Gasification

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a method and process flow for gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock. The present invention relates to a process for the pyrolysis of a carbonaceous feedstock, comprising the steps of: pyrolyzing the carbonaceous feedstock by direct and / or indirect contact between a heated gas and the carbonaceous feedstock, heat exchange between the heated gas and the carbonaceous feedstock under non-oxidizing conditions, thereby producing a pyrolysis gas and a solid pyrolysis product; gasifying the solid pyrolysis product, thereby producing a syngas; generating heat of combustion by combusting at least a portion of the syngas and / or hydrogen recovered from the syngas; heat exchange between the combustion heat and the pyrolysis gas is achieved, so that heated pyrolysis gas is generated; and providing at least a portion of the heat to perform the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock using the heated pyrolysis gas.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to gasification, in particular for the production of synthesis gas from a carbonaceous feed material. The present invention provides a process flow for gasifying a carbonaceous feed material. SUMMARY

[0002] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process flow for gasifying a carbonaceous feed material, the process flow comprising:

[0003] in a pyrolysis stage comprising a pyrolysis reactor, effecting heat exchange between the carbonaceous feed material and a heated gas under non-oxidizing conditions within the pyrolysis reactor to produce a pyrolysis gas and a solid pyrolysis product;

[0004] in a gasification stage, gasifying the solid pyrolysis product to produce a synthesis gas;

[0005] in a heat generation stage, generating heat by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from at least a portion of the synthesis gas;

[0006] in a heating stage, effecting heat exchange between the heat generated in the heat generation stage and the pyrolysis gas produced and recovered in the pyrolysis stage to produce a heated pyrolysis gas; and

[0007] recycling the heated pyrolysis gas to the pyrolysis stage and feeding it to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor to provide at least a portion of the heat for conducting the pyrolysis.

[0008] Due to the combustion of synthesis gas and / or hydrogen in the heat generation stage, a combustion gas can be produced in the heat generation stage. This combustion gas can be recovered from the heat generation stage or from the heating stage and can be fed to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor in order to also provide at least a portion of the heat for conducting the pyrolysis.

[0009] The heated pyrolysis gas can be fed to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor together with steam and / or ionized steam.

[0010] The temperature of the heated pyrolysis gas can be in the range of about 350 degrees Celsius to about 750 degrees Celsius.

[0011] The feeding of the heated pyrolysis gas recycled to the pyrolysis stage to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor can be in a direction opposite to the direction of feeding and moving of the carbonaceous feed material into and along the interior of the pyrolysis reactor (i.e. counter-current).

[0012] The feeding of the heated pyrolysis gas recycled to the pyrolysis stage to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor can be such that the recycled heated pyrolysis gas is in direct contact with the carbonaceous feed material.

[0013] The pyrolysis reactor can comprise a first compartment / chamber and a second compartment / chamber, the second compartment / chamber being separated from the first compartment by a heat exchange wall. The second compartment / chamber can provide a jacket to the first compartment / chamber, so that the first compartment / chamber is located within the second compartment / chamber, i.e. the first compartment / chamber is surrounded by the second compartment / chamber.

[0014] In this configuration of the pyrolysis reactor, the carbonaceous feedstock can be fed to the first compartment. The heated pyrolysis gas, optionally together with steam and / or ionized steam, can also be fed to the first compartment in a direction opposite to the direction of feeding and moving of the carbonaceous feedstock inside the pyrolysis reactor, i.e. in counterflow. Thus, direct contact heat exchange between the heated pyrolysis gas, optionally together with steam and / or ionized steam, and the carbonaceous feedstock can occur, thereby enabling pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock.

[0015] At least a portion of the combustion gas obtained from the heat generation stage and / or from the heating stage can be fed to the second compartment. This feeding can also be such that the flow direction of the combustion gas is opposite to the direction of feeding or moving of the feedstock in the first compartment.

