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US5607487A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bottom feed - updraft gasification system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-04-19
•
Granted: 1997-03-04
•
Expires: 2015-04-19
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Abstract

Abstract A gasification system for solid wastes having a thermal reactor and a mechanical gas cleaner, an indirect heat exchange cooler, and an electrostatic precipitator for cleaning and cooling the produced gas. Feed material is continuously fed to he central section of the thermal reactor above an air introduction manifold and nozzles and in an upward direction, forming a stratified charge. As feed material moves upward and outward from the reactor center it is reduced to ash. An agitator assures contact between the hot particulate product and hot gases resulting in gasification of the feed material and net movement to the sidewall of the thermal reactor, forming ash. The air introduction nozzles serve as a grate. Ash descends along the sidewall to the reactor base for removal. The mechanical cleaner has a high speed rotating brush-like gas separator element and scraper combination which removes condensed tars and particulates from the produced gas stream. The device is self cleaning in that condensed tars and particulates agglomerate on the high speed rotating bristle elements and, upon reaching adequate size and mass, are thrown off by centrifugal force to the cylindrical sidewall, where scrapers remove accumulated material which falls to the separator base for removal. An electrostatic precipitator having a cylindrical brush-like electrode suspended from one end by an insulated arm, removes remaining particles or aerosols from the product gas.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leland T. Taylor

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 12:13
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10J; C10J3/00; C10J3/02; C10J3/06; C10J3/14; B; B01; B01D; B01D45/00; B01D45/12; B01D45/14; B03; B03C; B03C3/00; B03C3/34; B03C3/36; B03C3/40; B03C3/41; B03C3/86; B03C3/88; C10J3/20; B03C2201/00; B03C2201/10; C10J2200/00; C10J2200/15; C10J2200/158; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10; Y02P20/129

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim 411 words
A gasification system comprising: a. a generally cylindrical thermal reactor having a vertical central axis and a vertical sidewall and having an upper section, a central section, and a lower section, said upper section having closure means at an upper end thereof; b. means for feeding solid carbonaceous material to said thermal reactor; c. means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas such as air located so as to divide said central section from said lower section, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas comprising an annular gas preheat manifold integral with and extending along the lower portion of said vertical sidewall of said central section of said thermal reactor and having an inlet nozzle communicating with said preheat manifold, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas further comprising a plurality of radially extending oxidizing gas feed nozzles converging toward said central axis, spaced along and in fluid communication with said gas preheat manifold and having means thereon defining a plurality of oxidizing gas outlets; d. said solid material feeding means comprising a solid material feed conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a rotating auger located therein, said inlet being connected to a source of solid material exterior to said thermal reactor, said outlet being spaced above said oxidizing gas feed nozzles and so disposed and orientated as to direct introduction of solid material into said thermal reactor within said central section substantially along said central axis in an upward direction; e. means for discharging spent solids located in said lower section; f. said solid material feed conduit being in heat transfer contact with spent solids as they descend toward said spent solids discharge means, g. means for comminuting fused material located in said lower section, h. means defining a particle laden gaseous effluent exit port located in said closure means; i. means for cleaning and cooling said particle laden gaseous effluent operatively connected with said gaseous effluent exit port of said thermal reactor; and j. means for separating particulate material from said particle laden gaseous effluent, whereby, said solid material is introduced into said thermal reactor by said feeding means and is thermolytically decomposed forming a particle laden gaseous effluent and a solid residue, and whereby said particle laden gaseous effluent is directed to said cleaning means wherein said particles are separated from said gaseous effluent, and whereby said gaseous effluent is directed to said cooling means wherein said gaseous effluent is separated into condensate and product gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 411 words
A gasification system comprising: a. a generally cylindrical thermal reactor having a vertical central axis and a vertical sidewall and having an upper section, a central section, and a lower section, said upper section having closure means at an upper end thereof; b. means for feeding solid carbonaceous material to said thermal reactor; c. means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas such as air located so as to divide said central section from said lower section, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas comprising an annular gas preheat manifold integral with and extending along the lower portion of said vertical sidewall of said central section of said thermal reactor and having an inlet nozzle communicating with said preheat manifold, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas further comprising a plurality of radially extending oxidizing gas feed nozzles converging toward said central axis, spaced along and in fluid communication with said gas preheat manifold and having means thereon defining a plurality of oxidizing gas outlets; d. said solid material feeding means comprising a solid material feed conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a rotating auger located therein, said inlet being connected to a source of solid material exterior to said thermal reactor, said outlet being spaced above said oxidizing gas feed nozzles and so disposed and orientated as to direct introduction of solid material into said thermal