The present invention provides a process and apparatus for converting feedstock comprising biomass and/or carbon-containing solid waste material to synthesis gas. The process comprises supplying a densified and pressurized feedstock to a gasifier comprising a fluidized bed zone and a post-gasification zone and contacting the feedstock with a gasification agent. Recovery and purification of the synthesis gas is then carried out involving the recycling of CO.sub.2 back to various stages in the process. The apparatus is configured to carry out the process and comprises transport lines to recycle the CO.sub.2. The synthesis gas can be further processed to form renewable synthetic products and/or chemicals.

The present invention provides a process and apparatus for converting feedstock comprising biomass and/or carbon-containing solid waste material to synthesis gas. The process comprises supplying a densified and pressurized feedstock to a gasifier comprising a fluidized bed zone and a post-gasification zone and contacting the feedstock with a gasification agent. Recovery and purification of the synthesis gas is then carried out involving the recycling of CO.sub.2 back to various stages in the process. The apparatus is configured to carry out the process and comprises transport lines to recycle the CO.sub.2. The synthesis gas can be further processed to form renewable synthetic products and/or chemicals.

The present invention discloses a system and method for supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass materials wherein the system includes a SCWG reactor and a plurality of heat exchangers located within a shared pressurized vessel, which decouples the function of containing high pressure from the high temperature function. The present invention allows the heat transfer function to be conducted independently from the pressure transfer function such that the system equipment can be designed and fabricated in manner that would support commercial scaled-up SCWG operations. By using heat exchangers coupled to the reactor in a series configuration, significant efficiencies are achieved by the present invention SCWG system over prior known SCWG systems.

The present invention discloses a system and method for supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass materials wherein the system includes a SCWG reactor and a plurality of heat exchangers located within a shared pressurized vessel, which decouples the function of containing high pressure from the high temperature function. The present invention allows the heat transfer function to be conducted independently from the pressure transfer function such that the system equipment can be designed and fabricated in manner that would support commercial scaled-up SCWG operations. By using heat exchangers coupled to the reactor in a series configuration, significant efficiencies are achieved by the present invention SCWG system over prior known SCWG systems.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a gas in a closable reactor by supplying the reactor with carbon-based biomass or chopped wood material, such as chips, in substantially oxygen-free conditions, by allowing the biomass or wood material to gasify at a high temperature, and by recovering the gas generated in a gasification reaction. In that the arrangement the reactor has its interior defined by a feed pipe whose inlet end is closable with a shut-off valve, especially with a ball valve, and whose outlet end adjoins a heatable gasification dome, biomass or chopped wood material is delivered from the feed pipe's inlet end into the reactor's interior, the reactor's interior is supplied with free water/water vapor in its supercritical state, which is optionally prepared catalytically by splitting water/water vapor, the biomass or wood material is conveyed into a gasification space of the reactor's interior, which is in connection with the heated gasification dome and which is adapted to have existing conditions selected in a manner such that the water present in said gasification space is present in its supercritical state, and the gas generated in the gasification reaction is recovered.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a gas in a closable reactor by supplying the reactor with carbon-based biomass or chopped wood material, such as chips, in substantially oxygen-free conditions, by allowing the biomass or wood material to gasify at a high temperature, and by recovering the gas generated in a gasification reaction. In that the arrangement the reactor has its interior defined by a feed pipe whose inlet end is closable with a shut-off valve, especially with a ball valve, and whose outlet end adjoins a heatable gasification dome, biomass or chopped wood material is delivered from the feed pipe's inlet end into the reactor's interior, the reactor's interior is supplied with free water/water vapor in its supercritical state, which is optionally prepared catalytically by splitting water/water vapor, the biomass or wood material is conveyed into a gasification space of the reactor's interior, which is in connection with the heated gasification dome and which is adapted to have existing conditions selected in a manner such that the water present in said gasification space is present in its supercritical state, and the gas generated in the gasification reaction is recovered.

A gasification system for the partial oxidation of a carbonaceous feedstock to at least provide a synthesis gas, comprising: a reactor chamber for receiving and partially oxidizing the carbonaceous feedstock, the reactor chamber having a reactor chamber floor; a quench chamber below the floor of the reactor chamber for holding a bath of liquid coolant; an intermediate section at said reactor chamber floor, the intermediate section having a reactor outlet opening through which the reactor chamber communicates with the quench chamber to conduct the synthesis gas from the reactor chamber into the bath of the quench chamber; at least one layer of refractory bricks arranged on and supported by the reactor chamber floor, the lower end section of the refractory bricks enclosing the reactor outlet opening and defining the inner diameter thereof; and a dip tube extending from the reactor outlet opening to the bath of the quench chamber, the dip tube having a widened top section.

A gasification system for the partial oxidation of a carbonaceous feedstock to at least provide a synthesis gas, comprising: a reactor chamber for receiving and partially oxidizing the carbonaceous feedstock, the reactor chamber having a reactor chamber floor; a quench chamber below the floor of the reactor chamber for holding a bath of liquid coolant; an intermediate section at said reactor chamber floor, the intermediate section having a reactor outlet opening through which the reactor chamber communicates with the quench chamber to conduct the synthesis gas from the reactor chamber into the bath of the quench chamber; at least one layer of refractory bricks arranged on and supported by the reactor chamber floor, the lower end section of the refractory bricks enclosing the reactor outlet opening and defining the inner diameter thereof; and a dip tube extending from the reactor outlet opening to the bath of the quench chamber, the dip tube having a widened top section.

A gasification system for the oxidation of a carbonaceous feedstock to provide a synthesis gas comprising: a reactor chamber for oxidizing the carbonaceous feedstock; a quench section for holding a bath of liquid coolant; an intermediate section having a reactor outlet opening through which the synthesis gas is conducted from the reactor chamber into the bath of the quench section; at least one layer of refractory bricks arranged on the reactor chamber floor, the lower end section of the refractory brick enclosing the reactor outlet opening and defining the inner diameter thereof; the intermediate section including a number of halved tubes for liquid coolant arranged onto at least part of the reactor chamber floor on a side thereof opposite to the lower end section of the refractory bricks; and a pump system for circulating the liquid coolant through the halved tubes on the reactor chamber floor.

A gasification system for the oxidation of a carbonaceous feedstock to provide a synthesis gas comprising: a reactor chamber for oxidizing the carbonaceous feedstock; a quench section for holding a bath of liquid coolant; an intermediate section having a reactor outlet opening through which the synthesis gas is conducted from the reactor chamber into the bath of the quench section; at least one layer of refractory bricks arranged on the reactor chamber floor, the lower end section of the refractory brick enclosing the reactor outlet opening and defining the inner diameter thereof; the intermediate section including a number of halved tubes for liquid coolant arranged onto at least part of the reactor chamber floor on a side thereof opposite to the lower end section of the refractory bricks; and a pump system for circulating the liquid coolant through the halved tubes on the reactor chamber floor.