Furnaces Patents (Class 48/113)
  • Patent number: 8747501
    Abstract: A fuel gasification system including a gasification furnace including a fluidized bed formed by fluidizing reactant gas for gasifying fuel charged into gasification gas and flammable solid content, a combustion furnace for combustion of the flammable solid content into which the flammable solid content produced in the furnace is introduced together with bed material and that includes a fluidized bed formed by fluidizing reactant gas, a material separator such as hot cyclone that separates bed material from exhaust gas introduced from the combustion furnace, the separated bed material being fed through a downcomer to the gasification furnace, and a tar decomposing mechanism that heats the gasification gas produced in the furnace to decompose tar contained in the gasification gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Murakami, Koubun Kyo, Toshiyuki Suda
  • Publication number: 20140144081
    Abstract: A reactor for gasification of feedstocks for gasification, adapted to handle feedstocks for gasification comprising organic and inorganic compounds, wherein said compounds during gasification in the presence of oxygen and/or air at a gasification temperature, wherein the melting temperatures of the constituent inorganic compounds is at least 100° C. lower than the gasification temperature, are converted to a hot reducing gas above 950° C. but below 1300° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: CHEMREC AB
    Inventors: Ragnar Tegman, Ingvar Landälv
  • Publication number: 20130333288
    Abstract: A system for the production of fuel gas from solid or liquid organic feedstock uses a reentrant structure and a high pressure electric discharge to distinctly separate regions of slow and fast pyrolysis. Efficient re-use of discharge energy sustains the evolution of tar gas, through slow pyrolysis, which forms the feed gas for the discharge without introduction of air. Output is the result of fast pyrolysis and can be optimized to yield a high fraction of hydrogen and low fraction of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Edward Anthony Richley
  • Patent number: 8425637
    Abstract: A waste processing system and method is described. The waste processing system may be used to treat any type of waste material that may be decomposed upon the application of energy, wherein recyclable metal and/or a gaseous end product is/are generated which may have commercial or industrial applications. The waste material may be reduced in size and passed to a purge vessel where the oxygen content of the waste material is reduced. The waste material is then heated in a heat exchanger which may be linearly elongated and passed to a conversion chamber where it is treated with H—H—O gas torches. A final gaseous end product is generated which may be used as a fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventors: John R. Lersch, Lynell Braught
  • Publication number: 20110094159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reprocessing CO2-containing exhaust gases in a multistage reduction process. The CO2-containing exhaust gas is conducted in the counter stream to a solid mass stream of inert bulk material and organic material that can be thermally decomposed through a plurality of zones (4, 3, 2, 1) into a pressure equalization region and is thereby converted into pyrolysis gases. In the flow direction of the solid mass stream in a fuel gas production stage (1) at 250-700° C., the organic matter is thermally decomposed under reducing conditions into short-chained hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide to produce coke and residue. In an intermediate stage (2) with increasing temperature, oxidation of the pyrolysis coke is carried out, wherein the developing carbon monoxide is suctioned off counter to the solid mass stream in the direction of the fuel gas production stage (1). In a carbon monoxide production stage (3) at 800-1,600° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Roland Möller
  • Publication number: 20110078953
    Abstract: This invention involves a method and plant of production of combustible gas using biomass. This plant comprises a furnace body, a furnace cavity, gasifying agent inlet, combustible gas outlet (arranged on furnace cavity and higher than gasifying agent inlet), and a device that ignites biomass arranged at intersection between the horizontal plane where the combustible gas outlet is located and the internal wall of the furnace cavity. Method of operation: load biomass in the plant and ignite the upper part; gasifying agent will run through the material from bottom to top, gasifying the material and generating flue gas. This invention features outstanding advantages of stable gasifying reaction, safe and reliable operation, high fuel gas calorific value, low environmental pollution, and easy purification of combustible gas etc. This method can be used to produce combustible gas from not only biomass, but also solid organic gasifying raw materials such as household garbage and industrial refuse etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Wenzhen LIU
  • Publication number: 20100330441
    Abstract: A system for gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock, such as municipal waste, to generate power includes a devolitization reactor that creates char from the feedstock and a gasifier that creates a product gas from both the char and from volatiles released when devolitizing the feedstock. The product gas is reacted in a fuel cell to create electrical energy and process heat. The process heat is used to heat the devolitization reactor and the gasifier. The gasifier comprises a plurality of configurable circuits that can each be tuned to meet the individual needs of the char material being gasified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Gillespie, Christopher Paul Gillespie
