification unit, <NUM>: cyclone, <NUM>: Fourth reactor.

In the present specification, the unit of ppm used without particular mention in the present specification refers to ppm by mass, unless otherwise defined.

A boiling point used without particular mention in the present specification refers to a boiling point at <NUM> under <NUM> atm.

A density used without particular mention in the present specification refers to a density at <NUM> under <NUM> atm.

"Gasification" which is used without particular mention in the present specification refers to a thermal-chemical conversion process through a chemical structure change of a carbonaceous material in the presence of a gasifier (air, oxygen, steam, carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof) in a broad sense, and refers to a process of converting the carbonaceous material mainly into syngas in a narrower sense.

As a conventional process for manufacturing syngas, a gasification process using a catalyst is carried out, but due to the formation of coke and the like in the gasification process, the catalyst is inactivated to cause process trouble in continuous operation. In addition, for securing economic feasibility, relatively expensive catalysts need to be recovered, but in order to recover catalyst discharged in the state in which coke is agglomerated, a plurality of subsequent processes (such as hot-water extraction and lime digestion) should be carried out, and thus, process efficiency is significantly deteriorated.

Keeping the above in mind, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing syngas, the method comprising: (S1) heat-treating organic waste under hydrogen in a first reactor; (S2) separating hydrogen from a product of (S1) and recovering a first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed; (S3) reforming the first mixed gas recovered in (S2) with water vapor under a catalyst in a second reactor; (S4) separating the catalyst and carbon dioxide from the product of (S3) and recovering a second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed; (S5) converting carbon dioxide separated in (S4) into carbon monoxide through a reverse Boudouard reaction in a third reactor; and (S6) mixing hydrogen separated in (S2), the second mixed gas recovered in (S4), and carbon monoxide converted in (S5) to produce syngas. The method including a series of processes of (S1) to (S6) may minimize carbon dioxide formation as compared with that of a conventional gasification process to prevent environmental pollution and also significantly improve a manufacturing yield of syngas from organic wastes.

In (S1), organic wastes are heat-treated under hydrogen in the first reactor, and a gasification reaction of the organic wastes may occur. Specifically, in (S1), at least one gasification reaction selected from the following Reaction Formulae <NUM> to <NUM> may be involved:.

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     C + H<NUM>O → H<NUM> + CO (aqueous gasification reaction of carbon).

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     C + CO<NUM> → 2CO (carbon dioxide gasification reaction of carbon).

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     CO + <NUM><NUM> → CH<NUM> + H<NUM>O (methanation reaction).

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     C + O<NUM> → CO<NUM> (oxidation reaction of carbon).

In an exemplary embodiment, the product of (S1) may include methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Usually, when performing a heat treatment process of organic wastes, the product may include methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and in addition to that, various impurities such as water vapor, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrogen chloride may be included. In the present invention, the organic wastes are heat-treated under hydrogen, thereby obtaining a product having a higher methane content than that of the gasification process of the organic wastes which are conventionally usually performed. As described above, in (S1), since the product having a high methane content is obtained, the efficiency of the manufacturing method of syngas including a series of processes (S1) to (S6) may be optimized and the manufacturing yield of syngas may be maximized. Herein, the first reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor or a fixed bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, <NUM> vol% or more of methane may be included with respect to the total volume of the product of (S1). By performing a heat treatment of organic wastes under hydrogen, <NUM> vol% or more of methane with respect to the total volume of the product may be included, and as described later, when the heat treatment is performed under high pressure hydrogen conditions, a methane content may be further improved. Specifically, methane may be included at <NUM> vol% or more, more specifically <NUM> vol% or more with respect to the total volume of the product. Methane may be included at <NUM> vol% or less without limitation.

