Method and apparatus for processing of carbon-containing feed stock into gasification gas

1. A downdraft gasification apparatus comprising:

an elongated external vessel;

an elongated internal vessel, wherein said internal vessel is located inside said external vessel, thereby forming a void between said internal vessel and said external vessel;

a gasifier trunk, which is characterized by an axis and which comprises an inside surface, outside surface, an upper end and a lower end, a plurality of slits positioned substantially along the length of said gasifier trunk, wherein each of said plurality of slits is characterized by an upper slit end and a lower slit end, wherein at least one of said plurality of slits is characterized by a width at said lower slit end that is greater than a width at said upper slit end and wherein said gasifier trunk is further characterized by a cross-section of said lower end perpendicular to said axis and a cross-section of said upper end perpendicular to said axis, wherein said cross-section of said lower end is greater than said cross-section of said upper end;

a loading mechanism, comprising an elongated loading mechanism trunk and a feedstock feeder for moving said feedstock along said elongated loading mechanism trunk, wherein said loading mechanism is positioned so as to enable the feeding of said feedstock into said upper end of said gasifier trunk and down toward said lower end of said gasifier trunk,

a fire chamber, positioned below said lower end of said gasifier trunk, wherein said fire chamber is configured to allow products of said feedstock to enter said fire chamber after passing through said gasifier trunk,

a gas outlet, and

a slag discharge mechanism positioned adjacent to said lower end of said external vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a damping chamber is formed between said gasifier trunk and said elongated internal vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said damping chamber is formed so as to channel gases from said feedstock into said fire chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising

at least one rigidity rib located on said outside surface of said gasifier trunk between adjacent slits of said plurality of slits, wherein said at least one rigidity rib is positioned substantially along said gasifier trunk;

at least one feedstock breaker located on said inside surface of said gasifier trunk immediately above said fire chamber;

at least one rigidity structure positioned on said outside surface of said gasifier trunk so as to counter the pressure from said feedstock as it is moving inside said gasifier trunk.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said slag discharge mechanism further comprises a slag scraper, an air cooling system, and a water cooling system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gas turbulator located between said elongated external vessel and said elongated internal vessel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said feedstock feeder is a piston.