Abstract: In a coal gasification furnace adapted to feed pulverized coal thereinto by the use of inert carrier gas and gasify the same, any startup burner can be unnecessitated thereby eliminating any startup combustion chamber. Further, even in the use of a startup burner, it is smaller and lighter in weight than conventional startup burners, allowing the startup combustion chamber to be compact and limiting the height of the entirety of the gasification furnace. As a characteristic feature, a pulverized coal fuel supply passageway (23) to a combustor burner (9) is provided at its midstream portion with a startup gas supply passageway (29) for supply of a startup combustible gas (NG1).

Abstract: A method and system for producing synthesis gas in which a carbonaceous material and at least one oxygen carrier are introduced into a non-thermal plasma reactor at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 700° C. and a pressure in a range of about atmospheric to about 70 atmospheres and a non-thermal plasma discharge is generated within the non-thermal plasma reactor. The carbonaceous material and the oxygen carrier are exposed to the non-thermal plasma discharge, resulting in the formation of a synthesis gas in the non-thermal plasma reactor.

Abstract: A method and device for the gasification of solid fuels such as bituminous coal, lignite coal, and petroleum coke in the flue stream, with an oxidizing medium containing free oxygen by partial oxidation at pressures between atmospheric pressure and 80 bar, and at temperatures between 1200 and 1900° C., consisting of the process steps of pneumatic metering for pulverized fuel, gasification in a flue stream reactor with cooled reaction chamber contour, partial quenching, cooling, crude gas scrubbing, and partial condensation.

Abstract: A coal gasifier is retrofitted to achieve multiple advantages such as reduced oxygen consumption, reduced CO2 and NOx emissions, better H:C ratio, better carbon conversion etc. This is achieved by dividing the coal into at least two zones and modifying the gasifier and operating it as described. The coal is injected into a first zone, configured to devolatilize a substantial portion of the injected coal to produce coal char and volatiles. The operation is tuned to substantially consume the oxidant injected in the first zone. A low-calorific-value, high oxidant feedstock is injected in second zone of the gasifier. The devolatilization of the low-calorific-value, high oxidant content feedstock provides the oxygen containing compounds which gasify at least a portion of the coal char generated in the first zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the gasification of carbonaceous materials in the form of solid particles. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: heating a gaseous mixture formed by a feed gas and water vapor in a heater (1); bringing the particles of the carbonaceous materials into contact with the heated gaseous mixture in a pressurized gasification reactor (2), with the formation of a raw reaction gas and unburnt ash; separately supplying the heater with (i) water vapour and (ii) the aforementioned feed gas; taking separate samples from the heater of the gaseous mixture (at point 13) and of part of the feed gas in the dry state (at point 16); and injecting into the gasification reactor said dry feed gas and a gas forming therewith a fuel mixture in the ash.

Abstract: A method and system for producing product gases in which a carbonaceous material and at least one oxygen carrier are introduced into a non-thermal plasma reactor at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 700° C. and a pressure in a range of about atmospheric to about 70 atmospheres and a non-thermal plasma discharge is generated within the non-thermal plasma reactor. The carbonaceous material and the oxygen carrier are exposed to the non-thermal plasma discharge, resulting in the formation of a product gas in the non-thermal plasma reactor, which product gas comprises substantial amounts of hydrocarbons, such as methane, hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A biomass gasifier includes a wall structure defining a gasification chamber having a biomass inlet at an upper end thereof and a char outlet at a lower end. A generally U-shaped char tube has a base and first and second substantially vertical limbs. The first limb of the char tube is positioned to receive char from the char outlet of the gasification chamber and the second limb terminates upwardly at a level above the char outlet of the gasification chamber. A blower has a suction side connected to the second limb of the char tube for inducing a flow of gas through the gasification chamber and the char tube and also has a pressure side for connection to a consuming device.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide hydrocarbon additives and methods of making and using the same. The additives are suitable for use in conjunction with gasifiers, furnaces, or other high-temperature vessels. The additives may be part of an input stream to a reaction vessel of a hydrocarbon gasifier. The additives may include materials that at least partially reduce the infiltration of slag into the refractory material.

