Abstract: Embodiments include techniques to determine a set of credit risk assessment data samples, generate local credit risk assessment attributions for the set of credit risk assessment samples, and normalize each local credit risk assessment attribution of the local credit risk assessment attributions. Further, embodiments techniques to compare each pair of normalized local credit risk assessment attributions and assign a rank distance thereto proportional to a degree of ranking differences between the pair of normalized local credit risk assessment attributions. The techniques also include applying a K-medoids clustering algorithm to generate clusters of the local risk assessment attributions, generating global attributions, and determining insights for the neural network based on the global attributions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for gasifying biomass or other carbonaceous feedstocks in an indirectly heated gasifier and provides a method for the elimination of condensable organic materials (tars) from the resulting product gas with an integrated tar removal step. More specifically, this tar removal step utilizes the circulating heat carrier to crack the organics and produce additional product gas. As a benefit of the above process, and because the heat carrier circulates through alternating steam and oxidizing zones in the process, deactivation of the cracking reactions is eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for gasifying biomass or other carbonaceous feedstocks in an indirectly heated gasifier and provides a method for the elimination of condensable organic materials (tars) from the resulting product gas with an integrated tar removal step. More specifically, this tar removal step utilizes the circulating heat carrier to crack the organics and produce additional product gas. As a benefit of the above process, and because the heat carrier circulates through alternating steam and oxidizing zones in the process, deactivation of the cracking reactions is eliminated.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for operating a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier system. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing ash agglomeration in a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier/combustor system by adding a quantity of MgO to the feedstock used in the gasifier/combustor system. A second aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing erosion at piping bends in fluidized particulate piping systems which utilizes sand retention cavities positioned to receive and retain a portion of the fluidized particulate. A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for facilitating the flow of sand and char fragments from a first compartment to a second compartment while minimizing the flow of gases between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: An integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system wherein the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell is effected by providing the reactant gases from a gasifier. Fuel gas from the gasifier is directed to the anode of the fuel cell and at least a portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is directed to the combustor. The portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is then combusted to recover residual energy to increase the overall efficiency of integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system. Also, the oxidant gas from the combustor may be directed to the cathode of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A process and method is provided for operating a small-scale high-throughput gasifier. As is known in the art, the exothermic combustion reactions can be separated from the endothermic gasification reactions. The exothermic combustion reactions can take place in or near the combustor while the endothermic gasification reactions take place in the gasifier. Heat from the exothermic zone is transferred to the endothermic reaction zone by circulation of an inert particulate solid such as sand. In order to increase efficiency by reducing heat loss from the gasifier, the gasifier is concentrically-disposed within the endothermic reaction zone of the combustor.

Abstract: An integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system wherein the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell is effected by providing the reactant gases from a gasifier. Fuel gas from the gasifier is directed to the anode of the fuel cell and at least a portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is directed to the combustor. The portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is then combusted to recover residual energy to increase the overall efficiency of integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system. Also, the oxidant gas from the combustor may be directed to the cathode of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for operating a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier system. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing ash agglomeration in a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier/combustor system by adding a quantity of MgO to the feedstock used in the gasifier/combustor system. A second aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing erosion at piping bends in fluidized particulate piping systems which utilizes sand retention cavities positioned to receive and retain a portion of the fluidized particulate. A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for facilitating the flow of sand and char fragments from a first compartment to a second compartment while minimizing the flow of gases between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A process and method is provided for operating a small-scale high-throughput gasifier. As is known in the art, the exothermic combustion reactions can be separated from the endothermic gasification reactions. The exothermic combustion reactions can take place in or near the combustor while the endothermic gasification reactions take place in the gasifier. Heat from the exothermic zone is transferred to the endothermic reaction zone by circulation of an inert particulate solid such as sand. In order to increase efficiency by reducing heat loss from the gasifier, the gasifier is concentrically-disposed within the endothermic reaction zone of the combustor.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of sulfur and carbon monoxide from metal sulfates in which the carbon monoxide is recycled as a reducing agent for reaction with the metal sulfate. Metal sulfates such as gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) are processed to form sulfur dioxide. The sulfur dioxide is contacted with carbonaceous matter at sufficiently high temperature to form elemental sulfur and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is then recycled for use as a reducing agent in the initial processing of the metal sulfate.

Abstract: A method for cracking and shifting a synthesis gas by the steps of providing a catalyst consisting essentially of alumina in a reaction zone; contacting the catalyst with a substantially oxygen free mixture of gases comprising water vapor and hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, at a temperature between about 530.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) to about 980.degree. C. (1800.degree. F.); and whereby the hydrocarbons are cracked to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and the hydrogen content of the mixture increases with a corresponding decrease in carbon monoxide, and carbon formation is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A means to increase the reducing potential of natural gas used in the reduction of sulfates such as gypsum. A reducing mixture of natural gas and air (or oxygen) is heated prior to reduction of the sulfate. For gypsum reduction, heating the reducing mixture to 1500.degree. F. (816.degree. C.) prior to gypsum reduction increased the gypsum conversion to calcium sulfide to above 65% at a reactor temperature of 1400.degree.-1500.degree. F. (700.degree.-816.degree. C.) verses less than a 40% conversion rate when an unheated reducing mixture was used.

Abstract: A method is described for the recovery of high yields of monomers from waste and scrape polymeric materials with minimal amounts of char and tar. The process involves heating the polymer at a heating rate of at least 500.degree. C./sec in a flow-through reactor. Heating is accomplished by contacting the polymer with a heat transfer material such as hot incandescent sand. A flow-through reactor is used to provide the high heating rates and short reactor residence times for the monomer product. The flow through reactor may be a circulating fluidized bed reactor, an entrainment reactor, a cyclonic reactor or a gravity reactor.

Abstract: A method is described for the recovery of high yields of monomers from waste and scrape polymeric materials with minimal amounts of char and tar. The process involves pyrolysis in a circulating fluid bed (CFB). The polymer is heated to a temperature of about 650.degree.C. to about 1000.degree.C. at a rate of more than 500.degree.C./sec in less than two seconds. Heat is supplied to the CFB by a stream of hot sand heated in a separate combustor. The sand is also used as the circulating fluid bed material of the CFB. The process is essentially devoid of solid carbon char and non-monomeric liquid products.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method of operating a gasifier for production of fuel gas from carbonaceous fuels. The process disclosed enables operating in an entrained mode using inlet gas velocities of less than 7 feet per second, feedstock throughputs exceeding 4000 lbs/ft.sup.2 -hr, and pressures below 100 psia.