A butadiene production system and a butadiene production method are provided in which butadiene can be produced with a high yield. The butadiene production system (1) includes: a gas preparation device (10) that heats raw materials to prepare a mixed gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide; an ethanol production device (12) that is provided downstream of the gas preparation device (10) and brings the mixed gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide into contact with a first catalyst to obtain ethanol; a butadiene production device (16) that is provided downstream of the ethanol production device (12) and brings the ethanol into contact with a second catalyst to obtain butadiene; and return means (18) for returning hydrogen, which is produced as a by-product in the butadiene production device (16), to the ethanol production device (12). In addition, in the butadiene production method, the butadiene production system (1) is used.

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.

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.

A method and apparatus for gasifying raw material. The method includes feeding the raw material into an upper part of a fixed-bed gasifier, introducing the raw material from the upper part of the gasifier to a pyrolysis zone of the gasifier to form the fixed-bed and pyrolyzing the raw material in the presence of pyrolysis air to form a pyrolysis product. Introducing the pyrolysis product from the pyrolysis zone to a lower part of the gasifier, introducing primary air countercurrently to the lower part, carrying out a final gasification in a lower part of the gasifier in order to form a gasified gas. Introducing the gasified gas to a catalytic oxidation part and through a catalyst layer of the catalytic oxidation part, and reforming the gasified gas by way of the catalytic oxidation in the presence of reforming air in the catalytic oxidation part, forming a gaseous product.

A dynamic thermochemical module is disclosed which includes an array of reactors, a network of interconnecting pipes and valves connected to each reactor in the array so that every reactor within the array can communicate to one another and other reactors in a different module having the same structure, a plurality of storage tanks connected to each reactor and interconnecting tubes and valves so that an output from each reactor is stored therein and distributed to each reactor in the array, a plurality of sub-functional modules connected to the array of reactors via the network of interconnecting tubes and valves, a plurality of condensers connected to the array of reactors, and a plurality of gas conditioning and storage and distribution sub-modules connected to the outputs of the condensers.

A dynamic thermochemical module is disclosed which includes an array of reactors, a network of interconnecting pipes and valves connected to each reactor in the array so that every reactor within the array can communicate to one another and other reactors in a different module having the same structure, a plurality of storage tanks connected to each reactor and interconnecting tubes and valves so that an output from each reactor is stored therein and distributed to each reactor in the array, a plurality of sub-functional modules connected to the array of reactors via the network of interconnecting tubes and valves, a plurality of condensers connected to the array of reactors, and a plurality of gas conditioning and storage and distribution sub-modules connected to the outputs of the condensers.

Embodiments include a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.

Embodiments include a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.

A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.