System and method for operating a gasifier

Abstract

A gasifier includes a combustion chamber and a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface. A controller adjusts a pressure inside the pressure vessel so that a dew point temperature of corrosive compounds produced in the combustion chamber is less than a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel. A method for operating a gasifier includes adjusting a pressure inside a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier so that a dew point temperature of a corrosive compound is less than a temperature of an inner wall of the pressure vessel.

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 controller, wherein the controller adjusts a pressure inside the pressure vessel so that a dew point temperature of corrosive compounds produced in the combustion chamber is less than a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , wherein the controller generates a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , wherein the controller generates an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , wherein the controller generates a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , further comprising a heater surrounding the pressure vessel, wherein the heater increases the temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The gasifier as in  claim 5 , wherein the controller is connected to the heater and the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater. 
     
     
         7 . The gasifier as in  claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The gasifier as in  claim 7 , wherein the controller is connected to the corrosion sensor and the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The gasifier as in  claim 8 , 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 the pressure inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         10 . 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 controller, wherein the controller generates 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.   
     
     
         11 . The gasifier as in  claim 10 , further comprising a heater surrounding the pressure vessel, wherein the heater increases a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The gasifier as in  claim 11 , wherein the controller is connected to the heater and the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater. 
     
     
         13 . The gasifier as in  claim 10 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The gasifier as in  claim 13 , wherein the controller is connected to the corrosion sensor and the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The gasifier as in  claim 14 , wherein the corrosion signal causes the controller to generate at least one of the fuel signal, the oxidant signal, or the diluent signal to adjust the pressure inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The gasifier as in  claim 14 , wherein the controller generates at least one of the fuel signal, the oxidant signal, or the diluent signal to adjust the pressure inside the pressure vessel upon receiving a predetermined corrosion signal. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a gasifier comprising:
 adjusting a pressure inside a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier so that a dew point temperature of a corrosive compound is less than a temperature of an inner wall of the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a flow of at least one of fuel, oxidant, or diluent to adjust the pressure inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 17 , further comprising detecting a corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 17 , further comprising increasing a temperature of the inner wall greater than the dew point temperature of the corrosive compound.