Patent ID: 7658776
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: C10J,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing synthesis gas from cellulosic biomass materials by pyrolysis, comprising: a reactor vessel having a top, an opposing base, a cylindrical side wall therebetween, and a hood affixed to said cylindrical side wall adjacent to said top of said reactor vessel, an opening in said hood for venting flue gases; said vessel for containing the heat required to chemically transform a biomass feed to synthesis gas; said reactor vessel having a convective heat zone in an upper portion of said vessel and a radiant heat zone disposed in a lower portion of said vessel; a heat source disposed in said radiant heat zone adjacent to said base for creating said convective and radiant heat zones; a helical reactor coil disposed vertically in said reactor vessel traversing said convective heat zone and said radiant heat zone, said reactor coil in spaced relation to said side wall having an input end for receiving biomass feed and an opposing output end for discharging synthesis gas, wherein said input end of said reactor coil is disposed in said convective heat zone, and said output end of said reactor coil is disposed in said radiant heat zone; and a support means disposed substantially inside said reactor vessel, said support means comprising a floating frame and a plurality of clamps securing said coil to said frame such that the coil is slidably engaged with the frame whereby the expansion and contraction of the coil upon heating and cooling is accommodated.