reactor within said central section substantially along said central axis in an upward direction; e. means for discharging spent solids located in said lower section; f. said solid material feed conduit being in heat transfer contact with spent solids as they descend toward said spent solids discharge means, g. means for comminuting fused material located in said lower section, h. means defining a particle laden gaseous effluent exit port located in said closure means; i. means for cleaning and cooling said particle laden gaseous effluent operatively connected with said gaseous effluent exit port of said thermal reactor; and j. means for separating particulate material from said particle laden gaseous effluent, whereby, said solid material is introduced into said thermal reactor by said feeding means and is thermolytically decomposed forming a particle laden gaseous effluent and a solid residue, and whereby said particle laden gaseous effluent is directed to said cleaning means wherein said particles are separated from said gaseous effluent, and whereby said gaseous effluent is directed to said cooling means wherein said gaseous effluent is separated into condensate and product gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 95 words
The gasification system of claim 1 wherein said cooling means and separation means comprise: a. a mechanical cleaner operatively connected with said thermal reactor, b. a cooling module operatively connected with said mechanical cleaner, and c. an electrostatic precipitator operatively connected to said cooling module; whereby said particle laden gaseous effluent is directed through said mechanical cleaner, and whereby said particles are separated from said gaseous effluent, said gaseous effluent being directed through said cooling module and into said electrostatic precipitator, and whereby said gaseous effluent is separated into said condensate and said product gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The gasification system of claim 1 wherein said lower section is an inverted conically shaped wall and said spent solids discharge means further comprises an ash discharge auger located at the base of said lower section, said comminuting means being an ash clinker breaker located above said ash discharge auger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The gasification system of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing gas outlets are facing downward.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
The gasification system of claim 1 wherein said thermal reactor further comprises agitation means located in said central section, above and spaced from said circular oxidizing gas feed manifold for agitating and distributing said solid feed material as it enters said central section from said feed conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The gasification system of claim 5 wherein said agitation means comprises a rotating agitator shaft located along said axis and a plurality of perpendicular agitation blades extending radially across said central section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The gasification system of claim 6 further comprising scraper means located in said upper section so positioned as to sweep the inner surface of said upper section of said wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
The gasification system of claim 7 wherein said scraper means comprise a plurality of scraper blades and radially extending arms, said scraper means being mounted on and driven by said rotating shaft by means of said arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 100 words
The gasification system of claim 1 further comprising temperature sensing means located in said central section of said thermal reactor for sensing the operating temperature in said reactor and feed control means responsive to said temperature sensing means for controlling said solid material feeding means, said feed control means being so adapted as to increase solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said temperature sensing means sensing a decrease in temperature in said thermal reactor and to decrease solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said temperature sensing means sensing an increase in temperature in said thermal reactor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 110 words
The gasification system of claim 1 further comprising level sensing means located within and near the top of said central section of said thermal reactor for sensing the level of solids charge therein and feed control means responsive to said level sensing means for controlling said solid material feeding means, said feed control means being so adapted as to increase solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said level sensing means sensing a decrease in the solids charge level in said thermal reactor and to decrease solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said level sensing means sensing an increase in solids charge level in said thermal reactor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 94 words
The gasification system of claim 2 further comprising pressure sensing means for sensing product gas pressure and located in a product gas conduit connected to said electrostatic precipitator and air feed control means for controlling said oxidizing gas feeding means, said air feed control means being so adapted as to increase oxidizing gas feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said pressure sensing means sensing a decrease in product gas pressure and to decrease oxidizing gas feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said pressure sensing means sensing an increase in product gas pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The gasification system of claim 1 further comprising a cooling jacket integral with said vertical wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 38 words
The gasification system of claim 2 further comprising a reactor conduit connecting said upper section of said thermal reactor with said mechanical cleaner for conducting said particle laden gaseous effluent from said thermal reactor to said mechanical cleaner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 34 words
The gasification system of claim 13 further comprising internal rotating brushes axially located in said reactor conduit for maintaining flow of said particle laden gaseous material from said thermal reactor to said mechanical cleaner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 45 words