Abstract: A powder injection system for use in pulverized coal gasification under pressure is provided. The powder injection system includes a reservoir for stocking the pulverized coal, a plurality of power injection tubes and a metering unit. A mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is fed to the components that are at operating pressure, namely the powder injection tube and the metering unit, as the inerting and flow medium or fluidizing medium. The nitrogen and carbon dioxide mixture-carrying components are heated in such a manner that the temperature is above the threshold of the diphase range. A method is also provided. The method allows reduction of the nitrogen content in the product gas, which nitrogen is caused by the powder injection system, especially when used in pulverized coal gasification under pressure to produce a synthesis gas for the production of different hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for producing syngas from a carbonaceous substance and/or treating a carbonaceous substance, the process including the following steps: a) reducing the surface moisture of the carbonaceous substance; b) reducing the inherent moisture of the carbonaceous substance; and, c) gasifying the carbonaceous substance to produce syngas, wherein at step a) the carbonaceous substance is directly contacted with a hot gas at a temperature of between 50° C. to 250° C., and/or the carbonaceous substance is indirectly contacted with saturated steam at a temperature of between 105° C. and 250° C.

Abstract: Provided is a fluidized bed gasification method wherein an amount of solid particles to be circulated in a fluidized bed combustion furnace is controlled to enhance gasification efficiency in the furnace. It is the fluidized bed gasification method with fluidized bed combustion and gasification furnaces 30 and 43, char and solid particles produced upon gasification of raw material 51 in the gasification furnace 43 being circulated to the combustion furnace 30. A circulated amount of the solid particles in the combustion furnace is controlled by varying the same in a range of 6 to 30 with respect to an air flow rate, thereby facilitating heat transmission to the raw material 51.

Abstract: A process for the co-gasification of carbonaceous solids (coal, coke) and biomass in which the biomass material is pyrolyzed to provide a biomass pyrolysis oil and biomass char or coke which are then mixed with the carbonaceous solid to form a slurry. This slurry is then heated if necessary to achieve a viscosity which can be processed conveniently in the gasifier. The heat required for pyrolyzing the biomass can conveniently be obtained from the heat exchanger used to cool the hot synthesis gas product emerging from the gasifier.

Abstract: A process for providing fast pyrolysis or gasification of feed material, such as biomass, by mixing it with inert inorganic hot solids in a fluidized mixer/reactor and utilizing released gas from the resulting reaction to transport the mixture from the mixer/reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting hydrogen from a gas containing methane, especially natural gas. Hydrocarbons contained in the gas are catalytically broken down in a reformer (4) by steam in order to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Catalytic conversion of the obtained carbon monoxide with steam occurs in a downstream conversion step in order to form carbon monoxide and water. Carbon dioxide is removed from the converted gas flow (8) by gas washing (7), and the washed hydrogen-rich gas flow (10) is subsequently divided in a pressure-swing adsorption system (11) into a product gas flow (12) made of hydrogen and a waste gas flow (13). The waste gas flow (13) is introduced with hydrogen (14), which is separated from the gas flow (10) after gas washing, into a reformer (4) which is essentially a carbon-free combustible gas, and is combusted there. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for the gasification of coal or other carbonaceous material is provided for operation at an elevated pressure of at least 30 psia, preferably, between 30 psia and 150 psia. Coal or other carbonaceous material passes downwards through two interconnected sections of a gasifier. In the upper section the coal is dried and partially devolatalized and so converted into a char before it passes into the lower section where it is converted, by reaction with steam and air, into ash and a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, hydrogen sulphide, carbonyl sulphide and small amounts of ammonia and phenols. The coal, ultimately converted to ash, exits the gasifier through a flanged semi-spherical containment section that has an integrated rotating grate, which collects and disposes of the ash and through which pass the air and steam used as reactants in the gasifier.

