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 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 process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.

An object of the present invention is to provide a non-equilibrium plasma (NEP) system and method of refining syngas. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-equilibrium plasma system for refining syngas, the system comprising a reactor with a hollow chamber, having one or more inlet manifolds configured to promote an axially symmetric and swirling flow pattern, into which syngas and one or more gasifying agents are introduced for processing within the reactor, a high voltage electrode; and a ground electrode, wherein the system is configured to create a non-equilibrium plasma producing electric arc upon application of a high voltage potential across an arc initiating gap between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode and wherein the system is configured such that the syngas, the one or more gasifying agent(s) and plasma producing electric arc come together concurrently in the reactor. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-equilibrium plasma system comprises two eccentric cylindrical manifolds configured to form a single inlet manifold, wherein the two eccentric cylindrical manifolds comprise a first eccentric cylindrical manifold for gasifying agent input and a second eccentric cylindrical manifold for syngas input. The invention also comprises a method for refining syngas wherein the non-equilibrium plasma system of the present invention combines the syngas, the air and the plasma-producing electric arc in the same region, which will co-exist in the same location.

A technique, method and system for drying a solid waste stream in a pyrolysis recycling installation, including drying the waste stream in a first dryer, feeding the partially dried waste stream from the first dryer to a second dryer, further drying the waste stream in the second dryer to produce a dried waste stream, and feeding the dried waste stream from the second dryer to a pyrolysis unit, wherein the first and second dryers dry the waste stream primarily, or exclusively, using heat generated from the pyrolysis unit.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a non-equilibrium plasma (NEP) system and method of refining syngas. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-equilibrium plasma system for refining syngas, the system comprising a reactor with a hollow chamber, having one or more inlet manifolds configured to promote an axially symmetric and swirling flow pattern, into which syngas and one or more gasifying agents are introduced for processing within the reactor, a high voltage electrode; and a ground electrode, wherein the system is configured to create a non-equilibrium plasma producing electric arc upon application of a high voltage potential across an arc initiating gap between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode and wherein the system is configured such that the syngas, the one or more gasifying agent(s) and plasma producing electric arc come together concurrently in the reactor. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-equilibrium plasma system comprises two eccentric cylindrical manifolds configured to form a single inlet manifold, wherein the two eccentric cylindrical manifolds comprise a first eccentric cylindrical manifold for gasifying agent input and a second eccentric cylindrical manifold for syngas input. The invention also comprises a method for refining syngas wherein the non-equilibrium plasma system of the present invention combines the syngas, the air and the plasma-producing electric arc in the same region, which will co-exist in the same location.

A system and process is provided for generating power from a syngas fermentation process. The process includes contacting hot syngas having a temperature above about 1400 F. with cooled syngas to produce a pre-cooled syngas having a temperature of 1400 F. or less at an inlet of a waste heat boiler. A waste heat boiler receives the pre-cooled syngas and is effective for producing waste heat boiler high pressure steam and a cooled syngas.

A process and apparatus are provided for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas. The process includes contacting the tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900 C. to about 2000 C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. In this aspect, at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas.

The present disclosure relates to a microwave reforming apparatus for gas reforming, and provides a new technology of converting carbon dioxide which is a main greenhouse gas generated during combustion, pyrolysis/gasification, and operation of fossil fuels, methane, and dispersions thereof into high-quality fuels. A microwave reforming apparatus according to the present disclosure uses a carbon receptor and thus can solve the conventional problem of price of catalyst and also enables compactification of a device, rapid startup and response time in several seconds, and application of various kinds of product gases including polymer hydrocarbon. Also, the microwave reforming apparatus according to the present disclosure uses its own internal reaction heat at the time of reforming and thus can maintain the optimum operating conditions for a wide range of flow rate and gas properties. Therefore, it is possible to solve the conventional problem with the time required for normal operation and the efficiency of a reforming apparatus.