Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier may include a housing and a refractory system contained within the housing. The refractory system may comprise an upper manifold, an intermediate portion, and a lower manifold. The refractory system may also include columnar cavities. The columnar cavities may extend vertically through the intermediate portion and place the upper manifold in communication with the lower manifold.

Abstract: A method for using a downdraft gasifier comprising a housing and a refractory stack contained within the housing. The refractory stack may comprise various sections. Apertures in the sections may be aligned to form multiple columnar cavities. Each columnar cavity may comprise an individual oxidation zone. The method of use may include the steps of placing a feedstock into an upper portion of the refractory stack, measuring the temperature of each columnar cavity, and adjusting the flow of oxygen to a particular columnar cavity to maintain the temperature of the particular columnar cavity within a particular range.

Abstract: A gasifier and gasifier system based on the gasifier, which contains as a major component, a novel feed system for feeding organic materials into the burn pile of the gasifier. The gasifier feed system is a horizontal auger driven feed system that feeds directly through a ceramic elbow into the furnace without having to auger the feed through significant vertical elevations.

Abstract: Film cooling apparatus adapted to be connected into a conduit carrying a hot exhaust gas. The apparatus comprises single walled contoured duct means connectible to said conduit and a center-body aerodynamically shaped and supported within said duct means so as to form therewith an annular channel of zero pressure gradient. Slot means are provided in the single walled contoured duct means and in the center-body to enable a flow of cooling air over exterior surfaces thereof to maintain said surfaces at an acceptably low temperature. A network of ducting carries the cooling air to the contoured duct means and interior of the center-body. The duct means and center-body are preferably of circular cross-section taken orthogonally of the overall flow direction. The center-body is an axisymmetric bulb having annular slots for directing the cooling air over the exterior of said bulb.