System and method for operating a gasifier

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.

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.   
     
     
         2 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . The gasifier as in  claim 5 , wherein the controller generates a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The gasifier as in  claim 5 , wherein the controller generates an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The gasifier as in  claim 5 , wherein the controller generates a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         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.   
     
     
         10 . The gasifier as in  claim 9 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The gasifier as in  claim 10 , wherein the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The gasifier as in  claim 11 , wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater upon receiving a predetermined corrosion signal. 
     
     
         13 . 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. 
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a gasifier comprising:
 a. increasing an inner wall temperature of a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier.   
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 14 , further comprising detecting a corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         16 . 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. 
     
     
         17 . 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. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of fuel to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of oxidant to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of diluent to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.