摘要 |
Apparatus (1) for producing gaseous fuel for driving electricity generating means comprises an oven (2), a ram (11) for feeding gas-producing waste material to the oven (2), gas burners (5) for heating the waste material while in the oven (2), and a collection vessel (25) for collecting gaseous fuel liberated by heating the waste material. The oven (2) and waste material feeder duct (7) connected thereto are of airtight construction, so that combustion of the waste material is not allowed to take place. The airtight oven (2) has a central gasifier section (15) having an inlet end (15a) and an outlet end (15b). The feeder duct (7) is connected to the inlet end (15a) and an outlet duct (16) is connected to the outlet end (15b). The outlet duct (16) extends into the collection vessel (25), which has an upper end housing a gas filter (26) and a lower end connected to an ash receptacle (27). Gaseous fuel passing through the filter (26) enters a discharge line (29) connected to a gas chiller unit (30). The unit (30) has a hot water/steam outlet (35), a cold water inlet (36), and a gas/vapour outlet (37) which discharges to a gas/water separator (38) wherein condensate (39) is collected, and gaseous fuel allowed to leave by way of a discharge line (40). The gas discharge line (40) incorporates a branch line (47) whereby useable gas is led away for combustion for driving the electricity generating means and a further branch line (48) whereby gas is fed to the oven burners (5) by way of a regulator valve (49) and a gas burner control unit (50). |