SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A GASIFIER

1 . A gasifier comprising:

a. a combustion chamber;

b. a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface; and

c. a heater surrounding the pressure vessel, wherein the heater increases a temperature of the inner surface of the pressure vessel.

2 . The gasifier as in claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber.

3 . The gasifier as in claim 2 , further comprising a controller connected to the corrosion sensor, wherein the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller.

4 . The gasifier as in claim 3 , wherein the corrosion signal causes the controller to generate at least one of a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber, an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber, or a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

5 . The gasifier as in claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to the heater, wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater.

6 . The gasifier as in claim 5 , wherein the controller generates a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber.

7 . The gasifier as in claim 5 , wherein the controller generates an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber.

8 . The gasifier as in claim 5 , wherein the controller generates a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber.

9 . A gasifier comprising:

a. a combustion chamber;

b. a pressure vessel surrounding the combustion chamber, wherein the pressure vessel includes an inner surface;

c. a heater surrounding the pressure vessel; and

d. a controller connected to the heater, wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater.

10 . The gasifier as in claim 9 , further comprising a corrosion sensor between the pressure vessel and the combustion chamber.

11 . The gasifier as in claim 10 , wherein the corrosion sensor generates a corrosion signal to the controller.

12 . The gasifier as in claim 11 , wherein the controller generates a heater signal to activate the heater upon receiving a predetermined corrosion signal.

13 . The gasifier as in claim 11 , wherein the corrosion signal causes the controller to generate at least one of a fuel signal to control a flow of fuel to the combustion chamber, an oxidant signal to control a flow of oxidant to the combustion chamber, or a diluent signal to control a flow of diluent to the combustion chamber to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

14 . A method for operating a gasifier comprising:

a. increasing an inner wall temperature of a pressure vessel surrounding the gasifier.

15 . The method as in claim 14 , further comprising detecting a corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel.

16 . The method as in claim 15 , further comprising increasing the inner wall temperature of the pressure vessel to a temperature greater than a dew point of the corrosive compound.

17 . The method as in claim 15 , further comprising adjusting a flow of at least one of fuel, oxidant, or diluent based on the detection of the corrosive compound inside the pressure vessel.

18 . The method as in claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of fuel to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

19 . The method as in claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of oxidant to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.

20 . The method as in claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a flow of diluent to the gasifier to adjust a pressure inside the pressure vessel.