The invention is concerned with an integrated unit comprising a unitary boiler and gas cleaning apparatus. Preferably the integrated unit comprises a boiler unit, and gas cleaning apparatus, the integrated unit has a reaction unit and further comprises a radiant zone connected to the reaction unit, the radiant zone being connected to a convection zone. The integrated unit further comprises a heat exchange means encircling at least one of the radiant zone and the convection zone, and gas cleaning means is preferably provided around at least a part of the heat exchange means. The reaction unit may comprise a fluid bed boiler, gasifier or pyrolytic chamber and wherein fuel is burned completely; burned under pyrolytic conditions; or is gasified. The heat exchange means may comprise an annular heat exchange chamber and the gas cleaning means may be provided in an annular gas cleaning chamber encircling the heat exchange chamber.

Methods and apparatuses can be configured to facilitate sorting of paper from garbage and/or single stream recycling and subsequently process that separated paper to remove the contaminants from the paper so that the paper is in an acceptable condition for recycling. In some embodiments, the apparatus and method may utilize at least one dryer device that is configured to heat the paper without combusting the paper to remove water from the paper. The dryer device can also be configured to mix the paper as it is dried while also removing particulate contaminants off of the paper to clean the thrown away paper sufficiently so that the paper is in a condition that is acceptable for recycling into a paper product (e.g. a cardboard box, paper plate, sheets of paper, etc.).

A system and method uses a combustor and gasifier to burn a primary dirty fuel, such as waste materials or high-polluting fossil fuels, and a secondary low-polluting fuel, such as biomass fuels, for co-generation of electricity while reducing harmful emissions. The primary fuel is burned at least partially through the use of an improved burner tube. Dirty exhaust from a combustor is scrubbed by a gasifier by reforming the combustors exhaust gases into a clean-burning producer gas (syn-gas). The secondary fuel and oxygen are added to the dirty exhaust in the gaslifier to create gas, char and ash. The gas powers an engine or turbine that turns a generator, or a boiler, Stirling engine, or Organic Rankine Cycle power plant, and releases a cleaner exhaust.

A thermochemical system & method may be configured to convert an organic feedstock to various products. A thermochemical system may include a solid material feed module, a reactor module, an afterburner module, and a solid product finishing module. The various operational parameters (temperature, pressure, etc.) of the various modules may vary depending on the desired products. The product streams may be gaseous, vaporous, liquid, and/or solid.

A system and method uses a combustor and gasifier to burn a primary dirty fuel, such as waste materials or high-polluting fossil fuels, and a secondary low-polluting fuel, such as biomass fuels, for co-generation of electricity while reducing harmful emissions. The primary fuel is burned at least partially through the use of an improved burner tube. Dirty exhaust from a combustor is scrubbed by a gasifier by reforming the combustors exhaust gases into a clean-burning producer gas (syn-gas). The secondary fuel and oxygen are added to the dirty exhaust in the gasifier to create gas, char and ash. The gas powers an engine or turbine that turns a generator, or a boiler, Stirling engine, or Organic Rankine Cycle power plant, and releases a cleaner exhaust.

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.

A thermochemical system & method may be configured to convert an organic feedstock to various products. A thermochemical system may include a solid material feed module, a reactor module, an afterburner module, and a solid product finishing module. The various operational parameters (temperature, pressure, etc.) of the various modules may vary depending on the desired products. The product streams may be gaseous, vaporous, liquid, and/or solid.

A method is provided for thermally processing waste to produce steam and generate energy while minimizing air pollutants in a staged thermal reactor. The method includes gasifying the waste to convert the waste to a fuel gas and a substantially carbon free, inert, granulated, sintered mineral ash and reforming the fuel gas auto-thermally to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide when the fuel gas is combusted. The method further includes burning the reformed fuel gas to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide in a flame region of a fuel gas burner and recirculating cooled flue gas to control oxygen content and temperature during the reforming operation and the burning operation. In one example, reforming the fuel gas converts non-molecular nitrogen species into molecular nitrogen in an auto-thermal non-catalytic reformer unit by decomposition reactions promoted by a prevailing reducing gas atmosphere.

A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production, including control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A conversion process completion detection subsystem may be operative to issue notifications. An example biochar manufacturing system includes at least one of the controlled kilns (100), a feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030) for providing feedstock to kiln 100, a firing line (1040) for receiving the kiln containing feedstock, a tipping station (1050) for receiving biochar from the kiln, a biochar sizing station, and an automated handler (800) configured to move the kiln between the feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030), the firing line (1040) and the tipping station (1050).

An apparatus is provided that receives waste and generates electrical power or thermal energy with minimal NOx emissions. A gasifier is provided that receives the waste and air to produce fuel gas for delivery to a fluidly coupled reformer. The reformer receives the fuel gas, recycled flue gas, and air to auto-thermally produce a reformed fuel gas and destroy fuel gas pollutants at a first temperature without a catalyst. A burner is fluidly coupled to the reformer and receives recycled flue gas and air to oxidize the reformed fuel gas at a second temperature that prevents nitrogen oxide formation, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature. A quench chamber is fluidly coupled to the burner and receives flue gas from the burner for quenching with recycled flue gas. A heat recovery system is fluidly coupled to the reformer, burner, and quench chamber to extract usable energy.