[0016] By feeding at least a portion of the combustion gas into the jacket formed by the second compartment surrounding the first compartment, an ambient heating is provided to the first compartment. Heat exchange between the combustion gas in the second compartment and the carbonaceous feedstock can be enabled by the heat exchange wall, wherein heat from the combustion gas in the second compartment can be transferred through the heat exchange wall to the carbonaceous feedstock, so as to also provide additional heat to enable pyrolysis.

[0017] The heat generated in the heat exchange stage can be carried by the synthesis gas and / or the combustion gas formed during combustion of the hydrogen recovered from the synthesis gas.

[0018] A portion of the heat generated in the heat generation stage, which is carried by the combustion gas, can be introduced into the gasification stage, to provide a portion of the heat to carry out gasification.

[0019] In the gasification stage, producing synthesis gas from the solid pyrolysis product can comprise converting the solid pyrolysis product into a gaseous form of carbon, and then reacting the gaseous form of carbon with steam using steam reforming.

[0020] The temperature of the synthesis gas obtained from the gasification stage can be in the range of about 900 degrees Celsius to about 995 degrees Celsius.

[0021] The process flow can comprise a gas compression stage to compress the heated pyrolysis gas before feeding it to the pyrolysis stage.

[0022] According to the present application, it is appreciated that initially, the energy required to run the pyrolysis stage and the gasification stage can be provided by an external energy / power source (such as electricity and / or fuel), however, the generation of syngas and its combustion progressively reduces the use of the external energy / power source, until the pyrolysis stage and the gasification stage are substantially free of the use of an external energy source to provide the heat required to carry out pyrolysis and gasification respectively in the pyrolysis stage and the gasification stage.

[0023] The process flow also includes a feedstock preparation stage to produce a carbonaceous feedstock.

[0024] The carbonaceous feedstock can be a blend of a virgin supply of carbonaceous material comprising biomass and / or fossil fuel based carbonaceous material with water and / or steam.

[0025] The process flow also includes a syngas treatment stage to treat the syngas obtained from the gasification stage, typically by quenching.

[0026] In the syngas treatment stage, the quenched syngas can be purified, wherein impurities, including particulate matter, such as ash entrained in the syngas, are removed from the syngas.

[0027] The temperature of the treated syngas obtained from the syngas treatment stage can be in the range of about 12 degrees Celsius to about 95 degrees Celsius.

[0028] The process flow can optionally include a hydrogen separation stage, wherein hydrogen is separated and recovered from at least a portion of the syngas.

[0029] The remaining portion of the syngas, which can have had hydrogen stripped, can be stored in a vessel for use in another process downstream, such as a power generation process.

[0030] Optionally, a portion of the syngas obtained from the gasification stage and / or obtained from the syngas treatment stage can be fed to the hydrogen separation stage to produce hydrogen gas.

[0031] Optionally, a portion of the syngas obtained from the gasification stage and / or the hydrogen separation stage and / or the treatment stage can be fed back to the pyrolysis stage and / or the gasification stage to affect / alter the syngas composition ratio.

[0032] The syngas combusted in the heat generation stage can be a portion of the syngas obtained from the gasification stage and / or obtained from the syngas treatment stage.

[0033] Both syngas and hydrogen can be combusted in the heat generation stage to produce combustion heat.

[0034] Combustion of the syngas and / or hydrogen can be exothermic, which in turn can cause the combustion gas formed to be released from the heat generation stage at an elevated temperature. The hot temperature of the combustion gas can be about 650 degrees Celsius. It will be appreciated that the hot temperature of the combustion will vary depending on the amount of heat required to heat the carbonaceous feedstock (i.e. to effect pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock).

