MX2008005735A - Particulate waste product gasification system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments include a gasification process where the carbon content of the residue from gasification of agricultural waste products and the fly ash content of the gaseous exhaust is controlled by regulated inflow of gasification-supporting air in a plurality of flow stream at different velocities to enhance fluidization of particulate feed in a bed being raked by a rotating sweep arm inducing radially outward movement of gasification residue into a collecting zone from which the residue enters a discharge duct. The particulate feed is dropped at a location in the gasification chamber above the bed in alignment with the inflow stream of maximum velocity.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GASIFICATION OF PARTICULATE WASTE PRODUCT The present application takes advantage of Utility Patent Application No. 11 / 264,553 entitled "System and Gasification Method of Particulate Disposal Product" which has Mr. Ron as inventor. Bailey, presented November 1, 2005, which is here incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a controlled gasification of agricultural waste products for the use of ash residue and gas exhaust. The disposal of waste or byproducts that comes from the processing of agricultural food crops often involves burning the by-products to create many problems for the food-producing industry. By-products such as rice and peanut shells, pieces of wood, cotton seeds, etc. They are hard, fibrous and abrasive. In addition, these by-products are variable in density and have a high silica content. Incineration or combustion of by-products is expensive, consumes large amounts of energy, and creates air pollution problems. Controlled combustion or incineration of the above-mentioned types of waste or by-products, or similar waste or by-products, has been attempted with less success from the economic point of view or subject to fire often occurs during combustion resulting from the generation of unstable heat and quality of exhaust gas that are not satisfactory for heat recovery purposes. For example, the introduction of a high-silica feed into the combustion chamber of a burner generates an exhaust stream with volatile ash, causing damage and deterioration of heater tubes due to silica-related abrasivity. The above burners are also not able to control the degree of combustion and, consequently, lack the flexibility to control the ash content of combustion residue as a commercial product. It is an important objective to provide an economical gasification system for a variety of feeds without requiring prior pre-treatment or costly processing and to accommodate a large variety in feedstock density. Another objective is to provide a gasification system for the waste products where the ash content of combustion residue can be controlled and the volatile ash content of its minimized gas leakage. A problem with typical combustion and gasification systems exists in relation to the accumulation of ash residue during combustion or gasification system. The accumulation of ash residue in places without discharge causes scorification, or hardening of ash residue in the combustion bed or gasification system due to overheating of stagnant ash residue in places without discharge. The gasification operation is often stopped (or at least slowed) by the growth of the ash residue in places without discharge. In this way, the scorching of the ash residue is costly and time consuming, since the operation of the gasification system must often be stopped and the personnel must be paid to remove the growth of ash residue in the system. In addition, the slagging of the ash residue is often costly because of the parameters of the resulting ash residue product as well as the efficiency of the gasification system can negatively impact due to the hardened growth of the ash residue. The slagging problem is particularly acute when fuels that have excessive amounts of potassium phosphate or low melting temperatures are gasified, such as sewage sludge, distillers waste, sansa, implements and other high alkaline fuels. Another problem with the gasification systems used currently involves the efficiency of the gasification process. The efficiency of the process is often compromised by the low temperature of the air inside the gasification chamber. The efficiency and range of carbon conversion are often affected by air temperature and other variable operating parameters within the gasification system. Still another challenge with the typical gasification system refers to the residence time of the fuel within the gasification chamber. The typical gasification system is only capable of gasifying a fixed amount of fuel inside the chamber for a determined time because of the fixed volume of the gasification chamber. Increasing the speed of the existing agitator arm to gasify more fuel per period of. weather, causes the content of the gasification chamber to become volatile and as a result causes the fuel or ash to enter the gas flow. In addition, even if the gasification system is operated at the desired speed of the agitator arm, fuel or ash often enters the gas flow. Also problematic with gasification systems is the inclination of the agitator arm. When the agitating arm within the gasification chamber is overheated, the agitating arm tends to bend up or down relative to the gasification chamber, comprising the efficiency and performance of the gasification system. This is, in this way, a need for a gasification system where the scorification of the ash residue in places without discharge within the gasification chamber is better controlled.

