Frontline Bioenergy, LLC

Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

Thomas J Paskach

William Schroeder

Jerod Smeenk

John Reardon

Paul Evans

John P Reardon

A method and assembly for producing substantially tar free product gas from gasification of carbonaceous material. The assembly preferably includes a first stage gasifier to produce char-ash and tar laden product gas and a second stage gasifier which has a char-ash heating zone, at least one cyclone, and at least one standpipe for the purpose of allowing selective delivery of char-ash to the char-ash heating zone. A char-ash heating zone that utilizes oxidation of char-ash is preferred and this results in the heat required to convert tar, additional yield of product gas, and an oxidized, activated carbon surface to facilitate tar conversion in the riser, thereby reducing the temperature required to achieve the desired tar conversion. Alternatively, external heat is supplied to the heating zone.

Method and apparatus for reduction of tar in gasification of carbonaceous materials

An apparatus and method is presented for removing acid gases and other trace contaminants to very low levels in combustible gases generated from thermal gasification of biomass or refuse-derived fuels. The invention includes optimization of geometric variables, temperature and pressure set points via use of a pressurized bubbling fluidized bed reactor to convert granular raw (non-activated) sorbents and auto-generated biochar sorbents) into activated, highly dispersed, and ideally sized particles for removing acid gases and toxic metals. The system can incorporate a generated gas cooler, a gas-sorbent contact chamber or zone, and a novel filter (with or without additional gas cooling and residence time stages).

Apparatus and method of optimized acid gas and toxic metal control in gasifier produced gases

An apparatus for making a frozen food product comprising a mixer having no moving parts is disclosed. The apparatus further comprises heating means external to the mixer. The premix and refrigerant combine inside the mixer to produce a frozen food product. The heating of the mixer raises the temperature of the mixer sufficiently to prevent crystallization of the mixer contents at the mixer wall, thus preventing &ldquo;over-freezing.&rdquo; In this way, plugging of the mixer is minimized and the end product exits the mixer unassisted by mechanical means, yet is still in a frozen state. Thus, it is now possible to produce a quality frozen food product using cryogenic refrigerants, without causing the end product to be at cryogenic temperatures. The present invention has the further advantage of allowing adjustable quantities of refrigerant and premix to be used. The invention is simple in operation and can be operated in a portable and/or continuous manner. The resulting products can be made as a soft or hard frozen food product by adjusting various parameters, including, but not limited to, flow rates, jacket, temperatures, tube length, and so forth.

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Ames, IA, United States of America

Thomas J Paskach