The gasification system of claim 2 wherein said mechanical cleaner further comprises upper and lower sections, a generally cylindrical sidewall having a vertical central axis and forming said upper section, and a high speed rotating brush-like element located along said axis in said upper section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
The gasifier system of claim 15 wherein said high speed rotating brush element is cylindrical in shape having a high speed rotary shaft disposed along said axis and bristles extending radially from and attached to said high speed rotary shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 52 words
The gasification system of claim 16 wherein said bristles on said high speed rotating brush element are so disposed as to form a helix having an axis along said high speed rotating shaft and operable to assist in moving said particle laden gaseous effluent from said lower section to said upper section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 43 words
The gasification system of claim 17 wherein said high speed rotating brush element further comprises a harmonic balancer located at a lower end of said high speed rotating shaft and drive means located at an upper end of said high speed rotary shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
The gasification system of claim 15 wherein said mechanical cleaner further comprises scraping means located in said upper section of said mechanical cleaner so disposed as to sweep the inner surface of said cylindric wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 61 words
The gasification system of claim 19 wherein said scraping means further comprises scraper blades to sweep said cylindrical wall, support members to support said scraper blades, and a low speed rotating shaft connected to low speed drive means for rotating said scraping means resulting in said cylindrical wall sweeping, said support members being radially attached to said low speed rotary shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 47 words
The gasification system of claim 20 wherein said scraping means further comprise brushes disposed on and extending along partial lengths of said scraper blades, said brushes being so arranged as to collectively sweep the entire surface of said cylindrical wall along the length of said scraper blades.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 44 words
The gasification system of claim 20 wherein said lower section of said mechanical cleaner comprises an inverted truncated conical sidewall portion located below and connected with said upper suction and a cylindrical sidewall portion located below and in communication with said conical sidewall section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 54 words
The gasification system of claim 22 wherein said scraping means further comprise lower scraper blades and lower support members mounted on said low speed rotating shaft, said lower scraper blades being so positioned as to sweep the inner surface of said inverted truncated conical sidewall portion of said lower section of said mechanical cleaner.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 55 words
The gasification system of claim 23 further comprising a tangential inlet for particle laden gaseous effluent located in said cylindrical sidewall portion of said lower section of said mechanical cleaner for inducing swirl in the gaseous effluent as it travels upward within said mechanical cleaner, said inlet being in operative communication with said thermal reactor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 44 words
The gasification system of claim 15 further comprising a mechanical cleaner conduit in fluid communication with said upper section of said mechanical cleaner for removing cleaned gaseous effluent from said mechanical cleaner, said mechanical cleaner conduit being in fluid communication with said cooling module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 45 words
The gasification system of claim 20 further comprising a cooling jacket integral with said cylindrical wall of said upper section of said mechanical cleaner and a cooling cage located in said upper section coaxially between said high speed rotating brush-like element and said scraper blades.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 77 words
The gasification system of claim 2 wherein said electrostatic precipitator comprises a generally cylindrical sidewall having a vertical central axis, an electrode disposed as a generally cylindrical metallic brush-like element having a central shaft and bristles extending radially and substantially perpendicular to said central shaft, said central shaft being suspended along said vertical central axis, and a power supply so disposed as to provide negative charge to said electrode and a positive charge to said cylindrical wall.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 26 words
The gasification system, of claim 27 wherein said bristles extend substantially across the internal diameter of said electrostatic precipitator and substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 71 words
The gasification system of claim 28 wherein said electrostatic precipitator further comprises an inverted truncated conical base below said cylindrical sidewall, a tangential inlet connected to and in fluid communication with a cooling module conduit connected with said cooling module for introduction of cooled gaseous effluent from said cooling module to said electrostatic precipitator said tangential inlet inducing swirl in the gaseous effluent as it travels upward within said electrostatic precipitator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 71 words
The gasification system of claim 27 wherein said electrostatic precipitator further comprises suspension means for suspending said electrode, said suspension means comprising a thermostatically controlled heated oil bath having a base and a sidewall, and insulator element attached to said base, means for attaching a suspension arm to said insulator element and said electrode, and means for attaching a lead from said power supply through said insulator to said suspension arm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 37 words
The gasification system of claim 2 further comprising solids recycle means operatively connected with the base of said mechanical cleaner and said feed means for returning separated particulates from said mechanical cleaner to the gasification thermal reactor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 42 words
