Production of synthetic transportation fuels from carbonaceous materials using self-sustained hydro-gasification

Disclosed is a process for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel, the improvement comprising: -feeding carbonaceous material, hydrogen from an internal source, and water, into a hydro-gasification reactor under conditions whereby methane rich producer gases are generated; -feeding the methane rich producer gases from the hydro-gasification reactor into a steam pyrolytic reformer under conditions whereby synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide are generated; -feeding a portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer in the hydro-gasification reactor as the hydrogen from an internal source; and -either utilizing the synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer for process heat or as fuel for an engine to produce electricity, or feeding the synthesis gas into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing a synthesis gas as a gaseous fuel or feed into Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel, comprising: -a source of carbonaceous material and water, hydro-gasification reactor, and a steam pyrolytic reformer; -piping connecting the source of carbonaceous material and water to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding carbonaceous material and water thereto to generate methane and carbon monoxide; -piping connecting the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer for feeding methane rich producer gases generated in the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer to generate synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and -piping connecting the steam pyrolytic reformer to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding a portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer in the hydro-gasification reactor