Patent ID: 7854775

Claim:
An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system comprising: a) a downdraft gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and solids, the downdraft gasification unit including a grate which transports the organic material down the axial length of the downdraft gasification unit, said downdraft gasification unit in communication with: b) a joule heated plasma reaction chamber which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete gasification including unreacted organic materials including carbon char and gas formed in the downdraft gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas and ash and in which ash is converted into glass; c) a thermal residence chamber separate from the joule heated plasma reaction chamber wherein unreacted gaseous organic materials from the joule heated plasma reaction chamber are maintained for a time and at a temperature selected to convert the unreacted organic materials into carbon monoxide and hydrogen; d) a carbon monoxide sensor responsive to carbon monoxide to generate an output signal; and e) a feedback control system responsive to the carbon monoxide sensor output signal to control the grate to increase or decrease the flow rate of organic material down the axial length of the gasification unit so as to avoid complete combustion of unreacted organic materials including carbon char in the gasification unit.