In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO.sub.2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.

Among other things, the present invention encompasses the applicant's recognition that epoxide carbonylation can be performed industrially utilizing syngas streams containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and varying amounts carbon dioxide. Contrary to expectation, the epoxide carbonylation reaction proceeds selectively in the presence of these mixed gas streams and incorporates excess CO in the syngas stream into valuable chemical precursors, resulting in hydrogen streams substantially free of CO. This is economically and environmentally preferable to performing WSGR which releases the excess carbon as CO2. The integrated processes herein therefore provide improved carbon efficiency for processes based on coal or biomass gasification or steam methane reforming.

To encode High Dynamic Range (HDR) images, the HDR images can be converted to Low Dynamic Range (LDR) images through tone mapping operation, and the LDR images can be encoded with an LDR encoder. The present principles formulates a rate distortion minimization problem when designing the tone mapping curve. In particular, the tone mapping curve is formulated as a function of the probability distribution function of the HDR images to be encoded and a Lagrangian multiplier that depends on encoding parameters. At the decoder, based on the parameters indicative of the tone mapping function, an inverse tone mapping function can be derived to reconstruct HDR images from decoded LDR images.

A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H.sub.2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio.

To encode High Dynamic Range (HDR) images, the HDR images can be converted to Low Dynamic Range (LDR) images through tone mapping operation, and the LDR images can be encoded with an LDR encoder. The present principles formulates a rate distortion minimization problem when designing the tone mapping curve. In particular, the tone mapping curve is formulated as a function of the probability distribution function of the HDR images to be encoded and a Lagrangian multiplier that depends on encoding parameters. At the decoder, based on the parameters indicative of the tone mapping function, an inverse tone mapping function can be derived to reconstruct HDR images from decoded LDR images.

A method and an integrated system for reducing CO.sub.2 emissions in industrial processes. The method and integrated system (100) capture carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) gas from a first gas stream (104) with a chemical absorbent to produce a second gas stream (106) having a higher concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) gas and a lower concentration of CO.sub.2 gas as compared to first gas stream. The CO gas in the second gas stream is used to produce C.sub.5 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbons in an exothermic reaction (108) with hydrogen (H.sub.2) gas (138). At least a portion of the heat generated in the exothermic reaction is used to regenerate the chemical absorbent with the liberation of the CO.sub.2 gas (128) captured from the first gas stream. Heat captured during the exothermic reaction can, optionally, first be used to generate electricity, wherein the heat remaining after generating electricity is used to thermally regenerate the chemical absorbent.

Among other things, the present invention encompasses the applicant's recognition that epoxide carbonylation can be performed industrially utilizing syngas streams containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and varying amounts carbon dioxide. Contrary to expectation, the epoxide carbonylation reaction proceeds selectively in the presence of these mixed gas streams and incorporates excess CO in the syngas stream into valuable chemical precursors, resulting in hydrogen streams substantially free of CO. This is economically and environmentally preferable to performing WSGR which releases the excess carbon as CO2. The integrated processes herein therefore provide improved carbon efficiency for processes based on coal or biomass gasification or steam methane reforming.

A chemical reaction system comprises: a supply source to generate a first carbon compound including at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; an electrochemical reaction device to generate a second carbon compound including carbon monoxide by a reduction reaction of carbon dioxide; a reactor to generate a product including a third carbon compound by a chemical reaction of a reactant including hydrogen and at least one of the first and second carbon compounds; and a flow path through which the second carbon compound is supplied from the electrochemical reaction device to at least one of the supply source and the reactor.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of preparing synthetic fuel using natural gas extracted from a standard gas field on land or at sea as a raw material through a compact GTL process or a GTL-FPSO process. A parallel-type gas purification unit for controlling a molar ratio of synthetic gas and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the synthetic gas, in which a CO.sub.2 separation device and a bypass unit are disposed in parallel, is provided and, thus, the gas purification unit may prepare the synthetic gas by a steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) reaction using natural gas having different CO.sub.2 contents of various standard gas fields and then supply the synthetic gas having an optimum composition suitable for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction to prepare the synthetic fuel.

A method for charging a catalyst into a reactor (40) comprising a separation loop (21), comprising the following steps: a) filling the reactor (40) with a solvent S1; b) filling the separation loop (21) with said solvent S1; c) causing said solvent S1 to move in the synthesis reactor (40) and the separation loop (21); d) heating the reactor (40) to a temperature of 100 C. or less; e) injecting an inert gas into the bottom of the reactor (40); f) mixing said catalyst with a solvent S2 in a vessel (30) in order to obtain a liquid/solid mixture; g) increasing the pressure in the vessel (30) then sending the liquid/solid mixture to the reactor (40); h) withdrawing said solvent S1 and/or S2.