Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the reprocessing of carbon containing wastes by pretreating the same thermally in the presence or absence of hydrogen, followed by hydrogenation of the pretreated material at elevated temperature and at least 200 bar hydrogen pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing samples taken from a flow of bulk material for the purposes of determining representative chemical and/or physical characteristics of the sampled material. The sampled material is removed in the form of a mix of fine and coarser particles of dust from the flow of bulk material by way of a suction conduit. The sample-preparing apparatus is positioned at a spacing from the intake opening of the suction conduit and at a spacing from the flow of bulk material, and comprises a first housing accommodating a first hollow strainer and a second housing downstream of the first housing and accommodating a second hollow strainer. Outside the second strainer, the second housing is communicated with a reduced pressure source for producing the suction effect to transport the dust particles of the sampled material through the two housings and, insofar as the grain size of the dust particles permits, also through the two strainers.

Abstract: Solid material which is carried out of a fluidized bed reactor with the gas discharged therefrom and which is separated off in a separator is returned to the reactor by way of a recycling means. To reduce problems caused by virtue of differing pressure levels within the system in the recycling operation, the pressure in the recycling means between the separator and the upper boundary of a bed of solid material which is formed in the recycling means is reduced by suction removal of gas to a pressure level which is no higher than or even lower than the lowest pressure in the separator which in turn is lower than the pressure in the reactor.

Abstract: The device comprises an inclined rotating chute with adjustable angle of inclination, having an elongated flat sliding surface with a rectilinear longitudinal side provided with a retaining edge, the opposite longitudinal side being the pouring side and having overall the shape of an elongated "S" extending, without interruption and without corners, along the bottom end of the sliding surface as far as the bottom end of the rectilinear side.

Abstract: For starting a gasifier for the gasification of carbonaceous fuel with an oxygen-bearing gasification agent in a fluidized bed, the gasifier is filled with an inert gaseous medium and put under an increased pressure. After sealing integrity has been established, a combustible gas mixture is ignited in a combustion chamber connected to the lower part of the gasifier, by means of an ignition device which operates under pressure. The gas mixture is thus burnt, while the increased pressure in the gasifier is maintained, at least until the temperature within the gasifier corresponds to the gasification temperature. The arrangement for carrying the method into effect includes a pressure-resistant combustion chamber for combustion of the combustible gas mixture by means of the ignition device. The combustion chamber is connected at least at times to the lower part of the gasifier, by way of an openable slide member.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for the production of gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a solid fuel in a fluidized bed, the solid particles contained in the product gas are separated off in a cyclone separator and recycled to the fluidized bed by way of a recycling conduit. The recycling conduit is provided with injection nozzles for introducing gas flows into the recycling conduit in a pulse-like manner in order to loosen up the particles therein. The gas flows may be introduced into the recycling conduit in displaced relationship in respect of time in such a way that, of two adjacent injection locations, gas is injected through the injection location which is arranged at a greater spacing from the reactor at a later time than at the injection location which is closer to the reactor.

Abstract: A single stage methanization reactor and process are made to yield a product gas of high methane content as well as useful superheated steam without overheating the catalyst bed in which a synthesis gas containing, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 is converted into product gas. A variety of dispositions of vaporizer and superheater portions of the cooling system in the catalyst bed, for which the temperature profiles of gas and coolant along the reactor length are shown and compared, illustrate the principles governing the cooling system for such a reactor. A small portion of the superheated steam is mixed with preheated synthesis gas for elimination of all or part of the carbon monoxide content before the synthesis gas is introduced into the methanization reactor.

Abstract: In a power generation process using a gas turbine for conversion of the energy of gas which is produced by the gasification of a fossil carbon-bearing material such as brown coal, the gas is initially cleaned of dust and optionally desulfurised in the hot condition. The gas is then passed to a combustion chamber in which the temperature of the gas is increased by partial reaction of the gas with air and/or oxygen to a temperature of from 1000.degree. to 1500.degree. before the gas is passed through a catalytic fixed bed reactor arranged upstream of the gas turbine combustion chamber. The combustion chamber in which the gas temperature is increased, the fixed bed reactor and the gas turbine combustion chamber may be combined. The fixed bed reactor contains a nickel-bearing catalyst which, at elevated temperatures, is resistant to ageing and resistant to sulfur and compounds thereof.

Abstract: In a process for the gasification of carbonaceous substances, exothermic and endothermic gasification agents are injected into the reaction area through at least one nozzle comprising at least two coaxial pipes, the outer pipe terminating short of the end of the inner pipe, at a distance such that the end face of the outer pipe is in a region of the pressurized interior of the reactor, in which the temperature is below the melting point of the ash of the solid particles to be gasified. The speed of flow of the endothermic agent out of the annular gap between the pipes is substantially higher than the speed of flow of the exothermic agent out of the inner pipe and the flow of endothermic gasification agent tends to be constricted around the flow from the inner pipe. The outer edge of the inner pipe is a sharp, right-angled edge so that in the region thereof eddies are formed which protect the region from the penetration of particles of ash therein.

