Embodiments described herein generally relate to iron carbonate utilized as a catalyst in coal gasification processes. An FeCO.sub.3 catalyst is active in both pyrolysis and gasification operations, and may increase carbon conversion rate and reduce the activation energy of coal gasification. Methods described herein also include suitable processing conditions for performing coal gasification with the FeCO.sub.3 catalyst.

The invention relates to a process for conversion of a feedstock comprising solid particles into at least a gaseous compound in a reactor comprising a vertically extending swirl chamber comprising a conical upper part with a decreasing diameter in upward direction, at least one tangential inlet at the bottom of the swirl chamber, and an outlet at the upper end of the swirl chamber, wherein the process is selected from pyrolysis, allothermal gasification or carbonization of a carbonaceous feedstock. The invention further relates to a process for conversion of a feedstock comprising solid particles into at least one or more gaseous compounds in such reactor.

Provided are a method for manufacturing syngas including the steps of (S1) heat-treating organic waste in a first reactor to produce a first mixed gas; (S2) introducing the first mixed gas to a second reactor and subjecting it to methane reforming in the presence of a catalyst to produce a second mixed gas; (S3) separating the catalyst and carbon dioxide from the second mixed gas and recovering a third mixed gas from which the catalyst and the carbon dioxide have been removed; (S4) converting the carbon dioxide separated in step (S3) into carbon monoxide through a reverse Boudouard reaction in a third reactor; and (S5) mixing the third mixed gas recovered in step (S3) and the carbon monoxide converted in step (S4) to produce syngas, and an apparatus for manufacturing syngas.

A process for processing carbonaceous material, the process comprising delivering a carbonaceous material to a first reactor zone; delivering a catalyst to the first reactor zone; processing the carbonaceous material within the first reactor to decompose and/or devolatilise at least a portion of the carbonaceous material; delivering an output from the first reactor to a secondary reactor; the secondary reactor having a higher temperature than the first reactor.

A system used for converting multiple fuel feedstocks may include three reactors. The reactor system combination can be so chosen that one of the reactors completely or partially converts the fuel while the other generates the gaseous product required by utilizing the gaseous product from the second reactor. The metal-oxide composition and the reactor flow-patterns can be manipulated to provide the desired product. A method for optimizing the system efficiency where a pressurized gaseous fuel or a pressurized utility is used for applications downstream can be used to any system processing fuels and metal-oxide.

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a coaxial gasifier for enhanced hydrogen production, comprising: downdraft gasifier comprising a hot zone for converting biomass to synthesis gas; and a coaxial gas converter disposed within the downdraft gasifier, the coaxial gas converter comprising a biochar inlet valve, a coaxial char tube, and a biochar and ash outlet valve.

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.

Processes, systems, and methods for producing combustible gas from wet biomass are provided. In one aspect, for example, a process for generating a combustible gas from a wet biomass in a closed system is provided. Such a process may include growing a wet biomass in a growth chamber, moving at least a portion of the wet biomass to a reactor, heating the portion of the wet biomass under high pressure in the reactor to gasify the wet biomass into a total gas component, separating the gasified component into a liquid component, a non-combustible gas component, and a combustible gas component, and introducing the liquid component and non-combustible gas component containing carbon dioxide into the growth chamber to stimulate new wet biomass growth.

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 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.