Abstract: A partial oxidation process for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which process one fuel is replaced by a differing fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. This multifuel process is not tied to one particular fuel and reacts slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbonaceous fuels. Problems of fuel availability are reduced due to the wide selection of fuels that are suitable for the subject process. A two-section burner having a high turndown feature is employed that comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of tubes positioned in said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of tubes positioned in said annular passage. The downstream ends of said central and/or annular bunches of tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e.

Abstract: A burner and partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The burner has a high turndown feature and comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said annular passage; and wherein the downstream ends of said central and annular bunches of parallel tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e. 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice and the minimum width of the annular exit orifice. Three ranges of flow through the burner may be obtained by using one or both bunches of tubes and their surrounding conduits.

Abstract: Unconverted char in a mixture of particles formed in the partial oxidation of an ash-containing solid fuel is recovered by grinding the mixture and subjecting the ground material to froth flotation.

Abstract: Trim control of a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is effected by two improved control schemes which are automatically operated separately or in sequence. The control systems include sensors sensing the flow rate of the feedstreams and analyzers which provide signals corresponding to the wt. % carbon in the effluent gas quench cooling and scrubbing water for use in controlling the particulate carbon in the effluent gas stream, and/or signals corresponding to the mole fractions of CO.sub.2, CH.sub.4, CO and H.sub.2 (dry basis) in the cooled and cleaned effluent gas stream for use in controlling the temperature in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A novel gaseous fuel source and method of production thereof are disclosed. The gaseous fuel is produced by the reaction of carbon and water with the products of the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate-containing solids such as limestone.

Abstract: Trim control of a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is effected by two improved control schemes which are automatically operated separately or in sequence. The control systems include sensors sensing the flow rate of the feedstreams and analyzers which provide signals corresponding to the wt. % carbon in the effluent gas quench cooling and scrubbing water for use in controlling the particulate carbon in the effluent gas stream, and/or signals corresponding to the mole fraction of CH.sub.4 (dry basis) in the cooled and cleaned effluent gas stream for use in controlling the temperature in the reaction zone. The signals from the sensors and analyzers are provided to the system control unit which computes values that represent the relative difference between the actual and desired carbon-make and/or the actual temperature in the reaction zone, and the relative difference between the actual and desired temperature in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A gas producer for coal gasification in which the gas collecting flues are provided with means for flow rate determination and adjustable flow restriction.

Abstract: In a process for gasification of solid carbonaceous material such as coal, powdered coal is top-blown onto a molten iron bath stored in a furnace through a non-submerged lance toward a hot spot formed by means of a jet of oxygen and steam top-blown through a non-submerged lance, the coal being blown by means of a carrier gas, and flux is optionally added into the furnace by the lump or blown toward the hot spot, thereby resulting in the coal being gasified. The ratio L/L.sub.o of the depression depth L of the molten iron bath to the molten iron bath depth L.sub.o is maintained from 0.05 to 0.15, and the blowing velocity of the solid carbonaceous material is maintained from 50 to 300 m/sec so as to suppress the formation of an adhered mass on the upper part of the furnace, hood or lance.

Abstract: A mixing block, for attachment to a combustion chamber in which a solid body or material is briefly subjected to high temperature and pressure by the detonation of an explosive gas mixture, is composed of three block-like parts clamped together by screws. This enables the relatively long channels subject to explosion stresses to be constituted of lengthwise bores in the middle block connected by milled short cross-connections. The protective cutoff valve is an automobile type valve set in the upper block piece, which can also have an insert of temperature resistant material adjacent to the mixing chamber portion of the middle block. The ignition device is not shown in the drawing, but is usually provided in the mixing block structure. In the section of the mixing block illustrated in the drawing only one of the gas connections to the mixing chamber (19) is shown.

Abstract: Product gas is produced by partial gasification of coke or coal. The coke or coal is admitted in particulate form into a gasification zone where it undergoes partial gasification. The residue of coke or coal is then forwarded into a combustion zone where it is combusted to liberate heat. A gaseous heat carrier is first passed through the combustion zone to become heated therein, is then passed through the gasification zone to sustain the partial gasification process, and is then recirculated into the combustion zone to be reheated.

