Gasifier

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved gasifier, consisting of two separate and functionally different combustion zones within a common insulated chamber. Solid carbonaceous fuel enters the gasifier through an input feed. A spindle assembly, which is affixed to one end of the chamber, rotates, causing a mixing of the fuel and facilitating its movement through the chamber. The portion of the chamber nearest the input feed acts as a first combustion zone, partially oxidizing the raw fuel and carbonizing the fuel particles. A second combustion zone completes combustion of the char produced in the first zone. One end of the spindle assembly, located between the first and second combustion zones, includes a gas collection device for removing combustible product gas from the gasifier. The gas collector is circumscribed by an auger which, rotating with the spindle, actively transports charcoal from the first to the second combustion zone.

1 . An apparatus for the production of combustible gases through the pyrolysis of carbonaceous fuel comprising: a chamber into which said fuel is fed, a rotating spindle assembly comprising air nozzles for introducing air into said fuel to facilitate burning, thereby defining a first combustion zone in said chamber, and a gas collector spatially separated from said first combustion zone for capturing gas produced by the gasification of said fuel, wherein the rotation of said spindle assembly assists the movement of said burned fuel across the surface of said gas collector.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating spindle assembly further comprises at least one inclined surface affixed to said gas collector.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said gas collector comprises a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked concentric rings whereby each ring of said plurality moves relative to each of its adjacent rings, and the gas that passes between said rings is captured by said gas collector.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a first set of alternating rings coupled to said at least one inclined surface, such that said first set rotates in concert with said inclined surface.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a second set of alternating rings that are fixed in position, thereby resulting in relative motion between said first set and said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a fixed pipe located within and coaxial with said rotating spindle assembly, said fixed pipe adapted to transmit gas captured by said gas collector to the exterior of said gasifier chamber; said fixed pipe also providing a means of fixing said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said inclined surface comprises an auger circumscribed about said gas collector.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second combustion zone, wherein the rotation of said spindle assembly facilitates the movement of said burned fuel from said first combustion zone to said second combustion zone where it is further burned.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first combustion zone is at a temperature effective for converting said fuel into char material, and said second combustion zone is at a temperature effective for converting said char material into ash.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one air inlet to introduce air into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of said gas produced by said burning in said first combustion zone is not captured by said gas collector, and further comprising at least one gas inlet for introducing said portion into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a duct into which said portion flows, and a blower to introduce said portion through said gas inlet.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said combustible gas produced by said gasification comprises carbon monoxide and hydrogen.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an airtight device for removing said burned fuel from said chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The process of creating and capturing combustible gas from carbonaceous fuel comprising: introducing said fuel into a chamber having a central rotating spindle assembly comprising air nozzles and a gas collector spatially separated from said air nozzles; 
 introducing air through said air nozzles to facilitate the burning of said fuel, thereby defining a first combustion zone in said chamber;    rotating said spindle assembly so as to move said fuel burned in said first combustion zone downstream of said gas collector; and    capturing in said gas collector the gas produced.    
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removing residual burned fuel from said chamber without introducing air to said chamber from a location downstream of said gas collector.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein said rotating spindle assembly further comprises an inclined surface affixed to the surface of said gas collector, such that the rotation of said spindle assembly facilitates the movement of said burned fuel past said gas collector thereby removing fuel residue from the surface of said gas collector.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of further burning said burned fuel in a second combustion zone located downstream of said gas collector.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18 , whereby air is introduced into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 18 , whereby a portion of said gas that is produced in said first combustion zone is not captured by said gas collector and is introduced into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for the production of combustible gases through the pyrolysis of carbonaceous fuel comprising: a chamber in which said fuel is burned; a plurality of rotating spindle assemblies, each of said plurality of spindle assemblies comprising air nozzles for introducing air into said fuel to facilitate burning, thereby defining a first combustion zone, and a gas collector spatially separated from said first combustion zone for capturing gas produced by the gasification of said fuel, wherein the rotation of said spindle assemblies moves said burned fuel in said chamber downstream of said gas collector.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said each of said plurality of spindle assemblies comprises at least one inclined surface affixed to each of said plurality of gas collectors.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each of said plurality of gas collectors comprises a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked concentric rings whereby each ring of said plurality of rings moves relative to each of its adjacent rings, and the gas that passes between said rings is captured by said gas collector.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a first set of alternating rings coupled to said inclined surface, such that said first set rotates in concert with said inclined surface.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a second set of alternating rings that are fixed in position, thereby creating relative motion between said first set and said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising a plurality of fixed pipes, each of said pipes located within and coaxial with each of said plurality of rotating spindle assemblies, said plurality of fixed pipes adapted to transmit gas captured by said plurality of gas collectors outside of said gasifier chamber; said plurality of fixed pipes also providing a means of fixing said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said inclined surface comprises an auger circumscribed about said gas collector.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a second combustion zone, wherein the rotation of said plurality of spindle assemblies facilitates the movement of said burned fuel from said first combustion zone to said second combustion zone where it is further burned.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said first combustion zone is at a temperature effective for converting said fuel into char material, and said second combustion zone is at a temperature effective for converting said char material into ash.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one air inlet to introduce air into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein a portion of said gas produced in said first combustion zone by said burning is not captured by said gas collector, and further comprising at least one gas inlet for introducing said portion into said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a duct into which said portion flows, and a blower to introduce said portion through said gas inlet.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein each of said plurality of spindle assemblies rotates in the same direction.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said combustible gas produced by said gasification comprises carbon monoxide and hydrogen.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for the production of combustible gases through the pyrolysis of carbonaceous fuel comprising: a chamber into which said fuel is fed; a first set of air nozzles for introducing air into said fuel to facilitate burning, thereby creating a first combustion zone in said chamber, a gas collector device for removing product gas from said chamber, located downstream from said first combustion zone, and a second set of air nozzles located downstream from said gas collector for introducing air into said fuel previously burned in said first combustion zone to facilitate further burning, thereby creating a second combustion zone in said chamber.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a rotating spindle assembly to which said gas collector is affixed and at least one inclined surface affixed to said gas collector such that rotation of said spindle assembly facilitates movement of said burned fuel across the surface of said gas collector from said first combustion zone toward said second combustion zone.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said gas collector comprises a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked concentric rings whereby each ring of said plurality moves relative to each of its adjacent rings, and the gas that passes between said rings is captured by said gas collector.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a first set of alternating rings coupled to said inclined surface, such that said first set rotates in concert with said inclined surface.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a second set of alternating rings that are fixed in position, thereby creating relative motion between said first set and said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said inclined surface comprises an auger circumscribed about said gas collector.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said inclined surface comprises at least one tilted paddle affixed to said gas collector.  
   
   
       42 . A device for extracting a gaseous or liquid stream from solid particles comprising at least one inclined surface and a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked concentric rings, wherein said plurality of concentric rings comprises a first set of alternating rings coupled to said at least one inclined surface, such that said first set rotates in concert with said inclined surface and a second set of alternating rings that are fixed in position, thereby creating relative motion between said first set and said second set of alternating rings.  
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 42  wherein said at least one inclined surface comprises an auger that circumscribes said plurality of concentric rings and is affixed to each of said first set.  
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 42  wherein said at least one inclined surface comprises at least one tilted paddle affixed to each of said first set of concentric rings.