Solid fuel burner-gasifier methods and apparatus

A system for thermally processing solid fuel to produce pyrolysis gases, syngas, tar, char, and/or torrefied products which comprises:

• a bulk solids pump configured to move a solid fuel therein and wherein the pump comprises:
• a spool supported for rotational movement about an axis and having a geometric axis;
• a hoop surrounding at least an angular portion of said spool, said hoop being mounted in fixed relationship to said axis whereby upon rotation of said spool there is relative motion between said spool and said hoop;
• an inlet;
• an outlet;
• a curved passage within said spool disposed in communication between said inlet and said outlet, said curved passage extending within said spool, said curved passage having a generally circular axis and four sequential zones:
• (1) consolidation, (2) rotation, (3) relaxation and (4) discharge wherein in the first zone solid fuel enters the pump and consolidates as particles settle and come into contact with one another and the sides of the curved passage and at the end of the first zone the solid fuel is fully constrained by the curved passage, and inter-particle and surface contact forces produce the lock-up condition and wherein in the second zone the solid fuel rotates as a solid mass and as the solid fuel moves through the second zone to the third zone the solid fuel is approaching an unconstrained discharge where inter-particle forces fall, the solid fuel relaxes and regains its natural flowability and discharge of the solid fuel occurs in a fourth zone where passage rotation causes the solid fuel to cascade from the pump;
• one or more sleeve shaped chambers surrounding all or a portion of at least an axial extent of said curved passage to permit containment of heated gases to heat solid fuel within said curved passage to thermally process said solid fuel within said pump and thus permitting the advantageous conversion of the solid fuel to torrefied fuel, char, tar, pyrolysis gases and/or syngas.