A method of firing a biofuel is provided. The method includes: introducing the biofuel into a combustion chamber having a first stage and a second stage; combusting the biofuel in a suspended state while flowing from the first stage to the second stage; and introducing a first air stream and a second air stream into the combustion chamber at the first stage and at the second stage, respectively, to facilitate combustion of the biofuel.

This gasification melting facility includes: a fluidized bed gasification furnace that generates pyrolysis gas by thermally decomposing waste and discharges incombustibles; a vertical cyclone melting furnace that includes a pyrolysis gas duct through which the pyrolysis gas is introduced; a pyrolysis gas passage that connects the fluidized bed gasification furnace with the pyrolysis gas duct of the vertical cyclone melting furnace; pulverizer that pulverize the incombustibles into pulverized incombustibles so that the particle size of the incombustibles becomes fine; and airflow transporter that puts the pulverized incombustibles in the pyrolysis gas passage, and separating metal contained in the pulverized incombustibles by a difference in specific gravity while conveying the pulverized incombustibles together with airflow. The pyrolysis gas and the pulverized incombustibles are melted in the vertical cyclone melting furnace.

This gasification melting facility includes: a fluidized bed gasification furnace that generates pyrolysis gas by thermally decomposing waste and discharges incombustibles; a vertical cyclone melting furnace that includes a pyrolysis gas duct through which the pyrolysis gas is introduced; a pyrolysis gas passage that connects the fluidized bed gasification furnace with the pyrolysis gas duct of the vertical cyclone melting furnace; pulverizer that pulverize the incombustibles into pulverized incombustibles so that the particle size of the incombustibles becomes fine; and airflow transporter that puts the pulverized incombustibles in the pyrolysis gas passage, and separating metal contained in the pulverized incombustibles by a difference in specific gravity while conveying the pulverized incombustibles together with airflow. The pyrolysis gas and the pulverized incombustibles are melted in the vertical cyclone melting furnace.

A method and apparatus are provided for treating exhaust from a solid fuel combustion system such as a furnace or boiler and includes combusting a material in the combustion chamber and separating fly ash and char from a flue gas stream. The separated fly ash and char mixture is then separated further by separating smaller ash particles from larger char particles. The larger char particles are then reduced in size by a reducing device such as a grinder or crusher. Char particles that have been reduced in size by the grinder or crusher are then reinjected into the combustion chamber for re-burning.

A method and apparatus are provided for treating exhaust from a solid fuel combustion system such as a furnace or boiler and includes combusting a material in the combustion chamber and separating fly ash and char from a flue gas stream. The separated fly ash and char mixture is then separated further by separating smaller ash particles from larger char particles. The larger char particles are then reduced in size by a reducing device such as a grinder or crusher. Char particles that have been reduced in size by the grinder or crusher are then reinjected into the combustion chamber for re-burning.

A mixing apparatus for producing a feedstock for a reformer, the mixing apparatus including at least one mixing vessel comprising a cylindrical vessel with a conical bottom; a steam inlet configured for introducing steam into the conical bottom; a carbonaceous material inlet configured for introducing a carbonaceous feed into the cylindrical vessel; and an outlet for a reformer feedstock comprising at least 0.3 pounds of steam per pound of carbonaceous material, with the at least one mixing vessel configured for operation at a pressure of greater than about 10 psig.

A coal combustion process is described using cleaned coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock comprises an aggregate blend of cleaned coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock. The cleaned coal has a sulfur content that is 50 wt % less than that of un-cleaned coal before it passed through the coal-cleaning sub-system.

A coal combustion process is described using cleaned coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock comprises an aggregate blend of cleaned coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock. The cleaned coal has a sulfur content that is 50 wt % less than that of un-cleaned coal before it passed through the coal-cleaning sub-system.

A coal combustion process is described using coal feedstock and processed biomass feedstock to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock is selected from coal, a coal substitute processed biomass, or an aggregate blend of coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets.

A coal combustion process is described using coal feedstock and processed biomass feedstock to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock is selected from coal, a coal substitute processed biomass, or an aggregate blend of coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets.