Patent ID: 8211191

Claim:
A two-stage gasification reactor system for gasifying a feedstock, said reactor system comprising: a first stage reactor section defining a first reaction zone wherein said first reaction zone is operable to contain said gasifying of said feedstock, wherein said first stage reactor section comprises a main body and at least two inlet projections, wherein said main body and said inlet projections cooperatively define said first reaction zone, wherein less than about 50 percent of the total volume of said first reaction zone is defined within said inlet projections, wherein each of said inlet projections has a proximal end coupled to said main body and a distal end spaced outwardly from said main body, wherein said first stage reactor section presents a plurality of inner surfaces cooperatively defining said first reaction zone, wherein at least about 50 percent of the total area of said inner surfaces has an upright orientation, wherein less than about 10 percent of the total area of said inner surfaces has a normal vector extending at an angle greater than 45 degrees above horizontal, thereby facilitating the removal of slag and other gasification byproducts within the first stage reactor section, wherein the maximum outside diameter of said main body is at least 25 percent greater than the maximum outside diameter of said inlet projections, thereby increasing the maximum internal pressure that can be withstood by said reactor system; at least two inlets, wherein one of said inlets is located proximate said distal end of each of said inlet projections, wherein each of said inlets is operable to discharge said feedstock into said first reaction zone; a second stage reactor section positioned generally above said first stage reactor section and defining a second reaction zone.