Abstract: Fine grained fuel such as coal dust is gasified at an elevated pressure by passing the fuel from a supply tank which is at atmospheric pressure by a pump into a pressurized lock basin and therefrom into the gasifier, the fuel during such movement retaining its loose consistency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering the sulfur components of acidic gases collected by gas desulfurization. The inventive concept is to first compress a stream of the acidic gas (known as "acid gas") up to a pressure of 8.00 to 12.00 atmospheres absolute. Then this compressed stream of gas is cooled to -35.degree. to -45.degree. C. The pressure on this cooled gas is reduced to a pressure of 1.05 to 2.00 atmospheres absolute. Subsequently, the gas is further cooled to a temperature of -55.degree. to -65.degree. C. Finally, the resulting mixture is conducted to a separator where frozen solid constituents are separated from the gaseous constituents. The gaseous constituents include substantially all of the sulfides produced during the gas desulfurization and the frozen solid particles consist essentially of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Fine-grained solids including dust-like solids are introduced into a reaction space which is under pressure such as used in the gasifying of coal is effected by mixing carbon dioxide in the form of dry ice with the solids after the solids have been precooled to a temperature of -80.degree. C., then bringing the formed mixture of solids and dry ice up to the pressure required for introduction into the reaction space, thereafter subjecting the dry ice to sublimation to separate it from the solids and subsequently, after pressure release and cooling to the desublimation comparative, reconverting the gaseous carbon dioxide into dry ice which then is circulated into the next run while the solids are passed into the reaction space.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing harmful substances from effluents has two chambers located symmetrically at opposite sides of an effluent channel. Each chamber contains two or more stacked trays which are each provided with a spiral flow path descending from a tray inlet to a tray outlet. All tray inlets are so located in the channel that substantially all effluent flowing in the channel is compelled to enter them and to travel by gravity through the respective tray. Air, an insert gas or a mixture of both is bubbled from below through the effluent flowing in the trays to expel and entrain the harmful substances. The treated effluent is then discharged back into the channel at locations downstream of its point of admission into the inlets.

Abstract: A carbon monoxide-rich gas of a carbon monoxide concentration of at least 98% by volume is produced by[a] generating a hydrogen and carbon monoxide-containing crude gas by gasification of a finely divided solid fuel, including dust-like fuel, with oxygen or oxygen-enriched air and steam;[b] desulfurizing the crude gas;[c] removing any carbon dioxide present in the crude gas by a selective wash;[d] subjecting the thus-treated crude gas to a low temperature decomposition into a carbon monoxide fraction, a hydrogen fraction and a fraction constituted by the residual gases;[e] carrying out an endothermal catalytic conversion of the hydrogen fraction by reaction with the carbon dioxide removed in step [c] from the crude gas, the carbon monoxide-rich gas occurring in said conversion reaction, after elimination of the condensate, being recycled into the crude gas at a place preceding said carbon dioxide removal (step [c]), while[f] recovering the formed carbon monoxide-rich gas fraction for further use and dischargi

Abstract: A two-stage process for the separation of tar, from the condensates which result from the cooling of coke oven or generator gas, is disclosed along with the apparatus for carrying out the process. The condensates are first separated in a preliminary stage into a water phase, a tar phase and a thick tar phase. The tar phase is then further dehydrated in a pressure separator.

Abstract: A tool provided with a scraping edge is mounted on a support so that it can pivot about a substantially horizontal axis between a lower starting position, an upper end position and one or more intermediate positions in which the scraping edge of the tool engages the bottom surface of a coke oven door plug to scrape deposits off the same. An arrangement is provided for urging the tool towards its upper end position and thereby to make the scraping edge engage the bottom surface of the plug, and a tracking device prevents engagement of the scraping edge with the bottom surface of the plug unless the scraping edge is away from the region where the coke oven door is provided with a door seal.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an apparatus for scraping the bottom wall of a coke oven chamber adjacent the chamber opening so as to remove deposits which would otherwise prevent the sealing insertion of the chamber door into the opening. The apparatus has a support which can be inserted into and withdrawn from the chamber opening. A scraping tool is mounted on the support so that it can pivot between an upwardly tilted position which it assumes as the apparatus is being inserted into the chamber opening, and a downwardly tilted position in which a horizontally extending scraping edge of the tool engages the bottom wall of the coke oven chamber to scrape away deposits therefrom as the support is withdrawn from the chamber opening. A biasing arrangement biases the scraping tool into engagement with the bottom wall when the scraping tool is in the downwardly pivoted position.

