Abstract: A gasification reactor apparatus (10) comprising a gasification vessel (12), a gas-fired combustion chamber (70) and a combination fan and cyclone unit (20) in an upper part (12′) of the vessel (12) with two functions: first, the fan (62, 64) impels incoming feedstock (14, 14′) centrifugally into contact with the hot inside surface of the vessel to produce rapid onset of gasification. Second, the unit (20) exerts a cyclonic motion on the product gas causing outward separation of particulate matter from the gas, which passes to the outlet via a path through the middle of the vessel (12).

Abstract: A burner for combusting gaseous mixture of gaseous fuel with a combustion supporting gas, such as oxygen or air, comprising a burner tube (11) open at one end (11′) and closed at its other end (11″) with a flame holder (30) at which fuel is burnt adjacent the open end (11′), the flame holder (30) being traversed by passageways (52, 54, 56, 58) for the gaseous mixture, the burner (10) having inlets (14, 16) adjacent the closed end (11″) connected to combustion supporting gas and gaseous fuel supply lines, one of said lines having a control valve operable for controlling the size of the flame, the said one line having a pressure or flow transducer and the other line having a variable booster or restricter responsive to the transducer, for balancing air and fuel supplied to the burner (10) to ensure the gaseous mixture remains stoichiometric irrespective of the size of the flame and such that the lowest gaseous fuel mixture flow rate is at least as low as {fraction (1/60)}th the highest f