HyMelt® Technology
The HyMelt® Patented Gasification Process
Below is a simple HyMelt® flow diagram of what we refer to as the “steady state” mode, where hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced simultaneously in a single reactor.
HyMelt® “Steady State” Mode Simple Flow Diagram
The centerpiece of the HyMelt® process is a gasification vessel that utilizes molten iron as a reaction medium, providing almost instantaneous heat transfer. With HyMelt® the hydrocarbon based gasifier feedstock (coal, petroleum coke, biomass, shale oil, etc) is injected into a molten iron bath at a temperature of approximately 2600°F. Our target is to operate at elevated pressures of up to 35 bar (500 psi). Higher pressure will reduce reactor soot release overhead and will allow greater reactor throughput. Operating at pressure will also minimize hydrogen compression requirements.
Another configuration of the HyMelt® technology is referred to as “swing” mode. In this mode two reactors are utilized to produce separate streams of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas (see flow diagram below). Carbon based feedstock (coal, petroleum coke, biomass, shale oil, etc) is injected into a molten iron bath at a temperature of approximately 2600°F in an oxygen free environment. This results in production of a high-purity hydrogen stream. The carbon in the feedstock dissolves in the molten iron.
At the point the carbon content of the molten iron approaches a maximum level of about 4% the hydrocarbon feed is stopped and oxygen is introduced to the molten iron. Much as happens in a basic oxygen furnace, the oxygen reacts with the dissolved carbon to produce a carbon monoxide-rich stream. At the point most of the carbon is removed from the molten iron, oxygen injection is stopped and the feeding of the hydrocarbon begins again. These two cycles, (1) hydrocarbon feedstock introduction with carburization of the molten iron followed by (2) decarburization of the molten iron with oxygen, represents the HyMelt® “swing” process.
HyMelt® “Swing” Mode Simple Flow Diagram
Swing mode is believed to have economic advantage in applications where high-purity hydrogen is required and a separate need for a large carbon monoxide-rich stream also exists.