# US 2012/0073196 A1 · System and method for operating a gasifier

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- Number: US 2012/0073196 A1
- Document ID: US20120073196A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/890,916
- Filed: 2010-09-27
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: George Albert Goller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073196A1

## CPC

- C10J 3/74: Construction of shells or jackets
- C10J 3/485: {Entrained flow gasifiers}
- C10J 3/723: {Controlling or regulating the gasification process}
- C10J 2300/0959: Oxygen
- C10J 2300/1269: by radiating device, e.g. radiant tubes
- C10J 2300/1276: by electricity, e.g. resistor heating
- C10J 2300/1653: integrated in a gasification combined cycle [IGCC]
- C10J 2300/1846: Partial oxidation, i.e. injection of air or oxygen only
- Y02E 20/18: Integrated gasification combined cycle [IGCC], e.g. combined with carbon capture and storage [CCS]
- 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
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A gasifier that includes a combustion chamber and a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface. A heater surrounds the pressure vessel and increases a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel. A method for operating a gasifier includes increasing an inner wall temperature of a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gasifier comprising:
a. a combustion chamber;
b. a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface; and
c. a heater surrounding the pressure vessel, wherein the heater increases a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gasifier as in claim 1, further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gasifier as in claim 2, further comprising a controller connected to the corrosion sensor, wherein the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gasifier as in claim 3, wherein the corrosion signal causes the controller to generate at least one of a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber, an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber, or a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gasifier as in claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the heater, wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gasifier as in claim 5, wherein the controller generates a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The gasifier as in claim 5, wherein the controller generates an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The gasifier as in claim 5, wherein the controller generates a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber.

### Claim 9

A gasifier comprising:
a. a combustion chamber;
b. a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface;
c. a heater surrounding the pressure vessel; and
d. a controller connected to the heater, wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The gasifier as in claim 9, further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The gasifier as in claim 10, wherein the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The gasifier as in claim 11, wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater upon receiving a predetermined corrosion signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The gasifier as in claim 11, wherein the corrosion signal causes the controller to generate at least one of a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber, an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber, or a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 14

A method for operating a gasifier comprising:
a. increasing an inner wall temperature of a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as in claim 14, further comprising detecting a corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method as in claim 15, further comprising increasing the inner wall temperature of the pressure vessel to a temperature greater than a dew point of the corrosive compound.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method as in claim 15, further comprising adjusting a flow of at least one of fuel, oxidant, or diluent based on the detection of the corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method as in claim 14, further comprising adjusting a flow of fuel to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method as in claim 14, further comprising adjusting a flow of oxidant to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method as in claim 14, further comprising adjusting a flow of diluent to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.