Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making hydrogen with carbon sequestration. The method may comprise using a biomass hydroconverter product to fuel a steam reformer that converts a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a gas mixture that contains at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The gas stream is separated to form a hydrogen-enriched gas stream and at least one hydrogen-depleted stream. The hydrogen-depleted stream may be stored or further processed to sequester the carbon contained therein. Additionally, or alternatively, the solid residue from the biomass hydroconverter also may be stored for further sequester carbon generated by the method.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is disclosed for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is disclosed for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the system and method concern producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. A biomass feedstock may be converted into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is described for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.

Abstract: A method for converting lignocellulosic biomass to a useful fuel is disclosed in a process sequence resulting in low levels of depositable tars in an output gas stream. One disclosed embodiment comprises performing a sequence of steps at elevated pressure and elevated hydrogen partial pressure, including fast (or flash) hydropyrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass feed followed sequentially with catalytically enhanced reactions for the formation of methane operating at moderate temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 650° C. under moderately elevated pressure (about 5 atm to about 50 atm). A temperature rise in the catalyst above pyrolysis temperature is achieved without the addition of air or oxygen. Gas residence time at elevated temperature downstream of methane formation zones extends beyond the time required for methane formation. This sequence results in low tar deposit levels. The catalyst promotes preferential formation of methane and non-deposit forming hydrocarbons, and coke re-gasification.

Abstract: A system and method for converting biomass into fluid hydrocarbon products to minimize the use of fossil fuels, provide energy and chemical feedstock security, and sustainable and/or carbon neutral electric power, are disclosed. For example, fast pyrolysis can be performed on biomass to produce pygas and char using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The pygas is provided to an independent reactor without the addition of an oxidizing agent for catalytically converting the pygas to hydrocarbons using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. A system comprising fast pyrolysis means producing a pygas and char, independent catalytic conversion means downstream of the fast pyrolysis for converting the pygas to hydrocarbons, and a hydrogen source, external to the system and/or produced by a steam reformer by steam reformation of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons, coupled to catalytic conversion means, also are described.

Abstract: A method for converting lignocellulosic biomass to a useful fuel is disclosed in a process sequence resulting in low levels of depositable tars in an output gas stream. One disclosed embodiment comprises performing a sequence of steps at elevated pressure and elevated hydrogen partial pressure, including fast (or flash) hydropyrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass feed followed sequentially with catalytically enhanced reactions for the formation of methane operating at moderate temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 650° C. under moderately elevated pressure (about 5 atm to about 50 atm). A temperature rise in the catalyst above pyrolysis temperature is achieved without the addition of air or oxygen. Gas residence time at elevated temperature downstream of methane formation zones extends beyond the time required for methane formation. This sequence results in low tar deposit levels. The catalyst promotes preferential formation of methane and non-deposit forming hydrocarbons, and coke re-gasification.

Abstract: Power plant systems and processes are described that enable recovery of at least a portion of the fuel storage energy associated with a storage system for supplying fuel to the power plant systems. A first embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes at least one fuel storage container and at least one expander that can receive fuel from the fuel storage container at a first pressure and provide the fuel to the power plant at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. A second embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes a first conduit fluidly coupling the fuel storage container and the power plant for delivering fuel from the fuel storage container to the power plant and at least one regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine thermally coupled to the first conduit such that heat may be exchanged between the fuel and a working fluid for the regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine.