Abstract: An earth-boring tool comprising a body having first cutting elements mounted to an axially leading face, the first cutting elements each having a cutting face exposed to a height above the face of the body, the cutting faces of the first cutting elements back raked and facing a direction of intended rotation of the earth-boring tool. The earth-bring tool further comprises second cutting elements mounted to the axially leading face of the body adjacent first cutting elements in a cone region of the bit face, the second cutting elements each having a cutting face exposed to a height above the face of the body and configured for a shear-type cutting action, the cutting faces of the second cutting elements back raked to about a same or greater extent than the first cutting elements and generally facing the direction of intended rotation of the earth-boring tool.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools may include a body, blades extending outward from the body, and cutting elements secured to the blades. An entirety of a first blade may exhibit a first, constant or continuously variable radius of curvature different from a second, constant or continuously variable radius of curvature of at least another portion of a second blade. Methods of making earth-boring tools may involve forming at least a portion of a first blade extending outward from a body to exhibit a first radius of curvature. An entirety of a second blade extending outward from the body may be formed to exhibit a second, different, constant or continuously variable radius of curvature. Cutting elements may be secured to the first and second blades.

Abstract: A system includes a solid feed fuel pump configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump includes an actuated valve that is disposed within the outlet. The actuated valve is configured to adjust a compaction of the solid fuel flow while in the outlet. The actuated valve adjusts the compaction in response to active control based on sensed feedback from the system.

Abstract: A pump used in a gasification system, the pump comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor supported within the housing for rotation relative to the housing, the rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of disks spaced apart by sections of the hub, and defining a plurality of transport channels for transporting solid carbonaceous feedstocks for the gasification system, and an interior feedstock facing surface adjacent to the solid carbonaceous feedstocks, wherein at least a portion of the interior feedstock facing surface is coated with a coating.

Abstract: A formation-engaging assembly includes a formation-engaging structure holder with a side surface between a proximal end and a distal end, a receptacle in the distal end, and a lateral protrusion extending from a portion of the side surface of the formation-engaging structure holder adjacent the distal end. A formation-engaging structure may include a formation-engaging surface at a distal end, a proximal end and a sidewall therebetween. The proximal end and at least a portion of the sidewall of the formation-engaging structure may be received within the receptacle of the formation-engaging structure holder. Earth-boring tools may include such formation-engaging assemblies.

Abstract: A syngas cooler system includes a pressure vessel, a conduit, a plenum, a plenum, a conduit, and a bellows assembly. The pressure vessel includes a throat and a dome adjacent to the throat. The throat includes an area of excess heat, and the dome includes an area of deficient heat. The plenum extends between the throat and the bellows assembly. The bellows assembly is coupled at least partially within the dome. The conduit is coupled to the plenum for channeling a flow of purge fluid from external to the pressure vessel into the plenum such that purge fluid transfers heat from the area of excess heat into the area of deficient heat to facilitate reducing temperature differential stresses within the dome and the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.

Abstract: A tool for forming or servicing a wellbore includes a first body, a second body, and a retaining member located between a surface of the first body and a surface of the second body. The retaining member at least partially retains the second body with respect to the first body. The retaining member comprises a shape memory material configured to transform, responsive to application of a stimulus, from a first solid phase to a second solid phase. A method of forming a tool for forming or servicing a wellbore includes disposing a retaining member comprising a shape memory material in a space between a first body and a second body and transforming the shape memory material from a first solid phase to a second solid phase by application of a stimulus to cause the retaining member to create a mechanical interference.

Abstract: A pressure control system is provided. The pressure control system includes a first pressure sensing device configured to obtain a first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from a solids supply system, a second pressure sensing device configured to obtain a second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure within the solids supply system, and a pressure controller configured to use the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement to control a pressure within the solids supply system.

Abstract: A formation-engaging assembly includes a formation-engaging structure holder with a side surface between a proximal end and a distal end, a receptacle in the distal end, and a lateral protrusion extending from a portion of the side surface of the formation-engaging structure holder adjacent the distal end. A formation-engaging structure may include a formation-engaging surface at a distal end, a proximal end and a sidewall therebetween. The proximal end and at least a portion of the sidewall of the formation-engaging structure may be received within the receptacle of the formation-engaging structure holder. Earth-boring tools may include such formation-engaging assemblies.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a system includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet. The first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate and the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate. The adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on first feed rate and the second feed rate.

Abstract: A gasification system including a first feed line, a second feed line, a stabilization fuel line, and a fuel feed system controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to enable the stabilization fuel line to inject a stabilization fuel into a gasifier to initiate a stabilizer flame inside the gasifier, enable the first feed line to inject a dry fuel into the gasifier at a start-up dry fuel flow rate, increase the flow rate of the dry fuel from the start-up dry fuel flow rate to a normal operating condition (NOC) dry fuel flow rate, decrease a flow rate of the stabilization fuel as the flow rate of the dry fuel increases to the NOC dry fuel flow rate, and prevent the stabilization fuel line from injecting the stabilization fuel into the gasifier once the flow rate of the dry fuel is at the NOC dry fuel flow rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a fuel preparation system. The feedstock preparation system includes an acoustic chamber configured to receive a fuel and at least one acoustic wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves to at least partially break up the fuel in the acoustic chamber.

Abstract: A system includes a solid feed fuel pump. The solid feed fuel pump includes a solid feed flow path configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump also includes a vent including a filter, wherein the vent is configured to discharge fluid flow that is opposing the solid fuel flow.

Abstract: A pressure control system is provided. The pressure control system includes a first pressure sensing device configured to obtain a first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from a solids supply system, a second pressure sensing device configured to obtain a second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure within the solids supply system, and a pressure controller configured to use the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement to control a pressure within the solids supply system.

Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.

Abstract: A lubricating pump system and a lubrication injection apparatus for a pump of such a system. The pump conveys material, including bulk solids material. A lubricant reservoir stores a lubricant. The lubrication injection apparatus delivers lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to a surface portion of the pump along which material is conveyed.

Abstract: A gasifier includes a combustion chamber in which a fuel is burned to produce a syngas and a particulated solid residue. A quench chamber is disposed downstream of the combustion chamber. A dip tube is disposed coupling the combustion chamber to the quench chamber. The syngas is directed to contact liquid coolant in the quench chamber and produce a cooled syngas. A draft tube is disposed surrounding the dip tube such that an annular passage is formed. A baffle is disposed proximate to an exit path of the quench chamber. The cooled syngas is directed through the annular passage and impacted against the baffle so as to remove entrained liquid content from the cooled syngas before it is directed through the exit path. A cross sectional area of the annular passage is larger towards the bottom of the quench chamber and smaller towards the top of the quench chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a vessel preheating system are provided. The system includes a pressure vessel including an area of excess heat and an area of deficient heat, a plenum defined between the area of excess heat and the area of deficient heat, and a conduit configured to couple a flow of purge fluid from external to the vessel into the plenum wherein heat from the area of excess heat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid in the plenum and the heat is carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat such that the flow of purge fluid purges the area of deficient heat.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a system includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet. The first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate and the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate. The adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on first feed rate and the second feed rate.