Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J3/00—Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels
  • C10J3/02—Fixed-bed gasification of lump fuel
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/15—Nano-sized carbon materials
  • C01B32/158—Carbon nanotubes
  • C01B32/16—Preparation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/40—Carbon monoxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/50—Carbon dioxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
  • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
  • C10J2300/0903—Feed preparation
  • C10J2300/0906—Physical processes, e.g. shredding, comminuting, chopping, sorting
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
  • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
  • C10J2300/0913—Carbonaceous raw material
  • C10J2300/0916—Biomass
  • C10J2300/0923—Sludge, e.g. from water treatment plant
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
  • C10J2300/09—Details of the feed, e.g. feeding of spent catalyst, inert gas or halogens
  • C10J2300/0913—Carbonaceous raw material
  • C10J2300/0946—Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
  • C10J2300/12—Heating the gasifier
  • C10J2300/123—Heating the gasifier by electromagnetic waves, e.g. microwaves
  • C10J2300/1238—Heating the gasifier by electromagnetic waves, e.g. microwaves by plasma
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2300/00—Details of gasification processes
  • C10J2300/16—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant
  • C10J2300/1671—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant with the production of electricity
  • C10J2300/1675—Integration of gasification processes with another plant or parts within the plant with the production of electricity making use of a steam turbine
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
  • Y02P20/10—Process efficiency

Definitions

• This application is directed to systems and methods for processing organic materials, and more particularly, converting waste materials into useful products and resources.
• waste conversion systems may produce carbon that needs to be sequestered and lacks any beneficial use.
• the present invention is directed to systems and methods for converting organic material into useful products and resources in a cost-effective, reliable and efficient manner, while minimizing harm to the environment.
• the system includes a first chamber for receiving organic material and designed to provide heat at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic material to a gas flow having a carbon compound and hydrogen; a second chamber in fluid
• the organic material may be a waste material, coal, or other carbon containing material.
• the waste material in an embodiment, may be solid or semi-solid.
• the temperature in the first chamber may be in the range from about 3,000 °C to about 25,000 °C.
• the second chamber may also include a catalyst for use in connection with formation of carbon nanotubes.
• the system may also include an energy generating system in fluid communication with the outlet from the second chamber for generating electricity from the gas flow with hydrogen.
• the energy generating system in one embodiment, may be a fuel cell or a steam turbine.
• the system includes a first chamber for receiving organic waste material and designed to provide heat at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic waste material to a gas flow having a carbon compound and hydrogen; a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber for capturing the carbon compound and converting the carbon compound into carbon nanotubes; and an outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber through which the gas flow with hydrogen passes.
• the organic material may be a waste material, coal, or other carbon containing material.
• the waste material in an embodiment, may be solid or semi-solid.
• the temperature may be in the range from about 3,000 °C to about 25,000 °C.
• the second chamber may include a catalyst for use in connection with formation of carbon nanotubes.
• the system may also include an energy generating system in communication with the outlet from the first chamber for generating electricity from the gas flow with hydrogen, wherein the energy generating system, in one embodiment may be a fuel cell system or a steam turbine system.
• a method for converting material into useful products includes: depositing organic material into a first chamber and providing heat in the first chamber at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic material to a gas flow having a carbon compound and hydrogen; capturing the gas in a second chamber that is in fluid communication with the first chamber and converting the carbon compound into carbon nanotubes; and passing the gas flow with hydrogen through an outlet that is in fluid
• the organic material may be a waste material, coal, or other carbon containing material.
• the waste material may be solid or semi-solid.
• the temperature may be in the range from about 3,000 °C to about 25,000 °C.
• the second chamber may include a catalyst for use in connection with formation of carbon nanotubes.
• the outlet may be in fluid communication with an energy generating system for generating electricity from the gas flow with hydrogen.
• the method may further include directing the hydrogen gas to the energy generating system after passing through the outlet from the second chamber.
• the energy generating system in one embodiment, may include a fuel cell or a steam turbine.
