Devices and methods for a pyrolysis and gasification system for biomass feedstock

A method for gasification and/or pyrolysis of a biomass feedstock in a reactor, wherein the reactor comprises a reactor bed and bed materials, comprising:

• (A) introducing a fluidizing medium to the bed materials disposed in the reactor to fluidize the bed materials and produce a fluidized reactor bed;
• (B) heating the bed materials disposed in the reactor to a desired temperature, wherein the heating is provided by a heat source;
• (C) feeding the biomass feedstock through the fluidized reactor bed, wherein a reaction produces a synthesis gas and bio-char from the biomass feedstock, wherein the synthesis gas comprises a mixture of gases evolved from pyrolysis or gasification;
• (D) controlling operating conditions to prevent the reaction from proceeding into a combustion mode;
• (E) feeding the synthesis gas and bio-char from the reactor to a cyclone assembly, wherein the cyclone assembly comprises one or more cyclones that separate the bio-char from the synthesis gas to produce a bio-char reduced synthesis gas;
• and
• (F) feeding the bio-char reduced synthesis gas to a pressure swing absorption system to remove contaminants from the bio-char reduced synthesis gas, wherein the pressure swing absorption system comprises one or more absorbers operating at temperatures between about 150° C. and about 200° C., and wherein the contaminants comprise carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen.