Pressurized entrained flow gasifier
The University of Utah’s pressurized entrained-flow gasifier is a downwards-fired, refractory-lined reactor with the flexibility to utilize either oxygen, air, or enriched air as the oxidant. It has a maximum capacity of more than 1 ton per day. Fuel is fed with oxygen, air, or a mixture of the two into a burner at the top of the reactor and undergoes partial oxidation to form a combustible synthesis gas containing high concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The gas and smelt (slag) products exit the bottom of the reactor and enter a water-cooled quench system where they are cooled and gas is separated from the condensed material. The cooled syngas is then fed to the system’s afterburner, where it is combusted.
Specifications
- Fuel types: coal-water slurry, spent pulping liquor (black
liquor), petroleum oils, biomass pyrolysis oils, coal liquefaction oils - Air-blown or oxygen-blown
- Max. fuel feed rate: 1 ton (dry) per 24 hours
- Max. heat input: 300 kW
- Max. temperature: 1500°C
- Max. pressure: 2.3 MPa
- Overall dimensions: Ø 0.75m (2.5 ft) x 5.3m (17.5 ft)
- Reactor dimensions: Ø 0.20m (0.67 ft) x 1.7m (5.67 ft)
Capabilities
- Characterization of syngas and condensable hydrocarbons “tars”
- Reactor mapping – measurement of progression of gas and condensed-phase composition and fuel conversion
- Identification of operating windows
- Generation of industrially representative syngas for research on downstream gas cleaning or conditioning units
Research
- Development of experimental data for validation of simulations of pressurized, oxygen-blown entrained-flow gasifiers
- Characterization and development of models for the performance of high temperature, pressurized gasification of black liquor
- Wavelength-multiplexed diode laser absorption sensors for rapid monitoring of coal-derived synthesis gas