[0035] The remainder of the syngas that is neither combusted in the heat generation stage nor stripped of hydrogen therefrom can be contained in a vessel and / or fed to a power generation stage, such as an Allam-Fetvedt cycle, to generate electricity.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a method of gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock, the method comprising:

[0037] effecting heat exchange between a heated gas and the carbonaceous feedstock under non-oxidising conditions by direct and / or indirect contact between the heated gas and the carbonaceous feedstock, to pyrolyse the carbonaceous feedstock, thereby producing a pyrolysis gas and a solid pyrolysis product;

[0038] gasifying the solid pyrolysis product, thereby producing a syngas;

[0039] generating combustion heat by combusting at least a portion of the syngas and / or hydrogen recovered from the syngas;

[0040] effecting heat exchange between the combustion heat and the pyrolysis gas to produce a heated pyrolysis gas; and

[0041] using / supplying the heated pyrolysis gas to generate at least a portion of the heat for effecting the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock, until the heat obtained from the heated gas is at least partially or ultimately replaced by heat obtained from the heated pyrolysis gas.

[0042] The heated gas can be a heated inert gas. Typically, to obtain a heated inert gas, a fuel source can be combusted and the combustion heat obtained therefrom can be used to heat an inert gas, thereby producing a heated inert gas.

[0043] In the context of the present application, the term inert gas refers to a gas that does not react with the carbonaceous feedstock but is used only to provide the heat required to effect pyrolysis.

[0044] The pyrolysis step can be effected within a pyrolysis reactor having a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a heat exchange wall, wherein the second compartment forms a jacket to the first compartment.

[0045] The pyrolysis step can comprise effecting heat exchange within the pyrolysis reactor between the carbonaceous feedstock and a heated inert gas, a heated pyrolysis gas and / or a combustion gas (obtained from combustion of syngas and / or hydrogen).

[0046] The method can comprise effecting direct heat exchange between the heated pyrolysis gas and the carbonaceous feedstock by directly contacting the heated pyrolysis gas recirculating back to the pyrolysis reactor with the carbonaceous feedstock within the pyrolysis reactor. In effecting the heat exchange, the heated pyrolysis gas and the carbonaceous feedstock can move in opposite directions within the first compartment of the pyrolysis reactor.

[0047] The method can further comprise effecting heat exchange between combustion heat obtained from at least a portion of the combustion gas and the carbonaceous feedstock by means of a heat exchange wall. The combustion heat carried by the combustion gas can be introduced into the second compartment of the pyrolysis reactor and arranged to indirectly provide heat through the heat exchange wall into the first compartment, thereby providing ambient heating to the first compartment. The ambient heating can contribute to the heat required to further effect pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock.

[0048] The flow direction / flow path of the heated pyrolysis gas used in the pyrolysis step can be opposite to the direction in which the carbonaceous feedstock moves / flows within the pyrolysis reactor.

[0049] The carbonaceous feedstock can comprise a blend of water, steam, ionized water and / or ionized steam with biomass and / or fossil fuel based carbonaceous material.

[0050] A portion of the combustion heat (obtained by combusting the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen) can be used to gasify the solid pyrolysis product.

[0051] The method can comprise the step of compressing the heated pyrolysis gas prior to using the heated pyrolysis gas to pyrolyze the carbonaceous feedstock.

[0052] The method can further comprise the step of treating the synthesis gas resulting from the gasification of the solid pyrolysis product, wherein the step of treating the synthesis gas comprises quenching the synthesis gas in water, preferably ionized water, to reduce the temperature of the synthesis gas. Furthermore, the step of treating the synthesis gas can comprise removing impurities, including particulate matter, such as ash entrained in the synthesis gas, from the synthesis gas, thereby obtaining treated synthesis gas.

[0053] The method can optionally comprise the step of separating (i.e. stripping) hydrogen from the synthesis gas and recovering the hydrogen.

[0054] The step of stripping the synthesis gas can occur after the gasification step or after the treatment step, preferably after the gasification step.

[0055] The synthesis gas combusted in the step of generating combustion heat can be a portion of the synthesis gas obtained from the gasification step and / or from the synthesis gas treatment step.

[0056] According to yet another aspect of the present application, there is provided a fuel gas comprising at least one of synthesis gas and / or hydrogen gas, and / or electricity generated from the synthesis gas or stripped hydrogen synthesis gas obtained according to the first and / or second aspect of the present application.

