Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for preventing the unintentional introduction of coal from a supply into a coke oven which already contains a charge of coal or coke. An obstruction sensor is lowered through a charging hole in the ceiling of the oven; if it encounters an obstruction, such as a charge of coal or coke in the oven, it triggers a signal which blocks any discharge of coal through the charging hole into the oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the wet quenching of coke is disclosed wherein hot coke is sprayed from above with quenching water, the steam generated by the heat of the coke is condensed by a spray of condensation water from the top of the quenching tower, and the hot condensate-water mixture is collected at the bottom of the quenching tower and recirculating to the top of the tower where it is sprayed between quenching operations to be cooled by a counterflowing stream of air. The cooled condensate-water mixture is suitable for reuse as the condensation spray water.

Abstract: A process for the multi-stage catalytic methanization of a carbon monoxide-containing and hydrogen-containing feed gas at high pressure and temperature is carried out in three stages. In the first stage the feed gas is premethanized at a temperature of from 400.degree. to 500.degree. C.; in a second stage the premethanized gas is converted and in a third stage the converted gas is finally methanized at a temperature of from 300.degree. to 380.degree. C. Apparatus for carrying out this process preferably comprises a single elongated pressure reactor which is divided into three reaction zones each of which contains a reaction catalyst formed into a fluidized bed. The feed gas preferably flows upwards through the reactor firstly through the first fluidized bed, then through the second fluidized bed and finally through the third fluidized bed after which the product gas is withdrawn from the top of the reactor.

Abstract: Flue gas discharged from a recuperator or regenerator of a coke oven battery has the steam thereof removed by means of a direct or indirect cooling and condensation operation. After the steam is removed from the flue gas it is then passed through a coke dry cooling plant in direct contact with hot coke therein to form dry cooled coke while simultaneously increasing the temperature of the flue gas. The flue gas is then passed through a coal preheating plant to directly contact and dry and preheat moist coking coal contained therein. The entire system is open, such that a given quantity of the flue gas passes only once through the system. When the temperature of the flue gas as received from a coke oven battery is extremely high, then the flue gas may be subjected to a partial cooling operation prior to the cooling and condensation operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the wet quenching of coke is disclosed wherein hot coke is sprayed from above with quenching water, the steam generated by the heat of the coke is condensed by a spray of condensation water from the top of the quenching tower, and the hot condensate-water mixture is collected at the bottom of the quenching tower and recirculating to the top of the tower where it is sprayed between quenching operations to be cooled by a counterflowing stream of air. The cooled condensate-water mixture is suitable for reuse as the condensation spray water.

Abstract: A heat carrier gas is passed through a coke dry cooling plant in direct contact with hot coke therein to form dry cooled coke while simultaneously increasing the temperature of the heat carrier gas. The heat carrier gas is then passed through a coal preheating plant to directly contact and dry and preheat moist coking coal contained therein. The entire system is open, such that a given quantity of the heat carrier gas passes only once through the dry cooling plant and the coal drying and preheating plant. The heat carrier gas may be a flue gas which is passed directly to the coke dry cooling plant without any preliminary pretreatment, and preferably is a flue gas which is supplied directly from a regenerator or recuperator of a coke oven battery. Alternatively, the heat carrier gas may be in the form of a fuel gas which is inert with respect to the hot coke, for example a waste gas or stack gas supplied from an adjacent metallurgical installation, such as a steel mill.

Abstract: In the process of transferring coke from a coke oven chamber in a battery of coke ovens to a quenching car, the coke is quenched by a water spray from above. The resulting steam is collected in a hood located above and movable with the quenching car and is either exhausted from the hood and conveyed to a condenser or is condensed in the hood with the condensate being collected, cooled and recirculated to provide the water for the quenching and condensing sprays. The apparatus and method of this invention provides for transferring and quenching the coke without emitting harmful gases and dust to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An outer enclosed pressure container is formed of a simple steel material. An inner enclosed container is positioned within the pressure container such that there is an intermediate space therebetween. Catalyst layers are provided within the inner container. A gas containing a reducing component and water vapor are introduced into the inner container and are therein reacted by means of the catalyst to perform a desired reducing reaction. At least part of the water vapor is alone introduced into the intermediate space to thereby pressurize the intermediate space to substantially the same pressure as occurs within the inner container. The water vapor in the intermediate space operates to protect the wall of the pressure container from the temperatures occurring due to the catalytic reaction within the inner container. The water vapor is removed from the intermediate space and is at least partially added to the gas containing a reducing component before the introduction thereof into the inner container.