There is another need for a gasification system with increased efficiency and higher carbon conversion as compared to the gasification and combustion systems currently used. In addition, there is a need for a gasification system, which is able to maintain the residence time of the fuel present in the previous gasification systems, even when the agitator arm is slowed down to prevent the fuel or ash from entering the stream. Of gas. There is also another need for a gasification system, which is capable of processing more fuel in a given period of time without the fuel or ash entering the gas stream. Finally, there is a need for a gasification system, which reduces or eliminates the possible damage of the agitator arm. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved gasification system with increased efficiency and carbon conversion range. It is another object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a gasification system, which decreases or prevents the scorching of the ash residue within the gasification system. It is also another objective of embodiments of the present invention to provide a gasification system which improves the flexibility of the gasification process. A further objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a gasification system wherein the rotation of the stirring arm can be slowed while maintaining the residence time of the fuel. Another objective of embodiments of the present invention provide a gasification system wherein the residence time of the fuel in the gasification chamber can be maintained, increased, or decreased, without causing the fuel / ash to enter the gas stream. A further objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a gasification system which reduces or eliminates bending of the stirring arm within the gasification chamber. These together with other objectives and advantages will become an obvious waste in the details of construction and operation as will be described below or will be claimed, as reference being the drawings that are part of it, where the numerals refer to similar parts to through the text. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the aforementioned characteristics of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, summarized below, its can be elaborated with reference to modalities, some of them are illustrated in the attached drawings . It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention and thus should not be considered as limiting their scope, for the invention other equally effective modalities may be admitted. Figure 1 is a simplified elevational view of the apparatus related to the system of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged partial side sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view of a partial section taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view of an elongated partial section taken substantially through the plane indicated by section line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 5-5 in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the system of the present invention in relation to its controls. Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a stirring arm useful with the apparatus of Figure 1 and 2. Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the stirring arm of Figure 7. Figure 9 is an exploded view of a stirring blade useful for the stirring arm of Figures 7 and 8. Figure 10 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a stirring arm useful with the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of Figures 1-5, showing the agitator arms within the apparatus.Detailed Description Gasification is converted into a material containing carbon in a synthesis gas composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be used, for example, as a fuel to generate electricity or steam, or used as a chemical building block. basic in refining petrochemical industries. Advantageously, gasification often adds a value to low or no-value feedstocks by converting them into fuels and commercial products. In the gasification system, the limited combustion of volatiles in the fuel occurs to supply heat for the gasification process. When the conversion of solid fuel to gases occurs, the gases can then, for example, be combusted in stages to ignite heaters, dryers, dryers or stoves; cooled and cleaned to ignite internal combustion engines; or also processed in liquid fuels. The gasification process significantly minimizes the production of harmful contaminants due to total burnout or oxidation, preferably not occurring in the gasifier due to the lack of sufficient oxygen in the gasifier. A flammable gas is then combusted in stages, at precise temperatures, to minimize or reduce the production of harmful contaminants. Because of this process, gasification is often preferable through the incineration of waste, where all oxidation or combustion takes place in a simple chamber and quickly. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,589,355 and 4,517,905 are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In accordance with the present invention, a particular feed is fed into a gasification chamber at a regulated feed rate and mixed with air when discharged from a temperature cooled end portion of a storage feed system at a feed location central inside the gasification chamber on top of a bed in which the particular supply falls. The air with support in the gasification is supplied to a gasification chamber in a place above the flame and under the flame, under the bed. The fluxes of the shafts below the air flame enter the gasification chamber through grid openings at insufficient velocities to fluidize the particulate material during on-going gassing in the absence of a mechanical tilt action. A radial rotary arm cooled with water is rotated just above the bed support to tilt and agitate the particulate solids through the fluidization zone of the gasification chamber at a rate sufficient to mechanically fluidize the solids during gasification. The rotating arm is preferably vertically adjustable at a height spaced above the fixed bed support to accommodate different types of particle feed, from heavy density rice husks, to seeds having light density. The tilting action of the rotating arm also includes radially outward movement of the particle feed under centrifugal forces towards the non-fluidized collection zone above the peripheral perfored portion of the bed support. A waste discharge duct is connected to the imperforate portion of the bed support at one or more locations within the collection zone, and a material replacement vane is connected to the external end radially of the rotation arm for rotation, to eliminate the ash residue from the collection area in the waste discharge pipeline. The operation of the apparatus includes a gas outlet flowing through the inlet feed location to an upper outlet duct, which provides a useful outlet as a heating medium for heaters or the like. By controlling the particle feed range and adjusting the vertical spacing of the rotating arm on top of the bed support, the output heating energy content can be varied to meet the different requirements. In addition, the carbon content of the ash residue can be varied to adjust the air flow rates below the flame between the limits and adjustments of the variable speed rotary arm, to meet different market requirements to eliminate waste from ash. The inflow of air under the flame is directed through the porous portion of the fixed bed support from at least two flow streams separated by a circular partition within an inflow compartment located under the support bed. The inlet flow velocities of two flow streams are selected at different levels through the air valves so that the inlet flow area aligned below the inlet flow location conducts an inlet flow stream to a Highest speed found in the inflow area. Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 illustrates a typical apparatus for practicing the system of the present invention, generally referred to by reference numeral 10. A solid waste product is stored in a storage hopper 12 having an end portion of lower discharge 14 from which the particle feedstock enters a threaded conveyor 16 attached to a hopper. The conveyor 16 is operated by an operating mechanism, preferably by a variable speed motor 18 to supply the feed to an upper inlet end of a gravity duct 20, generally of a rectangular cross section. The lower supply end of the duct 20 is connected to the flow meter compartment 22 through which the feed passes in a rotating type of measuring device 24. The flow meter 22 may be of commercially available impact line type. designed to measure the weight range of the power supply and generate an electrical signal reflecting these measurements. The signal output of the flow meter 22 can be used appropriately to control the operation of the variable speed motor 18 to maintain the constant weight flow feed range for the input feed mechanism 26. The rotary mechanism device is well known in the art and is used right here to prevent the return of gas. The input feeding mechanism 26 is operated by an operating mechanism, preferably a variable speed motor 27, and extends in the gasification chamber device 28. Gasification products include a gas outlet discharged through a duct of outlet 30 from the upper end of the device of the gasification chamber and the ash residue is expelled through the duct 32 from the lower end. The air that supports gasification is supplied through a flow duct above the flame at an upper end and a flow duct below the flame at the lower end. The flow below the flame is preferably divided between two flow paths by the air flow control valves 37 and 39 through which air enters the device 28, preferably at two different speeds. A feed tilt mechanism 38 is related to the device 28 and extends from its lower end for operation by an operating mechanism, preferably a variable speed motor 40. The mechanism 38 is preferably vertically adjustable through any adjustment device. operated by any suitable force 41 from which a piston adjusting roller extends. The system to which the apparatus 10 is related is diagrammed in Figure 6, showing the flow of particle feed from the storage 12 to the device of the gasification chamber 28 with which some form of the ignition device 42 is related. Also related to the device of the gassing chamber 28 is the aforementioned tilting operation motor 40 and blowers 44 and 46, respectively, to supply air through the ducts below and above flame 34 and 36.