Abstract: A method of increasing the hydrogen/carbon monoxide (H2/CO) ratio in a syngas stream derived from a carbonaceous fuel including coal, brown coal, peat, and heavy residual oil fractions, preferably coal. The fuel-derived syngas stream is divided into at least two sub-streams, one of which undergoes a catalytic water shift conversion reaction. The so-obtained converted sub-stream is combined with the non-converted sub-stream(s) to form a second syngas stream with an increased H2/CO ratio. The method of the present invention can provide a syngas with a H2/CO ratio more suitable for efficient hydrocarbon synthesis carried out on a given catalyst, such as in one or more Fischer-Tropsch reactors, as well as being able to accommodate variation in the H2/CO ratio of syngas formed from different qualities of feedstock fuels.

Abstract: A system for converting a solid fuel into a fuel including a pyrolytic unit for producing a pyro gas comprising hydrocarbons, a synthesis gas production unit for converting the pyro gas into a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and a gas-to-liquid unit for converting the synthesis gas into a fuel.

Abstract: A method is provided for maximizing the production of electrical energy from coal by improving the thermal efficiency of gasifiers used in integrated coal gasification combined cycle gas turbine (IGCC) systems. Coal is reacted in a gasifier to produce a product fuel gas containing carbon monoxide from combustion of the carbon of the feed coal, plus additional carbon monoxide from the reduction of carbon dioxide, wherein the reaction of carbon monoxide with water is avoided to conserve the work potential of the product fuel gas which will increase the efficiency of conventional gas turbine systems and high temperature fuel cells. Combustion of the product fuel gas with oxygen produces carbon dioxide which is readily recovered from the exhaust by removal of water, such as from combustion of hydrogen in the coal, and molecular hydrogen from the coal may recovered by permeation through a hydrogen permeable membrane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: A method and device for evacuating ash and slag from reactors for pressure gasification of fuels, said fuels including coals of various ranks, cokes or ash-containing liquids or liquid-solid suspensions, at pressures between ambient pressure and 80 bar at gasification temperatures ranging between 800 and 1,800° C. There is a water circuit for loosening the deposited slag between a gasification chamber downstream of which there is mounted a quench chamber to which there is connected a slag lock hopper. Circuit water is supplied to the upper and lower part of the quench chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for gasifying a solid fuel that supplies a solid fuel such as coal by dry condition to a gasification furnace of an entrained-bed type is constructed so as to be able to collect the char discharged from the gasification furnace and re-supply the char to the furnace without using a lock hopper and without changing the char into slurry form. The char discharged from the gasification furnace along with produced gases 53 produced in the gasification furnace is brought into contact with water by a gas cooler 9 and collected. After being dehydrated by a dehydrator 10, the collected char is loaded into a mill 2 or a raw-coal bunker 1. For loading into the raw-coal bunker 1, the char is dried by a drying machine 14, preferably, after the dehydration. According to the present invention, a mixture of the collected char and water can be re-supplied to the gasification furnace without using a lock hopper or a dry feeder.

Abstract: Particulate compositions are described comprising an intimate mixture of a coal and a gasification catalyst in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.

Abstract: A method for producing methane (69) from a carbonaceous (22) material includes conveying pulverized carbonaceous material (28) entrained in an inert carrier fluid, such as carbon dioxide (36), into a reactor (34). The reactor (34) includes a vortex region (72) for receiving hydrogen gas (38) and imparting a swirling motion to the hydrogen gas (38). The pulverized carbonaceous material (28) is exposed to the swirling stream of hydrogen gas (38) in a first reaction zone (114) within the reactor (34) to form an exit gas (40) that includes methane (69). Remaining unreacted carbonaceous material (28) is further exposed to the hydrogen gas (38) in a second, low velocity, reaction zone (120). The methane rich exit gas (40) is subsequently extracted from the reactor (34) for further processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a process that comminutes fuel solids in a steam-driven shear field, with controlled water content and optionally a catalyst, with gasification of the free-standing or slurry particulate outputs. Unlike conventional gasification methods the invention requires no dioxygen to be present, and produces dry friable ash that has significant marketable value as a material in its own right.

