Abstract: The melter includes a vessel and structure for introducing waste material into the vessel. Waveguide structure is provided for introducing millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation into the vessel to heat the waste material. A gyrotron is a preferred source for the millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A gasification system method and apparatus to convert a feed stream containing at least some organic material into synthesis gas having a first region, a second region, a gas solid separator, and a means for controlling the flow of material from the first region to the second region. The feed stream is introduced into the system, and the feed stream is partially oxidized in the first region thereby creating a solid material and a gas material. The method further includes the steps of separating at least a portion of the solid material from the gas material with the gas solid separator, controlling the flow of the solid material into the second region from the first region, and heating the solid material in the second region with an electrical means.

Abstract: The problems of the prior art are overcome by the apparatus and method disclosed herein. The reactor vessel of a plasma gasifier is operated at high pressure. To compensate for the negative effects of high pressure, various modifications to the plasma gasifier are disclosed. For example, by moving the slag, more material is exposed to the plasma, allowing better and more complete processing thereof. In some embodiments, magnetic fields are used to cause movement of the slag and molten metal within the vessel. An additional embodiment is to add microwave heating of the slag and/or the incoming material. Microwave heating can also be used as an alternative to plasma heating in a high pressure gasification system.

Abstract: A rotating heat regenerator is used to recover heat from the syngas at it exits the reactor vessel of a waste or biomass gasifier. In some embodiments, three or more streams are passed through the heat exchanger. One stream is the dirty syngas, which heats the rotating material. A second stream is a cold stream that is heated as it passes through the material. A third stream is a cleaning stream, which serves to remove particulates that are collected on the rotating material as the dirty syngas passes through it. This apparatus can also be used as an auto-heat exchanger, or it can exchange heat between separate flows in the gasifier process. The apparatus can also be used to reduce the heating requirement for the thermal residence chamber (TRC) used downstream from the gasification system.

Abstract: Gasses containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted into hydrocarbons using a reactor vessel having a liquid, a catalyst dispersed in the liquid, and a sonic mixing system interfaced with the reactor vessel. The sonic mixing system is used to agitate the mixture. In combination with the catalysts, the agitation increases reaction kinetics, thereby promoting chemical reactions used to efficiently convert gasses containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting organic waste feed streams into usable liquid fuels by adjusting the ratio of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen in the effluent gas of a high temperature waste treatment system. A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit is used to remove carbon dioxide from the effluent gas of a high temperature waste treatment system, while leaving carbon monoxide and hydrogen, thereby producing a gas stream amenable to the production of methanol and other liquid fuels using commercially available catalytic reactors.