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 biomass conversion system is disclosed. The system comprises a syngas generator, a cleanup engine and a power producing engine. The power producing engine is coupled to a load, such as an electrical generator. Methods of controlling the power producing engine in response to changes in load are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the air-to-fuel ratio, spark timing, and/or recirculation gases are varied to change the power of the power producing engine. In other embodiments, the power producing engine is throttled by limiting the amount of clean syngas that enters the engine.

A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing syngas, typically from municipal waste. In particular, a gasifier is used in combination with a plasma furnace. The system is configured so that non-airborne char generated in the gasifier is removed from the system prior to delivery to the plasma furnace. This enhances the energy efficiency of the system whilst still yielding excellent yields of syngas.

A process for making a biochar composition by passing renewable organic-carbon-containing feedstock through a beneficiation sub-system to reduce water content followed by introducing beneficiated feedstock into an oxygen-deficient thermal sub-system to result in renewable processed biochar having an energy density of at least 17 MMBTU/ton (20 GJ/MT) a water content of less than 10 wt %, and water-soluble salt that is decreased by at least 60 wt % on a dry basis from that of the unprocessed organic-carbon-containing feedstock.

Methods and systems for producing carbon-negative hydrogen and renewable natural gas from biomass are included herein. In an embodiment, the method may include gasifying biomass in a gasification unit to form a first stream comprising syngas. The syngas may include methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethylene, and water. The method may also include reacting the carbon monoxide with water in the presence of a catalyst to form a second stream. The second stream may include a greater hydrogen concentration than the first stream. The method may further include separating at least a portion of the second stream to form a hydrogen stream and a natural gas stream. The hydrogen stream may have a greater concentration of hydrogen than the second stream. The natural gas stream may have a greater concentration of methane than the second stream.

A system is described for automatically processing biomass using a series of mechanisms that operate in unison to maintain solids flow through small gasifiers that are otherwise prone to blockage. The system can include an anti jamming mechanism to automatically clear jams within said gasifier using input from at least one sensor.

A fuel production system 1 includes a gasification unit 3; an electrolysis unit 60 that is connected to a renewable power generating unit 5 and a commercial power grid 8 and produces hydrogen using electric power; and a control unit 7 that determines a power index that depending on the carbon dioxide emission intensity of the electric power supplied from the commercial power grid 8. When the remaining amount of hydrogen is smaller than a lower threshold, the control unit 7 causes electric power to be supplied to the electrolysis unit 60 from the renewable power generating unit 5 and the commercial power grid 8 for production of hydrogen, and controls, based on the power index, the amount of hydrogen supplied by a hydrogen supply pump 64 and the amount of commercial power supply from the commercial power grid 8 to the electrolysis unit 60.

A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process 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; sequentially removing ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities from the raw synthesis gas to form desulphurised gas and recovering carbon dioxide in substantially pure form; converting at least a portion of the desulphurised synthesis gas to a useful product. Despite having selected a more energy intensive sub-process i.e. physical absorption for removal of acid gas impurities, the overall power requirement of the facility is lower on account of lower steam requirements and thereby leading to a decrease in the carbon intensity score for the facility.

A looping reaction hydrogen production system includes a reduction reaction device, a primary separation device, a hydrogen production reaction device, a secondary separation device, a primary heat transfer device and a cooling purification device. Based on looping combustion reaction mechanism, the system makes MeO/Me circularly flow between the hydrogen production reaction device and the reduction reaction device to respectively generate a reduction/oxidation chemical reaction, and to convert the conventional carbon-based solid fuel into the high-purity clean hydrogen energy. Compared with the conventional hydrogen production technology from water-gas shift reaction of syngas, the system reduces water consumption, energy consumption and environmental pollution of the hydrogen production process; converts conventional carbon-based fuel into clean hydrogen energy by use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy; and achieves efficient capture and storage of gaseous CO.sub.2.