This invention relates to a method and a reactor for gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock material. The method includes the steps of choke-feeding a carbonaceous feedstock material into a pyrolysis zone of the reactor to form a discharge bed; heating the discharge bed to initiate pyrolysis of the feedstock material to form a pyrolysis product; providing a lower lying upper oxidation zone; gasifying the pyrolysis product to form a bed of char; converting thermal energy into chemical energy in an upper reduction zone; providing a lower lying lower oxidation zone; collecting any metal slag and/or slag melts in the lower oxidation zone; and discharging hot reducing gases having a temperature of at least 1300° C. and a CO/CO.sub.2 ratio of ≥5, more preferably ≥15.

The present invention discloses a gasifier and/or a gasification process that provides a long, uniform temperature zone in the gasifier, regardless of the particle size, chemical composition, and moisture content of the fuel by sandwiching a reduction zones between two oxidation zones. The gasifier and/or gasification process has a char that is more energy-dense and almost devoid of moisture that affords for an additional (or char) oxidation zone with a temperature that is higher than a first oxidation zone which is closer to an evaporation and devolatilization zone. As such, the additional (or char) oxidation zone contributes to augmenting the reduction zone temperature, thereby providing a favorable dual impact in improving syngas composition and near-complete conversion of the tar.

The present invention discloses a gasifier and/or a gasification process that provides a long, uniform temperature zone in the gasifier, regardless of the particle size, chemical composition, and moisture content of the fuel by sandwiching a reduction zones between two oxidation zones. The gasifier and/or gasification process has a char that is more energy-dense and almost devoid of moisture that affords for an additional (or char) oxidation zone with a temperature that is higher than a first oxidation zone which is closer to an evaporation and devolatilization zone. As such, the additional (or char) oxidation zone contributes to augmenting the reduction zone temperature, thereby providing a favorable dual impact in improving syngas composition and near-complete conversion of the tar.

A reactor enables gasification or melting of waste and additional feed materials. The reactor includes a co-current section with a plenum section and a feed section with a sluice. Feed materials are introduced into the reactor. The reactor further includes a buffer section and a pre-treatment section, which adjoins a bottom of the buffer section to create a cross-sectional enlargement. An intermediate section adjoins the pre-treatment section. An upper oxidation section adjoins a bottom of the intermediate section and includes tuyeres in at least one level. An upper reduction section adjoins a bottom of the upper oxidation section. The reactor further includes a gas outlet section. The reactor further includes a countercurrent section having a conical lower reduction section and a conical lower oxidation section adjoining the conical lower reduction section having at least one tuyere and at least one tapping.

A reactor enables gasification or melting of waste and additional feed materials. The reactor includes a co-current section with a plenum section and a feed section with a sluice. Feed materials are introduced into the reactor. The reactor further includes a buffer section and a pre-treatment section, which adjoins a bottom of the buffer section to create a cross-sectional enlargement. An intermediate section adjoins the pre-treatment section. An upper oxidation section adjoins a bottom of the intermediate section and includes tuyeres in at least one level. An upper reduction section adjoins a bottom of the upper oxidation section. The reactor further includes a gas outlet section. The reactor further includes a countercurrent section having a conical lower reduction section and a conical lower oxidation section adjoining the conical lower reduction section having at least one tuyere and at least one tapping.

The present invention discloses a gasifier and/or a gasification process that provides a long, uniform temperature zone in the gasifier, regardless of the particle size, chemical composition, and moisture content of the fuel by sandwiching a reduction zones between two oxidation zones. The gasifier and/or gasification process has a char that is more energy-dense and almost devoid of moisture that affords for an additional (or char) oxidation zone with a temperature that is higher than a first oxidation zone which is closer to an evaporation and devolatilization zone. As such, the additional (or char) oxidation zone contributes to augmenting the reduction zone temperature, thereby providing a favorable dual impact in improving syngas composition and near-complete conversion of the tar.

The present invention discloses a gasifier and/or a gasification process that provides a long, uniform temperature zone in the gasifier, regardless of the particle size, chemical composition, and moisture content of the fuel by sandwiching a reduction zones between two oxidation zones. The gasifier and/or gasification process has a char that is more energy-dense and almost devoid of moisture that affords for an additional (or char) oxidation zone with a temperature that is higher than a first oxidation zone which is closer to an evaporation and devolatilization zone. As such, the additional (or char) oxidation zone contributes to augmenting the reduction zone temperature, thereby providing a favorable dual impact in improving syngas composition and near-complete conversion of the tar.

A reactor enables gasification or melting of waste and additional feed materials. The reactor includes a co-current section with a plenum section and a feed section with a sluice. Feed materials are introduced into the reactor. The reactor further includes a buffer section and a pre-treatment section, which adjoins a bottom of the buffer section to create a cross-sectional enlargement. An intermediate section adjoins the pre-treatment section. An upper oxidation section adjoins a bottom of the intermediate section and includes tuyeres in at least one level. An upper reduction section adjoins a bottom of the upper oxidation section. The reactor further includes a gas outlet section. The reactor further includes a countercurrent section having a conical lower reduction section and a conical lower oxidation section adjoining the conical lower reduction section having at least one tuyere and at least one tapping.

A reactor enables gasification or melting of waste and additional feed materials. The reactor includes a co-current section with a plenum section and a feed section with a sluice. Feed materials are introduced into the reactor. The reactor further includes a buffer section and a pre-treatment section, which adjoins a bottom of the buffer section to create a cross-sectional enlargement. An intermediate section adjoins the pre-treatment section. An upper oxidation section adjoins a bottom of the intermediate section and includes tuyeres in at least one level. An upper reduction section adjoins a bottom of the upper oxidation section. The reactor further includes a gas outlet section. The reactor further includes a countercurrent section having a conical lower reduction section and a conical lower oxidation section adjoining the conical lower reduction section having at least one tuyere and at least one tapping.

The description describes the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The one or more effluents which can be recycled include a stream comprising microbial biomass, a product stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one fermentation product, a by-product stream comprising fusel oil, and a waste water stream comprising microbial biomass. The stream comprising biomass can be dried before it is passed to the gasification zone. At least a portion of the waste water stream can be passed to the gasification process where one use is to replace at least a portion of the process water. The waste water stream can be further processed to produce a clarified water stream and a biogas stream comprising methane either or both of which can be passed to the gasification process.