Abstract: A lining for a furnace chamber which is at least approximately round in cross-section is divided into at least two layers in a radial direction and into at least two portions in an axial direction. A gas seal is disposed between the lining portions, the gas seal being in the form of a foil as of metal and being divided in a radial direction into at least two portions releasably connected together in such a manner as to permit the inner portion to be removed in an axial direction. The gas seal can therefore be composed of individual seal portions, in a radial direction, and can be fitted separately.

Abstract: In order to improve the handling capability of red mud, it is mixed with fine-grain coal material such as brown coal or lignite in dust form, in a ratio by weight of between 0.5-10:1. The liquid present in the red mud is bound by the very fine coal admixed therewith so that the resulting mixture can be stored in a silo and even pneumatically conveyed, and the oily properties of the red mud are removed by the treatment. The mixture is particularly suitable for use in connection with the hydrogenating liquefaction of coal in which the red mud is used as a catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing noxious pollutants containing sulfur and/or fluorine compounds from gaseous or liquid media by adsorption of the compounds on coke. The coke is produced by conventional processes from lignite (brown coal) containing alkaline ash compounds, particularly CaO and MgO as well as possibly Na.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and K.sub.2 O. The coke with adsorbed sulfur and/or fluorine pollutants is incinerated at temperatures selected from 700.degree. C. and 1050.degree. C. such that the pollutants combine chemically with the alkaline ash compounds so that the pollutants become bound in the coke ash rather than being emitted to the environment in the combustion gases.

Abstract: In a process for separating sand from a brown coal or lignite material containing sand, wherein the sand is present entirely or predominantly in a grain size range covering only a part of the grain size range of the brown coal or lignite, with the grain size of the coarsest grains of the sand being markedly lower than the grain size of the coarsest coal grains, the coal in the grain size range between zero and at least the grain size corresponding to the maximum grain size of the sand is removed by a gaseous classifying operation, and the remaining material is subjected to a sieving or screening operation, the cut-off line of which is in the region of the grain size of the coarsest grains of the sand to be removed.

Abstract: In a process for injecting a fine-grain carbon carrier including ash-bearing bituminous or hard coal into a blast furnace hearth, use is made of a mix of fine-grain bituminous coal and at least one other solid fine-grain ash-bearing carbon carrier. The composition of the mix is so selected that the degree of basicity of the overall resulting ash of the mixture is adapted to the degree of basicity of the furnace slag.

Abstract: The present specification describes and claims a method and apparatus for use in cooling the solid residue of gasification of a reactor operated at a pressure above atmospheric for the gasification of carbonaceous materials. The residue of gasification is conducted out of the reactor into a cooling apparatus located therebelow and flows through the cooling apparatus from the top to the bottom thereof. A cooling liquid is introduced into the solid residue in the upper region of the cooling apparatus and is metered such that the greater portion of the heat contained in the residue is eliminated in the form of heat of vaporization, sensible heat and chemical binding energy with the resultant steam and reaction products produced. The remaining residual heat which corresponds to the difference between the desired final temperature and the temperature after cooling by the liquid, is eliminated by a gas blown into the bottom region of the cooling apparatus and/or by indirect heat exchange.

Abstract: A method of producing abrasion resistant coke from brown coal briquets in a shaft furnace comprises charging the coke briquets into the top of the furnace and removing coke from the bottom of the furnace while directing inert hot combustion gases into the furnace and through the briquets at a plurality of vertically spaced levels throughout the height of the shaft furnace. Gases are directed at temperatures to effect and successively lower stages of the furnace the preheating, predrying, carbonization, and cooling of the charge.

Abstract: The present specification describes and claims an arrangement for filling a vessel which is to be put under high pressure, with freely flowing solids from a storage vessel which is under normal pressure. The arrangement comprises a supply line extending between the storage vessel and the pressure vessel with a pressure sealing valve which can be tightly closed to counter the working pressure in the pressure vessel, and a shut-off valve suitable for sealing the storage vessel, arranged one behind the other in the supply line. The part of the supply line within the pressure vessel has at least one aperture in its wall and extends within a tube which also has an aperture or apertures, the tube and the supply line being so arranged that relative rotational movement there between opens and closes the aperture in the supply line. Thus, when the pressure vessel is full, the solids block off the supply line which is also full.