[0057] According to a further aspect of the application, there is provided a pyrolysis reactor comprising:

[0058] a body defining a first chamber for receiving carbonaceous feedstock and a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a partition (i.e. a heat exchange wall).

[0059] The partition can be arranged to facilitate heat exchange between heated gas (e.g. combustion gas fed into the second chamber) and carbonaceous feedstock fed into the first chamber.

[0060] The first chamber can be located within the second chamber and separated from the second chamber by a heat exchange wall, such that the second chamber forms a jacket for the first chamber.

[0061] The pyrolysis reactor can comprise: a first chamber first inlet for receiving carbonaceous feedstock into the first chamber; a first chamber second inlet for receiving heated pyrolysis gas into the first chamber and / or receiving heated gas arranged to provide heat required to initially effect pyrolysis; a first chamber first outlet for discharging solid pyrolysis products; and a first chamber second outlet for discharging pyrolysis gas.

[0062] The pyrolysis gas arranged to be discharged from the pyrolysis reactor can comprise an inert gas.

[0063] The pyrolysis reactor can further comprise a first chamber third inlet for receiving recycled heated pyrolysis gas into the first chamber.

[0064] The reactor can have: a second chamber inlet for receiving combustion gas into the second chamber, and a second chamber outlet for discharging cooled combustion gas. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] The application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 which are schematic representations.

[0066] Reference Figure 1 is made to the accompanying drawings, in which the reference numeral 10 generally indicates a process flow for producing synthesis gas according to the application, for carrying out a method of producing synthesis gas according to the application.

[0067] The process flow 10 comprises:

[0068] a feedstock preparation stage 12;

[0069] a pyrolysis stage 14;

[0070] a gasification stage 16;

[0071] a synthesis gas treatment stage 18;

[0072] a heat generation stage 20;

[0073] a heating stage 22; and

[0074] a gas compression stage 24.

[0075] The process flow 10 also includes:

[0076] a solid feedstock supply line 26;

[0077] a water supply line 28;

[0078] a feedstock delivery line 30;

[0079] a pyrolysis gas outlet line 32;

[0080] a pyrolysis product delivery line 34;

[0081] a gasification waste product outlet line 36;

[0082] a gasification syngas product line 38, split into a first branch 40 and a second branch 42;

[0083] a treated syngas product outlet line 44;

[0084] a syngas treatment stage waste product outlet line 46;

[0085] a heat generation product delivery line 48, split into a first branch 50 and a second branch 52;

[0086] a heater product and gas compressor product delivery line 54; and

[0087] a heater product combustion gas outlet line 56.

[0088] In the feedstock preparation stage 12, biomass and / or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous material is supplied along the supply line 26, optionally simultaneously with water and / or steam being supplied along the supply line 28. The biomass and / or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous material is blended with the water and / or steam to form a carbonaceous feedstock material, which is then delivered from the feedstock preparation stage 12 along the feedstock delivery line 30 to the pyrolysis stage 14.

[0089] In the pyrolysis stage 14, which comprises a pyrolysis reactor (not shown), heated gas, which can be heated by combustion heat obtained from a combustion fuel source such as natural gas, in particular heated inert gas, is supplied along a supply line (not shown) into the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) of the pyrolysis stage 14 to provide the heat required to initiate the pyrolysis process.

[0090] The pyrolysis reactor (not shown) comprises an inner chamber / first chamber (not shown) which is located within an outer chamber / second chamber (not shown) which forms a jacket for the inner chamber. The inner chamber (not shown) and the outer chamber (not shown) are separated from each other by a partition (i.e. heat exchange wall). The heated inert gas is first supplied (i.e. injected) directly into the inner chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) to displace any oxygen within the inner chamber (not shown) and to create an essentially oxygen depleted environment within the inner chamber (not shown) while providing the heat required to effect pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feedstock.