The signal output of the flow meter 22 is preferably fed to a visual display 48 and as an input to a computer 50 to which the adjustment input data is also fed from 52. The computer produces outputs for the control of control devices. feed 18-26 to maintain a uniform weight flow range set for feeding in the gasification chamber. The flow velocities below the flame from the blower 46, the vertical spacing of the rotating arm, and its rotational speed can also be controlled by the computer through the control of valve 53, motor 40 and tilt height adjustment control 55 The computer, if used, is programmed to control the power range, air flow velocities below the flame, and the height and speed of inclination according to the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the feed mechanism 26 includes a screw type conveyor 54 operated by the external motor 27 of the compartment 56 of the gasification chamber device 28. The conveyor 54 is included by the air passages 58 and an outer water substructure 60 that extends into the compartment 56 with the conveyor 54 to cool the conveyor within the high temperature environment of the gasification chamber 62 included by the compartment 56 on top of a fixed horizontal bed support 64. A The insulated cover 61 is preferably formed in an outer water cooling substructure 60, which extends axially below the discharge 66 of the screw conveyor 54 to form a mixed space 68 at an inlet input location. centrally within the gasification chamber substantially aligned with the vertical end length of compartment 56. The The cooling air passages 58 open in the mixing space so that the air supplied therein out of the compartment by the circuit 70 will discharge into the space 68 to mix it with the particle feed being discharged from the end. conveyor supply 54. The annular water space of its structure 60 is closed and its front end for the circulation of water between the inlet and outlet ducts 72 and 74. In this way, the water cooling and air from the conveyor 54 enables it to operate continuously by discharging a mixture of air and particulate solids at a hot central location in a thermal flow of gaseous gasification products for gravitational lowering braked to the bed support 64. The space 68 is not only provided for the mixing of particles with air before falling into the bed, but also prevents subsequent unloading of the carrier by the screw 54 and cleans the discharge end by the output flow of the passages 58 when the feed of the conveyor 54 is interrupted. The bed support 64, as shown in Figure 2, includes a steel gas distributor plate 76 spaced above the bottom wall 78 of the compartment 56 and a refractory plate 80 fixed to the steel plate. A larger radial inner porous portion of the plate 76 has one or more openings, preferably one or more closely spaced openings 82, to form a burner grid above a compartment below the flame divided into two radial spaced flow areas 84a and 84b at which is directed through the air valves 37 and 39 as mentioned above. Accordingly, the air below the pressurized flame in blowers preferably directed upwards through the grid openings 82 at different speeds from the two flow streams separated by a circular partition 85. The particles forming the bed, as shown in FIG. shown with dotted line 87 in Figure 2 are mechanically fluidized during gasification by the tilting mechanism 38, which includes a radial rotary arm 86 extending through the fluidized zone from a rotor portion 88 supported by a sealed bearing assembly 90 for rotation about the vertical axis of the compartment. The rotary arm can be adjustable spaced above the plate 76. The rotor 88 has a splined gear 92, preferably outside the compartment, for motor connection 40. A conduit 84 extends concentrically through the rotor 88 and the rotary arm 86 to form an internal return flow passage 96 and an annular inlet flow passage 98, respectively, connected through fixed cranks 100 and 102 to the cooling outlet and inlet passages 104 and 106. The end 108 of the inner conduit 94 opens in a hollow vane formation 110 connected to the radial exit end of the rotating arm 86. The inner vane is preferably in communication with the annular passage 98 so as to circulate through the rotating arm and vane for the cooling. The vane 110 is vertically spaced above the radial outlet, imperforate portion 112 of the bed support 64 where the non-fluidized collection zone is established. It would be obvious that the rotation of the rotating arm through the broken portion 88 of the mechanism 38 not only fluidizes the material during gasification, but also includes outward movement under centrifugal forces towards the non-fluidized collection zone above the imperforate portion 112. of the bed support. In this way, an ash residue is collected in the portion 112 of the bed support and is dislocated by the vane 110, each upper end inlet 114 of the waste discharge duct 32, as can be more clearly seen in Figures. 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 4, a water cooling substructure 116 is mounted above the duct 52, which is connected at its upper inlet end to the perforated portion 112 of the bed support 64. The end inlet 114 is subsequently aligned with the pallet, which passes cyclically to effect the removal of ash residue collected in portion 112 of the bed support. As a result of the apparatus arrangement described above, the volatile ash content and the exhaust gas abrasivity is minimal, although the use of a feed has silica content. The volatile ash content of the exit gas is subsequently reduced by a lower flow velocity below the flame through the radial outside area 84b aligned below the radial outside portion of the bed 87, which is thinned by tilting action . The central portion of the bed 87, preferably of maximum height because of its alignment with the central feeding location, is aligned with the radial internal flow area 84a through which the air enters its highest velocity. Because of the previous zoning of the air under the flame, the volatile ash that reduces the affect that is made, which is particularly critical in accommodating the gasification of feeds such as cottonseed.