Abstract: Systems and processes for producing synthesis gas. A carbonaceous feedstock can be combined with one or more low-oxygen carrier fluids having a high heating value. The feedstock and carrier fluid, in the presence of one or more oxidants, can be gasified to provide a synthesis gas. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the synthesis gas can be recycled for use as the carrier fluid.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to provide a particulate solid carbonaceous material to a pressurised gasification reactor comprising following steps, (a) transporting the solid material from a first lower pressure zone to a higher pressure zone using a bulk materials pump comprising a housing having a flow path for the solid material between an inlet fluidly connected to the first lower pressure zone and an outlet fluidly connected to the higher pressure zone, wherein said flow path in said housing is further defined by a space between two rotatable drive disks spaced from each other and wherein a materials scraper is present between said drive disks at the outlet to route a cake of solid material that is being transported between said drive disks to a transport conduit, which transport conduit fluidly connects the outlet of said housing and a burner as present in the gasification reactor, and (b) injecting a gaseous stream into the cake of solid material where the cake of solid material is discharged

Abstract: Processes for extracting and recycling alkali metal compounds present in the char produced from the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous materials are provided involving at least contacting the char with and alkali metal hydroxide followed by carbon dioxide. Both the alkali metal hydroxide and carbon dioxide treatments serve to convert at least a portion of the insoluble alkali metal compounds in the char into soluble species which can be recovered and recycled.

Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).

Abstract: A method for transporting a solid particulate within a gasifier system is provided. The method includes discharging solid particulate through an inlet into an opening defined within a rotor, wherein the inlet and the solid particulate are at a first pressure. The method further includes rotating the rotor such that at least one end of the opening is aligned in flow communication with a duct at a second pressure that is different from the first pressure. The solid particulate is discharged from the rotor opening through an outlet such that the solid particulate is at the second pressure, and the rotor is rotated such that at least one end of the rotor opening is aligned in flow communication with a pressure source that is at approximately the first pressure, and such that the opening is at the first pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for producing syngas from the CO2 in a gaseous stream, such as an exhaust stream, from a power plant or industrial plant, like a cement kiln, is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes providing the gaseous stream to pyrolysis reactor along with a carbon source such as coke. The CO2 and carbon are heated to about 1330° C. and at about one atmosphere with reactants such as steam such that a reaction takes place that produces syngas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). The Syngas is then cleaned and provided to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor to produce Ethanol or Bio-catalytic synthesis reactor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for humidifying syngas to achieve a water to carbon monoxide molar ratio in the product syngas within a desired range and in which the molar ratio which can be varied over time in response to changes in downstream syngas requirements. The raw syngas is produced by reacting a carbonaceous material with oxygen, water, or carbon dioxide and can be combined with a diluent to produce a diluted syngas stream which can be cooled and contacted with liquid water to give a humidified syngas. The H2O:CO molar ratio of the humidified syngas may be adjusted in response to time-varying downstream syngas requirements by changing the amount and/or temperature of the diluent that is combined with the raw syngas stream, by adjusting quench and heat exchange conditions, or a combination thereof. The application of the process to the coproduction of chemicals and power are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: A function of absorbing CO2 in gas by chemical to accelerate gasifying reaction is made compatible with a catalytic function of reforming tar in gasified gas generated by the gasifying reaction to thereby make it possible to produce clean product gas with high gasification efficiency. Gasification process is divided into three processes: a gasification furnace 10 for carrying out gasification process by pyrolysis and gasification (pyrolysis gasification phase, first process), a combustion furnace 20 for burning char to obtain calcined active chemical (char combustion phase, second process) and a gas purification furnace 30 for purifying gasified gas (gasified gas purification phase, third process).