[0091] The feedstock is delivered through line 30 into the heated, oxygen depleted inner chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) of the pyrolysis stage 14. Once supplied to the inner chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown), heat exchange occurs directly through contact between the feedstock and the heated inert gas. The heated inert gas is arranged to flow in a direction opposite to the direction of the feedstock within the inner chamber (not shown) to effect pyrolysis and to produce a solid pyrolysis product and a pyrolysis gas.

[0092] Steam external to the process flow, and / or gas obtained and recovered from the gasification stage 16 (downstream) as described below, and / or gas obtained from the pyrolysis stage 14, and / or gas obtained from the syngas treatment stage 18 (downstream) can also be added to the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) of the pyrolysis stage 14, typically to the first chamber (not shown) containing the carbonaceous feedstock, to further effect the pyrolysis reaction.

[0093] The pyrolysis gas is released from the pyrolysis stage 14 along the pyrolysis gas outlet line 32 and the pyrolysis product containing solid products such as ash and char is delivered to the gasification stage 16.

[0094] Although not shown, a portion of the pyrolysis gas in the outlet line 32 can be recirculated back into the inner chamber of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) of the pyrolysis stage 14 rather than being supplied to the heating stage 22 and the gas compression stage 24 to provide some of the heat required for further pyrolysis.

[0095] In the gasification stage 16, the pyrolysis product is converted to gaseous carbon and ash. Typically, the gasification stage 16 comprises a gasification reactor (not shown) which is initially externally heated by a heated gas obtained by combusting a fuel source to increase the temperature of the gasification reactor to a temperature required to gasify the pyrolysis product.

[0096] The ionised steam / water is then fed along a steam / water feed line (not shown) to the gasification stage 16 to react with the gaseous carbon to facilitate the formation of synthesis gas by steam reforming as is known in the art. Ash is released from the gasification stage 16 along a gasification waste product outlet line 36 and synthesis gas is recovered in a synthesis gas delivery line 38 which splits into a first synthesis gas product line 40 and a second synthesis gas product line 42.

[0097] The portion of the formed synthesis gas from the gasification stage 16 in the second synthesis gas product line 42 is delivered to a synthesis gas treatment stage 18.

[0098] At the synthesis gas treatment stage 18, the synthesis gas is quenched with ionised water introduced into the synthesis gas treatment stage 18 by an ionised water feed line (not shown). The quenched synthesis gas is then further treated by purifying the quenched synthesis gas in which impurities, including ash entrained in the synthesis gas, are separated from the quenched synthesis gas. Typically, the quenching and purification is achieved by using a filter such as a hydrocyclone. Quenched water containing impurities including ash is removed from the synthesis gas and exits the synthesis gas treatment stage 18 through an outlet line 46. The treated synthesis gas recovered from the synthesis gas treatment stage 18, which is typically dry or substantially dry, exits the synthesis gas treatment stage 18 through a product line 44.

[0099] The other portion of the formed synthesis gas from the gasification stage 16 in the first synthesis gas product line 40 is delivered to a heat generation stage 20.

[0100] At the heat generation stage 20, the synthesis gas is combusted through a burner to generate combustion heat. The heat generated at the heat generation stage 20 is captured in a heated fluid, for example, the combustion heat gas product released from the heat generation stage 20 through a heat generation product delivery line 48.

[0101] The combustion heat is delivered from the combustion heat gas product from the heat generation stage 20 through the delivery line 48 which in turn splits into a first heat generation gas product line 50 and a second heat generation gas product line 52, the first heat generation gas product line 50 being directed to the gasification reactor (not shown) in the gasification stage 16 to provide at least a portion of the heat required to carry out the gasification, with or without additional heated gas obtained from the combustion fuel source as described above, and the second heat generation gas product line 52 being fed to a heating stage 22.

