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).

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 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).

Tires are co-fed into a solid fossil fuel fed entrained flow partial oxidation gasifier. High concentrations of solids and tires in the solids feedstock stream can be stably obtained without significant impact on the feedstock stream stability and pumpability. A consistent quality of syngas can be continuously produced while stably operating the gasifier while remaining within limits of an existing air permit on the gasifier. The subsequent syngas produced from this material can be used to produce a wide range of chemicals.

Provided is a pressurizing system which includes: a pressurizing nozzle configured to supply a pressurizing gas into a hopper (3) where pulverized coal is accumulated; a filter configured to face a space in the hopper (3) where the pulverized coal is accumulated, and to allow the pressurizing gas to pass through the filter, the filter being provided at an end of the pressurizing nozzle; buffer tanks (5a), (5b) in which a pressurizing gas to be supplied to the hopper (3) is collected at a first predetermined pressure; and a pressure control means configured to start, at a time of starting pressurization of the hopper (3), supply of a pressurizing gas at a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure of the pressurizing gas collected in the buffer tanks (5a), (5b).

A syngas generator has at least pyrolysis unit and a cracking unit which recycles treated input therein. The pyrolysis unit may recycle treated char to provide input heat for feedstock. The cracking unit may recycle syngas to assist in treating input gas/vapor mixture.

One variation of a method for converting tires into pyrolytic byproducts includes: in a pyrolytic reactor, thermally depolymerizing a volume of rubber extracted from tires within an inert atmosphere into pyrolytic synthetic gas and solid carbonaceous material; within a centrifuge, removing from the pyrolytic synthetic gas residual solid carbonaceous material carried over from the pyrolytic reactor into the exhaust gas channel; within a vapor-liquid separator, separating vapor-phase pyrolytic synthetic gas from liquid-phase synthetic gas; depositing the liquid-phase synthetic gas into a heavy oil tank to form a cut of heavy oil in liquid phase; condensing a first portion of the vapor-phase synthetic gas in a light oil condenser to form a cut of light oil in liquid-phase; combusting a second portion of vapor-phase gas within a combustor; and recycling a third portion pyrolytic synthetic gas into heating elements within the pyrolytic reactor to heat the pyrolytic reactor.

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.

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.

The present application provides a method for controlling soot make in a process for the gasification of a liquid carbonaceous feedstock. The gasification process comprises: partially oxidizing the carbonaceous feedstock in a gasifier to produce syngas; guiding the syngas from an outlet of the gasifier to a quench section; cooling the syngas in the quench section to provide cooled syngas; providing the cooled syngas to a soot removal unit; using the soot removal unit to remove solids from the cooled syngas, the soot removal unit providing a cleaned syngas stream and a waste slurry stream comprising the solids removed from the syngas; continuously monitoring a concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) in the waste slurry stream; providing the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) to a control system. The control system continuously optimizes the gasification process to changes in concentration of total suspended solids, carbon-to-ash ratio, and optional additional parameters.