Abstract: An energy efficient process for converting biomass into a higher carbon content, high energy density slurry. Water and biomass are mixed at a temperature and under a pressure that are much lower than in prior processes, but under a non-oxidative gas, which enables a stable slurry to be obtained containing up to 60% solids by weight, 20-40% carbon by weight, in the slurry. The temperature is nominally about 200° C. under non-oxidative gas pressure of about 150 psi, conditions that are substantially less stringent than those required by the prior art. In another embodiment, the biomass water slurry can be mixed with a coal water slurry to further optimize the carbon content and pumpability of the biomass slurry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for evaluating effects of process parameters on hydrogasification processes. The system includes a hydrogasification reactor, a pressurized feed system, a hopper system, a hydrogen gas source, and a carrier gas source. Pressurized carbonaceous material, such as coal, is fed to the reactor using the carrier gas and reacted with hydrogen to produce natural gas.

Abstract: A novel method of combining the CTL fuel plant and IGCC electrical plant by sharing the systems of coal intake, coal preparation, gas separation, and water units is described herein. This configuration allows for the combined facility to offer advantages in efficiencies of production, operational flexibility, scalability, and reliability by a multi-path integration of the processing units.

Abstract: Treating a synthesis gas includes generating a plasma jet from a non-transferred arc torch having a main axis, the jet having a propagation axis that is substantially collinear with the main axis of the torch. The plasma torch is mounted on a feed enclosure. The syngas is received at an inlet port of the feed enclosure, the inlet port being downstream from he plasma torch and feeding the syngas so the flow encounters the plasma jet to mix the syngas and plasma jet. The mixture is propagated in an elongate reactor placed downstream from the inlet port to convert the syngas into an outlet gas. The reactor is in communication in its upstream portion with the feed enclosure and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the propagation axis of the plasma jet. The outlet gas is extracted via an outlet port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining combustion gases of high calorific value, wherein carbonaceous materials are allotermically gasified in a fluidized layer containing solid particles, using a gaseous gasifying agent and by supply of heat, and the gases thus produced are separated from the solid particles and withdrawn. Said method is characterized in that the solid particles are indirectly heated in a first descending bed and supplied to a second ascending fluidized bed in which the fluidized layer is formed and gasification takes place for the greatest part. The method further relates to an apparatus for performing said method.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus having an agglomeration passage in which is positioned a removeable venturi inset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying a solid fuel within a pressurized gasifier without a lockhopper, a slurry or pulverization comprising the feeding of said fuel into a charging chamber having a first section equipped with a ram through which a mandrel is disposed, and a second section within which an impervious seal is formed from the solid fuel by the compressive forces generated by said ram and a third section into which the seal is advanced while said ram forms a successive seal in said second section. The seal from said third section is reduced in size and charged into the pressurized gasifier where it is gasified without loss of pressure. The gases produced are utilized to polygenerate products such as transport fuels and electric power, and a fertilizer from waste gas resulting from the combustion of one of the produced gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gasification method which, with a reliable and safe mode of operation, allows the simultaneous gasification of coals of different degrees of coalification, including those of differing coal qualities such as brown coals and stone coals, with the pulverized fuel consisting of the mixture of the different coals being fed from a common dispensing system to the gasification reactor.

Abstract: It is an object to solve a bypass line corrosion problem effectively, enable prompt supply of a fuel gas into a bypass line in the event of an emergency, and provide an inexpensive coal gasification plant. An integrated coal gasification combined cycle power generation plant includes a coal gasification furnace, a dust remover, a gas refiner, a gas turbine and the like, a main system line connecting therebetween, and a bypass line connecting between the outlet side of the coal gasification furnace in the main system line and a flare stack, wherein a dust remover bypass valve which is disposed in an upstream portion of the bypass line and which opens and closes the bypass line, a treatment gas control valve which is disposed in a downstream portion of the bypass line and which controls the flow rate, and a first inert gas input line which is disposed downstream from the dust remover bypass valve and which supplies the inert gas to the bypass line are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.

