Abstract: A method for removing tar from a gas by contacting a first gas containing tar with a second gas containing oxygen for time period sufficient to effect oxidation of at least a portion of the tar in the first gas, thus producing an oxidized product gas that contains less tar than the first gas.

Abstract: A method of gasification by introducing a feed material to be subjected to gasification into a dual fluidized bed gasifier comprising a pyrolyzer fluidly connected with a combustor such that a circulation stream comprising a heat transfer material can be continuously circulated between the pyrolyzer, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is reduced, and the combustor, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is increased, wherein the pyrolyzer is operable to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and wherein the combustor is operable to increase the temperature of the circulation stream via combustion of char introduced thereto with the circulation stream and at least one supplemental fuel. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction system comprising: a catalytic reactor fluidly connected with at least two slurry loops, wherein the reactor comprises at least as many reactor product outlets and at least as many slurry return inlets as slurry loops; wherein each slurry loop comprises a separation system comprising a separation system inlet, a separation system product outlet, and a concentrated catalyst slurry outlet; a slurry offtake fluidly connecting the separation system inlet with one of the reactor product outlets; and a slurry return fluidly connecting the separation system outlet with one of the slurry return inlets. The system may comprise at least three slurry loops. The system may comprise at least four slurry loops. A method for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons via the catalytic reaction system in also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing synthesis gas by introducing a feed material to be gasified into a gasification apparatus comprising at least one fluidized component operable as a fluidized bed, wherein the gasification apparatus is configured to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising synthesis gas; and maintaining fluidization of the at least one fluidized component by introducing a fluidization gas thereto, wherein the fluidization gas comprises at least one component other than steam. A system for producing synthesis gas is also provided.

Abstract: A method for generation of power and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products by producing synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, producing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products and Fischer-Tropsch tailgas from a first portion of the synthesis gas, and generating power from a second portion of the synthesis gas, from at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tailgas, or from both. The method may also comprise conditioning at least a portion of the synthesis gas and/or upgrading at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A system for the production of synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for combining steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; and a reformer comprising a cylindrical vessel containing a plurality of coiled tubes, wherein each of the plurality of coiled tubes has a vertical height in the range of from about 40 feet 12.2 m) to about 100 feet (30.5 m) and a coil length that is at least four times the vertical height; at least one burner configured to combust a fuel and provide heat to maintain the reformer at a reformer temperature; at least one outlet for reformer product comprising synthesis gas; and at least one outlet for flue gas produced via combustion of fuel in the burners. A suitable mixing apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.

Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system comprising: a vessel comprising at least one gas distribution nozzle at or near the bottom of the vessel, a top fluid distributor located at or near the top of the vessel, a catalyst inlet through which catalyst is introduced into the vessel, a first contact point at which catalyst introduced into the vessel first contacts the contents of the vessel, and a discharge outlet whereby catalyst exits the vessel. Methods of preparing catalyst slurry for introduction into a downstream reactor or in-situ activation within the vessel utilizing the catalyst loading system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system including at least one hydrogen extraction unit comprising an inlet for a synthesis feedgas from a synthesis feedgas line and adapted to remove at least one hydrogen-rich gas and at least one hydrogen-lean gas from the synthesis feedgas to yield a refined synthesis gas; and at least one hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, at least one dedicated activation reactor, or both, wherein the at least one hydrocarbon synthesis reactor is fluidly connected with the at least one hydrogen extraction unit and configured to provide liquid hydrocarbons and a first byproduct gas from a synthesis reactor feedstream comprising at least a portion of the refined synthesis gas; and wherein the at least one dedicated activation reactor is fluidly connected with the at least one hydrogen extraction unit, the at least one hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, or both, and configured for activation of hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst via an activation gas.

Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.