(S1) may be performed under the catalyst conditions. (S1) is performing a heat treatment of organic wastes under hydrogen, and it may be favorable that a catalyst for hydrogen activation is used as the catalyst in terms of reaction activity. For example, the catalyst may include active metal having hydrotreating catalytic ability, and preferably may be active metal supported on a support. Any active metal may be used as long as it has required catalytic ability, and for example, may include any one or more selected from molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, and the like. Any support may be used as long as it has durability to support the active metal, and for example, may include a metal including at least one selected from silicon, aluminum, sodium, titanium, and the like, and oxides of thereof; and at least one carbon-based material selected from carbon black, active carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphite, and the like. The step may be performed under non-catalytic conditions. When it is performed under non-catalytic conditions, it may be favorable to perform the step at a higher temperature for improving reaction activity.

(S2) is recovering a first mixed gas, in which hydrogen is separated from the product of (S1) and the first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed may be recovered. The efficiency of steam reforming reaction may be improved by separating hydrogen. A method for separating hydrogen may use a conventionally known method, and for example, hydrogen may be separated using a pressure swing adsorption device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first mixed gas of (S2) includes methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and the product of (S3) may include carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. (S3) is a step of reforming the first mixed gas recovered in (S2) with water vapor (steam reforming reaction) in the presence of a catalyst in the second reactor, and specifically, a reaction like Reaction Formula <NUM> may be involved:.

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     CH<NUM> + H<NUM>O → CO + <NUM><NUM> (steam modification reaction of methane).

Since methane included in the first mixed gas is converted into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the contents of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which is the main components of syngas may be significantly improved. In addition, since hydrogen is pre-separated in (S2), and (S3) is performed on the first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed, the activity of the steam reforming reaction of methane may be increased and a manufacturing yield of syngas may be maximized. (S3) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa under water vapor conditions. Within the range, the efficiency of the reforming reaction may be excellent. Specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. It is preferred that (S3) is performed under a catalyst for improving reaction efficiency. The detailed description for the catalyst will be provided later, and the second reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor. In terms of the efficiency of the steam reforming reaction and a catalyst regeneration process described later, it is preferred to use a fluidized bed reactor, in which the fluidized bed reactor may be a riser.

That is, when performing the heat treatment process of organic wastes in (S1), a product having a high methane content is obtained and (S2) and (S3) are performed on the product, thereby solving the conventional problem of a significantly low manufacturing yield of syngas. In addition, as described later, by a series of processes of manufacturing syngas including (S1) to (S6), carbon dioxide emission may be minimized to prevent environmental pollution and simultaneously maximize the manufacturing yield of syngas.

(S4) is a step of recovering the second mixed gas, in which the catalyst and carbon dioxide are separated from the product of (S3) and the second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed may be recovered. In the separation of the catalyst and carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>), it is preferred to separate the catalyst first and then separate carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>), and the catalyst and carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>) may be separated at the same time. Referring to <FIG>, as described later, it is preferred that a cyclone is provided between the second reactor and a carbon dioxide separation unit to separate the catalyst from the product of the second reactor (first mixed gas), and then the product from which the catalyst has been separated is introduced to the carbon dioxide separation unit to separate carbon dioxide and recover the second mixed gas.

(S5) is a step of converting carbon dioxide separated in (S4) into carbon monoxide through a reverse Boudouard reaction in the third reactor, in which carbon dioxide produced by the heat treatment process of (S1) is not emitted to the outside, but converted into carbon monoxide, thereby preventing environmental pollution and simultaneously improving a manufacturing yield of syngas. The reverse Boudouard reaction may involve the reaction of the following Reaction Formula <NUM>. In order to perform the reverse Boudouard reaction well, carbon such as activated carbon may be supplied, or as described later, in (S1), a catalyst inactivated by coke and the like is used to perform the reverse Boudouard reaction.

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     C + CO<NUM> → 2CO (reverse Boudouard reaction).

Carbon monoxide which has been converted by the reverse Boudouard reaction of (S5) may be used in the production of syngas in (S6) described later. When unreacted carbon dioxide is present in the product of (S5), carbon dioxide is separated again from the product, and the reverse Boudouard reaction of (S5) may be repeated once or more on the separated carbon dioxide. Accordingly, carbon dioxide may be converted into carbon monoxide in a very high yield.

(S6) is a step of producing syngas, in which the hydrogen separated in (S2), the second mixed gas recovered in (S4), and carbon monoxide converted in (S5) may be mixed to produce syngas. As described above, syngas refers to a mixed gas including hydrogen and carbon dioxide as main components, and the syngas may be used as a raw material of a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to manufacture high value-added products. Herein, it is preferred that a stoichiometrically required molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO is <NUM>:<NUM>.

A yield of syngas in the method of the invention, including a series of steps of (S1) to (S6), may be maximized, and carbon dioxide emission may be minimized to prevent environmental pollution.

In an exemplary embodiment, (S5) may further include (S5-<NUM>) introducing the catalyst separated in (S4) to the third reactor and regenerating the catalyst through a reverse Boudouard reaction; and (S5-<NUM>) recirculating and resupplying the regenerated catalyst to (S3). In a conventional gasification process, the catalyst is inactivated by occurrence of by-products such as coke, so that process trouble occurs by the inactivated catalyst during continuous operation. In order to solve the problem, a certain amount of a new catalyst is continuously exchanged with a waste catalyst to maintain a catalytic activity at a certain level or higher, but process efficiency is significantly deteriorated in the exchange process. In the present invention, carbon dioxide is converted into carbon monoxide in the reverse Boudouard reaction, a waste catalyst in which coke and the like are agglomerated is simultaneously treated together to regenerate the catalyst, and the catalyst is recirculated and resupplied to the second reactor of (S3), thereby significantly improving process efficiency. When the catalyst circulation process as such is included, the third reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor, and for example, a regenerator in the fluidized bed reactor.

In an exemplary embodiment, in (S3), the catalyst may be a composite catalyst in which a metal hydride is supported on zeolite. The metal hydride may include at least one selected from nickel, vanadium, iron, platinum, palladium, or ruthenium. As the metal hydride, commonly known metals such as nickel, vanadium, or iron may be used, and when the raw material such as an organic waste has a low impurity content in the heat treatment process, a precious metal may be used. The precious metal may be platinum, palladium, or ruthenium.

The zeolite may include ZSM-<NUM>, ZSM-<NUM>, USY zeolite, ferrierite, mordenite, MCM-<NUM>, SUZ-<NUM>, or L-type zeolite. The zeolite may be any zeolite having durability to support active metal, and specifically, may be ZSM-<NUM> or USY zeolite in terms of improving heat treatment efficiency and gasification efficiency.

Separation of carbon dioxide in (S4) may be performed using various carbon dioxide separation units. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be performed using an amine scrubber. Usually, the amine scrubber binds to and removes carbon dioxide by an amine-based material, and it may separate components such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from gas steam and recover steam containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide or inert gas. Specifically, the product is added from the second reactor to an amine solution at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> with a first amine scrubber to capture carbon dioxide, and is heated to <NUM> to <NUM> in a second amine scrubber to separate amine and carbon dioxide. When the amine scrubber is used, carbon dioxide may be separated at a lower temperature as compared with a CCS unit described later, and thus, it may be favorable in terms of process stability.

