U.S. patent application number 12/187829 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-11 for method and system for an integrated gasifier and syngas cooler.
Invention is credited to Wei Chen, George Dodan, Robert Henri Gauthier, James Michael Storey.
Application Number | 20100031570 12/187829 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41508050 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100031570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Wei ; et al. |
February 11, 2010 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN INTEGRATED GASIFIER AND SYNGAS COOLER
Abstract
A method and system for an integrated gasifier and syngas cooler
are provided. The system includes a gasifier including a reaction
chamber, a syngas cooler integrally formed with the gasifier and
including at least one heat exchanger element, and a transition
portion integrally formed with the reaction chamber and the syngas
cooler and extending therebetween, the transition portion further
including a throat extending between the reaction chamber and the
syngas cooler, the transition portion further including a heat
exchanger circumscribing the throat.
Inventors: |
Chen; Wei; (Sugar Land,
TX) ; Dodan; George; (Katy, TX) ; Gauthier;
Robert Henri; (Houston, TX) ; Storey; James
Michael; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN S. BEULICK (17851);ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLP
ONE METROPOLITAN SQUARE, SUITE 2600
ST. LOUIS
MO
63102-2740
US
|
Family ID: |
41508050 |
Appl. No.: |
12/187829 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
48/87 ;
29/890.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10J 2200/09 20130101;
C10J 3/526 20130101; C10J 3/76 20130101; C10J 3/78 20130101; Y10T
29/4935 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
48/87 ;
29/890.03 |
International
Class: |
C10J 3/72 20060101
C10J003/72; B21D 53/02 20060101 B21D053/02 |
Claims
1. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler comprising: a gasifier
comprising a reaction chamber; a syngas cooler integrally formed
with said gasifier and comprising at least one heat exchanger
element; and a transition portion integrally formed with said
reaction chamber and said syngas cooler and extending therebetween,
said transition portion further comprising a throat extending
between said reaction chamber and said syngas cooler, said
transition portion further comprising a heat exchanger
circumscribing said throat.
2. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler in accordance with
claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a steam cooled tube
cage positioned radially outward from said throat to facilitate
cooling said throat.
3. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler in accordance with
claim 1 further comprising: a support skirt extending radially
inwardly from at least one of said gasifier and said transition
portion; and at least one anchoring ring coupled to said support
skirt, said at least one anchoring ring extending radially inwardly
from said support skirt, said at least one anchoring ring extending
at least partially about a circumference of said support skirt.
4. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler in accordance with
claim 3 further comprising a layer of refractory material supported
by said at least one anchoring ring, said layer of refractory
material supported by said at least one anchoring ring such that
adjacent layers of refractory material are slidably engaged to
facilitate maintaining contact between layers of refractory
material during periods of expansion and contraction.
5. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler in accordance with
claim 1 wherein said throat comprises a converging/diverging
cross-section.
6. An integrated gasifier and syngas cooler system comprising: a
first pressure vessel portion surrounding a gasifier reaction
chamber, said first portion extending from a vessel head to a lower
end; a second pressure vessel portion surrounding a gas cooler,
said gas cooler configured to cool a hot raw effluent gas stream
from said reaction chamber, said second portion extending from an
upper end vertically downward towards a solids removal end; a
transition portion extending between said lower end and said upper
end, each of said first portion, said second portion, and said
transition portion are in substantial vertical coaxial alignment
along a central longitudinal axis of each portion; a throat
coaxially aligned with each said portion and extending therebetween
for the free passage of the hot raw effluent gas stream from said
gasifier reaction chamber to said gas cooler, said throat lined
about a radially inner surface with a refractory material; a
concentric coaxial vertical tube cage surrounding said throat along
at least a portion of a length of said throat; and a plurality of
annular anchoring rings coupled to at least one of said first
portion and said tube cage, said anchoring rings extending radially
inward, said anchoring rings configured to support said throat
refractory material.
