Gasification

Abstract

An apparatus includes at least one container with at least one carbonaceous material inlet, at an upper end of the container, for providing carbonaceous material into an internal chamber of the container; at least one first carbonaceous material outlet, at a lower end of the container, for removing carbonaceous material from the internal chamber; and at least one gas outlet for removing gas from the internal chamber. The internal chamber includes a first carbonaceous material communication pathway between the carbonaceous material inlet and the first carbonaceous material outlet, and carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway in use at least passes consecutively through a first reduction zone, a first oxidation zone, and a second reduction zone.

1 . Apparatus for gasifying at least one carbonaceous material, comprising:
 at least one container comprising:
 at least one carbonaceous material inlet, at an upper end of the container, for providing carbonaceous material into an internal chamber of the container; 
 at least one first carbonaceous material outlet, at a lower end of the container, for removing carbonaceous material from the internal chamber; and 
 at least one gas outlet for removing gas from the internal chamber; 
   wherein the internal chamber comprises a first carbonaceous material communication pathway between the carbonaceous material inlet and the first carbonaceous material outlet, and wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway in use at least passes consecutively through a first reduction zone, a first oxidation zone, and a second reduction zone.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway in use at least passes consecutively through the first reduction zone, the first oxidation zone, the second reduction zone, and a second oxidation zone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in claim wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway in use passes consecutively through a drying zone, a pyrolysis zone, the first reduction zone, the first oxidation zone, the second reduction zone, and the second oxidation zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a moveable grate mechanism configured in use to move carbonaceous material from the first oxidation zone in a direction towards the second reduction zone, optionally wherein the moveable grate mechanism is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor disposed outside the container.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the moveable grate mechanism comprises at least one pair of grate elements, a first grate element of said pair being moveable with respect to a second grate element of said pair. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first grate element is reciprocally moveable relative to the second grate element. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first and/or second grate element comprises a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart elongate arm members. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each elongate arm member of said elongate arm members comprises a first substantially flat portion inclined at 0 to 25 degrees to a horizontal axis, a second substantially flat portion inclined at 0 to 15 degrees to a vertical axis, and a curved connection portion that connects the first substantially flat portion and the second substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the moveable grate mechanism is disposed at a base of the first oxidation zone. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a substantially horizontal container portion comprising at least one fluid inlet nozzle, optionally wherein in use steam and/or water is provided into the second oxidation zone via the fluid inlet nozzle, and optionally wherein the fluid inlet nozzle is configured to atomise water to thereby provide water mist into the second oxidation zone. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in use air and/or steam and/or exhaust gas is provided into the first oxidation zone through a moveable grate mechanism via a fluid outlet of a fluid conduit disposed beneath the moveable grate mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A method for gasifying at least one carbonaceous material, comprising the steps of:
 providing carbonaceous material into an internal chamber of at least one container via at least one carbonaceous material inlet of the container;   moving the carbonaceous material along a first carbonaceous material communication pathway between the carbonaceous material inlet and at least one first carbonaceous material outlet, wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway at least passes consecutively through a first reduction zone, a first oxidation zone, and a second reduction zone;   gasifying the carbonaceous material in at least the first reduction zone and the second reduction zone; and   removing gas produced in at least the first reduction zone and the second reduction zone from the internal chamber via at least one gas outlet of the container.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway at least passes consecutively through the first reduction zone, the first oxidation zone, the second reduction zone, and a second oxidation zone. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein carbonaceous material which travels along the first carbonaceous material communication pathway passes consecutively through a drying zone, a pyrolysis zone, the first reduction zone, the first oxidation zone, the second reduction zone, and the second oxidation zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing steam and/or water, optionally atomised water, into the second oxidation zone via at least one fluid inlet nozzle; and optionally:   via the steam and/or water provided into the second oxidation zone, activating the carbonaceous material and thereby producing microporous biochar and/or activated carbon.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing the steam and/or water to the fluid inlet nozzle from a gap disposed between an inner and outer wall of at least part of the container.   
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing steam and/or water into the second oxidation zone at a location diametrically opposed to a location of the first carbonaceous material outlet such that carbonaceous material is removed from the internal chamber at a temperature of about around 100 to 150 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing air and/or a mixture of air and exhaust gases into the first oxidation zone through a moveable grate mechanism disposed at a base of the first oxidation zone.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 moving carbonaceous material from the first oxidation zone in a direction towards the second reduction zone via at least one reciprocally moving grate element.   
     
     
         25 . Use of the apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 .