• the method includes: depositing organic material into a first chamber and providing heat in the first chamber at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic material to a gas flow having a carbon compound and hydrogen; capturing the carbon compound in a second chamber that is in fluid communication with the first chamber and converting the carbon compound into carbon nanotubes; and capturing the gas flow with hydrogen and passing the gas flow with hydrogen through an outlet that is in fluid communication with the first chamber.
• the organic material may be a waste material, coal, or other carbon containing material.
• the waste material may be solid or semi-solid.
• the temperature may be in the range from about 3,000 °C to about 25,000 °C.
• the second chamber may include a catalyst for use in connection with generation of carbon nanotubes.
• the outlet may be in fluid communication with an energy generating system for generating electricity from the gas flow with hydrogen.
• the method may further include directing the gas flow with hydrogen to the energy generating system after passing through the outlet from the first chamber.
• the energy generating system in one embodiment, may include a fuel cell or a steam turbine.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for converting organic material into useful products using a single pathway.
• Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for converting organic material into useful products using more than one pathway.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of a system for converting organic material into useful products using more than one pathway.
• Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for converting organic material into useful products using a single pathway.
• Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method for converting organic material into useful products using more than one pathway.
• the system includes a first chamber for receiving organic material, a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber or second chamber.
• Organic material may be received into the first chamber where it can be incinerated and from which a gas flow is generated.
• the gas flow from the first chamber may be directed into the second chamber, or it may be bifurcated as it exits the first chamber with one flow direction moving across at least one outlet and while another flow direction may be directed into the second chamber.
• the gas flow may be processed in the second chamber to produce a useful product.
• These useful products include, for example, environmentally-friendly products such as carbon nanotubes.
• the gas flow exiting through the outlet from the first chamber may be utilized as an additional resource, for example, in the generation of energy.
• Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system 10 for converting organic material such as organic waste material into useful products and/or additional resources.
• the system 10 includes, in one embodiment, a first chamber 12 for receiving organic material, such as waste material, a second chamber 14 in fluid communication with the first chamber 12, and at least one outlet 16 in fluid communication with the second chamber 14.
• Any suitable waste material may be used including solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gas waste.
• the waste material may be from any source including, for example, municipal waste material, sewage, sludge, hazardous waste, recycled or non-recycled materials, and organic or inorganic material.
• coal may be used as a source of carbon. Accordingly, waste material, coal or any other carbon containing materials may be used as input material with the systems and methods described herein.
• the organic material such as waste material may be subject to one or more pre-processing steps.
• the waste material may first be received into a shredder or other mechanism for breaking the bulk waste material into smaller components and reducing the size of the waste materials.
• the system 10 may further include a waste input station 18 and a waste reduction system 20 in fluid communication with the waste input station 18.
• the waste reduction system 20 may be a shredder or other mechanism for reducing the volume of waste material. Suitable shredding systems are commercially available. For example, Taskmaster® Industrial Shredders by Franklin Miller or any shredders manufactured by SSI Shredding Systems, Inc. may be used.
• the system 10 may include other systems for reducing the waste material, such as grinders or crushers, in addition to or instead of system 20.
• the waste material may be subject to additional pre-processing steps.
• the waste material may be dried out or water may be added to the waste material before it is further processed.
• the system 10 may further include a transport and pre-processing system 22 for transporting and further processing the waste material.
• the waste material may be transported to another pre-processing station (not shown) before being transported to the first chamber 12.
• the waste material may be transported, in one embodiment, by a conveyer belt system or any other suitable method.
• the transport and pre-processing system 22 may also include a sorting station or process.
• certain materials may be removed from the waste material including, but not limited to, metals or other non-recyclables; PVC, Teflon, and other plastics; and any other materials that include fluoride or chloride.
• the sorting process may be manual or automated. In an embodiment, it is desirable to remove inorganic materials from the waste material so that the waste material processed in the present system is substantially organic material.
• the system 10 may also include a feed port 24 for receiving the waste material which may or may not have been pre-processed and feeding the waste material into the first chamber 12.
• the feed port 24 may be any suitable pathway for feeding the waste material into the first chamber 12.
• the feed port 24 may include a seal (not shown) that is substantially fluid or air-tight.
• the feed port 24 may also be designed to allow for the feed rate to be adjusted.
