Patent ID: 8240123

Claim:
A cyclonic combustor comprising: a combustion liner forming a combustion chamber having a generally cylindrical shape and operable to have an ignition zone, a combustion zone, and a dilution zone arranged longitudinally along the axis of the combustion chamber; a biomass feed inlet at one end of the combustion chamber formed through the combustion liner for receiving biomass particles under pressure, wherein the biomass feed inlet is formed so that the biomass particles are introduced into the ignition zone of the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner; a plurality of air tuyeres formed through the combustion liner for receiving compressed air, wherein the plurality of air tuyeres are arranged to introduce the compressed air into the combustion chamber with a tangential component relative to the longitudinal axis of the combustion liner, wherein the plurality of air tuyeres are spaced along the length of the combustion liner from about the biomass feed inlet, wherein at least one of the plurality of air tuyeres is operable to supply a sufficient amount of compressed air to the ignition zone for ignition of the biomass particles to begin the combustion, wherein at least one of the plurality of air tuyeres is operable to supply a sufficient amount of compressed air to the combustion zone to complete the combustion of the biomass particles from the ignition zone, and wherein at least one other of the plurality of air tuyeres is operable to supply a sufficient amount of compressed air to the dilution zone to dilute the combustion gas to a temperature suitable for use in a gas turbine; an outer casing having a generally cylindrical shape and surrounding the combustion liner; an inner lining having a generally cylindrical shape and surrounding the combustion liner so as to define at least two air plenums between the outer casing and the combustion liner wherein the at least two air plenums are in communication with the combustion chamber via the plurality of air tuyeres so that the compressed air is supplied to the combustion chamber through the at least two air plenums; and wherein the outer casing surrounds the intermediate liner so as to define a cooling plenum between the outer casing and the intermediate liner, wherein the cooling plenum is in communication with the at least two air plenums so that the compressed air is supplied to the air plenums via the cooling plenum.