Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A pyrolysis reactor for converting solid carbonaceous fuel to a substantially slag-free and tar-free fuel gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane at temperatures in excess of about 700° C. comprising: (a) a down draft reaction chamber with walls, with two segregated down draft air inlet entrances, one of said air inlet entrances at the top of said reaction chamber and the other of said air inlet entrances in the lower portion of said reaction chamber, and with a gas outlet at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (b) an air inlet port in communication with each of said air inlet entrances of said reaction chamber; (c) solid fuel feed means for feeding solid fuel to said reaction chamber; (d) an infrared radiation shield surrounding the walls of said reaction chamber; (e) screen grate means at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (f) an infrared radiation trap below said screen grate means; (g) an outer jacket spaced apart from and surrounding said reaction chamber, said outer jacket having an infrared radiation shield on the inner portion thereof: and (h) a gas exit port in communication with said gas outlet of said reaction chamber, said gas exit port having associated heat exchange means for transferring heat from gas passing through said gas exit port to air passing through said air inlet port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A pyrolysis reactor for converting solid carbonaceous fuel to a substantially slag-free and tar-free fuel gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane at temperatures in excess of about 700° C. comprising: (a) a down draft reaction chamber with walls, with two segregated down draft air inlet entrances, one of said air inlet entrances at the top of said reaction chamber and the other of said air inlet entrances in the lower portion of said reaction chamber, and with a gas outlet at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (b) an air inlet port in communication with each of said air inlet entrances of said reaction chamber; (c) solid fuel feed means for feeding solid fuel to said reaction chamber; (d) an infrared radiation shield surrounding the walls of said reaction chamber; (e) screen grate means at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (f) an infrared radiation trap below said screen grate means; (g) an outer jacket spaced apart from and surrounding said reaction chamber, said outer jacket having an infrared radiation shield on the inner portion thereof: and (h) a gas exit port in communication with said gas outlet of said reaction chamber, said gas exit port having associated heat exchange means for transferring heat from gas passing through said gas exit port to air passing through said air inlet port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reactor of claim 1 wherein said infrared radiation shields and said infrared radiation trap are made of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of refractory metals, ceramic fibers, alumina, magnesia, titania, and zirconia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The reactor of claim 1 wherein said reaction chamber is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reactor of claim 1 including partitions between said reaction chamber and said outer jacket for segregating said two segregated down draft air inlet entrances.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reactor of claim 1 including air distribution means for distributing air from said air inlet port into each of said two segregated down draft air inlet entrances.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reactor of claim 5 wherein said air distribution means comprises a valve between said air inlet port and said segregated down draft air inlet entrances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The reactor of claim 1, including a cleanable ash receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reactor of claim 7 wherein said cleanable ash receptacle is in the bottom of said outer jacket and includes a clean out port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reactor of claim 1 wherein said solid fuel feed means comprises a hopper mounted on top of said outer jacket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The reactor of claim 1, including an off gas inlet port in communication with said two segregated down draft air inlet entrances, for feeding to said reaction chamber off gas from a carbonaceous materials oxidizer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reactor of claim 1, including means for removing partially oxidized solid fuel from said reaction chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
218 words
A pyrolysis reactor for converting the off gas of a carbonaceous materials oxidizer to fuel gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane at temperatures from about 800° C. to about 1400° C. comprising: (a) a down draft reaction chamber with walls, with a fixed catalytic bed inside said reaction chamber, with a down draft air inlet entrance at the top of said reaction chamber, and with a gas outlet at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (b) an air inlet port in communication with said air inlet entrance of said reaction chamber; (c) a carbonaceous materials oxidizer off gas inlet port in communication with said air inlet entrance of said reaction chamber; (d) an infrared radiation shield surrounding the walls of said reaction chamber to a point slightly above the surface of said fixed catalytic bed; (e) an infrared radiation trap outside said gas outlet of said reaction chamber; (f) an outer jacket spaced apart from and surrounding said reaction chamber, said outer jacket having an infrared radiation shield on the inner portions thereof; and (g) a gas exit port in communication with said gas outlet of said reaction chamber, said gas exit port having associated heat exchange means for transferring heat from gas passing through said gas exit port to air passing through said air inlet port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
218 words
A pyrolysis reactor for converting the off gas of a carbonaceous materials oxidizer to fuel gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane at temperatures from about 800° C. to about 1400° C. comprising: (a) a down draft reaction chamber with walls, with a fixed catalytic bed inside said reaction chamber, with a down draft air inlet entrance at the top of said reaction chamber, and with a gas outlet at the bottom of said reaction chamber; (b) an air inlet port in communication with said air inlet entrance of said reaction chamber; (c) a carbonaceous materials oxidizer off gas inlet port in communication with said air inlet entrance of said reaction chamber; (d) an infrared radiation shield surrounding the walls of said reaction chamber to a point slightly above the surface of said fixed catalytic bed; (e) an infrared radiation trap outside said gas outlet of said reaction chamber; (f) an outer jacket spaced apart from and surrounding said reaction chamber, said outer jacket having an infrared radiation shield on the inner portions thereof; and (g) a gas exit port in communication with said gas outlet of said reaction chamber, said gas exit port having associated heat exchange means for transferring heat from gas passing through said gas exit port to air passing through said air inlet port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reactor of claim 12 wherein said infrared radiation shields and said infrared radiation trap are made of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of refractory metals, ceramic fibers, alumina, magnesia, titania, and zirconia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The reactor of claim 12 wherein said reaction chamber is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reactor of claim 12 wherein said fixed catalytic bed is selected from the group consisting essentially of the oxides of chromium and aluminum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reactor of claim 12 including a valve between said air inlet port and said air inlet entrance of said reaction chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reactor of claim 12 including a barrier between said fixed catalytic bed and said gas outlet at the bottom of said reaction chamber.