Abstract: A process for the partial oxidation of pumpable slurries of solid carbonaceous fuels in which the pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in a liquid carrier is passed in liquid phase through one passage of a burner comprising a retracted central coaxial conduit, an outer coaxial conduit with a converging orifice at the downstream tip of the burner and, optionally, an intermediate coaxial conduit. The downstream tips of the central conduit and the intermediate conduit, if any, are retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of respectively two or more say 3 to 10 for the central conduit, and about 0 to 12 say 1 to 5 for the intermediate conduit times the minimum diameter of the converging orifice of the outer conduit at the burner tip. A pre-mix zone is thereby provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial pre-mix chambers in series.

Abstract: In a system of fluidized gasification of carbonaceous solids in which fines are burned in an external combustor to heat recycle solids, fines entrainment is reduced by introducing the finest of the fines into the combustor from the lower end of a fluidized fines feeder vessel whereby the said finest fines are selectively burned.

Abstract: A method for starting up a pressurized partial oxidation gas generation system comprising a gas generator and gas purification train without atmospheric pollution. The method comprises isolating and prepressuring the gas purification train to a pressure of at least 50 percent of normal operating pressure, starting the gas generator and autogenously increasing the pressure in the gas generator to the pressure of the gas purification train before establishing communication with the gas purification train to permit flow of gas through the gas purification train. Purified gases discharged from the gas purification train may be burned in a flare without atmospheric pollution.

Abstract: In the gasification of char with zinc oxide improvement comprises the process of quenching the reactor effluent with recycled, cold CO product gas, thereby reducing the tendency for zinc vapor to react with any CO.sub.2 present to form blue powder.

Abstract: Gasifying liquid hydrocarbon fuels, and in particular liquid heavy hydrocarbon fuels, at high fuel-to-air equivalence ratios with no significant soot formation comprises the steps of mixing the fuel and heated air in a prevaporization and mixing zone to prevaporize only a portion of the liquid fuel using only the sensible heat in the air, passing the partially vaporized fuel-air mixture through a catalyst zone to catalytically combust at least some of the prevaporized portion of the fuel while simultaneously, without the use of an external heat source, vaporizing and gasifying as-yet unvaporized fuel using the additional heat generated by the catalytic combustion, wherein the length of the catalyst zone, the catalyst configuration, and the fuel flow rate have been preselected to obtain the desired amount of gasification and to sustain continuous gasification with no significant soot formation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for initiating operation of a coal gasification plant which includes a gasification reactor and gas cleansing apparatus fabricated in part from materials susceptible to chloride induced stress corrosion cracking the presence of oxygen. The reactor is preheated by combusting a stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel to produce an exhaust gas which is then diluted with steam to produce product gas which contains essentially no free oxygen. The product gas heats the reactor to a temperature profile necessary to maintain autothermic operation of the gasification process while maintaining air oxygen-free environment within the plant apparatus while chlorine is liberated from coal being gasified.

Abstract: Ash-contaminated solid or semi-solid fuel is passed into the bottom zone of a fluidized bed gasifier, preferably containing CaO to fix labile sulfur moieties, and gasified at a temperature below the ash-softening point. The resulting char and ash of relatively low size and/or weight pass to a top zone of the bed wherein the char is gasified at a temperature above the ash-softening point whereby a substantial proportion of the ash sticks to and agglomerates with solids in the top zone until the particle size and/or weight of the resulting agglomerates causes them to sink to the bottom of the gasifier from where they can be recovered. The hot gases leaving the top of the gasifying bed have a reduced burden of entrained ash, and may be cooled to prevent any entrained ash adhering to downstream equipment through which the gases pass.

Abstract: A flame arrestor is disclosed which includes a conduit extending along inside of a drum arranged to contain a quantity of non-combustible liquid. This conduit is equipped with bubbler nozzles that discharge a combustible gas into the liquid in the form of separate, discrete bubbles. The gas is drawn from the drum through outlets above the liquid level and deflectors are positioned to deflect and distribute a flame front entering the drum through any of the nozzles.

Abstract: A fuel gas containing methane is produced from a carbonaceous material in a single reaction zone by reacting the carbonaceous material in the presence of a stabilized metal carbide catalyst and water vapor and/or carbon dioxide at a temperature of from about 500.degree. C. to about 900.degree. C. The water vapor and/or carbon dioxide is maintained in an amount of from about 10 to about 30 percent by volume.

Abstract: Coal is processed first through a moving bed reactor and then through a fixed bed reactor. Hot carbonized coal char is fed from the first stage reactor to the second stage reactor via a lock hopper and gas is taken off from the reactors either in separate streams or in a common stream.