Rotating and movable bed gasifier

Abstract

The present invention includes a gasifier for gasifying fuels having a container with a top, sidewalls and a bottom for facilitating the gasifying process. One or more open vertical shafts extend downward inside the container for allowing a downdraft or updraft of air and fuel for the gasifying process. A rotating bed is preferably included inside the container and below the one or more shafts for receiving the fuel. The bed rotates essentially perpendicular to the shaft to facilitate even heating and gasifying of the fuel. The bed is further movable relative to the vertical shaft in order to increase or decrease the volume of fuel flow to the fuel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 434,396 filed May 1, 2009, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 338,946 filed Jan. 25, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for providing a more effective and efficient gasifier apparatus. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a rotating and movable bed gasifier apparatus.[0003]Currently, there are many types of gasifier systems. Typically the gasification process is the primary energy generation means. Gasification generally takes materials, such as wood, coal, charcoal, agricultural residues, energy crops, municipal solid waste or other biomass materials, and gasifies them to make a “gas” used for power or electricity generation or other uses, such as heat production. A typical gasificatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution enhances fuel distribution and heating uniformity, increases the size limitations of gasifiers, and maintains efficient fuel flow, leading to improved gasification efficiency and reduced waste production.

Problems solved by technology

Steam boiler / combustor units are also well-known, though their use for primary energy generation has been questionable for some time, mainly because of the harmful resultant emissions.

One problem with fixed bed gasifiers is that there are inherent “hot spots” in the fuel, causing uneven gasifying.

This limits the size of the gasifier which can be constructed.

By creating too large a gasifier, these fingers or the shaft holding them bend and break during the agitation.

A problem with these vertically reciprocating beds and fixed bed gasifiers is that the larger the gasifier, the more chance for uneven heating inside the bed gasifier and thus poor gasifying of the fuel.

A further problem with immovable gasifiers is that as ash is built up during the gasification process, fuel flow is reduced.

This reduction in fuel flow can result in decreased efficiency of the gasification process.

A further problem with immovable gasifiers is that different fuels require various amounts of fuel flow in order to maintain a proper and consistent burn temperature.

Without a proper volume of fuel flow to the fuel, the efficiency of the system is reduced.

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