A pulverized-fuel supply unit includes a hopper, first nozzles, second nozzles, a pressurizing-gas supply device, a fluidization-gas supply device, and a pulverized-fuel supply line. The hopper has a hollow to store therein pulverized fuel. The first nozzles are provided to the hopper. The second nozzles are provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper below the plurality of first nozzles. The pressurizing-gas supply device is configured to supply pressurizing gas to increase internal pressure of the hopper. The fluidization-gas supply device is configured to supply fluidization gas to fluidize the pulverized fuel in the hopper. The pulverized-fuel supply line is provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper. The pressurizing-gas supply device supplies pressurizing gas to the first nozzles and the second nozzles. The fluidization-gas supply device supplies fluidization gas to the second nozzles.

A pulverized-fuel supply unit includes a hopper, first nozzles, second nozzles, a pressurizing-gas supply device, a fluidization-gas supply device, and a pulverized-fuel supply line. The hopper has a hollow to store therein pulverized fuel. The first nozzles are provided to the hopper. The second nozzles are provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper below the plurality of first nozzles. The pressurizing-gas supply device is configured to supply pressurizing gas to increase internal pressure of the hopper. The fluidization-gas supply device is configured to supply fluidization gas to fluidize the pulverized fuel in the hopper. The pulverized-fuel supply line is provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper. The pressurizing-gas supply device supplies pressurizing gas to the first nozzles and the second nozzles. The fluidization-gas supply device supplies fluidization gas to the second nozzles.

A universal feeder system that combines with a fluidized bed gasification reactor for the treatment of multiple diverse feedstocks including sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, wood waste, refuse derived fuels, automotive shredder residue and non-recyclable plastics. The invention thereby also illustrates a method of gasification for multiple and diverse feedstocks using a universal feeder system. The feeder system comprises one or more feed vessels and at least one live bottom dual screw feeder. The feed vessel is rectangular shaped having three vertical sides and an angled side of no less than 60 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate proper flow of feedstock material that have different and/or variable flow properties. The feedstocks are transferred through an open bottom chute to a live bottom dual screw feeder and through another open bottom chute to a transfer screw feeder that conveys feedstock to the fuel feed inlets of a gasifier.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a gas in a closable reactor by supplying the reactor with carbon-based biomass or chopped wood material, such as chips, in substantially oxygen-free conditions, by allowing the biomass or wood material to gasify at a high temperature, and by recovering the gas generated in a gasification reaction. In that the arrangement the reactor has its interior defined by a feed pipe whose inlet end is closable with a shut-off valve, especially with a ball valve, and whose outlet end adjoins a heatable gasification dome, biomass or chopped wood material is delivered from the feed pipe's inlet end into the reactor's interior, the reactor's interior is supplied with free water/water vapor in its supercritical state, which is optionally prepared catalytically by splitting water/water vapor, the biomass or wood material is conveyed into a gasification space of the reactor's interior, which is in connection with the heated gasification dome and which is adapted to have existing conditions selected in a manner such that the water present in said gasification space is present in its supercritical state, and the gas generated in the gasification reaction is recovered.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a gas in a closable reactor by supplying the reactor with carbon-based biomass or chopped wood material, such as chips, in substantially oxygen-free conditions, by allowing the biomass or wood material to gasify at a high temperature, and by recovering the gas generated in a gasification reaction. In that the arrangement the reactor has its interior defined by a feed pipe whose inlet end is closable with a shut-off valve, especially with a ball valve, and whose outlet end adjoins a heatable gasification dome, biomass or chopped wood material is delivered from the feed pipe's inlet end into the reactor's interior, the reactor's interior is supplied with free water/water vapor in its supercritical state, which is optionally prepared catalytically by splitting water/water vapor, the biomass or wood material is conveyed into a gasification space of the reactor's interior, which is in connection with the heated gasification dome and which is adapted to have existing conditions selected in a manner such that the water present in said gasification space is present in its supercritical state, and the gas generated in the gasification reaction is recovered.

A universal feeder system that combines with a fluidized bed gasification reactor for the treatment of multiple diverse feedstocks including sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, wood waste, refuse derived fuels, automotive shredder residue and non-recyclable plastics. The invention thereby also illustrates a method of gasification for multiple and diverse feedstocks using a universal feeder system. The feeder system comprises one or more feed vessels and at least one live bottom dual screw feeder. The feed vessel is rectangular shaped having three vertical sides and an angled side of no less than 60 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate proper flow of feedstock material that have different and/or variable flow properties. The feedstocks are transferred through an open bottom chute to a live bottom dual screw feeder and through another open bottom chute to a transfer screw feeder that conveys feedstock to the fuel feed inlets of a gasifier.

A method and system for continuous production of contaminant free and size specific biochar using downdraft gasification of variable quality feedstock. The system and process of the present invention includes the transfer of biochar from a gasifier after gasification to a temperature-controlled cooling screw conveyor, into a drum magnet for ferrous metal removal into multiple diverters to separate and remove ungasified materials and non-ferrous metal contaminants, then transferred into a granulator for grinding and screening the biochar to a pre-selected size. By directly attaching a novel and continuous product treatment process to the biochar stream as it exits the gasifier, the particle size, moisture content, carbon content and yield of a contaminant free biochar product can be narrowly controlled and improved to meet strict product quality specifications required by specialty applications.

A method of conveying fuel, such as bulk material, into a gasification reactor that has a lateral infeed opening can be practiced with device for conveying fuels into a gasification reactor comprising a bulk material container, a conveying pipe, into which a discharge of the bulk material container opens and which can be connected to a lateral infeed opening of the gasification reactor, and a mechanical conveying apparatus disposed in the conveying pipe, the conveying apparatus is formed by a hydraulically drivable plunger, which is movably guided in a first, cylindrical section of the conveying pipe, and in that the conveying pipe has an internal cross-section which decreases continuously in the conveying direction of the fuel in order to form a compacting cone in a second axial section that is downstream of the first section, wherein the second section is configured as an exchangeable pipe portion with another exchangeable pipe portion.

A method of conveying fuel, such as bulk material, into a gasification reactor that has a lateral infeed opening can be practiced with device for conveying fuels into a gasification reactor comprising a bulk material container, a conveying pipe, into which a discharge of the bulk material container opens and which can be connected to a lateral infeed opening of the gasification reactor, and a mechanical conveying apparatus disposed in the conveying pipe, the conveying apparatus is formed by a hydraulically drivable plunger, which is movably guided in a first, cylindrical section of the conveying pipe, and in that the conveying pipe has an internal cross-section which decreases continuously in the conveying direction of the fuel in order to form a compacting cone in a second axial section that is downstream of the first section, wherein the second section is configured as an exchangeable pipe portion with another exchangeable pipe portion.

A method is described for processing biomass using a series of mechanisms that operate in unison to maintain solids flow through small gasifiers that are otherwise prone to blockage. An automated system that implements these methods is also disclosed.