The gasification system, of claim 31 wherein said solids recycle means comprises a solids conduit connected with said mechanical cleaner and said feeding means, and an auger axially located in said solids conduit for moving said separated particulates into said feeding means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 51 words
The gasification system of claim 2 further comprising tar recycle means operatively connected with the base of said cooling module, said base of said electrostatic precipitator, and said feeding means for returning separated tar, oil, and suspended particulates from said cooling module and said electrostatic precipitator to said gasification thermal reactor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 90 words
The gasification system of claim 33 wherein said tar recycle means comprises a tar/water separator, an electrostatic precipitator drain conduit connecting said base of said electrostatic precipitator and said tar/water separator, a cooling module drain conduit connecting said cooling module and said tar/water separator, a water drain conduit connected to a lower section of said tar/water separator, and a tar recycle conduit connected between an upper section of said tar/water separator and said feeding means for recycling tar, oil, suspended particulates from said tar/water separator to the gasification thermal reactor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 46 words
The gasification system of claim 9 further comprising quench means responsive to said means for sensing temperature and so adapted as to introduce quench water into said oxidizing gas feed means upon said temperature sensing means sensing a certain predetermined high temperature in said thermal reactor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 85 words
The gasification system of claim 9 further comprising a water spray head located within said gas preheat manifold, temperature sensing means located within said gas preheat manifold, and means responsive to said temperature sensing means for controlling the introduction of water to said preheat manifold through said water spray head, said water introduction control means being so adapted as to initiate the introduction of water into said gas preheat manifold upon said preheat manifold reaching a predetermined temperature as determined by said temperature sensing means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 29 words
The gasification system of claim 36 wherein said water spray head is in the form of a ring located within said annular gas preheat manifold and substantially concentric therewith.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 29 words
The gasification system of claim 37 wherein the vertical height of said annular gas preheat manifold is about 50 per cent of the overall diameter of said thermal reactor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 37 words
The gasification system of claim 38 wherein said spray head is located in the upper portion of said annular gas preheat manifold and includes downward-directed nozzles for spraying water downward into the lower portion of said manifold.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 330 words
A gasifying thermal reactor comprising: a. a generally cylindrical sidewall having a vertical central axis and further having an upper section, a central section, and a lower section, said upper section having closure means at an upper end thereof; b. means for feeding solid carbonaceous material to said thermal reactor; c. means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas, such as air, located so as to divide said central section, from said lower section, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas comprising and annular gas preheat manifold integral with and extending along and substantially concentric with a lower portion of the wall of said central section of said thermal reactor and having an inlet nozzle communicating with said preheat manifold, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas further comprising a plurality of radially extending oxidizing gas feed nozzles converging toward said central axis, spaced along and in fluid communication with said gas preheat manifold and having means thereon defining a plurality of oxidizing gas outlets, d. said solid material feeding means comprising a solid material feed conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a rotating auger located therein, said inlet being connected to a source of solid material exterior to said thermal reactor, said outlet being spaced above said oxidizing gas feed nozzles and so disposed and orientated as to direct introduction of solid material into said thermal reactor within said central section substantially along said central axis in an upward direction; e. means for discharging spent solids located in said lower section; f. said solid material feed conduit being in heat transfer contact with spent solids as they descend toward said spent solids discharge means; g. means for comminuting fused material located in said lower section; and h. means defining a gaseous effluent exit port communicating with said upper section; whereby, said solid material is introduced into said thermal reactor by said feeding means and is thermolytically decomposed, forming a particle laden gaseous effluent and a solids residue.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 330 words
A gasifying thermal reactor comprising: a. a generally cylindrical sidewall having a vertical central axis and further having an upper section, a central section, and a lower section, said upper section having closure means at an upper end thereof; b. means for feeding solid carbonaceous material to said thermal reactor; c. means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas, such as air, located so as to divide said central section, from said lower section, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas comprising and annular gas preheat manifold integral with and extending along and substantially concentric with a lower portion of the wall of said central section of said thermal reactor and having an inlet nozzle communicating with said preheat manifold, said means for preheating and feeding oxidizing gas further comprising a plurality of radially extending oxidizing gas feed nozzles converging toward said central axis, spaced along and in fluid communication with said gas preheat manifold and having means thereon defining a plurality of oxidizing gas outlets, d. said solid material feeding means comprising a solid material feed conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a rotating auger located therein, said inlet being connected to a source of solid material exterior to said thermal reactor, said outlet being spaced above said oxidizing gas feed nozzles and so disposed and orientated as to direct introduction of solid material into said thermal reactor within said central section substantially along said central axis in an upward direction; e. means for discharging spent solids located in said lower section; f. said solid material feed conduit being in heat transfer contact with spent solids as they descend toward said spent solids discharge means; g. means for comminuting fused material located in said lower section; and h. means defining a gaseous effluent exit port communicating with said upper section; whereby, said solid material is introduced into said thermal reactor by said feeding means and is thermolytically decomposed, forming a particle laden gaseous effluent and a solids residue.