Abstract: After replacement of the walls of one chamber of a coking battery this one chamber is heated up by withdrawing relatively hot air from another still-hot chamber of the coking battery and injecting it into the cold chamber. This is done by means of a conduit extending between the two chambers and provided with an internal nozzle that conducts the hot gas from the hot chamber to the cool chamber by jet-pump action. This hot gas is mixed with relatively cool air so as slowly to heat the cool chamber up.

Abstract: A continuously operating gasifying vessel is supplied with a combustible particulate material from a source of such material through two cyclically operating conveying tubes each of which has a diaphragm member in its interior. The diaphragm member subdivides the interior of each of the conveying tubes into a first compartment which communicates with the supply and with the vessel, and a second compartment which surrounds the first compartment. A first valve is interposed between the source and the first compartment, and a second valve is interposed between the first compartment and the vessel. When the first valve is opened and the second closed, material is introduced into the first compartment, and when the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened, the material is discharged into the vessel at an elevated pressure. To elevate the pressure in the first compartment, a pressurized fluid is introduced thereinto.

Abstract: Ashes and cinders which form during gasification of solid combustible substances are captured in a liquid body and form clinker granules of different sizes therein. A comminutor is arranged below the chamber in which the liquid body is accommodated so that the clinker granules descend into the comminutor in which the clinker granules are reduced to clinker particles having sizes equal to or smaller than a predetermined size. The comminutor may have two comminutor rollers rotated by respective drives in opposite directions about parallel horizontal axes. The drives are arranged outside and mounted on the comminutor housing, and are connected to the respective comminutor rollers by shafts penetrating through the comminutor housing and sealed by shaft seals. The comminutor may, in the alternative, include a single comminutor roller which cooperates with a grating tiltably mounted in the comminutor housing.

Abstract: Process for recovering highly pure aromatic substances from mixtures of hydrocarbons which contain in addition to the aromatic substances, large amounts of non-aromatic substances by liquid-liquid extraction in combination with an after arranged extractive distillation whereby the liquid-liquid extraction of the starting hydrocarbon mixture is carried out under such conditions that the resulting extract contains substantially the total amount of the aromatic substances and a portion of the non-aromatic substances, introducing this extract into an after arranged extractive distillation for further separating said extract whereby the sump product (extract phase) formed is drawn off and introduced into an after arranged distillation column where it is separated into an aromatic and a solvent fraction, while the head product of the extractive distillation (raffinate phase) is reintroduced into the bottom of the extractor for liquid-liquid extraction thereof, wherein there is used in both of the extracting stages,

Abstract: An annular frame has an outer and an inner wall defining a space therebetween and a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on said walls. Carriages for carrying material to be cooled are located in said space adjacent each other. Each carriage has a pair of aligned pins fixedly connected thereto and turnably mounted in the frame, and a pair of levers fixedly connected at one end to the pins and extending transverse to the pins axes. Roller followers are fixedly mounted at the other ends of the lever. A pair of annular guide rails support the plurality of the wheels rotably mounted on the walls of the frame and are engaged by the roller followers. Each guide rail has in a zone of unloading of the carriages a downwardly curving portion. During riding of the roller followers over this portion the respective carriages tilt about the axes of the pins to thereby discharge the material from the carriages.

Abstract: The arrangement includes a source of finely divided solid combustible material fluidized in an inert gas, and also a source of combustion-supporting gas, such as oxygen, air, or oxygen-enriched air. A gasifier is provided for gasifying finely divided solid combustible material by reacting the same with combustion-supporting gas, and the gasifier has one or more inlets. A first conduit connects the source of combustible material to an inlet of the gasifier. A second conduit connects the source of combustion-supporting gas to an inlet of the gasifier.

