Patent ID: 8317886

Claim:
A gasifier for a system for gasifying solid organic materials, said gasifier comprising: (I) a housing, said housing having a bottom portion and an upper portion; (II) four side walls supported by the bottom portion and attached to the upper portion, there being present a first opening in one side wall for removing gaseous effluent, (III) located in first opening, a device for removing gaseous effluent from the gasifier; (IV) a second opening in the housing for supporting a device for sensing the elevation of the top of any mass of solid organic material contained therein, (V) located in said second opening, a device for sensing the elevation of the top of any mass of solid organic material contained in the gasifier; (VI) at least one third opening for supporting a device for determining the characteristics of any ash created within the gasifier; (VII) located in said third opening, a device for determining the characteristics of any ash created within the gasifier; (VIII) at least one fourth opening located in a side wall for supporting at least one device for providing an oxidant to the solid organic materials; (IX) located in said fourth opening, a device for providing an oxidant to the gasifier; (X) a bottom portion, said bottom portion being a floor for the gasifier, the floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the floor having at least one opening therethrough to allow the movement of solid organic material into the gasifier, wherein the upper surface of the floor has a retaining wall on the outside of each of the openings to form retention basins to retain the solid organic materials in the bottom of the gasifier to form a floorless hearth, (XI) said gasifier containing at least one device for providing solid organic materials through each floor opening and into the gasifier; (XII) a device for heating the solid organic materials while above the retention basin; (XIII) an opening in the bottom portion and through at least one side wall of the gasifier to allow for the movement of non-combustibles out of the gasifier, and, (XIV) a device in each of the retention basins for removing non-combustible materials out of the gasifier and controlling the elevation and shape of the floorless hearth.