  • Publication number: 20100299995
    Abstract: A biomass thermochemical gasification apparatus is provided that can manufacture high-quality fuel gas out of solid biomass in an industrial manner. This fuel gas can be used as fuel for a gas engine and a gas turbine for example and also can be used as synthesis gas for methanol synthesis. A high-temperature combustion gas generation apparatus (101) for biomass operates entirely by biomass and the heat source thereof does not depend on fossil fuel. A coarsely-ground powder biomass (205) subjected to gasification and gasification agent (303) are introduced to a primary gasification reaction room (202) and generate gasification reaction by, as reaction heat, radiation heat from a wall face of the primary gasification reaction room (202) heated by combustion gas (109a) generated in the high-temperature combustion gas generation apparatus (101) and are dissolved. Consequently, the biomass (205) is converted to clean and high-quality generated gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Masayasu Sakai, Toshiyuld Takegawa, Nobuaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20100269410
    Abstract: A ceramic heat exchanger 3 is provided for heat-exchanging of a gasification gas (600-900° C.) containing tar and produced in a gasification furnace 1 with a reformed gasification gas (1100-1500° C.) from a reforming furnace 2 for temperature raising before introduction of the gasification gas into the reforming furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Shiko Nakamura, Yoshiaki Matsuzawa, Hiroaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 7780749
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are unmixed fuel processors and methods for using the same. In one embodiment, an unmixed fuel processor comprises: an oxidation reactor comprising an oxidation portion and a gasifier, a CO2 acceptor reactor, and a regeneration reactor. The oxidation portion comprises an air inlet, effluent outlet, and an oxygen transfer material. The gasifier comprises a solid hydrocarbon fuel inlet, a solids outlet, and a syngas outlet. The CO2 acceptor reactor comprises a water inlet, a hydrogen outlet, and a CO2 sorbent, and is configured to receive syngas from the gasifier. The regeneration reactor comprises a water inlet and a CO2 stream outlet. The regeneration reactor is configured to receive spent CO2 adsorption material from the gasification reactor and to return regenerated CO2 adsorption material to the gasification reactor, and configured to receive oxidized oxygen transfer material from the oxidation reactor and to return reduced oxygen transfer material to the oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Zhe Cui
  • Publication number: 20100050516
    Abstract: A fuel gasification system including a gasification furnace including a fluidized bed formed by fluidizing reactant gas for gasifying fuel charged into gasification gas and flammable solid content, a combustion furnace for combustion of the flammable solid content into which the flammable solid content produced in the furnace is introduced together with bed material and that includes a fluidized bed formed by fluidizing reactant gas, a material separator such as hot cyclone that separates bed material from exhaust gas introduced from the combustion furnace, the separated bed material being fed through a downcorner to the gasification furnace, and a tar decomposing mechanism that heats the gasification gas produced in the furnace to decompose tar contained in the gasification gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Murakami, Koubun Kyo, Toshiyuki Suda
  • Publication number: 20100043683
    Abstract: A fluidized bed gasification system is provided in which bed material and raw material are passed throughout a fluidized bed gasification furnace so that raw material is gasified with higher gasification efficiency to improve gasification productivity. A heat-resistant partition 32 for regulation of bed material flow is arranged between positions I and II of a downcomer 12 of a separator 8 and of a supply flow passage 25 in plane of a fluidized bed gasification furnace 2. As a result, the bed material introduced via the downcomer 12 is directed to a supply flow passage 25 through a circuitous flow passage 33 throughout the fluidized bed gasification furnace 2 defined by the heat-resistant partition 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Matsuzawa, Toshiyuki Suda, Hironobu Fujiyoshi, Makoto Takafuji, Kenichiro Kondo
  • Publication number: 20090277090
    Abstract: A port assembly for controlling the delivery of gases into the horizontal rotating reactor such as kiln gasifier is disclosed for introducing reactant gases. The port assembly comprises a cylindrical conduit is divided into noncommunicating four or more sections extending through the entire length of the kiln and supported by the stationary end plates of the rotating kiln gasifier. Each section of the conduit communicates with external supply of the reactant gases and each supply of reactant gases is independently controlled in terms of the composition and quantity. Each section of the port assembly communicates with the interior of the kiln gasifier through the plurality of nozzles are confined in the lower part of the conduit. The number and the size of the nozzles in individual section of the conduit is based on the desired flow of gases and available pressure for the supply of the reactant gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Amirali Gulamhussein REHMAT, Renee Lyn COMLY, Amjad Abdulali KADWANI, Alex MATHEW, George MATHEW
