A process for the generation of energy and/or hydrocarbons and other products utilizing carbonaceous materials. In a first process stage (P1) the carbonaceous materials are supplied and are pyrolysed, wherein pyrolysis coke (M21) and pyrolysis gas (M22) are formed. In a second process stage (P2), the pyrolysis coke (M21) from the first process stage (P1) is gasified, wherein synthesis gas (M24) is formed, and slag and other residues (M91, M92, M93, M94) are removed. In a third process stage (P3), the synthesis gas (M24) from the second process stage (P2) is converted into hydrocarbons and/or other solid, liquid, and/or gaseous products (M60), which are discharged. The three process stages (P1, P2, P3) form a closed cycle. Surplus gas (M25) from the third process stage (P3) is passed as recycle gas into the first process stage (P1), and/or the second process stage (P2), and pyrolysis gas (M22) from the first process stage (P1) is passed into the second process stage (P2), and/or the third process stage (P3).

A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

A solids circulation system receives a gas stream containing char or other reacting solids from a first reactor. The solids circulation system includes a cyclone configured to receive the gas stream from the first reactor, a dipleg from the cyclone to a second reactor, and a riser from the second reactor which merges with the gas stream received by the cyclone. The second reactor has a dense fluid bed and converts the received materials to gaseous products. A conveying fluid transports a portion of the bed media from the second reactor through the riser to mix with the gas stream prior to cyclone entry. The bed media helps manipulate the solids that is received by the cyclone to facilitate flow of solids down the dipleg into the second reactor. The second reactor provides additional residence time, mixing and gas-solid contact for efficient conversion of char or reacting solids.

A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

A gasification unit includes a gasifier configured to gasify a carbon-containing solid fuel; a pressure vessel housing the gasification furnace; a pressure holding section that is to be filled with a pressurizing gas and is provided between the gasifier and the pressure vessel; a pressurizing gas supply device configured to supply a pressurizing gas to the pressure holding section; pressure equalizing pipes by which the inside of the gasifier is communicated with the pressure holding section; a pressure difference detection and estimation device configured to detect or estimate a pressure difference between a first pressure on the gasifier side and a second pressure on the pressure holding section side; and a control device configured to control the pressurizing gas supply device such that the second pressure is higher than the first pressure based on a detection or estimation result of the pressure difference detection and estimation device.

A char discharge unit is for discharging char discharged from a filtration unit into a char storage unit in which a pressure is at least temporarily higher pressure than that in the filtration unit. The char discharge unit includes a char discharge line connected to a lower side of the filtration unit in a vertical direction and connected to the char storage unit; a lock hopper installed at an intermediary point of the char discharge line to temporarily store the char; an admission valve installed in the char discharge line between the lock hopper and the filtration unit; a control valve installed in the char discharge line between the lock hopper and the char storage unit; and a control device configured to close the control valve when the admission valve is open, and to close the admission valve when the control valve is open.

A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO.sub.2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle for generating power.

Provided is a carbonizing furnace capable of improving combustion efficiency of combustible gas generated by combustion of organic waste and of improving carbonization efficiency of organic waste by appropriately controlling the temperature of carbide. Provided is a pyrolytic furnace in which heating gas can be suppressed from outflowing to the outside from a gap between the upper surface of the body part of the pyrolytic furnace and the outer circumferential surface of a reaction tube where a pyrolysis reaction between carbide and a gasification agent is caused, and in which the temperature of a region where the pyrolysis reaction is caused can be suppressed from being reduced. Provided is a water gas generation system which improves thermal efficiency without using a dedicated heat source for generating water steam to be used as a gasification agent for carbide, promotes a pyrolysis reaction, and thereby, achieves the excellent heat efficiency. Provided are a hydrogen gas generation system and a power generation system which use water gas generated by a water gas generation system including a carbonizing furnace and a pyrolytic furnace and which have excellent productivity. Provided is a carbonizing furnace which improves combustion efficiency by controlling the supply amount of air being supplied to the carbonizing furnace according to the temperature of combustion gas in the carbonizing furnace, and which improves carbonization efficiency by controlling the discharge amount of carbide to be discharged to the outside according to the temperature of carbide or the deposit amount of organic waste in the carbonizing furnace, to make the temperature of carbide appropriate, and by controlling the temperature of air being supplied to the carbonizing furnace. In addition, provided is a pyrolytic furnace which blocks outflow of heating gas or water gas by providing seal portions at the attachment positions of a body part, a reaction tube, and a water gas outlet part, etc. of the pyrolytic furnace, and which maintains a pyrolysis reaction temperature by providing a pyrolysis promoting mechanism to the reaction tube. Provided is a water gas generation system which has excellent thermal efficiency and in which a combustion gas flow path is formed so as to allow combustion gas generated by a carbonizing furnace to flow through a carbonizing furnace, a pyrolytic furnace, a steam superheater, a steam generator, a dryer, and the like. Provided is a hydrogen gas generation system or a power generation system formed by combining the water gas generation system with a hydrogen purifying apparatus or a power generation equipment.

A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO.sub.2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle for generating power.

A two-step gasification process and apparatus for the conversion of solid or liquid organic waste into clean fuel, suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner, is described. The waste is fed initially into a primary gasifier, which is a graphite arc furnace. Within the primary gasifier, the organic components of the waste are mixed with a predetermined amount of air, oxygen or steam, and converted into volatiles and soot. The volatiles consist mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and may include a variety of other hydrocarbons and some fly ash. The gas exiting the primary gasifier first passes through a hot cyclone, where some of the soot and most of the fly ash is collected and returned to the primary gasifier. The remaining soot along with the volatile organic compounds is further treated in a secondary gasifier where the soot and the volatile compounds mix with a high temperature plasma jet and a metered amount of air, oxygen or steam, and are converted into a synthesis gas consisting primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then quenched and cleaned to form a clean fuel gas suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner. This offers higher thermal efficiency than conventional technology and produces a cleaner fuel than other known alternatives.