Abstract: A method of catalytic conversion of feed gases, particularly of a low-sulphur gas mixture rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen, into a product gas mixture containing methane and/or higher hydrocarbons under high pressure includes the step of removing heat of reaction from the catalytic conversion from a reaction zone by feeding both water and steam to form a cooling medium through a pipe coil in the reaction zone. This forms superheated steam in the pipe coil and the superheated steam is then converted into another form of energy, for example in a turbo-generator. Preferably the reaction zone is a fluidized bed. The apparatus for carrying out this method comprises a reactor, which is preferably a fluidized bed reactor and in this reactor the piping system forming the superheater is disposed in the lower part of the reaction zone. The superheater is connected to a feedwater line and to a steam inlet line and a steam turbine is connected to a steam output line leading from the superheater.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making coke and recovering the heat therefrom for preheating the firing gas to the coke oven. The process involves the use of the coke oven firing gas to extract the sensible heat from the hot coke from the coking oven to both preheat the firing gas for the coke oven and cool the hot coke. Significant economies are achieved in the two-fold function of coke production and heat recovery in accordance with the method disclosed.

Abstract: Hot coke oven gas is subjected, immediately after the discharge thereof from coke ovens, and without any preliminary cooling operation, to partial oxidation and cracking with an oxygen-containing gas, thereby forming a hot cracked gas rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The hot coke oven gas may be subjected to a desulfurization operation prior to the partial oxidation and cracking. Alternatively, the hot cracked gas may be subjected to a desulfurization operation after the partial oxidation and cracking. When the coke ovens are part of an overall metallurgical installation which includes an air separation and dissociation plant for obtaining substantially pure oxygen, the oxygen-containing gas employed in the partial oxidation and cracking may comprise oxygen enriched gas which is taken from an intermediate stage of the air separation and dissociation plant.

Abstract: A process for reducing the nitrogen oxide content of coke oven gases by spraying ammonia or ammonia-containing water into the regenerator chambers of a coke oven where the coking oven waste gases are at a temperature of between 700.degree. and 1100.degree. C.

Abstract: Coke oven gas is subjected, immediately after the discharge thereof from coke ovens, and without any preliminary cooling operation or any purification operation other than desulfurization, to a catalytic cracking operation to form a hot cracked gas which is rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The catalytic cracking reaction is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen-containing and/or CO.sub.2 -containing gas, with a steam reforming catalyst.

Abstract: The waste heat resulting from a coke oven operation is recovered in a two-stage proceeding. The waste gas is first cooled to not more than about 400.degree. C. in a recuperator or regenerator of the oven to principally utilize the heat radiation of the gas. Then, in a second stage, the gas is subjected to further cooling in a separate heat exchanger to principally exploit the heat convection of the gas. The process permits to recover waste gas on both basic principles of waste recovery, that is the recovery by radiation and the recovery by convection.

Abstract: A recuperative coke oven includes at least one recuperator chamber arranged below an oven chamber. Hot undergrate firing exhaust gas is passed from the oven through the recuperator chamber. At least one elongated recuperator extends into the recuperator chamber. The recuperator includes an inner tube and a coaxially outer tube. The inner end of the inner tube is open, and the inner end of the outer tube is closed to define an annular chamber between the two tubes. Combustion air to be heated is introduced into the inner tube and passed therethrough. The combustion air then reverses direction and passes through the annular chamber and is thereat heated by the hot exhaust gas passing through the recuperator chamber. The heated combustion air is discharged from the annular chamber and passed to the heating flues of the oven.

Abstract: Method for charging a coke oven chamber. Where the chamber is charged through a single charging hole with a stream of flowable preheated particulate coal at a flow rate of between substantially 8-20 tons per minute. The coal flows sufficiently in the chamber to assure filling of the chamber to substantially 100% of the volumetric capacity of the same. Due to the flowability of the preheated coal the charge is self-leveling.

Abstract: As hot crude coke oven gas is conveyed from coke ovens to a position of utilization, condensation of higher hydrocarbons from the coke oven gas is prevented by increasing the temperature of the coke oven gas to a temperature such that higher hydrocarbons are prevented from condensing therefrom. This increase in temperature may be achieved by injecting oxygen-containing gas into the hot crude coke oven gas, to thereby produce a partial combustion of the coke oven gas. Alternatively, when the coke oven gas is being conveyed to a thermal cracking reactor wherein the coke oven gas is thermally cracked to form a cracked gas, the temperature of the coke oven gas may be increased by passing the coke oven gas through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange relation with the cracked gas.

Abstract: Coal is passed in a two-stage process through a drying and heating zone. The coal coming from the drying zone is separated from the heat carrier gas which is then passed into the atmosphere after going through an electrodust separator. The dried coal is delivered into the heating zone. The hot gas for the heating zone is furnished by a combustion device. The exhaust gas from the heating zone is separated from the heated coal which is recovered while the exhaust gas is passed back into the drying zone. Part of the hot combustion gas coming from the combustion chamber is branched off and passed into the exhaust gas coming out of the drying zone either directly behind the drying zone or behind the separator for separating the dried coal from the exhaust gas. The temperature of the exhaust gas from the drying zone is thus prevented from sinking below the sulfuric acid dewpoint or water vapor dewpoint which might result in corrosive damage to the apparatus, particularly to the electrodust separator.