Patent ID: 7942943
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: C10J,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A gasifier to produce combustible gas from a biomass feedstock, said device comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a combustion chamber having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a flared mid-section, wherein said combustion chamber is located substantially inside said housing; (c) a feeder adapted to transfer biomass feedstock into said top portion of said combustion chamber at a controlled rate; (d) a metal plate between said housing and said combustion chamber, below said flared mid-section, wherein said metal plate separates portion of said housing outside of said combustion chamber into an upper housing chamber and a lower housing chamber; (e) one or more catalyst cartridges located inside said housing and adjacent to said flared-mid-section of said combustion chamber wherein each of said one or more cartridges: (i) has an inlet opening into said lower housing chamber and an outlet opening into said upper housing chamber, (ii) connects said upper housing chamber to said lower housing chamber and (iii) is in thermal contact with said combustion chamber, so that heat generated from combustion within said combustion chamber will heat said one or more catalyst cartridges; (f) one or more air intakes adapted to selectably supply air flow into said combustion chamber in either an upward or a downward direction; wherein at least one air intake is adapted to cause gas from said combustion chamber to traverse the bottom of said combustion chamber, to enter said lower housing chamber, to cross said one or more catalyst cartridges by entering said inlet opening and exiting said outlet opening into said upper housing chamber, and then exit said housing; and (g) one or more air pumps adapted to selectably produce either negative air pressure or positive air pressure in said combustion chamber.