Abstract: A method of producing a source of rich (in the general range of 900 BTU per cubic foot) gaseous fuel, and a method of producing a rich gaseous fuel, both include reducing metallic manganese or a mixture of metals in which manganese predominates and carbonaceous material to a powder finer than 200 mesh, mixing the powders in a proportion by weight between 1 to 1 and 4 to 1 manganese to carbonaceous material (available carbon), and heating the mixture, in a reducing atmosphere, to a temperature of between 600.degree. and 950.degree. C. to substantial equilibrium by completion of reaction, generally for a period of about forty minutes. The production of gaseous fuel includes the step of treating the source material with a reactant taken from the group consisting of steam and a mildly acidic solution. The source material residue is then recycled.

Abstract: A process for recycling coal fines and ash particles in the reaction effluent from a fluidized bed gasification reactor for further gasification is disclosed. Surfaces of the reactor exit pipeline, cyclone inlet pipeline and first stage cyclone are maintained at a temperature lower than that of the effluent through the use of cooling jackets, thereby preventing ash adhesion on the surfaces.

Abstract: A slag trap structure is for use where synthesis gas is generated having small particulate slag entrained therewith. It has a high pressure shell with a body of water at the bottom for quenching and removing the slag. There is a coaxial inner wall to direct the flow of synthesis gas and slag down from an inlet at the top toward the body of water. And there is an outlet spaced substantially above the level of the water to cause reversal of the gas and slag flow. Also, there is means for recirculating some clean gas in conjunction with the inner wall to direct a swirling flow that confines the downward flow centrally in the vessel.

Abstract: A partial oxidation control system for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which one process fuel is replaced by a different fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. Suitable burners for introducing the feedstreams into the gas generator comprise a central conduit means radially spaced from a concentric coaxial outer conduit having a downstream exit nozzle, and providing a coaxial annular passage means therebetween. The central conduit means may be retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 and preferably 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice. A premix zone is preferably provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial chambers in series where substantial mixing of the reactant streams and optionally volatilization of the slurry medium takes place.

Abstract: An improvement in a cutting torch assembly that obviates the tendency to have a flashback and sustained burning immediately adjacent the point of mixing of the fuel with preheat oxygen; including cutting oxygen valve and passageway, preheat oxygen valve and passageway, fuel gas valve and passageway, a head having a tip end for having a tip affixed thereto and having a head passageway for cutting oxygen and a head passageway for the mixture of fuel and oxygen; the improvement being characterized by an integral head mixer having within the head an incoming preheat oxygen passageway and incoming fuel passageway, a mixer disposed within a well in the head and having its central bore aligned with a longitudinally extending passageway in the head and having lateral passageway penetrating through the wall of the mixer and in communication with the fuel annular space of the well, the inlet end of the bore communicating with the preheat oxygen annular space of the well such that the fuel will flow laterally through th

Abstract: A method for the gasification of a carbonaceous material is disclosed wherein a carbonaceous material containing potassium nitrate and a solid heat-transfer material comprising sintered bauxite are introduced into a reaction vessel, then the carbonaceous material is reacted with steam to form a hot char and a gaseous product, wherein the heat necessary for said reaction is supplied by the heat-transfer material. Preferably, the carbonaceous material contains from 2 percent to 15 percent potassium nitrate. More preferably, the carbonaceous material is petroleum coke mixed with about 5 percent potassium nitrate.

Abstract: Trim control of a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is effected by two improved control schemes which are automatically operated separately or in sequence. The control systems include sensors sensing the flow rate of the feedstreams and analyzers which provide signals corresponding to the wt. % carbon in the effluent gas quench cooling and scrubbing water for use in controlling the particulate carbon in the effluent gas stream, and/or signals corresponding to the mole fraction of CH.sub.4 (dry basis) in the cooled and cleaned effluent gas stream for use in controlling the temperature in the reaction zone. The signals from the sensors and analyzers are provided to the system control unit which computes values that represent the relative difference between the actual and desired carbon-make and/or the actual temperature in the reaction zone, and the relative difference between the actual and desired temperature in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A heat recovery process for use in gasification of solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal utilizing a fluidized bed of char. The vapor and entrained char dusts rise from a gasification section into a gas solids disengaging section and into a heat recovery section, from which a major portion of the char solids are returned to the gasification section. The vapor and some retaining fine solids pass upwardly into the cooling section containing a fluidized bed of char particles maintained at a temperature of about 800.degree.-1500.degree. F. by a cooling fluid to solidify sticky ash on the char particles. The char containing the sticky ash is then returned to the lower gasification section for reheating and further gasification reactions. The remaining fine solids are separated from vapors and returned to the lower fluidized beds, and a clean product gas stream is withdrawn.

Abstract: Hot synthesis gas is cooled and deashed by passage through first zone in contact with a downwardly descending film of cooling liquid, a second zone in contact with a spray of cooling liquid, a third zone in contact with a body of cooling liquid, and a fourth zone in contact with a spray of cooling liquid--at least a portion of the cooling liquid to the first zone preferably being recycled cooling liquid from which at least a portion of the solids contained therein has been removed.

