Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00929 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 1, 1979 Sec. 102(e) date Nov. 1, 1979 PCT Filed Nov. 1, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO81/01295 PCT Pub. Date May 14, 1981A rotating fluidized bed gasifier system especially useful in compound engines comprising an annular fluidization chamber containing a bed of carbon containing pulverulent solid materials. The chamber, which is defined by inner and outer spaced apart coaxial, cylindrical, perforated walls, rotates about the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. Steam enters the bed, which is maintained at about 1800.degree. F., through the outer perforated wall and fluidizes the particles. The steam reacts endothermically with the carbon to produce reaction product gas which exits the bed, together with unreacted steam, through the inner perforated wall. In a preferred form of the invention the bed is maintained at approximately 1800.degree. F. by combining a rotating fluidized bed combustor with the gasifier.

Abstract: Methane-containing gases are produced by the catalytic-stream-reforming of hydrocarbon feedstocks using a catalyst which includes a Group VIII metal such as nickel and alumina, and which in its calcined but unreduced precursor form has a pore size distribution defined as follows:(i) at least 55% of the pore volume of pores having a pore radius between 12 and 120 Angstrom Units is in the range of 12-30 Angstrom Units, and(ii) the ratio of the pore volume contained in pores of 10-50 A to the pore volume contained in pores 50-300 A is at least 5:1.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a water solution of a waste material containing a salt with smelt-water explosion characteristics comprises an open-bottomed incinerator and a gas-liquid separator disposed beneath the incinerator in fluid-flow communication therewith. The waste solution is sprayed into the incinerator and heated therein so that the salt in the solution is fused, water vaporized and organic components of the solution burned. The combustion gases and water vapor flow downwardly into the separator, while the fused salt forms a deposit on the inner surface of the incinerator and flows downwardly into the separator. At the junction between the incinerator and separator, cooling water is fed to the fused salt so that the deposit of salt is solidified and cracked into separate masses which fall together with the cooling water onto an inclined baffle member disposed in the separator and roll downwardly on the baffle member.

Abstract: A hot raw gas stream, as produced by the partial oxidation of a solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal, is partially cooled and cleaned to remove entrained solid matter and slag. A novel gas-gas quench cooling and solids separation apparatus is employed. The apparatus comprises a closed cylindrical insulated vertical pressure vessel containing a lower quench chamber in communication with an upper solids separation chamber. The hot raw gas stream is cooled in the lower chamber to a temperature below the initial deformation temperature of the entrained slag by impingement and direct heat exchange with an oppositely directed coaxial stream of cooled, cleaned, and compressed recycle quench gas. The stream of cooled gas leaving the turbulent lower chamber passes up through a choke-ring into the comparatively calmer upper chamber counter-currently with solid slag droplets which separate out by gravity.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is disclosed. A stream of previously produced char, preferably produced from coal, or other fuel together with an oxidizer and steam is introduced into a first or combustion stage. The combustion gas produced by the combustion passes into a second or gasification stage and through a nozzle at at least sonic velocity. Pulverized carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is introduced and dispersed in the combustion gas in the gasification stage. The temperature, velocity and velocity changes principally of the gas in the gasification stage are controlled to provide a heating rate for the particles of pulverized carbonaceous matter of at least about 10.sup.5 degrees Kelvin per second, and to effect rapid removal of volatile components from the immediate vicinity of the particles.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a stream of previously produced char, preferably produced from coal or other fuel, together with an oxidizer and steam is introduced into a combustion stage. The combustion gas produced by the combustion passes into a mixing zone and thence with high turbulence into a gasification zone or stage at subsonic velocity. Pulverized carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is introduced and dispersed in the combustion gas in the mixing zone. The temperature, velocity and velocity changes principally of the gas in the gasification zone or stage are controlled to provide a heating rate for the particles of pulverized carbonaceous matter of at least about 10.sup.5 degrees Kelvin per second, and to effect rapid removal of volatile components from the immediate vicinity of the particles.

Abstract: A reducing gas having a high H.sub.2 +CO content and a low H.sub.2 O+CO.sub.2 content is prepared by gasifying a feed mixture comprising low grade hydrocarbon oil and a high ash solid fuel and a fluxing agent.

Abstract: A system for processing coal to produce methanol, alcohol-slurry coal for transport, electric power and urea. Raw coal is graded. The downgraded fraction is gasified, producing steam and synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is converted to methanol which is then used to slurry upgraded coal for transport or to produce electric power. The steam output of the gasifier drives an oxygen generator to produce oxygen for the gasifier, when the synthesis gas is used to produce methanol, and also drives an electric power turbine. Natural gas may be used to maximize methanol production. Urea is a by-product.

