A process and system for producing a synthetic hydrocarbon having a desired H/C ratio is disclosed. Organic material is biochemically digested in a two stage biodigester for separately producing a hydrogen containing biogas substantially free of methane in a first stage and a methane containing biogas in a second stage. The methane containing biogas is reformed in a first reformer to generate hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas, which are then combined in a mixer with the hydrogen containing biogas into a syngas in amounts to achieve in the syngas an overall H/C ratio substantially equal to the desired H/C ratio. The syngas is reacted with a catalyst in a second reformer, a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor, to produce the hydrocarbon. Using a two stage biodigester allows for the generation of separate hydrogen and methane streams, a more economical generation of the FT syngas and reduced fouling of the FT catalyst.

A fuel synthesis catalyst of an embodiment for hydrogenating a gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, the catalyst comprising, a base material containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of; Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2, first metals containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of; Ni, Co, Fe, and Cu and brought into contact with the base material, and a first oxide containing at least one selected from the group consisting of; CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2 and having an interface with each of the first metals and the base material. The first metals exist on an outer surface of the base material, and on a surface of the base material in fine pores having opening ends on the outer surface of the base material and inside the base material. The first metals and the first oxide exist in the fine pores. The first metals have interfaces with the base material in the fine pores. The first metals exist inside the base material.

A method for enhancing the heat transfer performance of a vertical tubular reactor by adding heat transfer elements inside the reactor tubes. Such heat transfer elements have two or more substantially curved legs of equal length with no cross fins, each with a foot that engages the inside wall of the tube, and can optionally have two or more substantially curved sub-legs that do not engage the wall of the tube.

A solids discharge system (SDS) is configured to separate solids from product gas. The system includes a solids separation device and at least one solids transfer conduit configured to receive solids from the solids separation device. The solids transfer conduit is selectively partitioned into a plurality of compartments (or “sections”) along its length by isolation valves. A gas supply conduit and a gas discharge conduits are connected to one of the sections to facilitate removal of solids. A filter in fluid communication with that section is configured to prevent solids from passing through the gas discharge conduit so that the solids can be removed from one of the sections of the solids transfer conduit. A product gas generation system incorporates first and second reactors, the latter of which receives products created by the second reactor.

Processes for producing high biogenic concentration Fischer-Tropsch liquids derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) feedstock that contains a relatively high concentration of biogenic carbon (derived from plants) and a relatively low concentration of non-biogenic carbon (derived from fossil sources) wherein the biogenic content of the Fischer-Tropsch liquids is the same as the biogenic content of the feedstock.

A processing facility is provided that includes a feedstock separation system configured to separate a feed stream into a lights stream and a heavies stream, a hydrogen production system configured to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the lights stream, and a carbon dioxide conversion system configured to produce synthetic hydrocarbons from the carbon dioxide. The processing facility includes a hydroprocessing system configured to process the heavies stream.

The present invention generally relates to improved catalysts that provide for reduced product contaminants, related methods and improved reaction products. It more specifically relates to improved direct fuel production and redox catalysts that provide for reduced levels of certain oxygenated contaminants, methods related to the use of those catalysts, and hydrocarbon fuel or fuel-related products that have improved characteristics. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of converting one or more carbon-containing feedstocks into one or more hydrocarbon liquid fuels. The method includes the steps of: converting the one or more carbon-containing feedstocks into syngas; and, converting the syngas to one or more hydrocarbons (including liquid fuels) and a water fraction. The water fraction comprises less than 500 ppm of one or more carboxylic acids.

The technology relates to a method of producing synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H.sub.2), wherein the synthesis gas is produced by a reduction reaction of a first flow comprising a carbon source and an excess of hydrogen in contact with an Oxy-flame. The hydrogen comes from a reducing stream, a first portion of which ends up in the first flow, and a second part of which is used to generate the Oxy-flame by combustion of the hydrogen in the presence of a second flow comprising oxygen (O.sub.2), the second flow coming from an oxidizing stream. The first flow and the second flow are at a distance from each other such that the Oxy-flame supports the reaction between the carbon source and the hydrogen. A reactor, which can have different configurations, is also proposed for implementing the method.

A process for the manufacture of one or more useful products comprises: gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass in a gasification zone to generate a raw synthesis gas; supplying at least a portion of the raw synthesis gas to a clean-up zone to remove contaminants and provide a clean synthesis gas; supplying the clean synthesis gas to a first further reaction train to generate at least one first useful product and a tailgas; and diverting selectively on demand a portion of at least one of the carbonaceous feedstock, the clean synthesis gas, the tailgas and the light gas fraction to heat or power generation within the process, in response to external factors to control the carbon intensity of the overall process and enable GHG emission savings.

Fuel and fuel additives can be produced by processes that provide Fischer-Tropsch liquids having high biogenic carbon concentrations of up to about 100% biogenic carbon. The fuels and fuel additive have essentially the same high biogenic concentration as the Fischer-Tropsch liquids which, in turn, contain the same concentration of biogenic carbon as the feedstock.