Patent ID: 8100066

Claim:
A feed mechanism in which a ram fed from a feed hopper is configured to compress a shredded and dried fuel against a closed valve which is then opened for the ram to push the fuel to fall into an intermediate chamber, provided in the feed mechanism between the valve and a rotary scroll feeder of the feed mechanism to assist the break up of the fuel before entry of the shredded and dried fuel to the rotary scroll feeder for delivery to a heated rotary anaerobic gasifier vessel, the length of the ram being such as to close the base of the feed hopper and thus prevent fuel entering behind the ram when in the extended position, and open the base of the feed hopper when in the retracted position, wherein an outlet pipe of the rotary scroll feeder, configured for insertion into the heated rotary anaerobic gasifier vessel, is provided with a cooling jacket having an inlet through which water for cooling the outlet pipe is introduced into the cooling jacket.