Method for gasification of carbonaceous solid materials

A process for converting solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using an external source of concentrated radiation, comprising the steps of:

• providing a reactor comprising a wall defining a cavity;
• a radiation inlet through the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity;
• and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel;
• introducing concentrated radiation through the radiation inlet into the cavity;
• and
• introducing the reactant flow through the at least one inlet and into the cavity in the presence of the concentrated radiation so as to heat and thermodynamically convert the particles into fluid fuels.