# US 10,370,605 B2 · Coaxial gasifier for enhanced hydrogen production

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,370,605 B2
- Document ID: US10370605B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/081,599
- Filed: 2016-03-25
- Published: 2016-07-21
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-19
- Assignees: V-GRID Energy Systems
- Applicants: V-GRID Energy Systems
- Inventors: Michael Cheiky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370605B2

## CPC

- C10J 3/26: downwardly
- C10J 3/62: with separate withdrawal of the distillation products
- C10K 3/04: reducing the carbon monoxide content {, e.g. water-gas shift [WGS]}
- C10J 2300/0916: Biomass
- C10J 2300/094: Char
- C10J 2300/0959: Oxygen
- C10J 2300/0973: Water
- C10J 2300/0986: Catalysts
- Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin
- C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
- C10K: PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a coaxial gasifier for enhanced hydrogen production, comprising: downdraft gasifier comprising a hot zone for converting biomass to synthesis gas; and a coaxial gas converter disposed within the downdraft gasifier, the coaxial gas converter comprising a biochar inlet valve, a coaxial char tube, and a biochar and ash outlet valve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coaxial gas converter for a downdraft gasifier, the coaxial gas converter comprising:
a char tube coaxially located from a top to a bottom of the gasifier;
a biochar inlet valve coaxially located with the char tube and configured to meter biochar into the char tube at the top of the gasifier;
a reduction bell having an opening for passage of the char tube;
a biochar and ash outlet valve coaxially located with the char tube and configured to periodically dump ash out of the bottom of the gasifier to prevent ash buildup in the char tube,
wherein the downdraft gasifier comprises a plurality of air inlet jets configured to create an extended hot zone in the reduction bell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the downdraft gasifier comprises multiple levels of air inlet jets, each level containing one or more air inlet jets, thereby increasing heat transfer to the coaxial gas converter and forming an extended hot zone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the char tube is substantially circular in cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the char tube is substantially star-shaped in cross-section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the char tube is substantially cross-shaped in cross-section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein during operation of the downdraft gasifier, the char tube is filled with highly reduced biochar carbon that is produced by a main chamber of the gasifier, other gasifier, or other char making device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the biochar inlet valve comprises a remotely controlled ball valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein biochar that enters the char tube builds a standing column of char in the char tube, which extends above air inlet nozzles of a main gasifier.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 8, wherein during operation of the downward gasifier, an extended hot zone forms from above the air inlet nozzles to the bottom of the reduction bell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 9, wherein the hot zone peaks at between 800 degrees C. and 1200 degrees C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, further comprising a down tube for adding water vapor to a main chamber of the gasifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein the addition of water to the carbon results in a conversion to carbon monoxide and hydrogen occurs.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 12, wherein the presences of a surplus of carbon in the char tube above the hot zone in the gasifier assures that all intermediate carbon dioxide reduces to carbon monoxide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 13, wherein the resultant mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide passes up the char tube through additional standing char and open space to a cooler upper region, and then out through an output line.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The coaxial gas converter of claim 1, wherein during operation, ash build up in the char tube is periodically dumped through the outlet valve to prevent ash buildup.

### Claim 16

Apparatus, comprising:
a downdraft gasifier having a coaxial gas converter, the coaxial gas converter comprising:
a char tube coaxially located from a top to a bottom of the gasifier;
a biochar inlet valve coaxially located with the char tube and configured to meter biochar into the char tube at the top of the gasifier;
a reduction bell having an opening for passage of the char tube;
and
a biochar and ash outlet valve coaxially located with the char tube and configured to periodically dump ash out of the bottom of the gasifier to prevent ash buildup in the char tube,
wherein the downdraft gasifier comprises a plurality of air inlet jets configured to create an extended hot zone in the reduction bell.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the downdraft gasifier comprises multiple levels of air inlet jets, each level containing one or more air inlet jets, thereby increasing heat transfer to the coaxial gas converter and forming an extended hot zone.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the char tube is substantially circular in cross-section.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the char tube is substantially star-shaped in cross-section.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the char tube is substantially cross-shaped in cross-section.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein during operation of the downdraft gasifier, the char tube is filled with highly reduced biochar carbon that is produced by a main chamber of the gasifier, other gasifier, or other char making device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the biochar inlet valve comprises a remotely controlled ball valve.