  • Publication number: 20090260286
    Abstract: A compact biomass gasification apparatus is capable of gasifying a wide variety of biomass materials, without regard to their size and/or the water content of those materials, and also capable of substantially removing the tar component generated in a gasification process. A biomass gasification apparatus primarily includes an externally heated rotary kiln-type thermal cracking unit (2) indirectly heating and thermally cracking a biomass material to generate a tar-containing pyrolysis gas and char from the biomass material, and a gasification unit (3) receiving the tar-containing pyrolysis gas and char from the thermal cracking unit (2) and thermally cracking the tar component in the pyrolysis gas and gasifying the char by an oxidation gas being introduced therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Chugai Ro Co., Ltd., a Corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasauchi, Miki Taniguchi, Takumi Kato
  • Publication number: 20090260288
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing gas from hydrogen-bearing starting materials—such as those also containing carbon, carbonaceous materials, hydrocarbons or other hydrogen-bearing materials—the starting materials are fed into a 3-dimenstional plasma region to produce two output streams: a gas substantially containing hydrogen, and a by-products stream. Apparatus and a method are disclosed for generating gas which is substantially hydrogen gas (but may also contain other gaseous species) from the essentially complete dissociation of the starting materials in a plasma operating under pyrolytic conditions.1 Starting materials are fed into a plasma reactor. These starting materials are heated by one or more disclosed plasma sheets and/or plasma arrays in a reactor. The manufactured gas is vented from the reactor through an outlet. By-products are also removed from the reactor after being processed to remove the manufactured gas constituents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Christopher Lawrence de Graffenried, SR.
  • Patent number: 7569085
    Abstract: A system for production of hydrogen comprises at least one steam reforming zone configured to receive a first fuel and steam to produce a first reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen using a steam reforming process. The system further comprises a mixed reforming zone configured to receive an oxidant to produce a second reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the first reformate gas stream is sent to the mixed reforming zone to complete the reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Vipperia Kumar, Vladimir Zamansky, Boris Nikolaevich Eiteneer, Shawn David Barge, Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Ke Liu
  • Publication number: 20090145028
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the gasification of carbonaceous materials in the form of solid particles. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: heating a gaseous mixture formed by a feed gas and water vapour in a heater (1); bringing the particles of the carbonaceous materials into contact with the heated gaseous mixture in a pressurised gasification reactor (2), with the formation of a raw reaction gas and unburnt ash; separately supplying the heater with (i) water vapour and (ii) the aforementioned feed gas; taking separate samples from the heater of the gaseous mixture (at point 13) and of part of the feed gas in the dry state (at point 16); and injecting into the gasification reactor said dry feed gas and a gas forming therewith a fuel mixture in the ash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Luis DE AZCOITIA
    Inventor: Jacques Ribesse
  • Patent number: 7090707
    Abstract: A new combustion chamber design for a quench gasifier. Electrical heating is used in the throat area of the combustion chamber to achieve temperatures up to 3500° F. to melt ash deposits and to increase carbon conversion (reduce soot production). Silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride refractory materials are used in the hot face of the throat to withstand high temperatures and high temperature shocks. The proposed design reduces the capital cost of a gasification plant by eliminating the need for soot recovery and recycle system. This design also reduces the operating cost of the gasification plant by decreasing the frequent refractory damages that have been experienced in the throat area of the existing quench gasifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventor: Devendra T. Barot
  • Patent number: 6585785
    Abstract: A fuel processor apparatus comprising a catalytic tubular reactor is heated using an infrared radiant burner to provide the endothermic heat of reaction needed to reform a mixture of hydrocarbon and steam for the production of a hydrogen-rich gas stream. The hydrogen-rich gas stream is further purified using a sequence of catalytic steps that is fed to a fuel cell whereupon a portion of the hydrogen contained in the gas stream is consumed for the production of electricity by electrochemical reaction with oxygen. An unused portion of the purified hydrogen-rich gas stream exits the fuel cell stack and is combusted in the infrared radiant burner. A fuel cell control system rapidly responds to a variable fuel cell electric demand by adjusting the feed of hydrocarbon to the catalytic tubular reactor to maintain the surface temperature of the infrared radiant burner within defined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Harvest Energy Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Warren, Michael B. Donahue
