System & Method for mixing and distributing air and steam in a gasifier

Abstract

A gasifier system for converting biomass to biogas includes a reaction chamber with a biomass supply port for receiving a biomass volume, a waste outlet port for discharging biomass conversion by-products, a gas inlet for receiving heated oxidizing gas, a gas outlet for discharging generated biogas and a burner manifold for distributing oxidizing gas within the chamber to react the biomass. The burner manifold includes primary tubes and secondary tubes, positioned in a vertically lower part of the chamber and configured with multiple openings or ports for dispensing the oxidizing gas, where the secondary tubes extend into, inject and evenly distribute the oxidizing gas into the biomass volume to optimize conversion to biogas.

1 . A gasifier system that converts biomass to biogas, comprising:
 a reaction chamber including a biomass supply port for receiving a biomass volume, a waste outlet port for discharging biomass conversion by-products, a gas inlet for receiving heated oxidizing gas and a gas outlet for discharging generated biogas; and   a burner manifold for distributing oxidizing gas within the chamber to react the biomass, the manifold comprising primary tubes and secondary tubes, positioned in a vertically lower part of the chamber and configured with multiple openings or ports for dispensing the oxidizing gas, where the secondary tubes extend into, inject and evenly distribute the oxidizing gas into the biomass volume to optimize conversion to biogas.   
     
     
         2 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an air/steam mixing chamber for receiving and mixing at least two of the group consisting of air, heated air, steam and heated steam to create and air/steam mixture to generate the oxidizing gas, wherein the air/steam mixing chamber is in fluid communication with the gas inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary tubes are double-decker tubes and the secondary tubes extend from a surface of the double-decker tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a water heating chamber in fluid communication with the gas outlet for receiving a flow of hot biogas, wherein the water heating chamber includes a coil in which water flows and which is arranged to be exposed to the flow of hot biogas in order to heat water flowing in the coil to steam. 
     
     
         5 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the coil and steam in the water heating chamber are in fluid communication with an air/steam mixing chamber or the gas inlet or both. 
     
     
         6 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an air heating chamber in fluid communication with the gas outlet for receiving a flow of hot biogas, which includes an air duct in which air flows and which is arranged to be exposed to the flow of hot biogas in order to heat the air flowing in the air duct. 
     
     
         7 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the air duct and hot air therein are in fluid communication with an air/steam mixing chamber or the gas inlet or both. 
     
     
         8 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plenum within which a water/steam conduit and an air duct for providing heated air and steam to the gas inlet are positioned in order that a flow of hot biogas from the gas outlet is caused to flow over the conduit and air duct and heat same to generate steam and hot air. 
     
     
         9 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a water-cooled support system positioned in the reaction chamber to support and enable the burner manifold to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature without obstruction. 
     
     
         10 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the water-cooled support system is physically attached to a reaction chamber wall with a top surface that extends into the reaction chamber and is in sliding contact with the burner manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller. 
     
     
         12 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the controller controls a flow rate of hot biogas to the air carrying duct and water/steam carrying conduit in order to regulate the temperature of the hot air and steam delivered to the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A gasifier system converting biomass to biogas, comprising:
 a reaction chamber including a regulated input port for receiving a biomass volume, a waste outlet port for discharging biomass to biogas conversion by-products, a regulated gas inlet for receiving heated oxidizing gas and a regulated gas outlet for discharging generated biogas;   a burner manifold for distributing oxidizing gas within the reaction chamber that comprises primary and secondary conduits, is positioned in a vertically lower portion of the chamber and is configured with multiple outlets or ports for injecting the oxidizing gas into the biomass volume, substantially evenly distributing the oxidizing gas therethrough; and   a water heating chamber in fluid communication with the gas outlet for receiving a flow of hot biogas, exposing water to the hot biogas to heat the water to steam and supplying the steam to the gas inlet port as oxidizing gas.   
     
     
         14 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising an air heating chamber in fluid communication with the gas outlet for receiving a flow of hot biogas, exposing air to the hot biogas to heat the air and supplying the heated air to the gas inlet port as oxidizing gas. 
     
     
         15 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the secondary tubes extend from a surface of the primary tubes in such away that the secondary tubes extend into the biofuel volume to facilitate oxidizing gas distribution therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the tubes are double-decker tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising a water-cooled support system positioned in the reaction chamber to support and enable the burner manifold to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature without obstruction. 
     
     
         18 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the water-cooled support system is physically attached to a reaction chamber wall with a top surface that extends into the reaction chamber and is in sliding contact with the burner manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The gasifier system as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a controller for controlling a flow rate of hot biogas to the air heating chamber and the water heating chamber in order to regulate the temperature of the air and steam delivered to the reaction chamber in the form of oxidizing gas.