Abstract: A process and apparatus for the combustion-less measurement and/or regulation of the feeding of quantities of heat to gas combustion devices, particularly natural-gas combustion devices. A fuel gas or a partial stream of the fuel gas is fed through a fuel gas line containing at least one flow resistor which produces a laminar flow and a pressure drop. The gas volume flow and/or the pressure drop over at least one flow resistor is measured by a volume flow metering device and a difference pressure regulator, respectively, the pressure drops and/or volume flows which are not measured being maintained constant. A device compensates for the influence of temperature on the system is compensated. The measured value(s) in accordance with the formula described in the specificationf (H)=a+b.multidot.n.sup.c .multidot..rho..sup.dis a measure of the heat content of the flowing gas and results in a signal which serves for measurement and/or regulation.

Abstract: In the production of a gas having a high calorific value and containing more than about 50% methane by volume by a process comprising gasifying a solid fuel under a pressure of about 5 - 150 bars by a treatment with oxygen and water vapor to produce a water vapor-containing raw gas at a temperature of about 350.degree.- 700.degree. C, the improvement which comprises further reacting the water vapor-containing raw gas under a pressure of about 5 - 150 bars with oxygen in a succeeding reactor to produce an intermediate product gas which contains mainly hydrogen, carbon dioxides, and methane and which leaves the reactor at a temperature between about 600.degree. and 950.degree. C, cooling the intermediate product gas and freeing the intermediate product gas from sulfur compounds. A dust fuel and/or liquid hydrocarbon can be added to the raw gas as such or after prereaction with oxygen, the addition advantageously taking place in the succeeding reactor.

Abstract: In the production of a synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, by a process comprising gasifying a solid fuel under a pressure of about 5-150 bars by a treatment with oxygen and water vapor to produce a water vapor-containing raw gas at a temperature of about 350.degree.-700.degree. C, the improvement which comprises further reacting the water vapor-containing raw gas under a pressure of about 5-150 bars with oxygen in a succeeding reactor to produce an intermediate product gas which leaves the reactor at a temperature between about 800.degree. C and 1400.degree. C, cooling the intermediate product gas, and freeing the intermediate product gas from sulfur compounds. A dust fuel and/or liquid hydrocarbon can be added to the raw gas as such or after prereaction with oxygen, the addition advantageously taking place in the succeeding reactor.

Abstract: Fine-grained fuels such as coal are continuously degasified by a process wherein a fine-grained degasified residue is recirculated as a heat-carrying medium and is heated in a pneumatic conveyor line and then fed to a collecting vessel. A first partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed through a mixing zone together with the fuel to be subjected to dry distillation. A second partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed to a secondary degasification zone together with the mixture comprising the dry distillation residue. Volatile constituents are distilled from the mixture in the mixing zone and the secondary degasification zone and are fed to dust-collecting and condensing means. Degasified residue is recirculated to the pneumatic conveyor line.