Abstract: Process for preparing a hydrocarbon product from a solid carbonaceous fuel (8), the process at least comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a solid carbonaceous fuel (8) and an oxygen containing stream (9) to a burner of a gasification reactor (10), wherein a CO2 containing transport gas (30, 32) is used to transport the solid carbonaceous fuel (8) to the burner wherein the weight ratio of CO2 to the carbonaceous fuel in step (a) is less than 0.5 on dry basis.; (b) partially oxidising the carbonaceous fuel in the gasification reactor, thereby obtaining a gaseous stream at least comprising CO, CO2, and H2 (11); (c) removing the gaseous stream obtained in step (b) from the gasification reactor; (d) optionally shift converting (16) at least part of the gaseous stream as obtained in step (c) thereby obtaining a CO depleted stream, (e) subjecting the gaseous stream of step (c) and/or the optional CO depleted stream of step (d) to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to obtain a hydrocarbon product (24).

Abstract: The present invention provides a coal gasification system with an integrated control subsystem. The system generally comprises, in various combinations, a gasification reactor vessel (or converter) having one or more processing zones and one or more plasma heat sources, a solid residue handling subsystem, a gas quality conditioning subsystem, as well as an integrated control subsystem for managing the overall energetics of the conversion of coal to energy and maintaining all aspects of the gasification processes at an optimal set point The gasification system may also optionally comprise a heat recovery subsystem and/or a product gas regulating subsystem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, in one example, relates to a system and method for the generation of very low-tar, high-energy synthesis gas from a large variety of carbonaceous feedstock, including those with higher moisture levels than conventional gasifiers. The system comprises a gasification reactor wherein a portion of the energy of the output syngas of the reactor is used to heat the gasification zone of the reactor via an annular space surrounding the gasification zone of the gasifier, to maintain a temperature condition above 800° C. The maintenance of a long, quasi-uniform high-temperature gasification zone reduces the amount of input air or oxygen, reduces bridging within the gasifier, cracks pyrolysis oils, increases the conversion of char, minimizes heat losses from the bed, and converts moisture within the packed bed into a gasification medium. This results in a very low tar synthesis gas with less nitrogen dilution and higher energy content than conventional gasifiers.

Abstract: Methods for pretreating feedstock for gasification are provided. At least a portion of a coal based feedstock stream can be combined with at least a portion of a supercritical carbon dioxide stream within a pretreatment system to provide a treated feedstock stream. At least a portion of the treated feedstock stream can be passed to a gasifier to produce a synthesis gas stream of less than 50% by volume carbon dioxide, at least 5% by volume carbon monoxide and at least 1% by volume hydrogen. At least a portion of the synthesis gas stream can be combusted to form an exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the gasification byproduct stream can be purified and compressed to produce supercritical carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the supercritical carbon dioxide can be recycled to the pretreatment system via a supercritical carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: Method of operating a fixed bed dry bottom gasifier includes feeding coarse particulate coal with an average particle size of at least 1 mm and an ash fusion temperature increasing agent into a gasification chamber of the gasifier to form a coal bed, feeding a gasification agent into the gasification chamber, and gasifying the coarse particulate coal in the gasification chamber to produce synthesis gas as well as ash. The ash is collected in an ash bed below the coal, and the synthesis gas and the ash are removed from the gasification chamber.

Abstract: Production of synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuel from carbon containing moieties such as biomass, coal, methane, naphtha as a carbon source and hydrogen from a carbon-free energy source is disclosed. The biomass can be fed to a gasifier along with hydrogen, oxygen, steam and recycled carbon dioxide. The synthesis gas from the gasifier exhaust is sent to a liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor to form liquid hydrocarbon molecules. Unreacted CO & H2 can be recycled to the gasifier along with CO2 from the liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor system. Hydrogen can be obtained from electrolysis of water, thermo-chemical cycles or directly by using energy from carbon-free energy sources.