To accommodate heavier feeds such as rice husks, the tilting speed of the rotating arm and the height of the rotating arm above the platen 76 can be increased above the upper operational limits of 7.5 rpm and 13-1 / 2 inches, respectively, for efficient gasification. For lighter feeds, such as cottonseed, the height of the rotating arm is preferably lower than its limit, is 5-1 / 2 inches according to the current embodiments of the invention. Also, for lighter feeds, the dimensions increase in weight and height of the rotating arm paddle 110 were found to be beneficial by increasing the recovery of ash residue. The variations in the aforementioned parameters, including the height and speed of the rotating arm, the measurement of the vane and the flow zone velocities below the flame, also affect the carbon content of the ash residue in different ways, which They can be cut to find different combinations of product requirements and feeding characteristics. In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 7-9, the radial rotating arm 86 or the stirring arm may include one or more blades 150 or deflectors to allow ash residue inside the gasification chamber device 28 towards the outer perimeter of the support of bed 64 (and towards the upper entrance end 114 of the waste discharge duct 32). The blades 150 help prevent the slagging of the fuel in the bed support 64 to recover the fuel towards the outer perimeter of the bed support 64, and in this way increasing the efficiency of the process and preventing the stopping of the process due to the construction of fluid in the bed support 64. One or more blades 150 are able to fit the stirring arm 86, which is preferably constructed of a round metal pump. The stirring arm 86 and the blades 150 are preferably, but not necessary, made of a high temperature stainless steel such as the stainless steel plate 304. In one embodiment, the blades 150 are integral with the stirring arm 86 and created with a mold. In another embodiment, the blades 150 are separated from the agitating arm 86 and are operatively connected thereto, for example, by placing one or more connecting members such as bolts or screws through the blades 150 and the stirring arm 86 or by welding the connecting portions of the blades 150 to the stirring arm 86. More preferably, a plurality of spaced and angled blades 150 are included around the stirring arm and operatively connected thereto. Blades 150 are preferably spaced approximately two inches, but more preferably are spaced approximately 1-15 / 16 inches. Also preferably, 19 blades are spaced through the shaker arm 86 for about 2 feet, 10-1 / 8 inches lengthwise. The spacing and section of the blades 150 through the agitator arm described are examples and is not intended to limit the present invention; further, it is contemplated for purposes of embodiments of the present invention, that any spacing between the blades 150 and a number of blades 150 in the stirring arm 86 may be utilized. One or more blades 150 act as deflectors of the ash residue when the stirring arm 86 rotates in the gasification chamber device 28. Referring especially to Figure 7, to obtain maximum deflection of the ash residue, the blades 150 are preferably placed in an angle A relative to the perpendicular line P through the central axis C of the stirring arm 86. The angle A is, more preferably, about 35 degrees, although all the angles in relation to the perpendicular line P are contemplated for various modalities of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 9, each blade has the width W, length L and thickness T. The width W is preferably about 3-3 / 8 inches, while the thickness is preferably about 3/8 inches. In one embodiment, each blade 150 includes a cutout portion 155, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the cutout portion 155 of each blade 150 is operatively connected to an external diameter of the agitating arm 86. cut portion 155 is preferably formed so as to allow the arrangement of the blades 150 at an angle A relative to the perpendicular line P when the blade 150 is operatively connected to the stirring arm 86. As schematically shown in Figure 8, when the knives 150 are in position on the stirring arm 86, a lower portion of the knives 150 are placed on top of the refractory plate 80 (for reference, see Figure 2). More preferably, the clearance distance between the lowermost portion of the blades 150 and the upper portion of the refractory plate 80 is about ½ inch. The preferred minimum distance between the lower portion of the blades 150 and the upper portion of the refractory plate 80 is about ¼ inch. Optionally, one