Abstract: In a process for injecting a radioactive sample of a substance into a reaction vessel, the sample is first enclosed in a first container in which it is irradiated, and then the first container with sample is placed in a second container which is separated from the reaction vessel by way of a closed valve. The second container is heated, and the sample is then conveyed out of the containers into the reaction vessel through the valve which is opened. The sample is enclosed within the first container by plugs or is frozen therein for which purpose the first container may possibly by put into intermediate storage in a storage container. An apparatus comprises the first container for receiving the sample, to be arranged and fixed within the second heatable pressure-resistant container which can be communicated with the reaction vessel through a valve.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical coupling sleeve for producing a connection capable of resisting a tensile force between asbestos-cement pipes connected thereby comprises a carrier body portion of glass fiber roving cloth embedded in synthetic resin, with the maximum tensile strength oriented in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve. In the end regions, between a respective end face and an adjacent internal peripheral groove which co-operates with a groove on the pipe to accommodate a cable-like connecting member, the carrier body portion is externally wound with glass fiber rovings embedded in synthetic resin, with the maximum tensile strength oriented in the peripheral direction of the sleeve. The carrier body portion is of a cylindrical configuration with end regions which taper down to a reduced diameter.

Abstract: A probe device comprises a two-channel capacitive measuring sensor together with two further single-channel capacitive measuring sensors so disposed that the tips of the sensors are disposed in a common horizontal plane, the sensors being operable to detect the position and speed of movement of an interface between first and second phases in a system made up of at least two phases, such as a gas-solids fluidized bed. The data obtained when the probe is contacted by a gas bubble in the fluidized bed serve as the basis for them ascertaining the condition of and thus the reaction procedure taking place in the bed.

Abstract: In a process for making ferrous sulphate in granule form, ferrous sulphate heptahydrate is mixed with fine-grain brown coal or lignite having a low water content, in such an amount that the resulting mixture is pourable.

Abstract: In a dip-type cooler for cooling and washing flowing dust-laden hot gas, having a venturi passage which opens in a container with washing fluid therein, the edge of a feed pipe for feed of gas into the cooler, the edge of a protective tube surrounding the feed pipe and the upper edge of the venturi passage, are of such a configuration and arrangement that the diameter of the protective tube is between the diameter of the feed pipe and that of the intake of the venturi passage and the lower boundary edge of the protective tube terminates beneath the lower edge of the feed pipe and beneath the upper edge of the venturi passage, whereby wetting fluid and dust in the gas come into contact with each other in a region spaced from wall surfaces within the cooler, to avoid the formation of caked-on deposits within the cooler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a venturi scrubber for dust-laden gases, includes an intake portion (1) whose duct (8) through which the gas flows progressively reduces in size in the direction of flow (5, 6), and a ring duct (13) for a fluid, which is disposed at the largest-diameter end (12) of the intake portion (1) and which is connected over its entire periphery to the duct (13) of the intake portion (1), through which the gas flows, wherein at least one feed conduit (17) for the fluid opens substantially tangentially into the ring duct (13). The duct (13) which is under an increased pressure is connected by way of a through-flow gap (27) to the duct (8) of the intake portion (1), through which the gas flows. The flow gap (27) is so formed and arranged that the fluid issues substantially parallel to the adjoining region of the wall (7) of the duct (8), along said wall.

Abstract: A probe tube which is introduced into a reaction container for measuring the operating condition of a medium in the interior of the container has a first seal which is resistant to temperature and a second seal which is resistant to pressure and gas-tight. Those seal respectively close the inner and outer ends of the probe tube. The interior of the probe tube communications with the interior of the reaction container by way of an opening, whereby the temperature-resistant seal at the tip of the probe tube is relieved of the loading of pressure forces.

Abstract: In a reactor for gasification of solid carbonaceous materials in a fluidized bed under elevated pressure and at high temperatures using a hot gasification agent, a feed device for the gasification agent is installed in the lower part of the reactor chamber and traverses this chamber in the form of a bridge, which has an arch joined to the walls of the reactor chamber, said arch consisting of refractory brick and supporting a section of metal pipe. The latter is shielded from the outside by the arch and by a top-mounted structure of refractory material. On the inside, the metal pipe is also provided with a tubular lining of refractory material. Metal pipe, lining, and arch have openings for passage of the gasification agent. The size and shape of the openings are selected to assure passage of the gasification agent even if the parts undergo changes in length as a result of the effects of temperature.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for grinding and drying a solid fuel such as brown coal or lignite to form dust, in a fan type mill, in the presence of a hot drying gas with a low oxygen content, fine components of the fuel in dust form are separated out before the grinding step and dried. The remaining coarser portion of the fuel is introduced into the drying gas before the grinding step, in dependence on the grain size and moisture content of the fuel. The fuel is sifted or sieved before it is introduced into the mill and after the grinding operation, with the components which are not sufficiently fine then being recycled to the grinding operation, the recycled components being introduced into the circuit after the fresh fuel has been introduced.

Abstract: In a process for the production of pumpable coal slurries for use in high-pressure hydrogenation, such an amount of finely divided coal is mixed into an oil which boils at a temperature of higher than about 200.degree. C., as not to exceed the limit of pumpability in respect of the slurry produced. The slurry is treated for about 0.5 to 15 minutes at a temperature of from 280.degree. to 450.degree. C., possibly under elevated pressure. Such a further amount of finely divided coal is mixed into the slurry after the above-indicated treatment, that the limit of pumpability is once again not exceeded. After the addition of the further amount of finely divided coal, the slurry can optionally be subjected again to heat treatment. This mode of operation permits the production of slurries with an elevated coal content, without coking occurring or pumpability being lost when the slurries are heated to hydrogenation temperature.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide in the waste water from a coal gasification installation is subjected to an oxidizing treatment in the presence of the very fine-grain residual coke which, being washed out of the product gas, is suspended in the waste water, the residual coke particles thus serving as a catalyst. When using air for the oxidation treatment, with the usual period of treatment, it is possible to achieve virtually quantitative conversion of the hydrogen sulphide to sulphate. If the solid particles are to be removed from the waste water by a flotation step, the flotation operation and the oxidizing treatment can be performed simultaneously in a common apparatus.