Methods and systems for processing construction and demolition (C&D) materials to produce a product gas stream and/or electricity are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises pre-processing C&D materials to produce a C&D feed, and processing the C&D feed to produce syngas. The C&D feed can comprise untreated wood, treated wood, paper and cardboard, yard waste, plastic, rubber, and/or foam. Processing the C&D feed can comprise gasifying the C&D feed, steam, and oxygen in a gasifier at a temperature of no more than 950° C. and/or a pressure of no more than 200 psi to produce syngas.

The invention provides a carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus including two or more hot particle fluidised beds, and material transfer means for the transfer of hot catalyst particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the 5 fluidised beds is a gasifier which contains a gasification zone and one or more of the fluidised beds is a pyrolysis reactor which contains a pyrolysis zone, so that the particles are recirculated and serve as an energy carrier to drive pyrolysis in the pyrolysis zone. The invention extends to a carbonaceous feed pyrolysis process using said apparatus.

A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.

The present invention provides a process and apparatus for converting feedstock comprising biomass and/or carbon-containing solid waste material to synthesis gas. The process comprises supplying the feedstock to a gasifier comprising a fluidized bed zone and a post-gasification zone and contacting the feedstock with a gasification agent at a plurality of different operating temperatures based on the ash softening temperature of the feedstock and finally recovering the synthesis gas. The apparatus is configured to perform the process and comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane of the gasifier.

A pyrolysis and gasification system produce a synthesis gas and bio-char from a biomass feedstock. The system includes a feed hopper that has a flow measurement device. The system also includes a reactor that is operable in a gasification mode or a pyrolysis mode. The reactor is configured to receive the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper. The reactor is operable to provide heat to the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper to produce the synthesis gas and bio-char. The system also includes a cyclone assembly. The produced synthesis gas including the bio-char is fed to the cyclone assembly. The cyclone assembly removes a portion of the bio-char from the synthesis gas.

The invention present provides a method (and suitable apparatus) to convert biomass to ethanol, comprising gasifying the biomass to produce raw syngas; feeding the raw syngas to an acid-gas removal unit to remove at least some CO.sub.2 and produce a conditioned syngas stream; feeding the conditioned syngas stream to a fermentor to biologically convert the syngas to ethanol; capturing a tail gas from an exit of the fermentor, wherein the tail gas comprises at least CO.sub.2 and unconverted CO or H.sub.2; and recycling a first portion of the tail gas to the fermentor and/or a second portion of the tail gas to the acid-gas removal unit. This invention allows for increased syngas conversion to ethanol, improved process efficiency, and better overall biorefinery economics for conversion of biomass to ethanol.

A universal feeder system that combines with a fluidized bed gasification reactor for the treatment of multiple diverse feedstocks including sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, wood waste, refuse derived fuels, automotive shredder residue and non-recyclable plastics. The invention thereby also illustrates a method of gasification for multiple and diverse feedstocks using a universal feeder system. The feeder system comprises one or more feed vessels and at least one live bottom dual screw feeder. The feed vessel is rectangular shaped having three vertical sides and an angled side of no less than 60 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate proper flow of feedstock material that have different and/or variable flow properties. The feedstocks are transferred through an open bottom chute to a live bottom dual screw feeder and through another open bottom chute to a transfer screw feeder that conveys feedstock to the fuel feed inlets of a gasifier.

A carbonaceous fuel gasification system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a transport reactor with a pulverizer function that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam that produces micronized char, steam, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a pressure vessel reactor comprising a dense bed of solids. A draft tube can be inside or outside the pressure vessel. A combustor provides heat for the gasification reaction by combustion of hydrogen and air and that provides products of combustion that flow through the draft tube. A distributor plate receives the micronized char, steam, and devolatilized hydrocarbons from the output of the micronized char preparation system. The indirect gasifier mixes the micronized char with steam at a temperature that converts them to syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to cooling hot biochar based on applying cool gas directly to the hot biochar. The gas may be steam comprising water vapor. Biochar may be cooled in a cooling chamber by cool steam injected into a steam loop configured to cool the steam. The biochar cooled with steam may be dried in a drying chamber by dry gas injected from a gas loop. The gas may be hydrocarbon gas. Biochar may be heated in a processing chamber. Heated biochar may be cooled in a cooling chamber by cool hydrocarbon gas injected to the cooling chamber. Biochar in the processing chamber may be heated with heat recovered from cooling. Filtered byproducts and tail gas may be recovered from the cooling chamber. Tail gas may be recycled. Various direct biochar cooling implementations may produce biochar having enhanced carbon content, increased surface area, and a hydrogen stream byproduct.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to cooling hot biochar based on applying cool gas directly to the hot biochar. The gas may be steam comprising water vapor. Biochar may be cooled in a cooling chamber by cool steam injected into a steam loop configured to cool the steam. The biochar cooled with steam may be dried in a drying chamber by dry gas injected from a gas loop. The gas may be hydrocarbon gas. Biochar may be heated in a processing chamber. Heated biochar may be cooled in a cooling chamber by cool hydrocarbon gas injected to the cooling chamber. Biochar in the processing chamber may be heated with heat recovered from cooling. Filtered byproducts and tail gas may be recovered from the cooling chamber. Tail gas may be recycled. Various direct biochar cooling implementations may produce biochar having enhanced carbon content, increased surface area, and a hydrogen stream byproduct.