# US 2013/0145691 A1 · Grate for high temperature gasification systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0145691 A1 - Document ID: US20130145691A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/316,571 - Filed: 2011-12-12 - Published: 2013-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-12 - Assignees: InEnTec Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma; James A. Batdorf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130145691A1 ## CPC - C10J 3/40: Movable grates - F23G 5/002: {characterised by their grates (F23G5/05 takes precedence)} - F23G 5/0276: {using direct heating} - F23H 9/08: the bars being rocked about their longitudinal axes (inclined grates with movable bars disposed parallel to the direction of fuel feeding and rocking about their axes F23H7/10) - F23H 13/08: Grates specially adapted for gas generators and also applicable to furnaces - C10J 2300/0946: Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale - C10J 2300/1634: Ash vitrification - 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 - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - F23H: GRATES (inlets for fluidisation air for fluidised bed combustion apparatus F23C10/20); CLEANING OR RAKING GRATES ## Abstract An improved active grate consisting of at least two elongated rockers positioned parallel to one and another, each rocker having a lower surface and an upper surface and configured to rotate back and forth about their longitudinal axis. Each individual rocker is further configured to rotate in the opposite direction of the adjacent rockers such that any pair of adjacent rockers alternately forms a void allowing material to pass through active grate when rotating in one direction into a first position, and closes the void when rotated in the opposite direction in a second position. The active grate finds particular utility in a combined gasification/vitrification waste treatment system, where it is used to pass partially oxidized materials from a gasification chamber to a vitrification chamber. The rockers include a coolant loop through the longitudinal axis of the rockers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An active grate comprising at least two elongated rockers positioned parallel to one another, each rocker having a lower surface and an upper surface, each of said rockers further configured to rotate about their longitudinal axes to form a void allowing material to pass through said active grate when at least one of said rockers is in a first position and to close said void when two adjacent rockers are in a second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The improved active grate of claim 1, wherein at least one pair of rockers is operable to displace the material away from said active grate in said first position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The active grate of claim 1, wherein at least one pair of rockers is operable to provide a crushing force on the material when rotated between said first and second positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The active grate of claim 1 further comprising a coolant loop configured to flow coolant through at least one of the rockers. ### Claim at position 5 5-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The active grate of claim 1, wherein the coolant is selected from water, steam, ethylene glycol, paraffinic based heat transfer fluids, silicon based heat transfer fluids, hydrocarbon heat transfer fluids, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The active grate of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of each rocker is planar. ### Claim 17 A method for allowing material to pass from a first chamber of a high temperature system to a second chamber of the high temperature system, the method comprising: rotating an elongated rocker about a longitudinal axis of said rocker, said rocker having a lower surface and an upper surface; forming a void between said rocker and an adjacent rocker positioned parallel to said rocker, when said rocker is rotated about the longitudinal axis of said rocker to a first position; and closing the void when said rocker is rotated about the longitudinal axis to a second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said rocker and said adjacent rocker are provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, the method further comprising passing the material through said void. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising displacing at least a portion of the material in an upward direction when said rocker is rotated to the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising crushing at least a portion of the material between said rocker and said adjacent rocker when said rocker is rotated from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising cooling said rocker by flowing a coolant through said rocker. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said coolant is one or more of water, ethylene glycol, paraffinic based heat transfer fluids, silicone based heat transfer fluids, hydrocarbon heat transfer fluids, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said coolant is steam. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said coolant is a mist of liquid droplets. ### Claim 25 A system comprising: a gasification unit for at least partially converting organic components of a feed stream to a hydrogen rich gas and ash; a joule heated vitrification unit downstream from the gasification unit and configured to convert inorganic materials and ash into glass, the vitrification unit having a plasma for converting carbon and products of incomplete gasification into hydrogen rich gas; and an active grate disposed between said gasification unit and the vitrification unit, the grate comprising a rocker positioned parallel to an adjacent rocker, each rocker having a lower surface and an upper surface, wherein said rocker is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of said rocker to a first position to form a void to allow material to pass from the gasification unit to the vitrification unit through said active grate, said rocker further configured to rotate to a second position to close said void. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said adjacent rocker is configured to rotate in a direction opposite said rocker. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein said rocker further comprises a coolant loop for flowing a coolant therethrough.