Apparatus and process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass having a pyrolysis reactor (2) in which dry biomass (Bd) is heated in an environment substantially free from oxygen and halogens, a pyrolysis product (PP) and char (C) is produced, a gasification reactor (3) in which separated char (C) is heated in an environment containing steam (Wst) to reduce the char (C) to produce a synthesis gas (Sh), a gas cooler (4) in which the produced synthesis gas (Sh) is cooled to a cooled synthesis gas (Srt); a conditioning and pressure system (5) in which cooled synthesis gas (Srt) is refined to produce a purified synthesis gas (Sp), and a separation device (6) in which hydrogen gas (H2) is separated from purified synthesis gas (Sp). A hydrogenation device (7) into which pyrolysis oil (PO) retrieved from the pyrolysis product (PP) and separated hydrogen gas (H2) recuperated from the separation device (6) are introduced for hydrogenation in which pyrolysis oil (PO) is hydrogenated by the presence of hydrogen gas (H2), and hydrocarbons (BO) that are substantially free from oxygen are produced.

Handling of municipal solid waste (MSW) is described. A method for handling MSW in a single waste processing facility includes receiving the MSW at the waste processing facility. The MSW is separated into biomass, recyclables, and plastics. The biomass is processed at the waste processing facility to produce syngas using a gasifier. The plastics are also processed at the waste processing facility to produce naphtha, diesel fuel, and/or lubricants. Waste heat from the processing of the biomass and from the processing of the plastics is captured and used in the generating of electricity at the waste processing facility. Facilities for handling MSW are also described.

An apparatus for fuel gas production and combustion comprises a solid fuel feeding unit for receiving and feeding solid fuel; a gas producing unit being connected to the solid fuel feeding unit for receiving solid fuel from the solid fuel feeding unit; an air feeding unit connected to the gas producing unit for feeding air to the gas producing unit to cause a gasification reaction; an ash trapping unit connected to the gas producing unit for separating fly ash and dust from the fuel gas; a burner unit connected to the ash trapping unit for combusting the fuel gas; and an ash discharging unit connected to the gas producing unit and ash trapping unit and comprising a bottom ash discharging part and a fly ash discharging part, characterized in that the air feeding unit comprises a plurality of air feeding parts wherein at least one air feeding part being connected to the gas producing unit and at least one air feeding part being connected to the ash trapping unit.

A direct carbonaceous material to power generation system integrates one or more solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) into a fluidized bed gasifier. The fuel cell anode is in direct contact with bed material so that the H.sub.2 and CO generated in the bed are oxidized to H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 to create a push-pull or source-sink reaction environment. The SOFC is exothermic and supplies heat within a reaction chamber of the gasifier where the fluidized bed conducts an endothermic reaction. The products from the anode are the reactants for the reformer and vice versa. A lower bed in the reaction chamber may comprise engineered multi-function material which may incorporate one or more catalysts and reactant adsorbent sites to facilitate excellent heat and mass transfer and fluidization dynamics in fluidized beds. The catalyst is capable of cracking tars and reforming hydrocarbons.

An apparatus and process are disclosed for producing hydrocarbons from biomass, the apparatus comprising: a pyrolysis reactor (2) in which dry biomass (Bd) is heated in an environment substantially free from oxygen and halogens, wherein a pyrolysis product (PP) and char (C) is produced; a gasification reactor (3) in which the separated char (C) is heated in an environment containing steam (Wst) so as to reduce said char (C) to produce a synthesis gas (Sh), a gas cooler (4) in which the produced synthesis gas (Sh) is cooled to a cooled synthesis gas (Srt); a conditioning and pressure system (5), in which the cooled synthesis gas (Srt) is refined so as to produce a purified synthesis gas (Sp); a separation device (6), in which hydrogen gas (H2) is separated from the purified synthesis gas (Sp). The apparatus also comprises a hydrogenation device (7), into which pyrolysis oil (PO) retrieved from the pyrolysis product (PP), and at least a portion of the separated hydrogen gas (H2) recuperated from the separation device (6) are introduced for a hydrogenation step, in which the pyrolysis oil (PO) is hydrogenated by the presence of the hydrogen gas (H2), wherein hydrocarbons (BO) that are substantially free from oxygen are produced.

A combined heat and power plant includes a gasifier, a heat exchanger arranged to reduce the temperature of the raw synthesis gas formed in the gasifier by exchanging the heat of the raw synthesis gas into heating medium used for heating and forming cooled raw synthesis gas, a filtration unit for cleaning the cooled raw synthesis gas to form refined synthesis gas suitable as a fuel for an internal combustion engine, an internal combustion engine where the refined synthesis gas is burnt to produce mechanical power, ducts for connecting different parts of the plant to each other a raw gas burner arranged after the gasifier to burn the raw synthesis gas formed in the gasifier during the time when the refined synthesis gas is not utilized in the internal combustion engine. A method for treating raw synthesis gas a combined heat and power plant is also disclosed.

A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO.sub.2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle for generating power.

Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas, and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas, and recycled contaminants. Synthesis gas generation may involve predetermining a desired synthesis gas for output and creating high yields of such a predetermined desired synthesis gas.

A carbonaceous fuel gasification system for a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system includes a micronized char preparation system comprising a devolatilizer that receives solid carbonaceous fuel, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluidizing steam and produces micronized char, steam, hydrogen, and volatiles. An indirect gasifier includes a vessel comprising a gasification chamber that receives the micronized char, a conveying gas, and steam where the gasification chamber provides syngas, ash, and steam. A combustion chamber receives syngas and an oxidant and burns the mixture of syngas with the oxidant to provide heat for gasification and for heating incoming flows, thereby generating steam and CO.sub.2. The heat for gasification is transferred from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber by circulating refractory sand. A syngas cooler cools the syngas and generates steam and provides to a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle system that performs a supercritical CO.sub.2 power cycle for generating power.

A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.