7. A system in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a support
skirt extending obliquely inward from at least one of said first
portion and said tube cage.
8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least one of said
plurality of annular anchoring rings is coupled to at least one of
said first portion and said tube cage through said support
skirt.
9. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first portion
comprises a first outer diameter and said second portion comprises
a second outer diameter, said transition portion extending between
said first outer diameter and said second outer diameter.
10. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first and
second pressure vessel portions comprise respective elongate
vertical cylinders.
11. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said throat is
lined about a radially inner surface with a shaped brick refractory
material.
12. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said throat
comprises a vertical substantially cylindrical sidewall.
13. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said throat
comprises a diverging sidewall.
14. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said throat
comprises a converging entrance.
15. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said plurality of
annular anchoring rings are positioned such that a first layer of
refractory material supported by a first annular anchoring ring
slides along a second layer of refractory material supported by a
second annular anchoring ring during expansion and contraction of
said integrated gasifier and syngas cooler system.
16. A method of assembling an integrated gasifier and syngas
cooler, said method comprising: providing a syngas cooler vessel
that is integrally formed with a gasification vessel, the
gasification vessel including a reaction chamber, the syngas cooler
vessel including a heat exchanger; coupling the reaction chamber
and the syngas cooler vessel in flow communication using a throat
lined with a refractory material, the refractory material supported
in the throat using one or more annular anchoring rings; and
positioning a cooling tube cage surrounding the throat such that
during operation the refractory material is cooled using the
cooling tube cage.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising
coupling the heat exchanger and the cooling tube cage in flow
communication.
18. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising lining
an entrance to the throat with refractory material such that the
entrance converges from the reaction chamber to the throat.
19. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising lining
the throat with refractory material such that the throat diverges
from the throat to the syngas cooler.
20. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising lining
the throat with refractory material such that the throat is
substantially cylindrical.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to partial oxidation
gasifiers and gas coolers and, more particularly, to reducing wear
on internal components of an integral gasifier and gas cooler
combination.
[0002] At least some known gasification vessels include areas that
are prone to elevated amounts of wear due to the flow
characteristics of the raw effluent gas passing these areas and the
adverse conditions of temperature, pressure, and chemistry these
areas are exposed to. For example, but not limited to a gasifier
bottom transition, a gasifier throat, and a syngas cooler throat
are high wear zones for refractory linings because the narrow flow
path increases the mass flow rates of molten slag along the lining
wall. Although some attempts to mitigate the effects of the adverse
conditions affecting the refractory have been tried, the attempts
have tended to create other problems. For example, one known
attempt to actively cool the affected areas resulted in a vertical
expansion gap in the throat lining between the actively cooled and
passively cooled section. The gap provides a potential leak path of
syngas into the annular space behind the vertical tube cage.
Another attempt used a vertical steel cylindrical gas barrier with
a flanged bottom behind the throat refractory to prevent gas from
escaping into the stagnant annular zone. However, the steel
cylinder is not cooled, therefore leading to either overheating of
metal or shorter refractory life. Further, in the known
gasification vessels the inside diameter of the flow path in the
throat is constrained by the inside diameter of the flanges of both
the gasifier and syngas cooler. The flow path diameter cannot be
changed without significantly altering the steel vessels.
[0003] Providing a gasifier having an integrated cooler formed
integrally with the gasifier eliminates a forged flange on the
gasifier vessel and a forged flange on the cooler vessel.