[0102] Although Figure 1 Not shown, it is envisaged that the second heat generation gas product line 52 can further split into a stream fed to the heating stage 22 and another stream directly fed to a second chamber of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) in the pyrolysis stage 14 to indirectly provide heat to effect pyrolysis of the feedstock through heat exchange walls (not shown).

[0103] The pyrolysis gas obtained from the pyrolysis stage 14 and exiting the pyrolysis stage 14 through the outlet line 32 is introduced into the heating stage 22, which is typically in the form of a heat exchanger, where heat exchange between the pyrolysis gas and combustion heat in a second hot generated gas product line 52 is effected, thereby forming a heated pyrolysis gas.

[0104] The heated pyrolysis gas is then fed to the compression stage 24 to compress the heated pyrolysis gas. After compression of the heated pyrolysis gas, the heated pyrolysis gas is recirculated through the delivery line 54 back into the inner chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) in the pyrolysis stage 14 to provide the heat required for the pyrolysis of fresh carbonaceous feedstock and / or remaining residual and / or unreacted carbonaceous feedstock in the pyrolysis stage 14, with or without additional heated inert gas as described above.

[0105] The heated pyrolysis gas is recirculated back to the pyrolysis stage 14 and is typically moved countercurrent to the direction of the carbonaceous feedstock in the inner chamber (not shown) to take full advantage of the logarithmic mean temperature difference of the carbonaceous feedstock and the heated pyrolysis gas.

[0106] The cooled combustion gas recovered from the heating stage 22 after effecting heat exchange with the pyrolysis gas in line 32 is delivered through the delivery line 56 into the second chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) to provide ambient heating to the inner chamber (not shown) of the pyrolysis reactor (not shown) through the heat exchange wall (not shown).

[0107] In another variant of the present application, a portion of the synthesis gas in the first synthesis gas product line 40 can be further split, wherein a portion of the synthesis gas in the first synthesis gas product line 40 is directed to a hydrogen separation stage (not shown) and another portion is fed to the heat generation stage 20. The portion of the synthesis gas directed and fed to the hydrogen separation stage is subjected to stripping of hydrogen. The stripped hydrogen synthesis gas recovered from the hydrogen separation stage (not shown) can be recovered and used downstream in a power generation process. The hydrogen recovered from the hydrogen separation stage (not shown), either alone or in combination with the synthesis gas in line 40 (or the portion of the synthesis gas not fed to the hydrogen separation stage), can then be fed to the heat generation stage 20 and combusted to form combustion heat, which in turn is delivered to the gasification stage 16 and the heating stage 22 as described above.

[0108] In yet another variant of the application, the treated syngas in treated syngas product line 44 can be further split, with a portion of the treated syngas in treated syngas product line 44 being directed to a hydrogen separation stage (not shown) in which hydrogen is stripped from the syngas, and another portion of the syngas in treated syngas product line 44 being fed to heat generation stage 20. The hydrogen-stripped syngas recovered from the hydrogen separation stage (not shown) can be recovered and used downstream in a power generation process. The hydrogen recovered from the hydrogen separation stage (not shown) can then be fed to heat generation stage 20 and combusted, either alone or in combination with the syngas in line 40, to form the combustion heat as previously described.

