Method of making syngas and apparatus therefor

Abstract

Syngas is formed by combining a carbon source with steam at an elevated temperature in a generally horizontal reactor. The heat for the reaction is provided by a stoichiometric combustion nozzle at a first end of the horizontal reaction chamber. The carbon source is deposited downwardly into the reaction chamber where it combines with a flowing stream of hot gas formed from the stoichiometric combustion in combination with steam and additional oxygen, if necessary. This flowing stream of gas reacts with the deposited carbon feed source and is directed to a cyclone separator where the formed syngas is recovered from an upper portion of the separator and any formed ash is directed into a collection tank.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A reactor effective to produce syngas from a carbonaceous material comprising a horizontal reactor zone having a combustion nozzle at a first end and a second end directed into a cyclone separator wherein said combustion nozzle is connected to a source of fuel and oxygen and further connected to a source of steam;
 a feed inlet into said reactor zone immediately downstream of said combustion nozzle; and   a gas outlet from a top portion of said cyclone separator.   
     
     
         8 . The reactor claimed in  claim 7  further comprising a feed conveyor directing carbonaceous feed material from above said horizontal reactor zone into said reactor zone. 
     
     
         9 . The reactor claimed in  claim 7  wherein said combustion nozzle includes a central zone connected to a source of syngas and a source of oxygen. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor claimed in  claim 9  comprising a source of steam surrounding said combustion nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor claimed in  claim 8  wherein said feed conveyor includes a first vertical portion communicating with a second horizontal section in turn connected to a third vertical section leading to said horizontal reactor zone wherein a juncture of said first and second sections provides a seal. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor claimed in  claim 7  wherein said combustion nozzle comprises a hydrogen torch.