or more temperature sensing devices may be located in a stirring arm 86 or in the bed support 116 to detect the temperature in or near the stirring arm 86 within the stirring chamber device 28. The temperature sensing devices are preferably thermocouples, but may include one or more temperature sensing devices, known to those skilled in the art in place of, or in addition to, the thermocouples. The thermocouples are preferably placed between the blades 150 to detect the temperature of the fuel placed under the stirring arm 86. The temperature reading may be sent to the computer 50 from the thermocouples. When the temperature sensing devices are included, the computer 50 is preferably programmed to automatically alter and optimize the parameters in and around the gasification chamber device 28 in accordance with the temperature reading in the thermocouples, for example by adjusting the power range , the inclination height, the inflow speed control, the temperature of the blower below the flame 46 and / or the blower above the flame 44, etc. The melting temperature (here "Tf") of the fuel placed below the agitating arm 86 can be calculated by the computer 50 and the fuel can be maintained by the computer 50 by optimizing the parameters of the gasification chamber device 28 at a temperature below Tf of this fuel. Maintaining the temperature of the fuel under the agitating arm 86 below Tf aids in the prevention of fuel slagging, consequently helping to increase the efficiency of the gasification process. Optionally, the stirring arm 86 is rotatable about the central axis C as well as movable about the inner diameter of the gasification chamber device 28. The rotation of the stirring arm 86 around the central axis C subsequently fluidizes the fuel within the gasification chamber device 28 to urge the fuel to the outer perimeter of the gassing chamber device 28. Figure 10 illustrates an alternate mode of the stirring arm 86. In this embodiment, the stirring arm 86 includes one or more perforations 160 therein. Although the perforations 160 are shown to be round in FIG. 10, it is contemplated that the perforations 160 may be in any way capable of supplying a quantity of fluid through the agitator arm 86. These perforations 160, preferably a plurality of perforations spaced apart from each other, may be used in a manner of Through the agitator arm pump 86, they are used to supply a fluid through the stirring arm 86 to cool the stirring arm 86. The fluid supplied through the stirring arm 86 is preferably steam, more preferably supplied through the stirring arm 86 at a temperature of about 175-200 ° C. The steam enters the bore after traveling through the steam supply passage through the agitator arm 86. Preferably, the source of the steam is located outside the gasification chamber device 28, but it is contemplated that the source may be in any location. The steam that is supplied through the agitator arm 160 prevents the agitator arm 86 from operating inefficiently or inadequately due to overheating. Without the steam supply, the agitating arm 86 may bow up or down relative to the gasification chamber device 28 when it overheats. The steam supplied through the agitator arm 160 also promotes the cooling of the bed temperatures to prevent slagging and subsequently promotes the more efficient conversion of carbon in the fuel to carbon monoxide. The thermocouples mentioned above can be used to detect the temperature of the stirring arm 86, and the computer 50 can be configured to selectively deliver the vapor signal through the perforations 160 to maintain the desired or optimum temperature of the stirring arm 86. More preferably, the stirring arm 86 is maintained at a temperature below about 300 ° F. For optimal performance of the stirring arm 86 (to prevent tipping, deformation of the stirring arm 86 within the gassing chamber device 28). In any of the above embodiments, the vapor may optionally be injected into the air zones below the flame in the drying chamber. The amount of steam injected into each zone can be regulated by zone to advantageously increase the conversion of carbon in the fuel to carbon monoxide and promote cooling of the fuel bed. In any of the above-described embodiments, the additional agitating arms 86 can be added to the gasification chamber device 28. By adding the agitating arms 86 without sacrificing the residence time of the fuel without causing fuel / ash entrainment in the gas stream . Particularly, but not exclusively, the olive waste fuel can benefit by increasing the amount of agitator arms 86 placed around the circumference of the gasification chamber device 28.