As another exemplary embodiment, separation of carbon dioxide may be performed using a carbon capture and storage (CCS) unit. The CCS unit may adsorb and separate carbon dioxide using an adsorbent including at least one selected from calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, dolomite, limestone, or trona. Specifically, the adsorbent may be calcium oxide. The adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>) in the CCS unit may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> or higher and lower than <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Under the conditions, carbon dioxide adsorption efficiency may be excellent. Specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Carbon dioxide adsorbed by the adsorbent in the CCS unit is desorbed again and the desorption may be performed at a temperature of higher than <NUM> and <NUM> or lower and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Under the conditions, carbon dioxide desorption efficiency may be excellent. Specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, (S1) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Under the conditions, heat treatment efficiency may be excellent, and in particular, the heat treatment is performed under high pressure hydrogen conditions of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, thereby improving a methane content in the product. Specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, (S2) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Under the conditions, the catalyst and hydrogen may be effectively separated from the product of (S1), specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, the reverse Boudouard reaction of (S5) may be performed at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> to <NUM> kPa. Under the conditions, the conversion efficiency from carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and the catalyst regeneration efficiency may be excellent. Specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa, and more specifically, the temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure may be <NUM> to <NUM> kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment, the syngas produced in (S6) may include hydrogen (H<NUM>) and carbon monoxide (CO) and a molar ratio between hydrogen (H<NUM>) and carbon monoxide (CO) may satisfy <NUM> to <NUM>. As described above, the syngas is used as a raw material of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and converted into high value-added products such as light oil, heavy oil, diesel oil, jet oil, and lube oil, and when a stoichiometrically required molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO satisfies <NUM> to <NUM>, conversion efficiency may be excellent. Preferably, the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO may be <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the molar ratio between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide may be adjusted by controlling the reverse Boudouard reaction depending on a flow rate of the hydrogen separated in (S2), the carbon monoxide produced in (S3), or the carbon monoxide converted in (S5). A flow rate of the hydrogen separated in (S2), the carbon monoxide produced in (S3), or the carbon monoxied converted in (S5) is measured in real time and the reverse Boudouard reaction is controlled so that the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO is satisfied. Besides, flow rates of H<NUM> and CO in the mixed gas recovered in (S2) are also measured and the reaction conditions and the reaction speed of the reverse Boudouard reaction are adjusted to satisfy the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO.

In an exemplary embodiment, the molar ratio between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide may be adjusted by supplying separate carbon dioxide to (S5) depending on the flow rate of the hydrogen separated in (S2) or the carbon monoxide converted in (S3). When CO is significantly small in the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO, carbon dioxide is separately supplied to (S5), thereby improving the reverse Boudouard reaction activity to satisfy the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO. The supply of carbon dioxide may be performed by a separate carbon dioxide storage unit. Besides, when a H<NUM> content is low as compared with CO and it is difficult to adjust the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO to <NUM>, a water gas shift (WGS) reaction may be further performed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the organic waste in (S1) may comprise at least one selected from waste plastic, solid wastes, biomass, waste oil, or waste tires. Any carbon-containing material such as biomass and coal may be used without limitation as the raw material of a gasification reaction, but considering the problem to be solved by the present invention, it may be appropriate to use the organic wastes.

In an exemplary embodiment, before (S2), purifying the mixed gas produced in (S1) may be further included. The mixed gas produced in (S1) may further include other components such as impurity gas such as water vapor, H<NUM>S, HCl, HOCl, and NH<NUM>, and fine dust, in addition to hydrogen (H<NUM>), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>). By removing other components such as water vapor through the step of purifying the mixed gas, a manufacturing yield of syngas may be further improved. Besides, before (S2), when H<NUM> is relatively insufficiently produced in the gasification process depending on the kind of organic wastes, a water gas shift (WGS) reaction is performed to replenish H<NUM>, thereby improving the manufacturing yield of syngas. The WGS reaction may be performed in the conditions of <NUM> to <NUM> bar and <NUM> to <NUM> under a catalyst. The catalyst may be used without limitation as long as it is a catalyst having WGS reaction activity, and preferably, may be a Cu-Zn mixed catalyst. Herein, since carbon dioxide produced by the water gas shift reaction is converted into carbon monoxide by the reverse Boudouard reaction, the environmental pollution problem caused by performing the conventional water gas shift reaction may be solved and simultaneously the effect of improving a manufacturing yield of syngas may be promoted.

In addition, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing syngas, the apparatus comprising: a first reactor configured to receive a feed comprising organic waste and allow for a gasification reaction under hydrogen to be performed; a hydrogen separation unit configured to receive a product from the first reactor, to separate hydrogen , and to recover a first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed; a second reactor configured to receive first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed from the hydrogen separation unitand to allow for a reforming reaction with water vapor under a catalyst to be performed; a carbon dioxide separation unit configured to receive a product from the second reactor, to separate carbon dioxide, and to recover a second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed; a third reactor configured to receive carbon dioxide separated in the carbon dioxide separation unit and to allow for a reverse Boudouard reaction to be performed; and a syngas production unit configured to receive and mix hydrogen separated from the hydrogen separation unit, second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed in the carbon dioxide separation unit, and carbon monoxide recovered from the third reactor, and to allow for a production of syngas. The syngas may be manufactured in a high yield from the organic wastes by the apparatus, and carbon dioxide emission is minimized to prevent environmental pollution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor or a fixed bed reactor. The first reactor performs gasification by heat-treating organic wastes, and may use the fluidized bed reactor or the fixed bed reactor without limitation. As described later, considering the use of the fluidized bed reactor as the second reactor and the third reactor, it is preferred to use the fluidized bed reactor in terms of process efficiency. The fluidized bed reactor may cause a gasification reaction by fluidizing and mixing in a state in which a solid layer (layer material) is suspended by reaction gas having an upward flow.

