Gasifier having at least one charge transfer electrode and methods of use thereof

A method of gasifying a hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising:

• providing a gasifier that includes a reaction vessel having at least one oxidation zone, at least one reduction zone, and at least one electrode positioned in the reaction vessel, the at least one electrode being operably coupled to an electrical power source;
• charging the reaction vessel with a hydrocarbon-containing material and initiating a gasification reaction in the reaction vessel;
• and
• altering a chemical and/or thermodynamic equilibrium within the reaction vessel between the at least one oxidation zone and the at least one reduction zone by establishing at least one of an electrical current or an electrical potential via the at least one electrode;
• wherein altering the chemical and/or thermodynamic equilibrium within the reaction vessel results in at least one of a substantially significant increase in a gasification reaction rate in the reaction vessel or a change in one or more gasification reaction products produced by the gasifier.

A method for producing a gaseous product from a solid hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising:

• providing a gasifier having at least one oxidation zone, at least one reduction zone, at least one electrode positioned in the at least one oxidation zone, and at least one electrode positioned in the at least one reduction zone, the at least one electrode being operably coupled to an electrical power source;
• charging the reaction vessel with a hydrocarbon-containing material and initiating a gasification reaction in the reaction vessel;
• in at least a first stage of the gasification reaction, altering a chemical and/or thermodynamic equilibrium in one or more redox reactions within the gasifier reaction vessel by at least one of:
• making the at least one oxidation zone more oxidizing by removing electrons from the at least one oxidation zone via the at least one electrode positioned therein;
• or
• making the at least one reduction zone more reducing by adding electrons to the at least one reduction zone via the at least one electrode positioned therein;
• and
• generating a gaseous product that includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane.