Fuel feed system for a gasifier and method of gasification system start-up

A gasification system comprising:

• a gasifier;
• and
• a fuel feed system coupled in flow communication upstream of said gasifier, said fuel feed system comprising:
• a feed preparation section configured to grind a particulate fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust a moisture content within the particulate fuel;
• a pressurization and conveyance section coupled in flow communication with said feed preparation section, said pressurization and conveyance section comprising at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure;
• a conduit configured to channel the pressurized particulate fuel to said gasifier;
• and
• a slag additive section configured to feed a slag mixture into the gasifier and substantially control a total water content of a quantity of feeds into the gasifier, and further control melting and flow characteristics of a quantity of particulate fuel ash within the gasification system within the gasification system.

A method of start-up for a gasification system including a gasifier, said method comprising:

• establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier;
• circulating a start-up slurry mixture within a slag additive section of the gasification system;
• and
• channeling the start-up slurry mixture and the start-up fuel to the gasifier to initiate the gasification reactions.