  • Publication number: 20030118489
    Abstract: A housing containing two or more individual operating components called modules is disclosed. The modules themselves are independently contained in one or more vessels with attendant connectivity structures such as pipes, tubes, wires and the like. Each such vessel or device is configured to conduct at least one unit reaction or operation necessary or desired for generating or purifying a hydrogen enriched product gas formed from a hydrocarbon feed stock. Any vessel or zone in which such a unit operation is conducted, and is separately housed with respect at least one other vessel or zone for conducting a unit operation, is considered a module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Mark R. Hagan, William F. Northrop, Jian Lian Zhao
  • Publication number: 20020043022
    Abstract: A compact endothermic catalytic reaction apparatus for converting hydrocarbon feedstock and methanol to useful gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprising a tubular endothermic catalytic reactor, a radiant combustion chamber and an annular convection section. Thus tubular endothermic catalytic reactor receives radiant energy from a metal fiber burner that is disposed within the radiant combustion chamber. Combustion products from the radiant chamber enter an annular convection section wherein heat is transferred by forced convection to the tubular endothermic catalytic reactor. The combination of radiant and convective heat transfer results in a compact design of high thermal efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventor: David W. Warren
  • Patent number: 5851497
    Abstract: A gasifier (10) for partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (13) of the gasifier (10). The latter includes a water bath (26) into which the hot effluent or the products of combustion are immersed, including a synthetic gas. The products of combustion are directed into the bath (26) by way of a constricted throat section (31). To avoid excessive erosion action and/or thermal shock to the throat section (31) as a result of exposure to the effluent's high temperatures, the throat section (31) is structured with an internal framework of pipes (32). The flamework (32) is communicated with a pressurized source of a cooling fluid (42), preferably water, whereby to cool the throat section (31) sufficiently to counteract the ill effects of exposure to contact with the high temperature effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Duane Brooker, James Samuel Falsetti, James Kenneth Wolfenbarger, Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 5730763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for gasifying liquid and/or fine-grain solid gasification substances and/or for reforming a gas, using a gasification agent, in a reaction (1). In the process the process heat is supplied by heat carrier particles which are heated within a substantially closed circuit in a heater (5) by combustion gases which are produced in a combustion chamber (3), and passed through the reactor (1) in counter-flow relationship with the gasification substance or the gas to be reformed and the gasification agent, and then returned to the heater (5) for renewed heating. In accordance with the invention the particles and the combustion gas form a fluidized bed above at least one grid (34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e) arranged in the heater (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Kortec AG
    Inventors: Mircea Tudor Manulescu, Jean-Paul Vandenhoeck
  • Patent number: 5464592
    Abstract: A gasifier for partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the gasifier. The latter includes a water bath into which the hot effluent or products of combustion are immersed, including a synthetic gas. The products of combustion are directed into the bath by way of a constricted throat section. To avoid excessive erosion action and/or thermal shock to the throat section as a result of exposure to the effluent's high temperatures, the throat section is structured with an internal framework of pipes. The framework is communicated with a pressurized source of a cooling fluid, preferably water, whereby to cool the throat section sufficiently to counteract the ill effects of exposure to contact with the high temperature effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Brooker, James S. Falsetti, James K. Wolfenbarger, Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 5462676
    Abstract: A system and process for treating solid and liquid wastes, where the solid waste is separated from the liquid waste in a chamber, the liquid waste is passed out of the chamber, the solid waste is converted to ash, a fluid such as liquid waste is introduced into the chamber and combined with the ash, and the ash and fluid are exhausted out of the chamber together. Preferably, the system includes the use of hot air to agitate the solids during their conversion to ash. Desirably, the system also includes a filter and means to swirl the liquid waste as it exits the chamber, so that the liquid waste evenly distributes the solid waste within the filter as the liquid waste is exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Envirowaste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Pitts
  • Patent number: 4584947