Abstract: Dried, finely divided coal is admitted into a gasifying chamber wherein it undergoes partial oxidation in the presence of air and water vapor so as to form a combustible gas. The combustible gas is cooled by heat-exchange with water thereby causing low-pressure and high-pressure steam to be generated. After being washed, compressed and desulfurized, the cooled combustible gas is admitted into a combustion chamber. Here, it is combusted in the presence of preheated air so as to form a combustion gas. The hot combustion gas preheats the air and water vapor used for the partial oxidation, superheats the high-pressure steam previously produced and generates additional high-pressure steam. As a result, the combustion gas is cooled. The cooled combustion gas is expanded in a gas turbine which drives an electrical generator.

Abstract: A process for the production of a gas having a methane content between 40 and 99% by volume from a gas mixture which contains hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and at least 20% by weight of carbon monoxide which comprises the following steps:A. humidifying the gas mixture by mixing water vapor therewith,B. subjecting the humidified gas mixture to a partial catalytic conversion so as to reduce its content of carbon monoxide to between 10 and 20% by volume,C. desulfurizing the partially converted gas mixture,D. subjecting the desulfurized gas mixture to a first catalytic methanation step,E. cooling and dehumidifying the resulting gas mixture,F. reheating the said cooled and dehumidified gas mixture and subjecting it to a second catalytic methanation step, andG.

Abstract: The gaseous product obtained by the partial oxidation of a fuel such as coal and/or oil is desulfurized and then admitted into a packed gas-liquid contact column. Here, the gas comes into contact with water so as to become at least partially saturated with water vapor. The gas is next conveyed to a reactor wherein it undergoes a methane-forming reaction under isothermal conditions, the methane-forming reaction taking place without previously subjecting the gas to a conversion reaction. The methane-forming reaction is carried out catalytically with a nickel-containing catalyst and deposition of carbon from the gas onto the catalyst is prevented by virtue of the water vapor present during the reaction. The quantity of water vapor present during the reaction is adjusted so as to lie between predetermined limits. After completion of the reaction, the gas is admitted into another packed gas-liquid column wherein it is cooled by contact with cooling water at which time residual water vapor in the gas condenses.

Abstract: The gaseous mixture obtained from the partial oxidation of coal and/or heavy oil is desulfurized. Thereafter, the gaseous mixture is admitted into a reactor wherein it simultaneously undergoes a conversion reaction and a methanization reaction. The reactions take place at a temperature between 280.degree. and 500.degree.C and at a pressure between 3 and 60 atmospheres in excess of atmospheric pressure. The reactions proceed catalytically in the presence of conventional catalysts. After having been subjected to the reactions, the gaseous mixture is conveyed to a scrubber for the removal of carbon dioxide. A gas containing at least 80 percent by volume of methane is obtained.

Abstract: A combustion system, such as a recuperator in a furnace, has a combustion chamber, a burner which communicates with the combustion chamber and tends in operation to produce acoustic waves leading to the development of vibrations, and a conduit communicating with the burner and supplying thereto a stream of fuel fluid. The development of the waves and vibrations is precluded by providing in the conduit upstream of the burner a compartment having a volume equal to forty times the product of the cross-sectional area and the diameter of the conduit so that the acoustical waves originating in the burner are reflected, and the conduit is further intermediate the burner and the compartment so constructed as to be of unobstructed cross-section and has a length equal to substantially one-quarter of the wave length of sound waves which would develop if the vibrations were allowed to occur.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon mixture consisting of an aromatic and a non-aromatic component is subjected to a liquid-liquid extraction and/or an extractive distillation. A solvent is used which selectively dissolves the aromatic component so as to form an extract phase. The extract phase is introduced into a distillation column for separating the solvent and the aromatic component. The column is provided with trays and the extract phase is introduced into the column at about the middle thereof from where the solvent flows downwardly and the aromatic component flows upwardly. Sufficient water is introduced into the sump of the column to insure that the trays above the location at which the extract phase enters the column are filled with water during the separation. This improves the operation of the distillation column. An arrangement for carrying out the above process is also disclosed.