Elimination of these two large flanges in the integrated
gasifier/cooler significantly reduces the cost of the
gasifier/cooler over the separate gasifier and cooler
configuration. Elimination of the flange-to-flange joint between
the gasifier and the syngas cooler permits the combined axial
length of the two vessels to be significantly reduced. The reduced
length reduces the thermal growth of the combined vessel, thus
reducing the mismatch with the interconnecting piping (injectors,
steam drum, steam piping, instrumentation) that are fixed to the
support structure which is at ambient temperature with minimal
thermal growth. Elimination of the flange-to-flange joint also
improves the integrity of the vessel and facilitates eliminating
components (flanges, supports, etc.) and reducing erection
operations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one embodiment, an integrated gasifier and syngas cooler
includes a gasifier including a reaction chamber, a syngas cooler
integrally formed with the gasifier and including at least one heat
exchanger element, and a transition portion integrally formed with
the reaction chamber and the syngas cooler and extending
therebetween, the transition portion further includes a throat
extending between the reaction chamber and the syngas cooler and
the transition portion further includes a heat exchanger
circumscribing the throat.
[0005] In another embodiment, an integrated gasifier and syngas
cooler system includes a first pressure vessel portion surrounding
a gasifier reaction chamber wherein the first portion extends from
a vessel head to a lower end. The system also includes a second
pressure vessel portion surrounding a gas cooler configured to cool
a hot raw effluent gas stream from the gasifier reaction chamber.
The second portion extends from an upper end vertically downward
towards a solids removal end. The system further includes a
transition portion extending between the lower end and the upper
end wherein each of the first portion, the second portion, and the
transition portion are in substantial vertical coaxial alignment
along a central longitudinal axis of each portion. The system
includes a throat coaxially aligned with each portion and extending
therebetween for the free passage of the hot raw effluent gas
stream from the gasifier reaction chamber to the gas cooler, the
throat is lined about a radially inner surface with a refractory
material. The system further includes a concentric coaxial vertical
tube cage surrounding the throat along at least a portion of a
length of the throat, and a plurality of annular anchoring rings
coupled to at least one of the first portion and the tube cage, the
anchoring rings extending radially inward and are configured to
support the throat refractory material.
[0006] In yet another embodiment, a method of assembling an
integrated gasifier and syngas cooler includes providing a syngas
cooler vessel that is integrally formed with a gasification vessel
wherein the gasification vessel includes a reaction chamber and the
syngas cooler vessel includes a heat exchanger. The method also
includes coupling the reaction chamber and the syngas cooler vessel
in flow communication using a throat lined with a refractory
material wherein the refractory material is supported in the throat
using one or more annular anchoring rings. The method further
includes positioning a cooling tube cage surrounding the throat
such that during operation the refractory material is cooled using
the cooling tube cage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1-5 show exemplary embodiments of the method and
system described herein.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vertical elongated high
temperature steel pressure vessel in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
in accordance with still another embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It should be noted that although embodiments of the present
invention are described with respect to an integral gasifier and
syngas cooler combination, one of ordinary skill in the art should
understand that the embodiments of the present invention are not
limited to being used only with integral gasifier and syngas cooler
combinations. Rather, embodiments of the present invention may be
used with any integrated vessels.
[0014] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments
of the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. It
is contemplated that the invention has general application to
cooling internal components of vessels to extend their life in
industrial, commercial, and residential applications.
[0015] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular
and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not
excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is
explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of
the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as
excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also
incorporate the recited features.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vertical elongated high
temperature steel pressure vessel 100 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the exemplary
embodiment, vessel 100 includes a single unitarily formed shell
102. Shell 102 includes an upper shell 104 surrounding a
gasification reaction zone 106 of a partial oxidation gasifier
which is used for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or
fuel gas, a lower shell 108 surrounding a gas cooler portion 110,
and a transition portion 112 surrounding a throat 114 extending
between reaction zone 106 and gas cooler portion 110. Upper shell
104 includes a bottom exit passage 116 along a central longitudinal
axis 118 of vessel 100 and an upper head 120 that includes a
coaxial inlet opening 122 for the insertion of a downwardly
discharging gasification burner (not shown). Throat 114 includes a
converging entrance Upper shell 104 includes a thermal refractory
lining 124 surrounding gasification reaction zone 106 and extending
radially between upper shell 104 and reaction zone 106. Throat 114
is a vertical cylindrical annular shaped elongated conduit lined
with a thermal refractory brick lining 126. Throat 114 is generally
coaxial with upper shell 104 and lower shell 108 and extends
therebetween for the free passage of the hot raw effluent gas
stream flowing downwardly from reaction zone 106 to gas cooler 110
in lower shell 108. As referred to herein, an "axial" direction is
a direction that is substantially parallel to axis 118, "upper" and
an "upward" direction is a direction that is generally towards
inlet opening 122, and "lower" and a "downward" direction is a
direction that is generally away from inlet opening 122.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
the exemplary embodiment, upper shell 104 includes a first layer
202 of refractory brick stacked circumferentially about an outer
periphery of reaction zone 106, and a second layer 204 of
refractory brick stacked radially outward from first layer 202.