It is preferred to use the fluidized bed reactor as the second reactor and the third reactor in terms of a catalyst regeneration process. Herein, the second reactor may be a riser in the fluidized bed reactor, and the third reactor may be a regenerator in the fluidized bed reactor.

As shown in <FIG>, an organic waste <NUM> is introduced into a first reactor and heat-treated under hydrogen to perform a gasification reaction. The product produced in the first reactor <NUM> may include methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The product is introduced from the first reactor <NUM> to the hydrogen separation unit to separate hydrogen and recover the first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed. The first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed is introduced to the second reactor and a water vapor reforming reaction may be performed under a catalyst. The product of the second reactor may be introduced to the carbon dioxide separation unit to separate carbon dioxide and recover the second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed. The separated carbon dioxide may be introduced from the carbon dioxide separation unit and converted into carbon monoxide by the reverse Boudouard reaction. Hydrogen separated from the hydrogen separation unit, the second mixed gas recovered from the carbon dioxide separation unit, and carbon monoxide converted in the third reactor may be mixed in the syngas production unit to produce syngas. Herein, when unreacted carbon dioxide remains in the product of the third reactor, the product may be introduced again to the carbon dioxide separation unit to separate carbon dioxide from the product, and the separated carbon dioxide may be introduced again to the third reactor to perform the reverse Boudouard reaction again. The process may be repeated once or more, thereby converting unreacted carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide to increase a carbon monoxide conversion rate.

In an exemplary embodiment, a purification unit <NUM> may be further included between the first reactor and the hydrogen separation unit, as shown in <FIG>. In the purification unit <NUM>, the purification may be performed by a dust collection filter for high temperature/high pressure or a wet scrubber, and aqueous impurity gas components such as H<NUM>S, HCl, HOCl, and NH<NUM> are removed to further improve the manufacturing yield of syngas.

In an exemplary embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus of syngas may further include a cyclone configured to separate a catalyst from the product of the second reactor; a supply line configured to supply catalyst separated from the cyclone to the third reactor; and a recirculation line configured to resupply regenerated catalyst from the third reactor to the second reactor, as shown in <FIG>. The catalyst separated from the cyclone is introduced to the third reactor, in which the catalyst may include a coke component produced in apyrolysis process of organic wastes. Carbon dioxide may be introduced from the carbon dioxide separation unit to the third reactor. Besides, a separate carbon dioxide storage unit may be provided to introduce separate carbon dioxide. The catalyst is treated with carbon dioxide at a high temperature of <NUM> or higher, thereby removing impurities such as coke included in the catalyst. The catalyst may be reintroduced to the second reactor through the recirculation line.

For the matters which are not described in the manufacturing apparatus of syngas, the above description of the manufacturing method of syngas may be referred.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid hydrocarbon including: manufacturing syngas by a method of the invention; supplying the syngas to a fourth reactor; and performing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction in the fourth reactor. The syngas produced through (S1) to (S6) is used as the raw material of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction represented by the following Reaction Formula <NUM>, thereby manufacturing a liquid hydrocarbon:.