• the feed rate may be at a steady rate or the feed rate may be adjusted or optimized depending on the type of waste material being fed into the first chamber 12 and the temperature at which the first chamber 12 is operating.
• the waste material may, for instance, be fed in a certain order, such as solid, liquid and then gas waste materials, if desired.
• the first chamber 12 for receiving organic waste material may be designed to provide heat to the interior of the first chamber 12 and the organic waste material therein.
• the first chamber 12 may be any structure able to withstand heat at a temperature sufficient to convert the waste material to a gas.
• the first chamber 12 may also be designed to provide heat at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic waste material to a gas including a carbon compound and hydrogen.
• the carbon compound may, in one embodiment, include any carbon containing compound including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
• the gas may be a combination of gases such as a synthetic gas (syngas), which includes a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and water.
• the first chamber 12 may be of any suitable dimensions, shape or material. In one embodiment, the first chamber 12 may be about 2 meters to about 3 meters in diameter. Of course, the size of the first chamber 12 can be modified depending on the application.
• the inside of the first chamber 12, in an embodiment, may be lined with a material that can withstand sufficiently high temperatures, for instance, fire brick or any material that can withstand high temperatures. Alternatively, commercially available gasification or plasma chambers may be used as a first chamber 12.
• the first chamber 12 may be designed to permit entry of waste material while minimizing the escape of hot gases generated within the first chamber 12.
• the first chamber 12 may also include a drainage system to collect slag or other byproducts.
• Slag or rock slag may include non-hazardous inorganic materials and chemically bonded, non-leachable heavy metals.
• Other byproducts produced in the first chamber 12 may include rock wool and sulfur which are useful products.
• Heat provided to the first chamber 12 may be at any suitable temperatures including about 3,000 °C or greater.
• a suitable temperature range may be from about 3,000 °C to about 25,000 °C. These high temperatures cause the organic material to break down and decompose, leaving the elemental components of the molecules, such as carbon. The organic molecules volatize and become gases.
• the organic material gasified in the first chamber 12 may become high temperature hydrogen, carbon and oxygen ions.
• the center of the first chamber 12 may be at a temperature higher than that of the walls of the first chamber 12.
• the first chamber 12 may have a cooling system such as a water cooling system or any other suitable cooling system to allow the first chamber 12 to withstand the high temperatures.
• the system 10 may also include a heat source 26 and a power supply 28 for the heat source 26.
• Heat may be provided to the first chamber 12 using a plasma torch, RF
• microwave microwave
• electric arc or other heat sources and an appropriate power supply such as a plasma torch power supply.
• a plasma torch power supply such as a plasma torch power supply.
• Commercially available technologies may be used to provide heat using these methods, such as plasma torches made by Applied Plasma Technologies or plasma arc torches by High Temperature Technologies Corp.
• Power may be generated by an electric grid, a diesel generator, or other source.
• the power supply and heat source may also require the use of a cooling supply and a cooling water supply.
• the hot gases (i.e., gas flow) generated from the organic material within the first chamber 12 may be subject to subsequent processing, such as filtering or quenching.
• the system 10 in one embodiment, may include a filter or means for quenching in communication with the first chamber 12. Additionally or alternatively, the gas flow may be filtered to remove certain particulates from the gas flow.
• the first chamber 12, as designed, may be in fluid communication with the second chamber 14.
• the first chamber 12 may be connected to the second chamber 14 by any suitable passageway to allow the processed waste material from the first chamber 12 to exit the first chamber 12 and pass to the second chamber 14 or an outlet 16.
• the passageway may be sealed and may be fluid and/or airtight to minimize leakage of the processed waste material which has been gasified, and which may include solids and/or liquids.
• the first chamber 12 may also have a vent (not shown) through which the gasified waste may pass and be directed to the second chamber 14 or one or more outlets.
• first chamber 12 There may be a temperature gradient between the first chamber 12 and the second chamber 14 where the temperature in the first chamber 12 is at a higher than that in the second chamber 14.
