Patent ID: 7973262

Claim:
A powerplant for production and use of synthesis gas from a carbon or hydrocarbon fuel comprising: (a) a triple helical flow vortex reactor that produces a gas stream rich in synthesis gas by steam reforming a fuel, said reactor having a reaction chamber defined by a fuel inlet end, a gas stream outlet end at opposing axial ends of the reaction chamber, and an inner wall, wherein said triple helical flow vortex reactor comprises: (i) a plasma torch providing the means to introduce into the reaction chamber at the fuel inlet end a central vortex flow of first fluid and initiate combustion of the first fluid, said first fluid being selected from a group consisting of air and steam, air and fuel, steam and fuel, and air and fuel slurry, said plasma torch being further capable of heating and ionizing the first fluid prior to introduction into said reaction chamber. (ii) a first circumferential flow apparatus at the gas stream outlet end having a fluid connection for creating a circumferential fluid flow second vortex at the periphery of the reaction chamber such that said second vortex spirals away from said apparatus towards the fuel inlet end and wherein said second fluid connection is capable of being used with a second fluid selected from a group consisting of air, oxygen and steam; and, (iii) a second circumferential flow apparatus at the fuel inlet end of the triple helical flow vortex reactor having a fluid connection for creating a circumferential fluid flow third vortex at the periphery of the reaction chamber such that said vortex spirals towards the gas stream outlet end and creates a mixing region adjacent to the fuel inlet end, wherein said fluid connection is capable of being used with a third fluid selected from a group consisting of ionized media, steam, and fuel; and, (b) a power producer operably connected to be fueled by synthesis gas produced from the triple helical flow vortex reactor, said power producer selected from a group consisting of a helical flow vortex reactor, a combustion turbine, an internal combustion engine, a boiler, a furnace, a rocket motor, and a fuel cell.