Biomass upgrading system

A fuel stream processing system comprising:

• a volatilization reactor comprising a bubbling fluidized bed configured to volatilize a fuel in a fluidized bed of bed solids using an inert, reducing, and/or mildly oxidizing gas to yield a volatiles stream, the volatilization reactor further comprising:
• a gaswall separating at least a gas phase above the bed of bed solids into:
• a volatilization stage comprising:
• a fuel inlet configured to receive the fuel;
• a first gas inlet configured to fluidize the bed of bed solids with a first gas to volatize the fuel to yield the volatiles stream;
• a volatiles stream outlet;
• and
• a volatiles pressure gauge configured to measure within the volatilization stage;
• and
• a combustion stage comprising:
• a second gas inlet configured to fluidize the bed of bed solids with a second gas that is more oxidizing than the first gas to yield an exhaust gas;
• an exhaust gas outlet configured to convey the exhaust gas out of the combustion state;
• and
• a combustion pressure gauge configured to measure pressure within the combustion stage;
• an opening through and/or below the wall and below a surface of the bed solids, the opening configured to provide for a flow of bed solids between the volatilization stage and the combustion stage;
• and
• a controller coupled to the pressure gauges and configured to control a pressure difference between the stages);
• a separator including:
• an inlet coupled to the volatiles stream outlet and configured to receive the volatiles stream;
• at least one of a scrubber and a heat exchanger coupled to the inlet and configured to:
• quench the volatiles stream to yield a gaseous phase and a condensate;
• and
• separate the gaseous phase from the condensate;
• a decanter coupled to the at least one of a scrubber and a heat exchanger and configured to:
• receive the condensate;
• and
• separate the condensate into a condensed organic phase and an aqueous phase;
• a gas outlet configured to convey the gaseous phase from the separator;
• a condensed fuel outlet configured to convey the condensed organic phase from the separator;
• and
• a pyroprocessing apparatus coupled to at least one of the gas outlet and the condensed fuel outlet and configured to combust at least one of the gaseous phase and the condensed organic phase to fire a substance.