Patent ID: 8783585

Claim:
A feed injector for use in a gasifier, said feed injector comprising: a first annular channel defined in said feed injector, said first annular channel comprising a first end, an arcuate portion and a second end, said arcuate portion is between said first and second ends, said first annular channel is oriented substantially concentrically about a longitudinal axis of said feed injector such that a first arc angle is defined between said longitudinal axis and said first annular channel, said arcuate portion is oriented to discharge a fluid flowing through said first annular channel radially outward with respect to said longitudinal axis, said first annular channel further comprises an inner flow path defined therein; a second annular channel comprising a first end, an arcuate portion, and a second end, said arcuate portion is between said first and second ends, said second annular channel circumscribes said first annular channel and a second arc angle is defined between said longitudinal axis and said second annular channel, said second annular channel first end is positioned radially outward and downstream from said first annular channel first end such that said first annular channel and said second annular channel converge into a merged annular channel that extends longitudinally downstream from said first annular channel first end; a third annular channel comprising a first end, an arcuate portion, and a second end, said arcuate portion is between said first and second ends, said third annular channel circumscribes said second annular channel, said third annular channel first end is positioned radially outward and downstream from said second annular channel first end, such that a first fluid flow in said first annular channel and a second fluid flow in said second annular channel combine in said merged annular channel upstream of a location where said merged annular channel converges with said third annular channel first end; and a tip insert positioned within a portion of said first annular channel such that said tip insert is positioned in a portion of said inner flow path, said tip insert comprising a divergent tip end that extends at least partially into a reaction zone, wherein said tip insert further comprises a tip surface that curves radially outward at a third arc angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein the third arc angle is approximately equal to the first and second arc angles.