Abstract: In one aspect, a grate segment for a burner, comprises a substantially rigid body (30) having a dispersed array of cavities (38) filled with a refractory material. In another aspect, a solid fuel gasifier includes a housing (12) defining a gasifier chamber (14), and a solid fuel inlet (21), grate structure (22, 24) in the gasifier chamber. The grate structure includes base means, a plurality of agitator segments (32) positioned relative to the base means for reciprocating movement to agitate a fuel load in the gasifier, and means to support the base means and the agitator segments so that the latter reciprocate in a direction at a substantial inclination to both horizontal and vertical. In use of the gasifier a deep burden of fuel accumulates on the grate structure and the outward stroke of the reciprocation of the agitator elements is in the overall direction of flow of the fuel burden or generally oppositely thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to high temperature burners such as a solid fuel burner of the type commonly referred to as a gasifier or gasifier combustor. The invention includes a refractory wall structure having an array of tubular members. Refractory material is arranged about the tubular members so that the tubular members protrude from a wall defined by the refractory material by a distance smaller than the diameter of the tubular members.

Abstract: In one aspect, a grate segment for a burner, comprises a substantially rigid body (30) having a dispersed array of cavities (38) filled with a refractory material. In another aspect, a solid fuel gasifier includes a housing (12) defining a gasifier chamber (14), and a solid fuel inlet (21), grate structure (22, 24) in the gasifier chamber. The grate structure includes base means, a plurality of agitator segments (32) positioned relative to the base means for reciprocating movement to agitate a fuel load in the gasifier, and means to support the base means and the agitator segments so that the latter reciprocate in a direction at a substantial inclination to both horizontal and vertical. In use of the gasifier a deep burden of fuel accumulates on the grate structure and the outward stroke of the reciprocation of the agitator elements is in the overall direction of flow of the fuel burden or generally oppositely thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to high temperature burners such as a solid fuel burner of the type commonly referred to as a gasifier or gasifier combustor. The invention includes a refractory wall structure having an array of tubular members. Refractory material is arranged about the tubular members so that the tubular members protrude from a wall defined by the refractory material by a distance smaller than the diameter of the tubular members.

Abstract: A solid fuel gasifier includes first wall structure (12) defining a gasification chamber (14) and means (50, 52) to collect particulate solid residue from gasification in the gasification chamber. Second wall structure (16) defines a gas combustion chamber (17) and means (19) is arranged for admitting a flow of hot gases from the gasification chamber to the gas combustion chamber as combustion takes place. Also provided is means (178, 170) to conduct hot gases from the gasification chamber and/or gas combustion chamber into thermal contact with said collected particulate solid residue, for facilitating post-combustion and/or post-reduction of the solid residue. Also disclosed are an agitator bed (52, 182) for fine particulate material, and a method of gasification of solid fuel.