US 4,378,208 AGranted

Biomass gasifier combustor

AssigneeUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation

InventorsFredrick A. Payne, Ira J. Ross

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. This biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into a first combustion chamber. Primary combustion of the biomass produces a first combustion gas. A venturi gas pump creates a negative pressure region in the gasifier, drawing the first combustion gas into a second combustion chamber. A secondary combustion takes place, completely oxidizing the organics in the primary combustion gas and producing a clean exhaust gas which can be used directly for grain drying purposes. An improved first chamber includes a manifold section for preventing the biomass from escaping into the secondary combustion chamber, and a variable height grate for allowing the ash product to fall through the holes in the variable height grate. A damper may be provided at the air inlets to control the flow rates or primary and secondary air. A damper may be placed on the exhaust eductor or venturi pump for regulating the thermal output of the system. The level of biomass in the first combustion chamber may also be monitored and automatically controlled.

A method of drying grain by producing a clean second combustion gas in an apparatus and forcedly directing said second combustion gas onto said grain, said apparatus including a horizontally disposed feeding means for feeding a biomass mixture into said apparatus, a primary combustion chamber receiving said biomass mixture for producing a primary combustion gas, said feeding means extending into and disposed transversely across said primary combustion chamber, a level sensor for sensing the level of the biomass mixture in said primary combustion chamber, a secondary combustion chamber receiving said primary combustion gas and producing a clean secondary combustion gas, a secondary air inlet port for introducing secondary air into said secondary combustion chamber, and a nozzle means for forcedly directing said secondary combustion gas onto said grain, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing said biomass mixture into said feeding means;
actuating said feeding means, said actuating step including the steps of forcing said biomass mixture into said primary combustion chamber along a horizontal direction and levelling said biomass mixture disposed in said primary combustion chamber;
sensing the level of the biomass mixture in said primary combustion chamber and de-actuating said feeding means when the level of said biomass mixture reaches a predetermined level;
burning said biomass mixture in said primary combustion chamber of said apparatus during said primary combustion and producing said primary combustion gas, said primary combustion gas being drawn into said secondary combustion chamber of said apparatus;
drawing secondary air into said secondary combustion chamber via said secondary air inlet port;
mixing said primary combustion gas and said secondary air at an intense heat in said secondary combustion chamber thereby producing said clean secondary combustion gas;
and
forcedly directing said clean secondary combustion gas through said nozzle means onto said grain thereby drying said grain.

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Abstract

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