Supplemental burner for conversion of biomass and related solid fuel

Abstract

A conversion burner, a system of conversion burners, and a method of conversion of a solid fuel selected from at least one of biomass and peat. The burner is constructed and arranged to be affixed to a combustor, and comprises a housing defining a burner chamber; a grate within the burner chamber defining an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region; at least a first solid fuel inlet; at least a first air inlet operatively connected to the upper chamber region and connectable to a first air source; a product gas outlet operatively connected to the combustion region of the combustor; and at least one waste outlet. The product gas is delivered to the combustor for firing or co-firing, overcoming fouling problems which result from direct delivery of solid fuel to the combustor, and problems raised by remote conversion or storage of solid fuel.

1 . A conversion burner for a solid fuel selected from at least one of biomass and peat, constructed and arranged to be affixed to a combustor having a combustion region, the burner comprising
 (i) a housing defining a burner chamber;   (ii) a grate within the burner chamber defining an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region;   (iii) at least a first solid fuel inlet;   (iv) at least a first air inlet operatively connected to the upper chamber region and constructed and arranged to be connected to a first air source;   (v) a product gas outlet constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to the combustion region of the combustor; and   (vi) at least one waste outlet.   
     
     
         2 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , constructed and arranged to be affixed in a plurality to the combustor. 
     
     
         3 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first solid fuel inlet comprises a biomass feed control means. 
     
     
         4 . A conversion burner according  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second air inlet operatively connected to the lower chamber region and constructed and arranged to be connected to a second air source. 
     
     
         5 . A conversion burner according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first air inlet and the second air inlet comprises an air feed control means. 
     
     
         6 . A conversion burner according to  claim 5 , wherein the air feed control means comprises at least one air distribution plate constructed and arranged to direct and distribute air from the respective one of the first air inlet and the second air inlet in selected directions within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , wherein the grate is affixed within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , wherein the grate is secured so as to be at least one of adjustable and movable within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A conversion burner according to  claim 8 , wherein the grate is movable within the burner chamber with a movement selected from at least one of vibration, oscillation, travelling and reciprocation. 
     
     
         10 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a startup burner within the upper chamber region and proximate the grate. 
     
     
         11 . A conversion burner according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one waste outlet comprises an ash hopper. 
     
     
         12 . A system for conversion of a solid fuel material selected from at least one of biomass and peat for delivery to a combustion region of a combustor, the system comprising at least one conversion burner each constructed in accordance with  claim 1 , and each operatively connected by a product gas delivery means to the combustor at the combustion region. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the conversion is selected from at least one of combustion, gasification and partial gasification. 
     
     
         14 . A method of conversion of a solid fuel material selected from at least one of biomass and peat and delivering a supply of converted product to a combustion region of a combustor, the method comprising the steps of
 (i) providing at least one conversion burner, each comprising a housing defining a burner chamber, a grate within the burner chamber defining an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region;   (ii) connecting each conversion burner to the combustor at the combustion region to provide a flow path from the upper chamber region to the combustion region;   (iii) delivering a supply of the solid fuel material to the upper chamber region of selected ones of the conversion burners;   (iv) for each selected conversion burner, converting the supply of the solid fuel material on the grate, and concurrently selectively delivering a first supply of air to the upper chamber to produce a flow of the converted product;   (v) delivering the flows of the converted product from the respective conversion burners to the combustion region; and   (vi) collecting waste materials in the respective lower chambers for selective removal.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (iv) further comprises delivering a second supply of air to the lower chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (iii) comprises delivering the solid fuel material at a rate selected from continuous input and periodic batch input. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (i) further comprises providing an air feed control means to at least one of the upper chamber region and the lower chamber region. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (i) further comprises providing to at least one of the first air inlet and the second air inlet an associated air distribution plate constructed and arranged to direct and distribute air from the respective one of the first air source and the second air source in selected directions and selected amounts within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (i) further comprises affixing the grate within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (i) further comprises securing the grate so as to be at least one of adjustable and movable within the burner chamber. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein step (i) further comprises securing the grate so as to be movable within the burner chamber with a movement selected from at least one of vibration, oscillation, travelling and reciprocation. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (i) further comprises providing a startup burner within the upper chamber region and proximate the grate. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (i) further comprises providing air in a combined amount by volume to meet at least a portion of the stoichiometric requirement between 30% and 150%. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the solid fuel material delivered in step (iii) is a wet solid fuel material comprising up to 60% water by weight %. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (v) further comprises selectively delivering additional air into the combustor together with the converted product. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (vi) comprises collecting waste materials in an ash hopper. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the conversion is selected from at least one of combustion, gasification and partial gasification.