• the higher temperature in the first chamber 12 in an embodiment, may result in a relatively high pressure in the first chamber 12 in comparison to the pressure in the second chamber 14. This pressure differential between the first chamber 12 and the second chamber 14 can allow the gas from the first chamber 12 to pass to the second chamber 14.
• the second chamber 14 may be provided with a temperature sufficient to allow for carbon nanotube growth.
• a suitable temperature range may range from about 650 °C to about 1100 °C.
• the second chamber 14 may be designed to utilize, for example, a chemical vapor deposition process in the formation of the carbon nanotubes. Other processes for forming the carbon nanotubes may include laser ablation and arc deposition methods.
• the second chamber 14 may include a catalyst on which the carbon atoms formed from the carbon compound may be deposited and form carbon nanotubes.
• Suitable catalysts include, for example, ferrocene, an iron plate or rod, Co-Mo/Si0 2 , Pd/La 2 0 3 or other catalyst.
• Carbon nanotubes 30 formed in the second chamber 14 may be collected in another area inside or outside of the second chamber 14.
• the second chamber 14, in one embodiment, may be of any dimensions, shape or materials as long as it can provide appropriate conditions for growing nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes.
• system 10 may also include at least one outlet 16 that can be in fluid communication with the second chamber 14. In that way, the gas flow passing through the second chamber 14, now substantially absent of carbon compound, can continue downstream of system 10.
• the gas flow exiting outlet 16 of second chamber 14, includes hydrogen gas and water.
• the outlet 16, in an embodiment, may be a pathway between the second chamber 14 and another system within system 10, for example, an energy generating system.
• Second chamber 14 may be provided with more than one outlet 16.
• the additional outlets may be in fluid communication with additional energy generating systems or may be used as a vent to release gases which would not be harmful to the environment.
• Gas flow 32 from the second chamber 14, as noted, may include hydrogen and water with minimal carbon monoxide contaminants.
• the hydrogen in one embodiment, may be used efficiently in an energy generating system 34, such as a fuel cell or steam turbine system. Small amounts of carbon compounds such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide may exit the second chamber 14 with the gas flow, but such compounds may be removed by a particulate removal system 46 (see Fig. 2), such as a filter. Further, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide may be deposited into a boiler and burned to form carbon dioxide and water. The hot water may be directed, for instance, into a steam turbine and then cycled through in a loop to generate electricity.
• Fig. 1 shows a system 10 that includes a single pathway where the waste material flows from the first chamber 12 to the second chamber 14 through an outlet.
• Figs. 2 and 3 show other systems 200, 300 that include more than one pathway where the waste material gasified in the first chamber 12 may be separated to different pathways, such as the second chamber 14 and an outlet 44.
• heat may be provided to the first chamber 12 using a heat source 28 such as a plasma torch.
• the heat source 26 may be powered by a power supply 28 that may be connected to an energy source 36, such as an electric grid or outlet.
• the power supply 28 may further be connected to a generator 38, such as a diesel generator.
• a cooling source 40 or cooling supply may be in fluid communication with the power supply 28 and a cooling water supply 42 may be in fluid communication with the heat source 26. Any suitable generators, cooling sources, and cooling water supplies may be used in the present systems.
• Fig. 2 shows a system 200 in which the waste material may be heated and converted to a gas flow in the first chamber 12.
• the gas flow may include carbon compounds, hydrogen and other gases.
• the carbon compounds in the first chamber 12 may be captured in the second chamber 14 and converted to carbon nanotubes, as described above.
• the remaining gas and other materials may be separately captured and directed to an outlet 44 in fluid
• the outlet 44 may be in fluid communication with a particulate removal system 46 such as a filter.
• the particulate removal system 46 may be used to remove any hazardous particulates from the gas flow passing therethrough.
• the particulate removal system 46 may also include any other particulate removal separators, such as those utilizing a centrifugal system.
• a suitable centrifugal system may have a conical shape where the flow is fed into the top and the particulates may be separated from the gas, while the particulates may be settling to the bottom of the centrifugal system and the gas rising to the top of the centrifugal system.
• Suitable particulate removal separators are commercially available.
• One example may be the XQ Series High Efficiency Cyclone Dust Collectors manufactured by Fisher Klein, Inc.
