Gasification devices and methods

Abstract

A device for converting one or more feed fuel to syngas is disclosed that comprises a metallic crucible for holding an electrically conductive material and at least one electric heater in the vicinity of the crucible. The electric heater comprises a coil for providing a flow of current through the at least one electric heater so as to cause melting and heating of the electrically conductive material to form a molten material disposed within the metallic crucible. Furthermore, the device comprises a liquid cooling arrangement for the crucible, at least one feeding conduit for providing a flow stream of the one or more feed fuel to be delivered into contact with the molten material to convert at least a portion of one or more feed fuel to syngas and at least one supply conduit for delivering the syngas to the exterior of the crucible.

1 . A gasification device for converting one or more feed material into syngas, comprising:
 a crucible for holding an electrically conductive material; at least one electric heater in the vicinity of the crucible, the at least one electric heater supplied with electricity to generate heat so as to cause melting and heating of the electrically conductive material to form a molten melt material disposed within crucible,   a cooling arrangement for the crucible,   at least one conduit for providing a flow stream of one or more feed material to be delivered and placed into fluid contact with molten melt material to convert at least a portion of one or more feed material into syngas,   at least one conduit for delivering syngas to the exterior of the crucible.   
     
     
         2 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the crucible is made of an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the crucible is made of a metallic material. 
     
     
         4 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the crucible is made of an electrically insulating crucible material and interposed with a metallic crucible material. 
     
     
         5 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the cooling arrangement comprising one or more hollow conduits is placed in contact with the metallic material portion of crucible. 
     
     
         6 . The gasification device according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more hollow conduits are supplied a cooling agent from one or more prime mover apparatus from at least one remote site. 
     
     
         7 . The gasification device according to  claim 6 , wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits at a determined flow pressure range. 
     
     
         8 . The gasification device according to  claim 6 , wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits at a determined flow velocity range. 
     
     
         9 . The gasification device according to  claim 6 , wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits at a determined flow temperature range. 
     
     
         10 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the electric heater is in fluid contact with the molten melt material. 
     
     
         11 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric heater is not in fluid contact with the molten melt material. 
     
     
         12 . The gasification device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits at a determined cooling agent flow velocity range, at a determined cooling agent flow pressure range, at a determined cooling agent flow pressure range so as to cause the metallic portion of the crucible to be operating within a temperature range of between 100 degree Celsius to 800 degree Celsius.   
     
     
         13 . The gasification device according to  claim 12  wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits in a manner so as to cause at least a portion of the molten melt material disposed within crucible to be in a substantially solid phase. 
     
     
         14 . The gasification device according to  claim 12  wherein the cooling agent is supplied to flow within the one or more hollow conduits in a manner so as to cause at least a portion of the molten melt material contacting the interior surface area of the crucible to be in a substantially solid phase. 
     
     
         15 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one remote prime mover device is in operational communication with the at least one conduit to cause flow stream of one or more feed material to be delivered and placed into fluid contact with molten melt material. 
     
     
         16 . The gasification device according to  claim 15 , wherein the flow stream of one or more feed material is delivered at an absolute flow pressure range that is equivalent or greater than the determined fluid hydrostatic pressure of the molten melt material disposed within crucible. 
     
     
         17 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric heater is supplied with electricity to cause melting and heating of the molten metal material to a temperature range of between 800 to 2000 degree Celsius. 
     
     
         18 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric heater is not in contact with the metallic material portion of the crucible. 
     
     
         19 . The gasification device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one electric heater is interposed with an electrically insulated material. 
     
     
         20 . A gasification method for converting one or more feed material into syngas, comprising:
 placing an electrically conductive material within a crucible;   melting and heating the electrically conductive material to form a molten melt material disposed within the crucible and maintaining the molten melt material in a molten state at a temperature range of between 800 degree Celsius to 2000 degree Celsius;   cooling at least the metallic material portion of the crucible to a temperature range of between 100 degree Celsius to 800 degree Celsius so as to cause a portion of the molten melt material in fluid contact with at least a part of the interior surface of the crucible to be solidified;   delivering a flow stream of one or more feed material into fluid contact with the molten melt material at a flow stream absolute fluid pressure range that is equivalent or greater than the determined fluid hydrostatic pressure of the molten melt material;   extracting the syngas from the crucible.   
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled)