Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing material, such as coal, comprises subjecting the coal (14) to laser light The laser light is used to vaporize and ionize a small amount of the coal to produce spectral emissions. A plurality of detection, (26, 30, 34) each of which detect a part of the spectrum of the spectrum emissions, collect spectral information and pass it to data collection means (38, 40, 42). The data is then analyzed to determine the presence and/or amount of one or more elements or species in the coal. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus, has a plurality of data collection means (26, 30, 34), with each of the plurality of detection means being associated with a respective data collection means (38, 40, 42). The apparatus provides rapid and accurate analysis of the coal. The apparatus may be used to analyze coal on conveyor belt or coal in a seam in the ground.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasifying high moisture content carbonaceous material by introducing a solid first carbonaceous material (1) into at least one pressurized drier vessel (2), the first carbonaceous material having a moisture content above about 30 wt % wet basis. The moisture content of the first carbonaceous material is reduced by passing a hot flue gas having a low oxygen content through the pressurized drier vessels. Then the dried first carbonaceous material is transferred from the drier vessels to a pressurized carbonizer vessel (10). The dried material is partially gasified in the carbonizer vessel to produce a high temperature fuel gas (18) and a solid residual material (16). The solid residual material is transferred to a pressurized combustion chamber (4) to produce the low oxygen content flue gas for the pressurized drier vessels.