Abstract: A catalyst support solution for improving the attrition resistance of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the solution comprising: crystalline silica and at least one chemical promoter selected from alkali metal bases, wherein the support solution has a pH of greater than or equal to about 7. A structurally promoted catalyst comprising: crystalline silica; at least one basic chemical promoter; and iron; wherein the catalyst comprises SiO2:Fe in a ratio of from about 2:100 to about 24:100. A method of producing a structurally promoted precipitated iron catalyst, the method comprising: forming the structural support solution described above; stirring the support solution for a time to dissolve the silica in the solution; adding the support solution to a precipitated iron catalyst slurry to form an attrition resistant catalyst slurry; and drying the attrition resistant catalyst slurry to yield the structurally promoted precipitated iron catalyst.

Abstract: A system for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content, the system comprising: a magnetic dynamic settling vessel comprising at least one magnetic field inside the vessel and/or one magnetized component; at least one inlet for introduction of the fluid stream having a starting solids content; at least one exit for a stream comprising a solids content not greater than the inlet solids content; at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content; and a vertical feed conduit extending at least 70% of the distance from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content. A method for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content is also provided.

Abstract: A process of gasification and the production of synthesis gas. A process of biomass gasification and the reduction or elimination of tars from the hydrocarbon-rich product gas derived from biomass gasification. Systems and methods for the reduction of tar from a synthesis gas derived from biomass gasification are provided.

Abstract: A method of producing stable ferrous nitrate solution by dissolving iron in nitric acid to form a ferrous nitrate solution and maintaining the solution at a first temperature for a first time period, whereby the Fe(II) content of the ferrous nitrate solution changes by less than about 2% over a second time period. A method of producing stable Fe(II)/Fe(III) nitrate solution comprising ferrous nitrate and ferric nitrate and having a desired ratio of ferrous iron to ferric iron, including obtaining a stable ferrous nitrate solution; dissolving iron in nitric acid to form a ferric nitrate solution; maintaining the ferric nitrate solution at a second temperature for a third time period; and combining amounts of stable ferrous nitrate solution and ferric nitrate solution to produce the stable Fe(II)/Fe(III) nitrate solution. A method of preparing an iron catalyst is also described.

Abstract: A structurally promoted, precipitated, Fischer-Tropsch catalyst that exhibits an RCAI-10 of 0-2.8 and/or produces less than 6 wt % fines after 5 hours ASTM Air Jet Attrition testing, due to formation via: preparing a nitrate solution by forming at least one metal slurry and combining the at least one metal slurry with a nitric acid solution; combining the nitrate solution with a basic solution to form a precipitate; structurally promoting the precipitate with at least one source of silicon to form a promoted mixture, wherein promoting comprises combining the precipitate with (a) silicic acid and one or more component selected from the group consisting of non-crystalline silicas, crystalline silicas, and sources of kaolin or (b) a component selected from the group consisting of non-crystalline silicas and sources of kaolin, in the absence of silicic acid; and spray drying the promoted mixture to produce catalyst having a desired particle size.

Abstract: A system for the production of conversion products from synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for mixing steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; a reformer configured to produce, from the reformer feedstock, a reformer product comprising synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the reformer feedstock; a synthesis gas conversion apparatus configured to catalytically convert at least a portion of the synthesis gas in the reformer product into synthesis gas conversion product and to separate from the synthesis gas conversion product a tailgas comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane; and one or more recycle lines fluidly connecting the synthesis gas conversion apparatus with the mixing apparatus, the reformer, or both.

Abstract: A method of forming a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by providing at least one metal nitrate solution, combining each of the at least one metal nitrate solutions with a precipitating agent whereby at least one catalyst precipitate is formed, and incorporating a strong base during precipitation, subsequent precipitation, or both during and subsequent precipitation. Catalysts produced via the disclosed method are also provided.

Abstract: A system for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content, the system comprising: a magnetic dynamic settling vessel comprising at least one magnetic field inside the vessel and/or one magnetized component; at least one inlet for introduction of the fluid stream having a starting solids content; at least one exit for a stream comprising a solids content not greater than the inlet solids content; at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content; and a vertical feed conduit extending at least 70% of the distance from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content. A method for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content is also provided.