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 51 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 wherein said lower section is an inverted conically shaped wall and said spent solids discharge means further comprises an ash discharge auger located at the base of said lower section, said comminuting means being an ash clinker breaker located above said ash discharge auger.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 15 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 wherein said oxidizing gas outlets are facing downward.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 48 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 wherein said thermal reactor further comprises agitation means located in said central section, above and spaced from said circular oxidizing gas feed manifold for agitating and distributing said solid feed material as it enters said central section from said feed conduit.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 33 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 43 wherein said agitation means comprises a rotating agitator shaft located along said axis and a plurality of perpendicular agitation blades extending radially across said central section.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 31 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 44 further comprising scraper means located in said upper section so positioned as to sweep the inner surface of said upper section of said wall.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 38 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 45 wherein said scraper means comprise a plurality of scraper blades and radially extending arms, said scraper means being mounted on and driven by said rotating shaft by means of said arms.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 101 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 further comprising temperature sensing means located in said central section of said thermal reactor for sensing the operating temperature in said reactor and feed control means responsive to said temperature sensing means for controlling said solid material feeding means, said feed control means being so adapted as to increase solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said temperature sensing means sensing a decrease in temperature in said thermal reactor and to decrease solids feed, rate to said thermal reactor upon said temperature sensing means sensing an increase in temperature in said thermal reactor.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 111 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 further comprising level sensing means located within and near the top of said central section of said thermal reactor for sensing the level of solids charge therein and feed control means responsive to said level sensing means for controlling said solid material feeding means, said feed control means being so adapted as to increase solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said level sensing means sensing a decrease in the solids charge level in said thermal reactor and to decrease solids feed rate to said thermal reactor upon said level sensing means sensing an increase in solids charge level in said thermal reactor.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 17 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 further comprising a cooling jacket integral with said vertical wall.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 47 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 47 further comprising quench means responsive to said means for sensing temperature and so adapted, as to introduce quench water into said oxidizing gas feed means upon said temperature sensing means sensing a certain predetermined, high temperature in said thermal reactor.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 86 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 40 further comprising a water spray head located within said gas preheat manifold, temperature sensing means located within said gas preheat manifold, and means responsive to said temperature sensing means for controlling the introduction of water to said preheat manifold through said water spray head, said water introduction control means being so adapted as to initiate the introduction of water into said gas preheat manifold upon said preheat manifold reaching a predetermined temperature as determined by said temperature sensing means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 30 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 51 wherein said water spray head is in the form of a ring located within said annular gas preheat manifold and substantially concentric therewith.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 30 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 52 wherein the vertical height of said annular gas preheat manifold is about 50 per cent of the overall diameter of said thermal reactor.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 38 words
The gasifying thermal reactor of claim 52 wherein said spray head is located in the upper portion of said annular gas preheat manifold and includes downward-directed nozzles for spraying water downward into the lower portion of said manifold.

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Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-03-03 2000-09-02 2001-03-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-03-03 2004-09-02 2005-03-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-03-03 2008-09-02 2009-03-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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