[0109] While the application has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments and / or examples thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, can readily conceive of modifications, alterations and / or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A method of gasifying a carbonaceous feed material, the method comprising: achieving heat exchange between a heated gas and the carbonaceous feed material under non-oxidizing conditions by direct and / or indirect contact between the heated gas and the carbonaceous feed material, effecting pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feed material, thereby producing a pyrolysis gas and a solid pyrolysis product; gasifying the solid pyrolysis product, thereby producing a synthesis gas; generating combustion heat by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from the synthesis gas; achieving heat exchange between the combustion heat and the pyrolysis gas to produce a heated pyrolysis gas; and using the heated pyrolysis gas to provide at least a portion of the heat for effecting the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous feed material until the heat obtained from the heated gas is at least partially or eventually replaced by heat obtained from the heated pyrolysis gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The heated gas is a heated inert gas.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, To obtain the heated inert gas, the method comprises the steps of combusting a fuel source and using the combustion heat obtained therefrom to heat an inert gas, thereby producing the heated inert gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, In the pyrolysis step, the method comprises using the combustion heat contained in a combustion gas obtained by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from the synthesis gas to effect heat exchange with the carbonaceous feed material.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising: The pyrolysis is effected within a pyrolysis reactor having a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a heat exchange wall, wherein the second compartment forms a jacket for the first compartment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, In the pyrolysis step, the method comprises effecting heat exchange within the pyrolysis reactor between the carbonaceous feed material and the heated gas, the heated pyrolysis gas and a combustion gas obtained by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising: Direct heat exchange between the heated pyrolysis gas and the carbonaceous feed material is effected by directly contacting the heated pyrolysis gas recirculated to the pyrolysis reactor with the carbonaceous feed material within the first compartment of the pyrolysis reactor.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising: The heated pyrolysis gas and the carbonaceous feed material move in opposite directions within the first compartment of the pyrolysis reactor when heat exchange is effected.

9. The method of claim 5, comprising: Heat exchange between the combustion heat obtained from at least a portion of a combustion gas obtained by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from the synthesis gas and the carbonaceous feed material is effected through the heat exchange wall.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein, The combustion heat obtained by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from the synthesis gas is introduced into the second compartment of the pyrolysis reactor and is arranged to indirectly provide heat into the first compartment through the heat exchange wall, thereby providing ambient heating to the first compartment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, The carbonaceous feed material comprises a blend of water, steam, ionized water and / or ionized steam with biomass and / or fossil fuel based carbonaceous material.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising: A portion of the combustion heat obtained by combusting the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen is used to gasify the solid pyrolysis product.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising: The heated pyrolysis gas is compressed prior to using the heated pyrolysis gas to pyrolyze the carbonaceous feed material.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising: treating the synthesis gas produced from the gasification of the solid pyrolysis product, wherein the step of treating the synthesis gas comprises quenching the synthesis gas in water to reduce the temperature of the synthesis gas.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The step of treating the synthesis gas comprises removing impurities, including particulate matter, entrained in the synthesis gas from the synthesis gas, thereby obtaining a treated synthesis gas.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of: separating hydrogen from at least a portion of the synthesis gas and recovering the hydrogen.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising the step of: separating hydrogen from the synthesis gas after the gasification step or the step of treating the synthesis gas.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein, The synthesis gas combusted in the step of generating combustion heat is a portion of the synthesis gas obtained from the gasification step and / or from the synthesis gas treatment step.

19. A process flow for gasifying a carbonaceous feed material, the process flow comprising: in a pyrolysis stage comprising a pyrolysis reactor, effecting heat exchange between the carbonaceous feed material and a heated gas within the pyrolysis reactor under non-oxidative conditions to produce a pyrolysis gas and a solid pyrolysis product; in a gasification stage, gasifying the solid pyrolysis product to produce a synthesis gas; in a heat generation stage, generating heat by combusting at least a portion of the synthesis gas and / or hydrogen recovered from at least a portion of the synthesis gas; in a heating stage, effecting heat exchange between the heat generated in the heat generation stage and the pyrolysis gas produced and recovered in the pyrolysis stage to produce a heated pyrolysis gas; and recycling the heated pyrolysis gas to the pyrolysis stage and feeding it to the interior of the pyrolysis reactor to provide at least a portion of the heat for conducting the pyrolysis.

20. Use of at least a portion of the synthesis gas produced according to the method of claim 1 for generating electricity.

21. Synthesis gas produced according to the method of claim 1.

22. A pyrolysis reactor comprising: a body defining a first chamber for containing a carbonaceous feed material and a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a heat exchange wall, wherein the heat exchange wall is arranged to allow heat exchange between the carbonaceous feed material and a fluid contained in the second chamber to be effected through the heat exchange wall.

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