The invention relates to a commercially viable modular ceramic oxygen transport membrane system for utilizing heat generated in reactively-driven oxygen transport membrane tubes to generate steam, heat process fluid and/or provide energy to carry out endothermic chemical reactions. The system provides for improved thermal coupling of oxygen transport membrane tubes to steam generation tubes or process heater tubes or reactor tubes for efficient and effective radiant heat transfer.

Provided is a hydrogen production apparatus enabling reduction of energy needed for separation and collection of CO.sub.2 in the hydrogen production. The hydrogen production apparatus includes a reformer, a heating device heating the reformer, a transformer, a hydrogen separation device separating and taking out hydrogen from transformed gas, a CO.sub.2 separation device separating and taking out CO.sub.2 from off-gas from which hydrogen was separated by the hydrogen separation device, a heat collecting device collecting heat of the reformed gas, heat of the transformed gas, and waste heat from the heating device, and a heat medium supply device supplying the heat medium having absorbed heat collected by the heat collecting device to the CO.sub.2 separation device. The absorption liquid having absorbed CO.sub.2 in off-gas is heated by the heat medium heated with collected heat, thereby releasing CO.sub.2.

The invention relates to a process for producing synthesis gas (5) in which hydrocarbon (2) is decomposed thermally in, a first reaction zone (11) to hydrogen and carbon, and hydrogen formed is passed from the first reaction zone (Z1) into a second action zone (Z2) in order to be reacted therein with carbon dioxide (4) to give water and carbon monoxide. The characteristic feature here is that energy required for the thermal decomposition of the hydrocarbon is supplied to the first reaction zone (Z1) from the second reaction zone (Z2).

A heat exchanger can be integrated into an interconnector that can be used in both a SOFC fuel cell and an EHT electrolyser, which allows a heat-transfer fluid different from that in the reactive and drainage gas circuits to be circulated from the inlet of the reactor, thereby allowing the best possible management of the exothermic operating modes of the SOFC cell and the exothermic or endothermic operating modes of the EHT electrolyser and the SOFC cell, especially in the absence of current for the latter.

An apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrocarbon-containing wastes are described. The system and method include the use of a gasification apparatus comprising a rotary kiln reactor and a gas distributor. The rotary kiln reactor and gas distributor are configured to generate multiple reaction environments within the gasification apparatus. Each of the reaction environments has unique temperature reaction conditions to suit various physical and chemical properties associated with processing of the varied-source hydrocarbon-containing wastes.

System (100) and method for processing biomass. The system comprises a combined heat and power plant (102), an interface (114) for feeding biogas to a traffic fuel production unit, interfaces (114) to a district heating system (106a) and an electrical grid (106b), and a hydrolysis device (108), a digestion device (110), a dryer (116) and a heat recovery unit (112), which are operatively coupled for transferring heat, intermediate products and final products of the process, wherein raw biomass is received into the Fuel hydrolysis device (108), biomass processed by the hydrolysis device (108) is fed to the digestion device (110), biogas obtained in the digestion device (110) is fed to the traffic fuel production unit (104), heat is recovered from the hydrolysis device (108), biomass processed by the digestion device (110) is dried by the heat recovered from the hydrolysis device (108), heat is recovered from the dryer (116), heat recovered from the dryer (116) is fed to the hydrolysis device (108) to be used in pre-heating of the received raw biomass, heat recovered from the dryer (116) is fed to the district heating (106a), and production of electricity is fueled by the dried biomass from the dryer (116).

Methods and apparatus for compact and easily maintainable waste reformation. Some embodiments include a rotary oven reformer adapted and configured to provide synthesis gas from organic waste. Some embodiments include a rotary oven with simplified operation both as to reformation of the waste, usage of the synthesized gas and other products, and easy removal of the finished waste products, preferably in a unit of compact size for use in austere settings. Yet other embodiments include Fischer-Tropsch reactors of synthesized gas. Some of these reactors include heat exchanging assemblies that provide self-cleaning effects, efficient utilization of waste heat, and ease of cleaning.

In one embodiment, an ammonia synthesis system comprising, an ammonia synthesis reactor, a waste heat boiler, a supply water heat exchanger, a recycle gas heat exchanger, a water cooler, an ammonia chiller and refrigeration exchanger, a secondary ammonia chiller, an ammonia separator, a liquid ammonia tank, a recycle compressor and a start-up heater, and wherein, a process gas is heated in the recycle gas heat exchanger and enters the ammonia synthesis reactor and the waste heat boiler, a reacted gas stream exits from a bottom of the waste heat boiler and is cooled in the supply water heat exchanger, a gas stream enters the recycle gas heat exchanger, the water cooler, the ammonia chiller and refrigeration exchanger, the secondary ammonia chiller, and is cooled, the gas stream enters the ammonia separator to form a separate liquid ammonia and the separated liquid ammonia enters the liquid ammonia tank.

A process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.

A biomass thermal conversion system including a fixed bed drying zone; a fixed bed pyrolysis zone fluidly connected to the drying zone; a combustion zone fluidly connected to the pyrolysis zone by a material path; and a comminution mechanism arranged across the material path between the pyrolysis zone and the combustion zone, configured to grind char off a pyrolyzed surface of solid biomass and reduce a dimension of the solid biomass below a threshold size.