Down-draft fixed bed gasifier system

Claim 1

A gasifier apparatus for obtaining combustible gaseous products from solid fuel materials comprising: a plurality of vertically aligned, modular, interconnected chamber means for housing a gasification reaction including a hopper chamber disposed at a top portion of said gasifier, a drying chamber disposed below and in communication with said hopper chamber, an intermediate chamber disposed below and in communication with said drying chamber, and a lower chamber disposed below and in communication with said pyrolysis chamber; radial air inlet means extending through an outer skin of said gasifier for directing air into said intermediate and lower chamber means to maintain the gasification reaction; an annular flange means, integral with an inner refractory wall of said intermediate chamber and extending downwardly into a portion of said lower chamber, for defining a gas discharge pathway within said lower chamber, said gas discharge pathway defined by the outer wall of said flange and the inner wall of said lower chamber; and first and second gas discharge conduits disposed at a top portion of said gas discharge pathway, said conduits disposed on opposite sides of said gasifier and offset by an angle of about 45° to 90° degrees from said radial air inlets.