First layer 202 is supported at a lower end 206 by a first annular
anchoring ring 208 that extends radially inward from upper shell
104. A second annular anchoring ring 210 provides support to second
layer 204 and also extends radially inward from upper shell 104 at
a position spaced axially from first annular anchoring ring 208.
First layer 202 and second layer 204 are stacked such that seams
between adjacent bricks in first layer 202 do not align with seams
between adjacent bricks in second layer 204. Such misalignment
presents a labyrinthine path between reaction zone 106 and upper
shell 104 that facilitates preventing hot raw effluent gas from
reaction zone 106 from leaking from reaction zone 106 and entering
a space 212 adjacent upper shell 104, where corrosive constituents
of the hot raw effluent gas can attack upper shell 104.
[0018] Transition portion 112 includes a tube cage comprising a
membrane wall of cooling tubes 214 extending circumferentially
around throat 114. A stagnant annular space 216 extending radially
outward from cooling tubes 214 to transition portion 112 provides
an area for risers and downcorners (both not shown) that supply
water and remove water and steam from cooler 110. Throat 114 is
lined with a throat layer 218 of refractory bricks that extends
from a third annular anchoring ring 220 coupled to cooling tubes
214 upward to bottom exit passage 116. Anchoring ring 220 extends
radially inward from cooling tubes 214 and supports throat layer
218. Between throat layer 218 and first layer 202, sloped layer 222
of refractory brick is supported by a fourth annular anchoring ring
224 coupled to and extending radially inward from cooling tubes
214. Because first layer 202 is supported by first annular
anchoring ring 208, which is coupled to upper shell 104 and sloped
layer 222 is supported by third anchoring ring 220, which is
coupled to cooling tubes 214 during certain operations of vessel
200, first layer 202 and sloped layer 222 may move axially relative
to each other due to differential expansion between upper shell 104
and cooling tubes 214. Accordingly, an abutting joint between first
layer 202 and sloped layer 222 is vertically aligned such that
first layer 202 and sloped layer 222 may slide past each other
relatively freely during periods of differential expansion and
contraction. Such slidable engagement facilitates avoiding
compression of first layer 202 and sloped layer 222 which may cause
cracking of first layer 202 and/or sloped layer 222 and to avoid
forming gaps between first layer 202 and sloped layer 222.
[0019] Stagnant annular space 216 is positioned outside refractory
lined transition throat cylinder 114 and inside transition portion
112 and has an increased volume compared to a flanged joint
configuration. This increased volume permits an embodiment of the
present invention with boiler feed water piping and support
structure inside annular space 216. The embodiment reduces thermal
stress of pipe components and joints with the vessel due to thermal
expansion mismatch by permitting more flexible pipe routing. The
embodiment also provides sufficient space to route a top header
(not shown) into annular space 216 above a horizontal tube wall
(not shown). The embodiment adds additional tube panel surface area
inside the hot gas path under the horizontal tube wall that
increases the heat recovery performance or reduces the total axial
length of the syngas cooler assembly. Additionally, the embodiment
simplifies the support structure for the vertical tube panels by
permitting direct connection to the vessel wall, which frees up
more annular space for better access and design flexibility.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
300 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Vessel 300 is substantially similar to vessel 200 (shown in FIG. 2)
and components of vessel 300 that are identical to components of
vessel 200 are identified in FIG. 3 using the same reference
numerals used in FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment, cooling tubes
214 do not extend into the area of the bottom exit passage 116. As
such, stagnant annular space 216 is smaller than that shown in FIG.