Abstract: Trim control of a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is effected by two improved control schemes which are automatically operated separately or in sequence. The control systems include sensors sensing the flow rate of the feedstreams and analyzers which provide signals corresponding to the wt. % carbon in the effluent gas quench cooling and scrubbing water for use in controlling the particulate carbon in the effluent gas stream, and/or signals corresponding to the mole fractions of CO.sub.2, CH.sub.4, CO and H.sub.2 (dry basis) in the cooled and cleaned effluent gas stream for use in controlling the temperature in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A reforming furnace having a radiant section containing cracking tubes, a convection section and a stack is controlled so as to maintain a desired synthesis gas temperature unless such maintenance would result in the violation of a process constraint. The desired excess oxygen concentration in the combustion gases withdrawn from the radiant section is also maintained while maintaining the desired synthesis gas temperature. As for the convection section, the temperature of a fluid stream passing through the convection section is maintained while still maintaining a desired excess oxygen concentration in the stack gas.

Abstract: A high temperature (1000.degree. C. or higher) gas distributor for a fluidized bed, comprising a plurality of plates which are made of an oxide-based burned refractory material and which are reduced in thickness in the longitudinal direction thereof leaving both sides thicker, refractory supporting bricks holding in position both sides of the plates, and refractory holding bricks holding in position the above refractory supporting bricks and the ends of the plates.

Abstract: A process for the gasification of coal consisting essentially of forming a free-burning arc discharge between at least one anode and a cathode having a conical tip, wherein said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode, forcefully projecting a reactive material consisting of a mixture of pulverized coal and steam parallel to the surface of said conical tip of said cathode and through said contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode, at such a rate that said mixture of pulverized coal and steam is exposed to the free-burning arc for less than 3 milli-seconds, and recovering a solid carbonaceous fume having a surface area equivalent to a particle size in the range of 0.01 to 0.2 microns and a gaseous product comprising of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An improved method for generating gas from coal including caking and high sulfur coals, in a completely enclosed system wherein no oxygen or air is used to burn a portion of the coal and/or char to produce heat for the reaction. The heat for the reaction of the instant invention is produced by electric induction coils surrounding a vertical retort which possesses a plurality of compartments or cells whose walls are heated by induction. Energy requirement is reduced by pressurizing and methanating within the compartments in order to benefit from exothermic reaction of the methane formation. The coal charged is heated by said walls so that the coal is converted from coal to coke or char by driving the volatiles from the coal in a controlled and efficient manner. The char is further kept hot by the same heated walls of said compartments and also by direct induction to make possible the generation of gas, mainly CO and H.sub.2 by reacting steam with said hot char.

Abstract: Method for supplying fuel material to a gasification reactor into which a mixture of finely powdered fuel material, in suspension in a liquid phase, is charged inside a pressurized combustion chamber into which the combustion-supporting gas is injected and constituting the reactor, by means of a screw conveyor producing a continuously fluid-tight plug by compression of the driven material. By intermeshing at least two overlapping screws with identical threads rotated in the same direction, a wringing of the mixture introduced through an input orifice is compressed by regulating the flow rate of the mixture supply and the rotary speed of the screws so that, for a given flow rate of material, the plug constituted in a braking zone is at a given pressure and contains a certain proportion of liquid phase. The additional amount of liquid phase is expelled into the braking zone and reascends upstream into a drive zone where it is removed through orifices formed in filtering parts of a sleeve.

Abstract: A continuous process for preventing the build-up of metals from the hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed in a partial oxidation system in which about 80-100 wt. % of the carbon-soot produced is recycled to the gas generator. By the subject process a significantly large portion of the metals and metal compounds i.e. ash in the soot-water feed stream to the decanter become concentrated in the grey water that separates out in the decanter in the carbon recovery section. The concentration of ash suspended in the grey water may be then easily reduced in a solids-liquid separator with or without the addition of a flocculant and prior to recycling a portion of the grey water to the gas quench tank and/or gas scrubber.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a gas substantially containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas from a starting material containing carbon and/or hydrocarbon, the starting material is injected in powder or liquid form together with an oxidizing agent and slag former in a combustion zone while heat energy is simultaneously supplied. The combustion zone is formed in the lower portion of a shaft filled with particulate, solid, carbonaceous material and sulphur-binding slag former.

Abstract: A process for the removal of slag and other residual solid material from a coal gasification process as a suspension in water free from noxious gases normally associated therewith wherein water is drawn off from the quench section of a coal gasifier with the slag into lock hopper and is displaced by introducing cold fresh water into the lower portion of the lock hopper displacing the sour water from an exit in the upper portion of the lock hopper back into the quench section of the coal gasification system. In an alternate embodiment, noxious gases are stripped from the quench water in the lock hopper with a stripping gas. Solid waste and clean or decontaminated water are discharged from the system without pollution of the environment.

Abstract: An overall process of cooling, dust removal, tar removal and heat recovery of high temperature gas generated in coal gasification furnaces, and apparatuses employed therefor are provided. In this process, specific apparatuses such as fluidized bed-cooler, fluidized bed-combustion furnace for regenerating granules, granular bed filter, gas cooler and, tar scrubber are successively and effectively employed. During the process, high, medium and low pressure steam, for example, are recovered by heat exchange in these apparatuses.

Abstract: A method of operating a gasifier having at least four, and preferably eight, tuyeres, so as to bring about a rapid turndown from full operational loading to a relatively lower operational loading without the risk of either a temporary or permanent loss of a tuyere. The gasifying medium is arranged to be supplied to the tuyeres at either a first velocity and loading or a second, lower, velocity and loading and in carrying out the method the gasifying medium supplied to some or all of the tuyeres is changed abruptly from the first to the second velocity and loading at selected frequent intervals, in a predetermined pattern, so that a selective pulsing operation of the tuyeres occurs to bring about the required reduction in loading.