Typically, the agitator arms 86 are used with the gasification chamber device 28, an agitator arm positioned approximately 180 degrees from the other agitator arm. In another embodiment, a dual agitator includes four agitator arms 86A, 86B, 86C and 86D located approximately 90 degrees from each other within the gasification chamber device 28, as shown in Figure 11. The dual agitator is preferably used in a gassing chamber device 28 having a diameter of approximately 24 feet. When the dual agitator is used, at least four spaced ash ports 114 are preferably placed within the bed support 64 to allow the correct placement of the ash residue within the gasification chamber device 28 through the ports 114; however, it is contemplated that any number of ports 114 may be included through the bed support 64. The dual agitator may optionally include one or more blades 150 in one or more agitating arms 86A-D. In addition, the dual agitator may optionally include the steam supply system shown and described in connection with Figure 10 and / or may optionally include thermocouples or other heat sensing devices as described above. It is within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention that in place of the dual agitator, any number of agitator arms can be located at any angle relative to other agitator arms and spaced at any distance. Although it is preferable that the number of ports 114 be equal to any number of agitating arms 86 used, it is also within the scope of the embodiments, that any number of ports 114 can be included through the bed support 64. In any of the As described above, air below the flame flowing through one or more of the radially spaced inlet flow zones can be preheated by adding steam to the air below the flame. Overheating the air below the flow can increase the efficiency of the gasification process. In addition to preheating the air under the flame, steam injected into one or more drying chamber zones can increase the efficiency of the gasification process. In addition, in any of the above described embodiments, one or more thermocouples or other heat sensing devices may be located within one or more of the chambers 84A, 84B below the bed support 64 to determine the temperature below the agitating arm 86. As described above in relation to the optional thermocouples between the blades 150, the thermocouples located within the chambers 84a, 84b can detect the temperature in locations and send the signal indicating the temperature at the locations of the computer 50. The computer 50 it can then send the signal to various operations of the apparatus to modify one or more operating parameters to optimize the performance of the gasification process. The thermocouples can be used to monitor the temperature of the fuel in the bed support 64 to prevent slagging due to overheating and consequential hardening of the fuel in the bed support 64. Advantageously, the above embodiments provide an efficient and optimum gasification process by reducing or eliminating the slagging of the fuel in the bed inside the gasification chamber. Furthermore, the modalities described above advantageously provide an efficient and optimum gasification process by controlling the temperature of the bed inside the gasification chamber and controlling the temperature of the bed inside the gasification chamber and controlling the temperature of the stirring arms. . The following are examples of biomass fuels, which can be used with the gasifier: rice husks, chicken excrement, green bark, sawdust and shavings, peat, wheat straw, cob and stubble, municipal solid waste processed (RDF, for its acronym in English) (lint, scale, and sediment), petroleum coke, cotton gin waste, cottonseed husks, low grade carbon, green or dry wood waste, agricultural waste, paper mill waste, wastewater treatment sediment or a combination of any of the foregoing. The gasifier may use biomass fuels to produce, for example, one or more of the following: heat for direct firing of dryers, steam for generating electricity for use for sale, steam for use in industrial processes, gas for engine / generator set l / C, utility gas ignition gas, heat for direct ignition of thermal oxidizers, and / or low disposal costs. In the above description, biomass may experience combustion or incineration rather than gasification, although biomass gasification is the preferred method of recycling waste products. While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the base scope, and the scope is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims (21)

