Abstract: An apparatus for generating hydrogen from solid carbonaceous feed stock for production of electricity, chemicals, or fuels using all-steam gasification includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer and an indirect all-steam gasifier generating syngas. A syngas cooler is configured to at least partial quench the syngas and can to produce steam. A syngas clean up system removes ash and residual carbon, a carbon-capture system includes a water gas shift system and CO2 removal system. A pressure swing absorber (PSA) generating tailgas. An oxygen-fueled burner receives tailgas from the PSA and provides heat to a sorbent enhanced reformer (SER) battery limit system. A hydrogen cooler receives tailgas from the PSA that provides heat to the SER battery limit system. A CO2 cooler receives tailgas from the PSA that providing heat to the sorbent enhanced reformer battery limit system.

Abstract: An ASG system for polygeneration with CC includes a devolatilizer that pyrolyzes solid fuel to produce char and gases. A burner adds exothermic heat by high-pressure sub-stoichiometric combustion, a mixing pot causes turbulent flow of the gases to heat received solid fuel, and a riser micronizes resulting friable char. A devolatilizer cyclone separates the micronized char by weight providing micronized char, steam and gases to a gasifier feed and oversized char to the mixing pot. An indirect fluid bed gasifier combustion loop includes a gasifier coupled to the gasifier feed, a steam input to provide oxygen for gasification and to facilitate sand-char separation, and an output for providing syngas. A burner provides POC to a mixing pot which provides hot sand with POC to a POC cyclone via a riser, where the POC cyclone separates sand and POC by weight and provides POC and sand for steam-carbon reaction.

Abstract: An ASG system for polygeneration with CC includes a devolatilizer that pyrolyzes solid fuel to produce char and gases. A burner adds exothermic heat by high-pressure sub-stoichiometric combustion, a mixing pot causes turbulent flow of the gases to heat received solid fuel, and a riser micronizes resulting friable char. A devolatilizer cyclone separates the micronized char by weight providing micronized char, steam and gases to a gasifier feed and oversized char to the mixing pot. An indirect fluid bed gasifier combustion loop includes a gasifier coupled to the gasifier feed, a steam input to provide oxygen for gasification and to facilitate sand-char separation, and an output for providing syngas. A burner provides POC to a mixing pot which provides hot sand with POC to a POC cyclone via a riser, where the POC cyclone separates sand and POC by weight and provides POC and sand for steam-carbon reaction.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a transport reactor with a pulverizer function that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam that produces micronized char, steam, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a pressure vessel reactor comprising a dense bed of solids. A draft tube can be inside or outside the pressure vessel. A combustor provides heat for the gasification reaction by combustion of hydrogen and air and that provides products of combustion that flow through the draft tube. A distributor plate receives the micronized char, steam, and devolatilized hydrocarbons from the output of the micronized char preparation system. The indirect gasifier mixes the micronized char with steam at a temperature that converts them to syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO2 power cycle for generating power.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for all-steam gasification with carbon capture includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, volatiles, hydrogen, and volatiles at outlets. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying fluid, and steam. The gasification chamber produces syngas, ash, and steam at one or more outlets. A combustion chamber receives a mixture of hydrogen and oxidant and burns the mixture of hydrogen and oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and nitrogen. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decarbonizing gases using pressure swing in a first and second pressure vessel that each comprise a fixed bed sorbent. Syngas and steam are received in the first pressure vessel. A carbonation reaction is performed in the first pressure vessel that reacts carbonaceous species in the received syngas with the received steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Decarbonated syngas is exhausted from first pressure vessel. A calcination reaction is performed in the second pressure vessel to produce carbon dioxide. A vacuum is provided to the second pressure vessel that causes carbon dioxide to exhaust from the second pressurized vessel at a pressure that substantially follows the decomposition pressure line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decarbonizing gases using pressure swing in a first and second pressure vessel that each comprise a fixed bed sorbent. Syngas and steam are received in the first pressure vessel. A carbonation reaction is performed in the first pressure vessel that reacts carbonaceous species in the received syngas with the received steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Decarbonated syngas is exhausted from first pressure vessel. A calcination reaction is performed in the second pressure vessel to produce carbon dioxide. A vacuum is provided to the second pressure vessel that causes carbon dioxide to exhaust from the second pressurized vessel at a pressure that substantially follows the decomposition pressure line.

Abstract: An ASG system for polygeneration with CC includes a devolatilizer that pyrolyzes solid fuel to produce char and gases. A burner adds exothermic heat by high-pressure sub-stoichiometric combustion, a mixing pot causes turbulent flow of the gases to heat received solid fuel, and a riser micronizes resulting friable char. A devolatilizer cyclone separates the micronized char by weight providing micronized char, steam and gases to a gasifier feed and oversized char to the mixing pot. An indirect fluid bed gasifier combustion loop includes a gasifier coupled to the gasifier feed, a steam input to provide oxygen for gasification and to facilitate sand-char separation, and an output for providing syngas. A burner provides POC to a mixing pot which provides hot sand with POC to a POC cyclone via a riser, where the POC cyclone separates sand and POC by weight and provides POC and sand for steam-carbon reaction.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO2 power cycle for generating power.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO2 power cycle for generating power.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for all-steam gasification with carbon capture includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, volatiles, hydrogen, and volatiles at outlets. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying fluid, and steam. The gasification chamber produces syngas, ash, and steam at one or more outlets. A combustion chamber receives a mixture of hydrogen and oxidant and burns the mixture of hydrogen and oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and nitrogen. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for all-steam gasification with carbon capture includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, volatiles, hydrogen, and volatiles at outlets. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying fluid, and steam. The gasification chamber produces syngas, ash, and steam at one or more outlets. A combustion chamber receives a mixture of hydrogen and oxidant and burns the mixture of hydrogen and oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and nitrogen. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO2 power cycle for generating power.

Abstract: A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for all-steam gasification with carbon capture includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, volatiles, hydrogen, and volatiles at outlets. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying fluid, and steam. The gasification chamber produces syngas, ash, and steam at one or more outlets. A combustion chamber receives a mixture of hydrogen and oxidant and burns the mixture of hydrogen and oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and nitrogen. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for friction stir welding a seam in a hollow container from the inside. The apparatus includes a weld head convertible between a retracted state to an expanded state. The retracted weld head fits through an opening in the container and then expands to enable formation of the weld. The weld head includes a frame and a least one friction stir welding spindle convertible between a retracted position adjacent the frame and an expanded position away from frame. The container may be a pressure vessel tank, with a circular weld being formed between a tubular mid-section and a hemispherical end cap. Desirably, multiple friction stir welding spindles that expand into a common plane are provided, and relative rotation between the weld head and container forms the circular seam. Force balance arms intermediate adjacent friction stir welding spindles expandable to contact the interior of the container may also be provided to help maintain the position of the weld head.

Abstract: A process for forming a thin metal coating on a substrate wherein a gas stream heated by an electrical current impinges on a metallic target in a vacuum chamber to form a molten pool of the metal and then vaporize a portion of the pool, with the source of the heated gas stream being on one side of the target and the substrate being on the other side of the target such that most of the metallic vapor from the target is directed at the substrate.