2. A support skirt 301 extends obliquely inward from upper shell
104.
[0021] A first layer 302 of refractory brick is stacked
circumferentially about an outer periphery of reaction zone 106,
and a second layer 304 of refractory brick stacked radially outward
from first layer 302. First layer 302 is supported at a lower end
306 by a first annular anchoring ring 308 that extends radially
inward from support skirt 301. A second annular anchoring ring 310
provides support to second layer 304 and also extends radially
inward from support skirt 301 at a position spaced axially from
first annular anchoring ring 308. First layer 302 and second layer
304 are stacked such that seams between adjacent bricks in first
layer 302 do not align with seams between adjacent bricks in second
layer 304. Such misalignment presents a labyrinthine path between
reaction zone 106 and upper shell 104 that facilitates preventing
hot raw effluent gas from reaction zone 106 from leaking from
reaction zone 106 and entering space 212, where corrosive
constituents of the hot raw effluent gas can attack upper shell
104.
[0022] Transition portion 112 includes a tube cage comprising a
membrane wall of cooling tubes 214 extending circumferentially
around throat 114. Stagnant annular space 216 extends radially
outward from cooling tubes 214 to transition portion 112 to provide
an area for risers and downcorners (both not shown) that supply
water and remove water and steam from gas cooler 110. Throat 114 is
lined with a throat layer 218 of refractory bricks that extends
from a third annular anchoring ring 220 coupled to cooling tubes
214 upward to bottom exit passage 116. Anchoring ring 220 extends
radially inward from cooling tubes 214 and supports throat layer
218.
[0023] A fourth anchoring ring 312 extends radially inward from
support skirt 301 to a radially outer periphery of throat layer
218. Anchoring ring 312 supports a transition layer 314 of
refractory brick and/or castable refractory material. Transition
layer 314 provides for sliding engagement between first layer 302
and transition layer 314, and between throat layer 218 and
transition layer 314 to account for differential expansion and
contraction between cooling tubes 214 and upper shell 104.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
400 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Vessel 400 is substantially similar to vessel 300 (shown in FIG. 3)
and components of vessel 400 that are identical to components of
vessel 300 are identified in FIG. 4 using the same reference
numerals used in FIG. 3. In the exemplary embodiment, throat layer
218 includes a converging-diverging cross section that facilitates
removal of entrained particles and slag from reaction zone 106. The
converging cross-section at throat entrance 123 tends to increase a
velocity of the hot raw effluent gas steam exiting reaction zone
106 and tends to increase a back pressure inside reaction zone 106
that also reduces backflow of gas into reaction zone 106. The
diverging cross-section provides an overhang for slag to drip
through throat 114 rather than flow down the refractory brick of
the lower portion of throat layer 218.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a throat area of a vessel
500 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Vessel 500 is substantially similar to vessel 300 (shown in FIG. 3)
and components of vessel 500 that are identical to components of
vessel 300 are identified in FIG. 5 using the same reference
numerals used in FIG. 3. In the exemplary embodiment, throat layer
502 includes a first layer 504 and a second layer 506 that includes
a step 508 at a joint 510 between first layer 504 and a second
layer 506. A gap 512 is provided to permit axial movement between
first layer 504 and a second layer 506 during differential
expansion and contraction of cooling tubes 214 and upper shell 104.
Gap 512 prevents an underhang 514 of layer 506 from bearing on an
overhang 516 of layer 504 and causing cracking and/or displacement
of the refractory brick comprising first layer 504 and a second
layer 506. Step 508 also provides an additional tortuous path for
the hot raw effluent gas steam to pass before it can reach upper
shell 104, cooling tubes 214, or other metal portions of vessel
500.