Abstract: In a fuel gas distribution system, at least one fuel gas stream is mixed with air to achieve a heating value equivalency which is the same as that of another fuel gas having a different heating value and specific gravity. The heating value equivalency is defined as the heating value of a fuel gas in heat units per unit of volume divided by the square root of the specific gravity of the gas. A control system is employed to measure the specific gravity, pressure, temperature and flow rate of the first gas in a first gas stream, and the pressure, temperature and flow rate of air in a second stream, and to control the flow rate of the gas from the first stream and air from the second stream such that the resulting mixture from the two streams has the same heating value equivalency as that of a third gas which was used to adjust the gas burners for use in that system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for coal and organic solid waste gasification using a granular fluidized bed of clay to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The clay used in the gasification is circulated to an air burner to obtain producer gas via burning of carbon deposited thereon and then recirculated to the gasifier. The producer gas is used to reduce a metal oxide and the reduced metal is reoxidized with steam to generate hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for the operation of combustion devices such as burners and internal-combustion engines, in which liquid hydrocarbon such as straight-run gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel, are mixed with gasification primary air, and the resulting mixture is conducted into a reaction chamber containing metal bodies composed of an Al-Si eutectic with a primary phase of form about 15 to about 35 weight percent of silicon distributed therein, and in which from about 5 to about 30 weight percent of the aluminum is in the form of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and in which from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of the silicon is in the form of .beta.-SiC, where the liquid hydrocarbon is partially oxidized at elevated temperatures into a soot-free fuel gas mixture containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen and gaseous hydrocarbons, and the fuel gas mixture is mixed with secondary air and the fuel gas/secondary air mixture is conducted into the combustion device.

Abstract: A process is provided for the gasification of a carbonaceous fuel to produce a synthesis gas whereby a secondary stream of oxygen is indirectly heated from said synthesis gas and passed to the gasifier to augment the primary oxygen supply.

Abstract: A steam generating heat exchanger of modular design for cooling a high pressure, hot combustible gas laden with molten ash particles comprising a first convective cooler having a vertically orientated U-shaped gas pass housing a superheater and an evaporator, a radiant cooler disposed upstream of the first convective cooler and a second convective cooler housing an economizer disposed downstream of the first convective cooler. In-line tube bundles form the superheater, evaporator, and the economizer thereby minimizing ash deposition upon the heat transfer surface. The gas velocity within the radiant cooler is maintained low enough to permit molten ash particles entrained in the gas to coalesce and precipitate out of the gas stream, while the gas velocity within the convective coolers is maintained high enough to discourage ash deposition upon the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement particularly for cooling a locking device arranged in a fuel feed opening of pressure gasification generators comprises a lock seat connected to the generator and a lock cone adapted for moving into and out of engagement with the lock seat and provided with a supply line to provide a cooling medium to the lock cone and a discharge line through which the used medium is drained off the lock cone. The lock cone is formed as a hollow body with a cooling chamber in its interior and is provided with guide means extending towards the lowermost area of the lock cone to direct the cooling medium into contact with the mostly overheated lowermost area of the lock cone positioned in a close relationship with the pressure gasification generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for progressively burning biomass material comprising a retort defining a chamber, a linearly moving grate bed enclosed within the chamber with a space below and a space above for respectively supplying primary air to the lower side of the grate and for collecting gases generated by progressive distillation of the biomass material at the upper side of the grate. Primary air is supplied to the underside of the grate bed at different pressures lengthwise of the grate by a distribution chamber extending lengthwise of the grate of V-shaped cross section containing at its bottom a Venturi opening through which air is delivered to the distribution chamber from successive longitudinally-arranged plenum chambers which, in turn, are supplied with air through conductors connected to a primary air source, each of which contains a damper. The grate may be horizontal or inclined.

Abstract: Asbestos fibres having excellent properties in resin reinforcement are produced by controlled heat treatment of a coarse fraction of chrysotile asbestos fibres.

Abstract: An improvement in the fixed-bed pressure gasification of coal is described. The improvement includes removing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon (e.g., tar) from the raw gaseous fuel produced in the gasification process and introducing the the removed hydrocarbon directly into the interior of the coal bed below the devolatilization zone and at or above the maximum-temperature location in the bed.

Abstract: In the field of chemical fuels, prior art coal gasification produces a fuel value of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen which has a lower BTU than methane. The present process uses coal resources more economically for industry by converting part of the hydrogen and part of the carbon in the carbon monoxide of the gas mixture to methane, by continuously introducing the gas mixture into a fluid bed in the presence of iron under conditions of pressure and temperature which promote the reduction of carbon monoxide to carbon, the formation of iron carbide from the iron and carbon, and the formation of methane and iron from iron carbide and hydrogen, and continuously removing from the fluid bed a methane enriched gas mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen having a substantially increased fuel value over the gas mixture introduced into the fluid bed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process provided for increasing the fuel value of off-gas (20) recovered from oxygen blowing steel converters (10, 100). Carbon is introduced into an off-gas capture hood (22) to react with carbon dioxide therein to form carbon monoxide. A carbon dioxide curtain (61) is formed which surrounds the inlet end of the gas capture device (22) to prevent air from entering the capture device. Carbon dioxide is drawn from the carbon dioxide curtain (61) into the capture device (22) to mix with the gases therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a partial oxidation process including separation of particles high in carbon content from particles low in carbon content suspended in water used for quenching or scrubbing the gaseous products of the partial oxidation of a solid ash-containing carbonaceous fuel.