    Abstract: Novel designs of two types of down draft pyrolysis reactors are disclosed. One is a solid fuel reactor including a novel arrangement of down draft air inlet entrances, air distribution means, a consumable/replenishable catalytic bed, a heat exchanger for preheating inlet gas with the sensible heat of the exiting gas, and an infrared radiation trap below the reactor's screen grate. The other is an off gas pyrolysis reactor which includes a down draft reaction chamber with a fixed catalytic bed, a similar heat exchanger arrangement, an infrared radiation shield, an infrared radiation trap outside the gas outlet of the reaction chamber, and a unique relationship between the infrared radiation shield and the surface of the fixed catalytic bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Donald E. Chittick
  • Patent number: 4452611
    Abstract: A downdraft channel gasifier for the efficient conversion of biomass materials to usable heat energy, which includes at least two generally triangularly shaped air ducts positioned longitudinally across an enclosed housing defining a combustion chamber. The air ducts have sloping sides which downwardly converge towards one another to define at least one open-botton V-shaped channel, the sloping sides primarily supporting the biomass fuel which will be combusted to derive producer gas. The air ducts are hollow and are in fluid communication with a high pressure air source at one end, and with the gasification chamber through air jet openings near their apexes. The high pressure air exits out air jet openings along the top edges of the air ducts, providing primary air for gasification of the biomass in the channels. The producer gas passes down between the channels and horizontally to an exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Inventor: Clarence B. Richey
  • Patent number: 4355003
    Abstract: A furnace or generator for reacting a hydrocarbon gas which undergoes a reaction having an exothermic phase followed by an endothermic phase, is disclosed. The generator consists of concentric inner and outer tubes having a reacting gas inlet at the top of the inner tube and a reacted gas outlet near the top of the outer tube. The inner tube has holes adjacent its bottom for communicating the bottom of the inner tube with the annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube. The bottom portion of the generator forms a reactor portion while the top portion forms a recuperator portion. A gas air mixture entering near the top of the inner tube is heated in the recuperator portion by the reacted gas in the annular passage. Additional heating means may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Edward W. Grobel
  • Patent number: 4212652
    Abstract: Apparatus and system for producing high pressure gas, such as high pressure coal gas from coal, air and water. Pulverized coal is introduced into a rising stream of steam in a central reaction column of a retort to constitute a fluidized or entrained bed. The coal reacts with the steam to form a gas consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane and higher hydrocarbons. The retort is constructed so that product gas and air may be burned in an annular chamber surrounding the central reaction column to produce hot flue gas. The hot flue gas is used to drive a turbine which in turn, drives a compressor which introduces compressed air into the annular chamber. Steam tubes may be disposed in the annular space so that the steam introduced to the central reaction chamber may be super-heated by the hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Inventor: Anthony A. duPont
  • Patent number: 4153426
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for producing synthetic gas by using a blast furnace as a gasifier. The furnace is charged in a conventional manner with particles of solid carbonaceous material such as normal, low grade or undersized coke together with slag-producing material, such as limestone, silica and/or basic oxygen furnace and/or open hearth furnace slag. Fluent fuel such as pulverized coal mixed with oxygen-containing gas and with lime if desired is injected into pre-ignition chambers near the hearth line of the furnace. The fluent fuel is ignited and partially gasified in the pre-ignition chambers, creating a hot reducing gas that enters the furnace raceway and passes upwardly into and through the body of charge material in the furnace stack. At the resulting high temperatures ash from the fluent fuel liguifies within the system to provide a liquid slag. Under a controlled high temperature reducing atmosphere, the liquid lime removes essentially all sulfur from the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Arthur G. McKee & Company
    Inventor: Reginald Wintrell
  • Patent number: 4137052
    Abstract: Apparatus and system for producing coal gas from coal, air and water. Pulverized coal is introduced into a rising stream of air and steam in a retort to constitute a fluidized or entrained bed. The coal reacts with the steam and air to form a gas consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane and higher hydrocarbons. In some cases the air may be eliminated to produce nitrogen-free gas. In other instances, the production of methane and higher hydrocarbons may be suppressed to produce a gas consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The retort is constructed so that product gas and air may be burned in an annular space surrounding the central reaction column to produce hot flue gas. Steam tubes may be disposed in the annular space so that the steam and air introduced to the central reaction chamber may be super-heated by the hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Inventors: Anthony A. du Pont, Joseph A. Connell