[0026] Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for an integral
gasifier and syngas cooler combination are described above in
detail. The systems and methods illustrated are not limited to the
specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of
the system may be utilized independently and separately from other
components described herein. Further, steps described in the method
may be utilized independently and separately from other steps
described herein. For example, step 508 shown in FIG. 5 may be
combined with throat layer 218 having a converging-diverging
cross-section shown in FIG. 4. Other combinations of the various
embodiments of the present invention are also contemplated.
[0027] Embodiments of the integral vessel that encloses the
reactor, the syngas cooler, and the transition in between eliminate
a flanged joint between the reactor, the syngas cooler, and the
transition, thus separating the gas path transition (throat) 114
from the outer vessel transition 112. Such a configuration permits
a shorter throat length than vessel configurations that include
separate vessels with a flanged transition between them while
maintaining the same or a larger annular space 216. The integral
configuration also permits cooling throat refractory lining 218
along its entire length and/or cooling transition refractory
314.
[0028] Embodiments of the present invention provide for reducing
overall vessel length, reducing piping length and pipe stress,
reducing material and fabrication cost, and the following
improvement concepts and benefits; a steam-cooled throat refractory
lining, a steam-cooled transition portion and throat refractory
lining, "drip points" in the throat flow path, which are only
effective using the reduced length throat that embodiments of the
present invention permit. Embodiments of the present invention also
permit gas flow moderation and a longer life transition point, an
expansion feature of the gasification portion-to-throat transition
brick allowing thicker brick for longer life at a high wear point,
a ship lap expansion joint, a steam cooled refractory brick lining,
modified support features of gasifier sidewall, gasifier
transition, gasifier throat and syngas cooler throat linings, an
integral gasifier and syngas cooler vessel, and a flexible flow
path diameter and shape in the refractory lined throat wherein the
variable diameter can be realized using stepwise increase in lining
thickness.
[0029] The steam cooled refractory lining in the transition and/or
throat allows longer run life and less down times for refractory
replacement, which increases the availability of gasification
process and reduces operation cost. The steam cooled refractory
lining also adds flexibility in adjusting syngas velocity and/or
mass and momentum flux exiting the throat by means of variable
diameter in the refractory lined throat. Active cooling of the
refractory lining is accomplishing by extending the steam cooled
tubes from the syngas cooler into the gasifier and/or tube cage.
The integrated vessel and refractory lining permits the flexibility
of varying the refractory lined throat flow path diameter and shape
without alternating the steel vessel flanges. The throat shape
could be cylindrical, conical, or flaring out with the diameter
increasing as the flow approaches the downstream exit of the
throat.
[0030] The above-described embodiments of a method and system for
an integrated gasifier and syngas cooler system provides a
cost-effective and reliable means for eliminating the horizontal
flange-to-flange joint between the gasifier and the syngas cooler
using instead a non-continuous and integral vessel that encloses
the refractory-lined gasification reaction chamber and the syngas
cooler heat exchanger internals together in the single vessel.
Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide
sufficient internal volume in the gasifier-to-syngas cooler
transition area to extend the throat tube cage to the bottom
transition of the gasifier, which enables steam cooling of the
refractory lining of the entire length of the throat, and/or of the
entire throat plus the 45 degree bottom transition in the gasifier.
The steam-cooled refractory lining has a longer life that without
active steam cooling in the throat. Further, the supports of the
refractory linings in the gasifier sidewall, transition, and throat
sections accommodate the expansion and contraction of the gasifier
sidewall, transition, and throat sections during periods of
temperature changes. Accordingly, direct leak paths in the
refractory lining for syngas to flow into the transition area are
substantially eliminated. As a result, the methods and systems
described herein facilitate gasification and cooling of a fuel in a
cost-effective and reliable manner.
[0031] While the disclosure has been described in terms of various
specific embodiments, it will be recognized that the disclosure can
be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the
claims.
* * * * *