[Reaction Formula <NUM>]     nCO + 2nH<NUM> → CnH2n + nH<NUM>O.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of the manufacturing method of a liquid hydrocarbon. The fourth reactor may be a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor, in which the reactor may include a liquid product separation and heavy end recovery unit. In order to improve a manufacturing yield of the liquid hydrocarbon, it is preferred that a stoichiometrical molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO satisfies <NUM> to <NUM>. Preferably, the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO may be <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. The liquid hydrocarbon may include naphtha having a boiling point of <NUM> or lower, kerosene having a boiling point of <NUM> to <NUM>, LGO having a boiling point of <NUM> to <NUM>, and VGO having a boiling point of <NUM> or higher. The syngas produced in the conventional gasification process of organic wastes has a low amount of syngas (H<NUM>, CO) which may be converted into a product (liquid hydrocarbon) and a lower molar mass of H<NUM> compared to CO in H<NUM>:CO, and thus, a recovery rate of the expected product is significantly deteriorated. The syngas produced by the steps of (S1) to (S6) of the present invention is used as the raw material of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, thereby improving the recovery rate of the liquid hydrocarbon product as compared with the conventional gasification process of organic wastes. In order to obtain high-quality liquid hydrocarbon, it is preferred that a purification unit is provided in the front of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor and the purification process is performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by the examples.

A manufacturing apparatus of syngas including a first reactor (fluidized bed reactor), a purification unit (wet scrubber), a hydrogen separation unit (pressure swing adsorption device, PSA), a second reactor (fluidized bed reactor), a carbon dioxide separation unit, a third reactor (fluidized bed reactor), and a syngas production unit was operated for <NUM> minutes to manufacture syngas.

Specifically, <NUM> of municipal solid wastes (MSW) was added to the first reactor, and heat-treated at a temperature of <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> kPa under a CoMo/r-Al<NUM>O<NUM> catalyst and a hydrogen gas.

The product was added from the fluidized bed reactor to the purification unit (wet scrubber), treated at <NUM> and <NUM> kPa to remove impurities, and then introduced to the hydrogen separation unit to separate hydrogen under <NUM> and <NUM> kPa, and a first mixed gas from which hydrogen had been removed was recovered.

The first mixed gas from which hydrogen had been separated in the hydrogen separation unit was introduced to a second reactor equipped with a Ni/USY zeolite catalyst and treated at <NUM> and <NUM> kPa under water vapor to perform a stream reforming reaction.

The catalyst was separated from the product of the second reactor using a cyclone, and CO<NUM> was recovered from the product from which the catalyst had been separated using an amine scrubber. A reactant gas was added to an amine solution at <NUM> in a first amine scrubber to capture CO<NUM>, the temperature was raised to <NUM> or higher in a second amine scrubber to separate amine and CO<NUM>, and amine was recovered.

The separated carbon dioxide was added to the third reactor and a reverse Boudouard reaction was performed to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.

Hydrogen separated from the hydrogen separation unit, the second mixed gas recovered from the carbon dioxide separation unit, and carbon monoxide converted in the third reactor were all introduced to a synthesis unit and mixed at <NUM> to manufacture syngas.

In this process, while the flow rate of hydrogen separated from the hydrogen separation unit and the flow rate of carbon monoxide converted in the second reactor were measured in real time, in order to adjust the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO in the synthesis gas to <NUM>, the reaction activity and/or the reactant composition activity of the hydrogen separation reaction, steam reforming reaction, and inverse Buddha reaction were adjusted. At this time, the reaction activity of the reverse Buda reaction can be performed through a reverse Buda reaction control device.

In addition, the separated catalyst was supplied to the third reactor through a separate supply line, treated with the reverse Boudouard reaction, regenerated, and then resupplied to the second reactor through a recirculation line connected to the second reactor.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the reaction was performed at the temperature of the first reactor of <NUM> and the pressure of <NUM> kPa.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the flow rate of hydrogen and carbon monoxide were not measured in real time.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the process of regenerating the catalyst separated from the third reactor was not performed.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the hydrogen separation step was not performed by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no hydrogen separation unit.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the steam reforming reaction was not performed by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no second reactor.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the reverse Boudouard reaction was not performed by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no third reactor.

Syngas was manufactured in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the heat treatment was performed at a temperature of <NUM> and a pressure of <NUM> kPa under the gas conditions of the first reactor of water vapor, not hydrogen.

