Abstract: A process for solid fossil fuel oxidation that utilizes a refractory that defines a reactor core and a combustor chamber in serial communication. The reactor core is heated by burning an air fuel mixture external to the reactor core. A non-oxidizing gas/coal mixture is introduced into the reactor core where heat energy is transferred to the non-oxidizing gas/coal mixture so that the specific heat of the mixture is substantially raised. The non-oxidizing gas/coal mixture is discharged from the reactor core into the combustor chamber at which point an oxidizing medium such as air is introduced in order to instantly oxidize the heated non-oxidizing gas/coal mixture. The non-oxidizing gas may be a flammable gas, such as methane.

Abstract: A coal combustor for combustion of coal in fossil burning plants, comprising a refractory including a reactor chamber, combustion chamber, and discharge chamber serially connected along a central longitudinal axis. The chambers define, respectively a reactor zone, combustion zone, and discharge zone extending through the refractory. A ceramic baffle insert is concentrically disposed within the forward end of the reactor chamber. The baffle defines at least one coal-gas passage extending longitudinally through the baffle and communicates an air-fuel mixture to the reactor zone. A reactor core tube is sealingly engaged by the baffle and in communication with the coal-gas passage. The reactor core tube extends longitudinally through a portion of the reactor zone and terminates in the combustion zone for communicating a coal-gas mixture from the coal-gas passage to the combustion zone.