Abstract: The invention comprises a recirculatory process for producing hydrocarbons and oxygen in which sulphur dioxide is reacted with iodine and water to form a hydrogen polyiode or a hydrate thereof and sulphuric acid, the sulphuric acid is separated and thermally decomposed to form water sulphur dioxide and oxygen, the polyiodide or its hydrate is decomposed to form iodine and gaseous hydrogen iodide which is concurrently or separately reacted with a carbon oxide or mixture of carbon oxides to form hydrocarbons especially methane and water, the hydrocarbons and water being removed from the system and the remaining reaction products recirculated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in the process of conveying heat energy by means of the exothermic and endothermic reactions involved in the conversion and re-forming of methane. According to the invention, methane is steam-reformed in an endothermic reaction, utilizing heat energy, to a gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water vapor. The gas is substantially freed of water and is conveyed to a location wherein heat energy is desired. The heat energy is released upon re-forming methane and the exothermic reaction wherein methane is re-formed is carried out at elevated pressure and at least in part at temperatures between about 400.degree. and 650.degree. C. The methane so produced can be recycled if desired.

Abstract: The invention comprises a recirculatory process for producing methane and oxygen in which iodine and an oxide in a lower valency stage are reacted with methanol, dimethylether or a mixture thereof at an elevated temperature to form the corresponding oxide having a higher valency stage and methyl iodide, the methyl iodide is reacted with water to form hydrogen iodide and reform the methanol and/or dimethylether, the hydrogen iodide is reacted with carbon dioxide to form methane and water and the oxide in the higher valency state is decomposed to release oxygen and reform the oxide having a lower valency stage, the methane and released oxygen are removed and the remaining components are recirculated.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water in a cyclical process wherein aqueous sulfuric acid, containing hydrogen bromide, is electrolyzed to form hydrogen and bromine. Bromine is reacted with sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid and hydrogen bromide. The hydrogen bromide is separated from the sulfuric acid and recycled into the electrolysis. The sulfuric acid is thermally cracked to form sulfur dioxide, water and oxygen. Sulfur dioxide is recycled and combined with bromine for completion of the reaction cycle.

Abstract: In a thermochemical circulation process, hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from water wherein sulfuric acid and the paraffin hydrocarbon corresponding to the olefin used are formed from water, sulfur dioxide and a low-molecular weight olefin, particularly ethylene; the sulfuric acid is decomposed into water, sulfur dioxide and oxygen; the paraffin hydrocarbon is decomposed into the corresponding olefin and hydrogen; and after the removal of the hydrogen and oxygen, the remaining separation products are recycled into the first reaction.

Abstract: A closed-cycle multi-step thermochemical process is described for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water. The disclosed process utilizes auxiliary compounds of the system iron-chlorine. By using the following two basic process steps:A. reacting an iron oxide with hydrogen chloride or a mixture of hydrogen chloride and chlorine to form iron (II) chloride or iron (III) chloride andB. reacting iron or iron (II) oxide with water to form iron (II) oxide or iron (II) (III) oxideIt is possible to employ a variety of additional steps so that the sum total of the reaction steps consume water, produce hydrogen and oxygen and regenerate the desired starting materials within the closed system.

Abstract: Hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from water using a multi-step circulatory process using iron compounds and chlorine as adjuvants. Using three beds, respectively containing magnesium chloride, iron oxide and cuprous chloride, and by a four-step process involving passing steam through the magnesium bed, carbon monoxide through the iron bed, carbon dioxide through the copper bed, and steam through the iron bed one obtains hydrogen and oxygen as end products and is left with the starting materials in the respective beds. An efficiency of about 60% can be achieved by the process.

Abstract: A process for the dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen in a multi-stage closed cycle process using a system involving at least one metallic element having multiple valency and at least one halogen, characterized in that a halide of the multiple valency metallic element is subjected to a mixture of steam and hydrogen converting the halide to a mixture of the metallic element and at least one oxide thereof, said latter mixture is subjected to steam to produce a mixed valency oxide of the metallic element accompanied by the liberation of hydrogen, and said mixed valency oxide is then subjected to a hydrogen halide to convert it back to the said metallic halide with the liberation of oxygen.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing briquettes from brown coal includes drying brown coal, which is preferably in fine granular form. The dried brown coal is then heated at a first rate up to a temperature in a range of from about 300.degree. to about 320.degree. C. The brown coal is subsequently heated at a second rate, which is less than the first rate, to a temperature in the range of from about 350.degree. to about 400.degree. C. The brown coal is thereafter pressed into briquettes.

Abstract: A process for the direct reduction of iron ores using a reducing gas mixture which is passed through a shaft furnace containing the ore to be reduced is disclosed. The process is characterized in that the partial flow of reducing gas mixture is removed from the furnace approximately at the point of transition between the magnetite and Wustite stages of the ore and is regenerated. The regenerated reducing gas is then reapplied to the furnace with a fresh reducing gas mixture resulting in a substantial energy saving.