An updraft gasifier including a reactor chamber, the chamber adapted to receive an amount of biomass fuel, one or more reaction gas input means, the base portion located below and fluidly connected to the receiving portion of the reactor chamber, a hollow feed tube extending into the receiving portion of the chamber to terminate at a feed tube terminus within the receiving portion of the chamber, one or more product gas output means located at or near the top of the receiving portion of the reactor chamber; and wherein the gasifier further includes a biomass distribution member within the receiving chamber, the biomass distribution member positioned to enable a portion of the distribution member to be moveable beneath the feed tube terminus.

An updraft gasifier including a reactor chamber, the chamber adapted to receive an amount of biomass fuel, one or more reaction gas input means, the base portion located below and fluidly connected to the receiving portion of the reactor chamber, a hollow feed tube extending into the receiving portion of the chamber to terminate at a feed tube terminus within the receiving portion of the chamber, one or more product gas output means located at or near the top of the receiving portion of the reactor chamber; and wherein the gasifier further includes a biomass distribution member within the receiving chamber, the biomass distribution member positioned to enable a portion of the distribution member to be moveable beneath the feed tube terminus.

The invention includes a downdraft gasifier having a rotatable auger/grate extending through its reduction zone. The auger at times moves biofuel through the gasifier and at times supports it in the gasifier. A frusto-conical biomass grate funnels biomass onto the auger and is perforate for permitting the passage of gases while retaining the biomass. A guide tube surrounds the auger below the frusto-conical biomass grate. The invention also includes mixing gas or solid particulate fuel in a conduit segment that houses a mixing chamber. Fuel is fed through a fuel inlet port into the mixing chamber. High velocity combustion air from a blower is forced into the mixing chamber through a restricted orifice that generates a suction pressure for drawing gas or solid particulate fuel into the mixing chamber. A combustion chamber supply conduit delivers fuel from the mixing chamber into a burner.

A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.

A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.

Provided is a gasification furnace that can efficiently gasify a biomass resource. The gasification furnace may include a furnace body including a cylindrical storing unit that may store a biomass resource, an oxidizer supplying unit that may supply an oxidizer into the furnace body, a shaft extended in a vertical direction in the storing unit and including an oxidizer supply path through which the oxidizer may be passed, an oxidizer supply tube that may include an oxidizer channel that communicates between a supply port for the oxidizer opened in an outer surface in contact with the biomass resource in the storing unit and the oxidizer supply path of the shaft, and a driving unit that may rotate the shaft with the vertical direction in the storing unit set as a rotation axis to thereby turn the oxidizer supply tube in the storing unit.

Provided is a gasification furnace that can efficiently gasify a biomass resource. The gasification furnace may include a furnace body including a cylindrical storing unit that may store a biomass resource, an oxidizer supplying unit that may supply an oxidizer into the furnace body, a shaft extended in a vertical direction in the storing unit and including an oxidizer supply path through which the oxidizer may be passed, an oxidizer supply tube that may include an oxidizer channel that communicates between a supply port for the oxidizer opened in an outer surface in contact with the biomass resource in the storing unit and the oxidizer supply path of the shaft, and a driving unit that may rotate the shaft with the vertical direction in the storing unit set as a rotation axis to thereby turn the oxidizer supply tube in the storing unit.

A method of gasifying carbonaceous material is described. The method comprises a first step of pyrolyzing and partially gasifying the carbonaceous material to produce volatiles and char. The volatiles and the char are then separated and, subsequently, the char is gasified and the volatiles are reformed. The raw product gas is then finally cleaned with char or char-supported catalysts or other catalysts.

A method of gasifying carbonaceous material is described. The method comprises a first step of pyrolyzing and partially gasifying the carbonaceous material to produce volatiles and char. The volatiles and the char are then separated and, subsequently, the char is gasified and the volatiles are reformed. The raw product gas is then finally cleaned with char or char-supported catalysts or other catalysts.

A churning and stoking ram for a furnace is disclosed. The churning and stoking ram includes a frame disposed externally of the furnace, where the stoking ram is mounted on the frame. The stoking ram is positionable relative to the furnace between an external position and an internal position, and is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the stoking ram. The stoking ram further includes a churning device positionable relative to the stoking ram between a retracted position and an extended position, a first actuator mounted on the frame to position the stoking ram between the external and internal positions, a second actuator to position the churning device between the retracted and extended positions, and a third actuator to rotate the stoking ram and the churning device associated therewith.