Abstract: A method (100) of recovering tar from the gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feedstock (14) to produce a raw gas (20) which includes at least CO, H2, tar and entrained solids, the raw gas (20) being at a temperature of at least 250° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). The raw gas (20) is quenched and washed (22) with a quench liquid (24) producing a solids-containing liquid stream (32) which includes tars, the solids-containing liquid stream being at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). Solids (56) are separated (46) from the solids-containing liquid stream (32) to provide a tar recovery stream (102). The tar recovery stream (102) is treated by at least cooling (34) and pressure expansion (36) thereof to produce a tar stream (58).

Abstract: A closure component for solids-handling equipment includes a closure body configured to close a solids flow path by displacement of the closure body along a stroke axis and a removable metallic sealing element attached to the closure body. The metallic sealing element is configured sealingly to engage an endless metallic seat spaced radially outwardly from the stroke axis when the closure body closes the solids flow path. The closure body includes or defines at least one locating formation to engage and locate the metallic sealing element.

Abstract: A grate assembly (10) for a gasifier for gasifying carbonaceous material producing ash includes an upper rotatable grate component (11) and a lower rotatable support structure (12) fastened to the upper rotatable grate component (11) by a plurality of removable fasteners (15) acting to prevent vertical displacement of the upper rotatable grate component (11) and the lower rotatable support structure (12). The lower rotatable support structure (12) is configured to be drivingly rotated about a common vertical axis of rotation (21) shared with the upper rotatable grate component (11). The assembly (1) further includes at least two key torque transmitters (16) spaced angularly relative to the common axis of rotation (21) and engaging the upper rotatable grate component (11) and the lower rotatable support structure (12) to transfer torque from the lower rotatable support structure (12) to the upper rotatable grate component (11) when the lower rotatable support structure (12) is driven.

Abstract: A seat component (17) for solids-handling equipment includes a metal seat body (32) defining an endless hardened metal seat surface (40) for a closure component (16) to seat against with metal-to-metal contact and with a solids flow path extending through the seat body (32). The seat body (32) includes an endless recess (50) spaced radially outwardly from the hardened metal seat surface (40), which has a mouth (52) and an interior (54) communicating with the mouth (52) and extending away from the mouth (52) into the seat body (32). The interior (54) of the recess (50) has at least one region (56) which is wider than the mouth (52) or which is wider than a narrower region of the recess (50) between the wider region (56) and the mouth (52). The wider region (56) is defined by at least one step-wise change in the width of the recess (50).

Abstract: A closure component for solids-handling equipment includes a closure body configured to close a solids flow path by displacement of the closure body along a stroke axis and a removable metallic sealing element attached to the closure body. The metallic sealing element is configured sealingly to engage an endless metallic seat spaced radially outwardly from the stroke axis when the closure body closes the solids flow path. The closure body includes or defines at least one locating formation to engage and locate the metallic sealing element.

Abstract: A method (100) of recovering tar from the gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feedstock (14) to produce a raw gas (20) which includes at least CO, H2, tar and entrained solids, the raw gas (20) being at a temperature of at least 250° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). The raw gas (20) is quenched and washed (22) with a quench liquid (24) producing a solids-containing liquid stream (32) which includes tars, the solids-containing liquid stream being at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). Solids (56) are separated (46) from the solids-containing liquid stream (32) to provide a tar recovery stream (102). The tar recovery stream (102) is treated by at least cooling (34) and pressure expansion (36) thereof to produce a tar stream (58).

Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).

Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).