Disclosed is a pyrolysis system (1) comprising a pyrolysis reactor (2) arranged for producing pyrolysis gas and a first condensing unit (3) arranged to cool the pyrolysis gas to a first temperature to condense a first pyrolysis liquid (20). The system further comprises a second condensing unit (4) arranged to cool the pyrolysis gas to a second temperature to condense a second pyrolysis liquid (21), wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature. The system also comprises a return conduit (5) arranged to guide a portion of the pyrolysis gas back into the pyrolysis reactor (2) to drive the pyrolysis process, and heating means (6) arranged to increase the temperature of the portion of the pyrolysis gas before it reenters the pyrolysis reactor (2). The pyrolysis reactor (2) is a fixed bed counterflow pyrolysis reactor (2) comprising a pyrolysis gas outlet (7) arranged at an upper part (8) of the pyrolysis reactor (2) through which the produced pyrolysis gas leaves the pyrolysis reactor (2), a pyrolysis gas inlet (9) arranged at a lower part (10) of the pyrolysis reactor (2), through which the heated pyrolysis gas reenters the pyrolysis reactor (2), a feedstock inlet (11) arranged at the upper part (8) of the pyrolysis reactor (2) through which feedstock (19) enters the pyrolysis reactor (2) and a char outlet (12) arranged at the lower part (10) of the pyrolysis reactor (2), through which char produced in the pyrolysis reactor (2) leaves the pyrolysis reactor (2). Furthermore, a method for producing producing purified pyrolysis gas and pyrolysis liquids and use of a pyrolysis system (1) is disclosed.

A biomass conversion system is disclosed. The system comprises a syngas generator, a cleanup engine and a power producing engine. The power producing engine is coupled to a load, such as an electrical generator. Modifications to the cleanup engine to enhance performance are described. Additionally, methods of controlling the cleanup engine in response to changes in load are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the air-to-fuel ratio, and/or recirculation gases are varied. In other embodiments, a chemical synthesis reactor may be coupled to the output of the cleanup engine.

A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.

The invention relates to a gas scrubbing process and a corresponding plant for removal of acidic gas constituents from crude synthesis gas which make it possible by treatment of shifted and of unshifted crude synthesis gas in the gas scrubbing process and by combination of the thus-obtained partial product streams to produce a plurality of gas products having different compositions. In addition, the invention ensures that the flash gases obtained during decompression of the laden scrubbing medium are utilized materially and/or energetically in advantageous fashion.

A process to efficiently convert organic feedstock material into liquid non-oxygenated hydrocarbons in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range is disclosed. The process can utilize gaseous, liquid or solid organic feedstocks containing carbon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen. The feedstock may require preparation of the organic feedstock for the process and is converted first into a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then cleaned and conditioned and extraneous components removed, leaving substantially only the carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It is then converted via a series of chemical reactions into the desired liquid hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are suitable for combustion in a vehicle engine and may be regarded a replacement for petrol made from fossil fuels in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.2 carbon backbone range. The process also recycles gaseous by-products back through the various reactors of the process to maximize the liquid hydrocarbon in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range yield.

Disclosed is an absorbent containing an amine for absorption of an acid gas in a biogas, and a biogas purification system using the same.

Method and plant for generating a synthesis gas which consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and has been freed of acid gases, proceeding from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, and air and steam, wherein low-temperature fractionation separates air into an oxygen stream, a tail gas stream and a nitrogen stream, wherein the tail gas stream and the nitrogen stream are at ambient temperature and the nitrogen stream is at elevated pressure, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fuel, having been mixed with the oxygen stream and steam at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, is converted to a synthesis gas by a method known to those skilled in the art, and wherein acid gas is subsequently separated therefrom by low-temperature absorption in an absorption column, wherein the nitrogen stream generated in the fractionation of air is passed through and simultaneously cooled in an expansion turbine and then used to cool either the absorbent or the coolant circulating in the coolant circuit of the compression refrigeration plant.

A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; sequentially removing ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities from the raw synthesis gas to form desulphurised gas and recovering carbon dioxide in substantially pure form; converting at least a portion of the desulphurised synthesis gas to a useful product. Despite having selected a more energy intensive sub-process i.e. physical absorption for removal of acid gas impurities, the overall power requirement of the facility is lower on account of lower steam requirements and thereby leading to a decrease in the carbon intensity score for the facility.

Processes and systems for converting a hydrocarbon-containing feed. The feed and heated particles can be contacted within a pyrolysis zone to effect pyrolysis of at least a portion of the feed to produce a pyrolysis zone effluent and a first gaseous stream rich in olefins and a first particle stream rich in the particles can be obtained therefrom. At least a portion of the first particle stream, an oxidant, and steam can be fed into a gasification zone and contacted therein to effect gasification of at least a portion of coke disposed on the surface of the particles to produce a gasification zone effluent. A second gaseous stream rich in a synthesis gas and a second particle stream rich in heated and regenerated particles can be obtained from the gasification zone effluent. At least a portion of the second particle stream can be fed into the pyrolysis zone.

A plant and a method for the production of hydrogen and bicarbonate. The plant includes a gasifier, a reformer, a direct contact exchanger and an apparatus for the production of bicarbonate. The plant is suitable for receiving fuel, oxygen, water, carbonate, brine at the inlet and for producing hydrogen, bicarbonate and calcium chloride at the outlet. The plant uses a self-cleaning direct contact heat exchanger to cool the syngas downstream of the reformer and to produce the superheated steam that feeds the gasifier: this heat exchanger allows the production of hydrogen at low costs and in modular plants.