• the gas flow generated in the first chamber 12 may be directed to an outlet 44 that is in fluid communication with an energy generating system, such as a steam turbine.
• an energy generating system such as a steam turbine.
• the gas flow from the first chamber 12, which may include hydrogen can be directed into a boiler 48 via the particulate removal system 46.
• the heated gas flow may act to heat water to form steam.
• the steam may then be used to run a steam turbine 50 to generate electricity.
• the steam turbine 50 in an embodiment, may be in fluid communication with a generator 52, which may be connected to an electric grid 54 or other outlet for the energy generated.
• gas flow from the boiler 48 may be directed through a quenching station 56 and then passed through a filter 58 and released through a vent 60 as exhaust.
• Fig. 3 shows another system 300 where carbon compounds may be separated from other materials before leaving the first chamber 12.
• inorganic materials such as silicates, metals and other non- volatile materials may be deposited in the bottom of the first chamber 12.
• the gas stream may flow into a carbon recycling station 62 where remaining carbon may be removed through carbon nanotube production.
• the carbon nanotubes may be produced in the carbon recycling station 62 using any suitable method, including those described above.
• hydrogen gas may be directed to an energy generating system 34, such as a fuel cell system.
• Energy generating system 34 may include a fuel cell used to convert hydrogen into electricity.
• the fuel cell may be designed to convert hydrogen into electricity through a chemical reaction utilizing oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
• the fuel cell may be filled with liquid metal and hydrogen may enter the fuel cell and react with the components therein to generate electricity.
• a fuel cell is similar to a battery with two terminals.
• hydrogen produced from waste materials and substantially absent of carbon compounds may be fed into a fuel cell to produce electricity with water as the byproduct.
• the system may further include a switch or other mechanism for directing the material released from the particulate removal system to either a boiler system as shown in Fig. 2 or a carbon recycling station as shown in Fig. 3.
• the system may include two outlets in fluid communication with the first chamber 12 for directing the material via the particulate removal system to the boiler or carbon recycling station.
• Figs. 4 and 5 show methods for processing and converting organic material into useful products using the systems described above.
• the organic material may be waste material, coal, or other material containing carbon.
• a method 400 may include depositing organic material into a first chamber (step 402) and providing heat in the first chamber (step 404) at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic material to a gas flow having a carbon compound and hydrogen (step 406).
• the method may also include capturing the gas flow in a second chamber that is in fluid communication with the first chamber (step 408) and converting the carbon compound within the gas flow into a carbon nanotubes (step 410); and passing the gas flow having hydrogen through an outlet that is in fluid communication with the second chamber (step 412).
• the outlet may be in fluid communication with an energy generating system for generating electricity from the hydrogen gas.
• the method may further include directing the hydrogen gas to an energy generating system that is in fluid communication with the outlet.
• the energy generating system may include a fuel cell or a steam turbine.
• the method may also include the pre-processing steps described above including, for example, inputting the waste material, shredding or reducing the size or volume of the waste material by inputting the waste material into a shredder or other system, drying or moistening the waste material, separating or sorting the waste material to remove certain types of waste such as metals and other inorganic materials, and depositing the waste material in the first chamber using a feed port.
• a method 500 may include depositing organic material into a first chamber (step 502) and providing heat in the first chamber (step 504) at a temperature sufficient to convert the organic material to a gas comprising a carbon compound and hydrogen (step 506); capturing the carbon compound within the gas flow in a second chamber that is in fluid communication with the first chamber (508) and converting the carbon compound into a carbon nanotubes (step 510); and passing gas flow having hydrogen through an outlet that is in fluid communication with the first chamber (512).
• This embodiment may also include any of the pre-processing steps described above.
• the method may also include directing the hydrogen gas through the outlet to an energy generating system for generating electricity.
• the present systems and methods may process and convert organic material such as waste material into useful and environmentally friendly products including: slag, rock wool, carbon nanotubes, electricity, water, some carbon dioxide and other trace residuals.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Nanotechnology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
• Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-07-03 WO PCT/US2013/049282 patent/WO2014008371A2/fr not_active Ceased

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