1. A gasification system for gasifying one or more materials, comprises: a gasification chamber capable of gasifying the one or more materials to produce one or more products; at least one movable agitator arm located within the gasification chamber for fluidizing one or more materials during gasification, the movable agitator arm through the gasification chamber; and one or more blades operatively connected to an outer perimeter of at least one stirring arm.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein one or more blades are placed at a calculated angle to sufficiently fluidize one or more materials during gasification, the angle being relative to a perpendicular line through the central axis with at least one agitator arm.

3. The gasification system according to claim 2, wherein the angle is about 35 degrees.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of each blade is positioned outwardly of the agitator arm support of the lower portion of each blade.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein at least one stirring arm is further rotatable about its central axis to cause one or more blades to fluidize the one or more materials within the gasification chamber.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein one or more blades are constructed of at least one metal.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein at least one stirring arm is generally cylindrical.

The gasification system according to claim 1, wherein at least one stirring arm comprises a plurality of holes thereof capable of supplying steam therein.

9. The gasification system according to claim 1, comprising at least three agitator arms.

10. The gasification system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensing device proximate at least one stirring arm for detecting the temperature of one or more materials at a location.

The gasification system according to claim 10, wherein at least one temperature sensing device is at least one thermocouple.

12. The gasification system 10, wherein at least one temperature sensing device is operatively connected to a computer to monitor and optimize the parameters within the gasification chamber.

13. A gasification system for gasifying one or more materials, comprising: a gasification chamber having a bed with fuel support; at least four agitator arms placed on top of the fuel support bed to rotatably distribute one or more materials on the fuel support bed; and at least four ash ports spaced in the fuel support bed to remove one or more materials therefrom.

The gasification system according to claim 13, further comprising one or more orifices through at least one of the four agitators to supply flow to cool at least one agitator arm.

15. The gasification system according to claim 13, further comprising one or more blades operably connected to an outer perimeter of at least one of the four agitator arms.

The gasification system according to claim 15, wherein one or more blades are angled relative to the perpendicular line through the central axis of at least one agitator arm.

17. A method of gasifying one or more materials, comprising: providing a gasification chamber having at least one agitator arm positioned therein, at least one of the agitator arm having one or more blades operatively connected at an angle with relation to a central axis of at least one agitator arm; and rotating at least one stirring arm through the chamber, wherein one or more blades for deflecting and distributing one or more materials to the outer parameter of the gasification chamber.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising supplying steam or water through at least one agitator arm to cool at least one agitator arm.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing an air under the preheated fire to support gasification within the chamber.

The method according to claim 17, further comprising altering the angle of one or more blades to optimize the distribution of one or more materials within the gasification chamber.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising selectively injecting steam into one or more chamber zones to optimize carbon conversion and fuel bed cooling.