REACTOR AND METHOD FOR CONVERSION OF A CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A reactor for converting a carbonaceous material, the reactor is configured to accommodate a solid powder material and having an upper portion and a lower portion;

the reactor comprising:

at least one solid material inlet for providing a solid carbonaceous material and a powder material to the reactor,

at least one solid material outlet configured for allowing the removal of converted carbonaceous material and/or a powder material, said outlet comprising adjusting means configured to adjust the level or amount of solid material in the reactor,

fluidizing means adapted to fluidize powder material,

a gas outlet preferably located in the upper portion of the reactor,

and gas-solid separation means configured to substantially separate a gas from a solid material, wherein the gas-solid separation means being a section of the upper portion of the reactor having a larger flow area than the lower portion of the reactor configured to separate gas and solids in a substantially vertical flow and to reduce the velocity of the gas to below an entrainment velocity of the solids,

wherein the reactor being configured so that the conversion of the carbonaceous material takes place as the carbonaceous material contacts and is heated by the heated powder material.

19 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one solid inlet is located in an upper portion of the reactor.

20 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 18 , wherein the outlet has a fluid trap configuration which provides the adjusting means that adjusts the level of solid material in the reactor when the powder material is fluidized.

21 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 20 , wherein the fluid trap configuration comprises a first conduit being fluidly connected to the lower portion of the reactor and a lower portion of a second conduit is fluidly connected to the first conduit, thereby allowing powder to flow from the reactor, through the first conduit, to an upper portion of the second conduit.

22 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 21 , wherein the first conduit is configured to provide a protective layer of solids above a at least a portion of the lower surface of the first conduit by varying the cross-sectional dimension value through the length of the first conduit.

23 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 21 , wherein the first conduit comprises an internal mesh.

24 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one solid material inlet is configured to substantially prevent upstream process gas to flow into the reactor together with the carbonaceous material and/or a powder material.

25 . The reactor for converting a carbonaceous material according to claim 21 , wherein the gas outlet is fluidly connected to the second conduit.

26 . A method for the conversion of a carbonaceous material comprising the steps of:

providing a carbonaceous material having a conversion temperature;

providing a powder material having a temperature higher than the conversion temperature of the carbonaceous material;

contacting the carbonaceous material and the powder material in an atmosphere configured to no more than partially oxidize carbon to CO 2 , to obtain at least a partial conversion of the carbonaceous material into a converted material and a volatile product;

fluidizing the carbonaceous material and the heated powder material;

separating by specific gravity by directing a gas flow comprising the volatile product in an upwards direction to provide a fraction substantially comprising the volatile product and a second fraction substantially comprising additional components, said additional components being the powder material, converted material and optionally non-converted or partially converted carbonaceous material

removing the second fraction through a solid material outlet to adjust the level of fluidized solid material,

wherein the contacting between the carbonaceous material and the powder material takes place in at least two different flow regimes, and

wherein the conversion of the carbonaceous material takes place as the carbonaceous material contacts and is heated by the heated powder material.

27 . The method for the conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein the velocity of the gas flow in the upwards direction is decreased to below an entrainment velocity of the additional components.

28 . The method for the conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein pulses of gas is provided to fluidize the carbonaceous material and the heated powder material.

29 . The method for the conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of:

providing a reactant gas or optionally a precurser for a reactant gas into the atmosphere configured to no more than partially oxidize carbon to CO 2 ,

optionally heating the precurser to develop the reactant gas and

contacting the reactant gas with a mixture of the heated pulverized material and the carbonaceous material.

30 . The method for the conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein the powder material and carbonaceous material initially are contacted and transported in an entrained flow in the atmosphere configure to no more than partially oxidize carbon to CO 2 in a first direction and the gas pulses and/or reactant gas is provided in counter-flow from a second direction substantially opposite of the first direction.

31 . The method for conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein the powder material is cement meal and preferably wherein the heating of the cement meal is carried out in a cement clinker manufacturing process, such as in the pre-heater of the cement clinker manufacturing process.

32 . The method for conversion of carbonaceous material according to claim 26 , wherein the carbonaceous material is selected from the group comprising alternative fuels, waste and/or biomass fuels.

33 . A cement clinker manufacturing plant comprising the reactor according to any of claims 18 to 25 .