Devices and Methods for a Pyrolysis and Gasification System for Biomass Feedstock

Abstract

A pyrolysis and gasification system produce a synthesis gas and bio-char from a biomass feedstock. The system includes a feed hopper that has a flow measurement device. The system also includes a reactor that is operable in a gasification mode or a pyrolysis mode. The reactor is configured to receive the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper. The reactor is operable to provide heat to the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper to produce the synthesis gas and bio-char. The system also includes a cyclone assembly. The produced synthesis gas including the bio-char is fed to the cyclone assembly. The cyclone assembly removes a portion of the bio-char from the synthesis gas.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pyrolysis and gasification system for producing a synthesis gas and bio-char from a biomass feedstock, comprising:
 a feed hopper, wherein the feed hopper comprises a flow measurement device;   a reactor that is operable in a gasification mode or a pyrolysis mode, and wherein the reactor is configured to received the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper, and further wherein the reactor is operable to provide heat to the biomass feedstock from the feed hopper to produce the synthesis gas and bio-char; the reactor including an upper portion and a lower portion,   a cyclone assembly, wherein the produced synthesis gas comprising bio-char is fed to the cyclone assembly, and wherein the cyclone assembly removes bio-char from the synthesis gas, and an auger disposed in an upper portion of the reactor and adapted to convey biomass feedstock from the feed hopper to the reactor.   
     
     
         2 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor comprises a reactor bed, wherein the reactor bed is fluidized by a fluidizing medium input. 
     
     
         3 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor comprises an upper portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the upper portion comprises an increased diameter over a diameter of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         4 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclone assembly comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone. 
     
     
         5 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure swing absorption system, wherein the produced synthesis gas is fed to the pressure swing absorption system to remove contaminants from the synthesis gas. 
     
     
         6 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure swing absorption system comprises a first absorber and a second absorber, wherein the second absorber is purged of absorbed contaminants when the first absorber is absorbing contaminants from the synthesis gas, and wherein the first absorber is purged of contaminants when the second absorber is absorbing contaminants from the synthesis gas. 
     
     
         7 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 6 , wherein the first absorber and the second absorber each comprise an activated carbon section and a molecular sieve section. 
     
     
         8 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser, wherein the synthesis gas is fed to the condenser to produce bio-oil. 
     
     
         9 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-char from the cyclone assembly is fed to a char collector. 
     
     
         10 . The pyrolysis and gasification system of  claim 1 , wherein operating conditions of the reactor are adjustable to control production of the bio-char and synthesis gas. 
     
     
         11 - 20 . (canceled)