Abstract: A process (200) to synthesise hydrocarbons includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feed material at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42) at a temperature of at least 900° C. and comprising at least CO and H2. In a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22), synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons, providing a tail gas stream (40) containing methane. The tail gas stream (40) is subjected to steam reforming (30) thereby converting the methane to CO and H2 producing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22). The steam reforming (30) takes place at an elevated temperature of at least 700° C. and heat for the steam reforming is provided by indirect heat exchange with the at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42).

Abstract: A method (10) for the production of synthesis gas includes humidifying an oxygen-containing stream (40) by contacting the oxygen-containing stream (40) with a hot aqueous liquid (58) to produce a humidified oxygen-containing stream (42), and feeding the humidified oxygen-containing stream (42) into a gasifier (20) in which a carbonaceous material (44) is being gasified, thereby to produce synthesis gas.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons from natural gas includes, in a cryogenic separation stage, cryogenically separating the natural gas to produce at least a methane stream and natural gas liquids, in a reforming stage, reforming the methane stream to produce a synthesis gas which includes at least CO and H2, and in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, converting at least some of the CO and H2 into a Fischer-Tropsch product which includes hydrocarbons. A Fischer-Tropsch tail gas which includes at least CO and H2, methane and heavier than methane hydrocarbons, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product in a Fischer-Tropsch product separation stage. At least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is recycled to the cryogenic separation stage, where the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is cryogenically separated into two or more streams.

Abstract: A process (200) to synthesise hydrocarbons includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feed material at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42) at a temperature of at least 900° C. and comprising at least CO and H2. In a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22), synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons, providing a tail gas stream (40) containing methane. The tail gas stream (40) is subjected to steam reforming (30) thereby converting the methane to CO and H2 producing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22). The steam reforming (30) takes place at an elevated temperature of at least 700° C. and heat for the steam reforming is provided by indirect heat exchange with the at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42).

Abstract: A method (10) for the production of synthesis gas includes humidifying an oxygen-containing stream (40) by contacting the oxygen-containing stream (40) with a hot aqueous liquid (58) to produce a humidified oxygen-containing stream (42), and feeding the humidified oxygen-containing stream (42) into a gasifier (20) in which a carbonaceous material (44) is being gasified, thereby to produce synthesis gas.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons from natural gas includes, in a cryogenic separation stage, cryogenically separating the natural gas to produce at least a methane stream and natural gas liquids, in a reforming stage, reforming the methane stream to produce a synthesis gas which includes at least CO and H2, and in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, converting at least some of the CO and H2 into a Fischer-Tropsch product which includes hydrocarbons. A Fischer-Tropsch tail gas which includes at least CO and H2, methane and heavier than methane hydrocarbons, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product in a Fischer-Tropsch product separation stage. At least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is recycled to the cryogenic separation stage, where the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is cryogenically separated into two or more streams.

Abstract: In addition to functioning as a conventional printer, a printer system responds to triggering strings of characters within incoming pages of data by calling upon a meta-command interpreter to execute meta-commands such as “#if . . . #endif,” “#for . . . #next,” and “#mid . . . ” embedded within templates containing data and print commands which describe families of documents or reports. The incoming pages can be stripped of their printer control codes and can be then used as rectangular arrays of characters which control the customization and reduction of the templates into one or more customized documents or reports containing data extracted from the incoming pages inserted at points marked by the “#mid” meta-command and similar meta-commands.

Abstract: An electrode in particular an oxygen-evolving anode for metal electrowinning from an acid electrolyte comprises a body of aluminum or other metal coated with lead or a lead alloy by electroplating preferably from a non-aqueous electrolyte. The substrate can be a sheet of aluminium or compacted particles of aluminium plated with lead or a lead alloy. A sheet of lead or lead alloy is clad to the electroplated substrate and advantageously an electrocatalytic material such as surface-activated valve metal sponge is applied to the surface of the lead or lead alloy.