AU734562B2

AU734562B2 - Synthesis clean gas

Info

Publication number: AU734562B2
Application number: AU43597/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gunter H Kiss
Original assignee: Thermoselect AG
Current assignee: Thermoselect AG
Priority date: 1996-10-29
Filing date: 1997-10-29
Publication date: 2001-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-29
Also published as: CZ338497A3; ID18714A; HUP9701748A2; PL322860A1; EE9700324A; EP0839890A3; TW464530B; SK145297A3; LV12049A; BR9705158A; LV12049B; PL187700B1; RO119311B1; CA2219112A1; JPH10231488A; HU225408B1; HUP9701748A3; AU4359797A; HU9701748D0; EP0839890A2

Description

A

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): THERMOSELECT AG Invention Title: SYNTHESIS CLEAN GAS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 Title: Synthesis Clean Gas Specification All the known thermal processes for disposing of waste are characterised in that emissions in gaseous form are produced and in that residual materials remain to be dumped.

In DE 41 30 416 Cl, a thermal process for waste utilisation is described which, in comparison with all the known processes used in industrial production, has substantial ecological, economic and technical advantages.

The resultant granulated mineral material is absolutely inert; the iron metal alloy can be used metallurgically. In claim 11 of this method it is proposed that purified synthesis gas should be used thermally or as energy; in so doing, harmful substances, caused by the combustion process, are inevitably produced which can damage the atmosphere at least partially. The heavy metals contained in the synthesis gas and compounds of chlorine and fluorine are separated, and, amongst other things, a heavy metal •sulphide or hydroxide sludge is produced which has to be dumped.

go•• *Although with this method only minimal concentrations of harmful substances can occur which lie far below all regulations and standards, and the residual amounts to be dumped lie at below 1% measured against the input, this method, too, is neither emission-free nor free of residue.

The object underlying the present invention is to develop a method in which the synthesis gas is completely used as a substance and no emissions are produced.

According to the present invention there is H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\43579.97 .Clean Gas.doc 17/04/01 3 provided A method for total material emission-free utilisation of synthesis clean gas obtained during hightemperature recycling of waste of all types, including: treating the synthesis clean gas by water vapour in a catalytic process in order to convert carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas at least partially into carbon dioxide and hydrogen; recycling the remaining residual gases back into the high-temperature reactor, and then; separating the clean synthesis gas main product obtained, containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into component hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and utilising the components.

Advantageous further developments and embodiments of the achievement of this object arise from the secondary oo.

.':oclaims.

According to the invention, it is thus proposed 20 that synthesis clean gas, preferably stemming from the process such as is described in DE 41 30 416 C1, be converted at least partially into CO 2 and hydrogen. It should be particularly emphasised that the remaining residual gases can be led back into the high-temperature 25 reactor, and the process takes place without emissions.

The converted components are then put to some use.

A preferred form of embodiment provides for the synthesis clean gas, consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, to be acted on by water vapour in a catalytic process, in order to convert the carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas completely into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO H 2 0 H 2 C0 2 The two gas components, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, can be separated by generally known methods (such as a pressure swing adsorption plant, for example) and used commercially.

H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\43579. 97 Clean Gas.doc 17/04/01 3a Carbon dioxide can be condensed, cooled and used as dry ice.

Hydrogen can be used as energy and/or as a substance. If hydrogen is used as a general or motor fuel, this is an absolutely emission-free energy carrier, since only water is produced when hydrogen is used as energy (2H 2 02 2H 2 0).

If hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, the damage to the environment which inevitably results from the use of eo e H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\43579.97 Clean Gas.doc 17/04/01 4 fossil fuels is dispensed with. Since the raw materials, from which fossil fuels are obtained, are limited, these resources can be used more sensibly.

Moreover, hydrogen can be used in fuel cells as energy to produce electric power. Compared with conventional power stations, fuel cells not only have a substantially higher degree of efficiency, they also generate electric power without any harmful substances being produced in the process.

Hydrogen can be used as a substance in hydrogenation and synthesis processes, for example. In organic hydrogenation, organic molecules existing under pressure and at defined temperatures are enriched with hydrogen.

In inorganic hydrogenation, metal oxides are reduced with hydrogen to metals 20 W03 3H 2 W 3H 2 0).

9 "Ammonia" can be produced in a synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen. It should be particularly stressed that the oxygen needed for waste gasification is obtained with an air separation plant; nitrogen also results from this which can be used commercially for the synthesis of ammonia. It is particularly advantageous that the air separation plant is already a component part of the process.

If hydrogen is to be used for the manufacture of methanol, it makes sense to convert the carbon dioxide present in the synthesis gas into hydrogen and carbon by applying water vapour to it, to the extent that hydrogen and carbon monoxide are present in the synthesis gas in a ratio of 2:1 (partial conversion).

H:\Sharon\Keep\speci\435 7 9 9 7 .Clean Gas.doc 15/01/98 5 Next, carbon dioxide is separated by generally known methods, hydrogen and carbon monoxide are submitted to a synthesis, and methanol results.

Through the use of the hydrogen as a substance, chemical raw materials are obtained which are able to be stored and transported and which can be used in a variety of ways.

It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the words "comprise" and "comprises" have a corresponding meaning.

H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\43579.97 .Clean Gas.doc 17/04/01

Claims

1. A method for total material emission-free utilisation of synthesis clean gas obtained during high- temperature recycling of waste of all types, including: treating the synthesis clean gas by water vapour in a catalytic process in order to convert carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas at least partially into carbon dioxide and hydrogen; recycling the remaining residual gases back into the high-temperature reactor, and then; separating the clean synthesis gas main product obtained, containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into component hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and utilising the components.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which separating the main product into the component takes place in a known separation process.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the known separation process takes place in a pressure swing absorption plant.

4. A method according to any preceding claim in which the synthesis clean gas thus obtained is subjected S: continuously to partial conversion until hydrogen and carbon monoxide reach the necessary volume ratio of 2 to 1 for the synthesis of methanol; thereafter carbon dioxide is separated by generally known methods such that, from the remaining hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixture, methanol can be obtained in a synthesis (2H 2 CO CH 3 OH). A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in that the synthesis clean gas so obtained is completely converted into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and the substances so obtained are used separately.

H: \mbaurke\Keep\Speci\43579 97 clean Gas.doc 17/04/01 7

6. A method according to claim 5, in which the hydrogen is used, together with the nitrogen from the air separation in the generation of oxygen during high- temperature gasification, for the synthesis of ammonia.

7. A method according to claim 5, in which the hydrogen is used by preference as a fuel to run the fleet of lorries charging the thermal treatment installation.

8. A method according to claim 5, in which the hydrogen is used in fuel cells to generate electric power.

9. A method for total material emission-free utilisation of synthesis clean gas obtained during high- temperature recycling of waste substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the foregoing description. Dated this 17th day of April 2001 THERMOSELECT AG By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia *OO H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\43579.97 .lean Gas.doc 17/04/01