The composition of the syngas manufactured by operating the manufacturing apparatus of syngas for <NUM> minutes was analyzed by gas chromatograph and a total amount of gas was confirmed by a gas meter. Specifically, the syngas was quantified by GC to calculate selectivity for each gas, and the composition of each gas was analyzed by the total amount of gas confirmed from a flowmeter, thereby evaluating the gas manufacturing yield and a carbon dioxide reduction effect.

The evaluation results are shown in the following Table <NUM>:.

Referring to the results of analyzing the syngas composition of Table <NUM>, it was confirmed that in the manufacturing process of syngas, Examples <NUM> to <NUM> had much better production amounts of H<NUM> and CO, and had minimized production of CO<NUM> to have a favorable effect in terms of a syngas manufacturing yield and environmental pollution prevention, as compared with Comparative Examples <NUM> to <NUM>.

Specifically, it was confirmed in Example <NUM> that as the temperature conditions were changed, H<NUM> and CO production amounts were best with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and CO being <NUM> lbmol/hr, <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO satisfied <NUM>:<NUM>.

It was confirmed in Example <NUM> that since the reaction was performed without measuring the flow rate of carbon monoxide converted in the second reactor in real time, the molar ratio of H<NUM>:CO did not satisfy <NUM>:<NUM> and the production amounts of H<NUM> and CO were somewhat lower than those of Example <NUM> with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/ hr) and CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr), but were higher than those of Comparative Examples <NUM> to <NUM>.

Since in Example <NUM>, the reaction was performed without performing the regeneration process of the separated catalyst and without recirculation of the catalyst, it was confirmed that the production amount of H<NUM> and CO were somewhat lower than those of Example <NUM> with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) as compared with those of Example <NUM>, but were higher than those of Comparative Examples <NUM> to <NUM>.

Since in Comparative Example <NUM>, the hydrogen separation step was not performed by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no hydrogen separation unit, it was confirmed that the production amounts of H<NUM> and CO were much lower than those of Example <NUM> with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr).

Since in Comparative Example <NUM>, the steam reforming reaction was not performed by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no second reactor, it was confirmed that the production amounts of H<NUM> and CO were much lower than those of Example <NUM> with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM>1bmol/hr).

Since in Comparative Example <NUM>, the reaction was performed without performing the reverse Boudouard reaction by using the manufacturing apparatus of syngas including no third reactor, it was confirmed that considering that the CO production amount was much lower and the CO<NUM> production amount was much higher than those of Example <NUM> with H2 being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr), CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr) and CO<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr), and thus, it is not preferred in terms of a manufacturing yield of syngas and environmental pollution.

Since in Comparative Example <NUM>, the heat treatment was performed under the gas conditions of the first reactor which were not hydrogen conditions but water vapor conditions to perform the gasification process, the production amounts of H<NUM> and CO were significantly lower than those of Example <NUM> with H<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr), CO being <NUM>-mol/hr (lbmol/hr), and CO<NUM> being <NUM>-mol/hr (<NUM> lbmol/hr), as compared with those of Example <NUM>.

The manufacturing method and the manufacturing device of syngas according to the present invention have a significantly improved manufacturing yield of syngas from organic wastes.

The manufacturing method and the manufacturing device of syngas according to the present invention minimize carbon dioxide formation in a syngas manufacturing process.

Claim 1:
A method of manufacturing a syngas, the method comprising:
(S1) heat-treating organic waste under hydrogen in a first reactor;
(S2) separating hydrogen from a product of (S1) and recovering a first mixed gas from which hydrogen has been removed;
(S3) reforming the first mixed gas recovered in (S2) with water vapor under a catalyst in a second reactor;
(S4) separating the catalyst and carbon dioxide from a product of (S3) and recovering a second mixed gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed;
(S5) converting carbon dioxide separated in (S4) into carbon monoxide through a reverse Boudouard reaction in a third reactor; and
(S6) mixing hydrogen separated in (S2), the second mixed gas recovered in (S4), and carbon monoxide converted in (S5) to produce syngas.