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A gasifier system and process comprises a pulse combustion device in communication with a fluid channel for producing a gas stream having heat or fuel value. The pulse combustion device is operated under sub-stoichiometric conditions such that combustion and steam reforming both occur in the fluid c

A gasifier system and process comprises a pulse combustion device in communication with a fluid channel for producing a gas stream having heat or fuel value. The pulse combustion device is operated under sub-stoichiometric conditions such that combustion and steam reforming both occur in the fluid channel. The pulse combustion device also produces a pulsating combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave. The acoustic pressure wave serves to cause agglomeration of particles contained within the combustion stream for easy removal. In one embodiment, a sulfur capturing agent is injected into the fluid channel for not only removing sulfur from the combustion product stream but for also facilitating particle agglomeration. Ultimately, a gas stream containing hydrogen is produced that may be used in various processes, such as in the production of electricity.

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What is claimed is: 1. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising: a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section; a pulse c

What is claimed is: 1. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising: a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section; a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section; a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream; a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and wherein the fluid channel in conjunction with the pulse combustion device are configured such that the first stage section of the fluid channel operates at a first exit temperature and the second stage section operates at a second exit temperature, the first exit temperature being greater than the second exit temperature, the second exit temperature being less than about 1900째 F. 2. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel. 3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sulfur capturing agent injection port is positioned at or near the U-shaped section. 4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sulfur capturing agent injection port is positioned along a middle area of the second stage section. 5. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a nozzle for injecting water into the second stage section of the fluid channel. 6. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a steam port and an oxygen port for injecting steam and oxygen into the pulse combustion device. 7. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a slag removal port positioned along the U-shaped section of the fluid channel. 8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pulse combustion device is configured to create an acoustic pressure wave having a frequency of from about 20 to about 250 Hz. 9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the particulate removal device comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone, the first cyclone comprising a low velocity cyclone for removing agglomerates, the second cyclone comprising a high efficiency cyclone for removing fines. 10. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a topping burner positioned to receive the combustion stream exiting the particulate removal device, the topping burner comprising a combustor for combusting the combustion stream. 11. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sulfater that receives particulates collected by the particulate removal device, the sulfater comprising a heated fluidized bed in communication with a gas port configured to inject a fluidizing gas into the fluidized bed, the fluidizing gas comprising oxygen, the sulfater being configured to sulfate any sulfur captured by the sulfur capturing agent. 12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the system further comprises a topping burner that is positioned to receive the combustion stream from the particulate removal device, the topping burner comprising a combustor configured to combust the combustion stream, and wherein the sulfater preheats an air stream that is fed to the combustor of the topping burner. 13. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electricity generating device configured to receive the combustion stream exiting the particulate removal device for generating electricity. 14. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein the electricity generating device comprises a gas turbine or a steam turbine. 15. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein the electricity generating device comprises a fuel cell. 16. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising: a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section; a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to convey the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section; a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream; a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; a topping burner in communication with the particulate removal device for receiving the combustion stream, the topping burner comprising a combustor that is configured to combust the combustion stream; and a sulfater for receiving particulates collected by the particulate removal device, the sulfater comprising a heated fluidized bed in communication with a fluidizing gas port that injects a fluidizing gas containing oxygen into the fluidized bed, the sulfater being configured to sulfate any sulfur captured by the sulfur capturing agent. 17. A system as defined in claim 16, further comprising an electricity generating device for receiving the heated combustion stream from the topping burner and producing electricity. 18. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the electricity generating device comprises a gas turbine or a steam turbine. 19. A system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel. 20. A system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a nozzle for injecting water into the second stage section of the fluid channel. 21. A system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a steam port and an oxygen port for injecting steam and oxygen into the pulse combustion device. 22. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the pulse combustion device is configured to create an acoustic pressure wave having a frequency of from about 20 to about 250 Hz. 23. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the particulate removal device comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone, the first cyclone comprising a low velocity cyclone for removing agglomerates, the second cyclone comprising a high efficiency cyclone for removing fines. 24. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the fluid channel in conjunction with the pulse combustion device are configured such that the first stage section of the fluid channel operates at a first exit temperature and the second stage section operates at a second exit temperature, the first exit temperature being greater than the second exit temperature, the second exit temperature being less than about 1700째 F. 25. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising: a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section; a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section; a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream; a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and a solid or liquid fuel injection port positioned so as to inject a solid or liquid fuel into the second stage section of the fluid channel. 26. A system for producing a gas stream having fuel or heat value comprising: a fluid channel including a first stage section and a second stage section, the fluid channel including a U-shaped section that transitions the first stage section to the second stage section; a pulse combustion device in communication with the first stage section of the fluid channel, the pulse combustion device comprising a pulse combustor coupled to at least one resonance tube, the pulse combustion device being configured to combust a solid or liquid fuel and create a pulsating combustion stream and an acoustic pressure wave, the fluid channel being shaped to transmit the acoustic pressure wave from the first stage section to the second stage section; a sulfur capturing agent injection port for injecting a sulfur capturing agent into the second stage section of the fluid channel, the sulfur capturing agent being configured to remove sulfur-containing gases from the pulsating combustion stream and to undergo acoustic agglomeration with any particles contained in the pulsating combustion stream; a particulate removal device in communication with the fluid channel for receiving the combustion stream and removing particulates contained in the stream; and a slag removal port positioned along the U-shaped section of the fluid channel.