Abstract: There is provided a method for processing a pulverized solid fuel by heat, which comprises the steps of drying said fuel and subjecting the latter to two-stage pyrolysis with the resulting formation of vapor, gaseous products and small coke. According to the invention, at least a part of the small coke is additionally heated to a temperature of 800.degree. to 1500.degree. C. by combustion gas and/or by partial burning of the small coke, whereafter the heated small coke is separated from the combustion gas, fed to the first stage of pyrolysis and for drying the fuel. The heated small coke is gasified by steam. The resultant gasification products are separated from the small coke which is then fed as the heat carrier to the first stage of pyrolysis.

Abstract: Apparatus for incinerating and gasifying biomass material by employing a flight conveyor having an upper run traversing a horizontal, perforated upper grate and a lower run traversing a perforated lower grate which is parallel to and beneath the upper grate, the material being continuously deposited on the upper grate and urged continuously across it by the upper run in a bed wherein the material is pyrolyzed into char and combustible gas and then being deposited on the lower grate in a bed continuously urged by the lower run over a source of air beneath the lower grate so that the char is continuously oxidized by air from the source producing hot products which pass upwardly from the lower grate through the bed on the upper grate, filtering particulates from the products and providing heat for the pyrolysis, and then sequentially over a source of steam beneath the lower grate so that the char continuously reacts with steam from the source to generate water gas which is collected substantially unmixed with ot

Abstract: The reactor for producing gas from powdery fuels comprises an outer metal sheet jacket, an inner pressure resistant jacket defining with the outer jacekt a first interspace for a cooling liquid, reinforcing brick lining adjoining the inner wall of the inner jacket, a cooling shield enclosing a reaction chamber and defining with the brick lining a second interspace for an inert cooling fluid. The cooling shield has at its upper end a gap communicating with the second interspace and the lower end of the reactor is provided with a pressure releasing conduit communicating with the bottom of the second interspace so that when the gas generating process is interrupted and the conduit is opened the pressurized gas escapes from the reactor chamber through the upper gap and flows through the major part of the second interspace to be cooled down before the discharge from the connecting conduit.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of a methane-rich natural gas from a natural gas containing, apart from methane, also hydrogen sulfide, carbondioxide, higher hydrocarbons and, in most cases, organosulfur compounds. According to the invention a hydrocarbon fraction of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and higher is naturally removed from the natural gas which is then subjected to a selective scrubbing for the removal of hydrogen sulfide with a regeneratable extraction, of scrubbing liquid. Next a C.sub.3 fraction is removed, the remaining gas being scrubbed with a second regeneratable washing agent, for the removal of carbondioxide to leave the methane-rich gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multistage process for the removal of tar, water and particulate contaminants from a hot product gas resulting from the in-situ gasification of an underground coal deposit, which comprises passing the hot product gas through a first heat exchange zone in indirect heat exchange relationship with a gasification gas to thereby sufficiently reduce the temperature of the product gas so as to separate the tar present in the product gas and provide a substantially tar-free product gas. Thereafter, the tar-free product gas is withdrawn from the first heat exchange zone and passed through at least one subsequent heat exchange zone in indirect or direct heat exchange relationship with a heat exchange material which has a lower temperature than the product gas. A major portion of the water originally present in the hot product gas is removed in the subsequent heat exchange zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for high temperature catalytic conversion of gases is disclosed in which the first part of the heating is done with a heating gas and the final most difficult part is done with electric heaters. The heating gas is passed between spaced layers of catalyst, out of contact and crosswise and countercurrent to the flow of gases to be converted. The gases are first subjected to preheating with heating gas, then heating as the gases contact catalyst, and then superheating, i.e. heating to a final high temperature, with electric heaters in the absence of heating gas.

Abstract: A system for supplying hydrogen to an apparatus which utilizes hydrogen contains a metal hydride hydrogen supply component and a microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply component which in tandem supply hydrogen for the apparatus. The metal hydride hydrogen supply component includes a first storage tank filled with a composition which is capable of forming a metal hydride of such a nature that the hydride will release hydrogen when heated but will absorb hydrogen when cooled. This first storage tank is equipped with a heat exchanger for both adding heat to and extracting heat from the composition to regulate the absorption/deabsorption of hydrogen from the composition. The microcavity hydrogen storage hydrogen supply component includes a second tank containing the microcavity hydrogen supply. The microcavity hydrogen storage contains hydrogen held under high pressure within individual microcavities. The hydrogen is released from the microcavities by heating the cavities.

Abstract: In the production of pulp, the amount of ballast in the white liquor is reduced by maintaining the concentration of the green liquor, prior to causticizing thereof to convert it to the white liquor used for cooking the wood, at a level of 110.+-.20 grams per liter total titratable alkali counted as NaOH, maintaining the efficiency of the causticizing operation at 92.+-.3%, and concentrating the white liquor, prior to the cooking, by evaporation to a content of 130-200 grams per liter efficient alkali counted as NaOH.

Abstract: Process for producing synthetic fuel gas from either naturally occurring or synthetic liquid hydrocarbons by reacting the liquid hydrocarbons with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce methane. The catalyst comprises an interspersed mixture of metals selected from Groups IV(B), V(B), or VI(B) in combination with two Group VIII metals, composited with an inorganic refractory oxide support.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen through the autothermal gasification of solid combustibles in a pressure reactor which comprises:introducing into a screw machine containing two parallely ordered shafts, a finely divided solid combustible, moistening and intimately mixing the solid combustible with 2 to 30% by weight of water, degasing and compressing the moist solid combustible to a pressure higher than that of the reactor, adding the gas-tight compressed and moist solid combustible to a reaction chamber-through a burner where the combustible is brought into contact with the gasification medium, thereby evaporating the water in the compressed and moist solid combustible and producing a comminuted dispersion of the solid combustible in the mixture of the gasification medium and water vapor;reacting the combustible dispersion to give a raw synthesis gas and removing the raw synthesis gas from the reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preventing adhesion or caking of raw materials such as oil as it is subjected to hydrogenation gasification while being heated to above 700.degree. K. as it passes downwardly through a reaction vessel. The particles of raw materials as they pass through the vessel in a temperature zone of about 600.degree. to 700.degree. K. directly contact a medium at a temperature above 1000.degree. K. to rapidly heat the surfaces of the particles to above 700.degree. K. by direct contact with the hot medium alone, in the absence of combustion reaction, to cause the particles to become non-caking in its further downward passage through the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A process for the pyrolysis of refuse of all kinds wherein the refuse is subjected to carbonization to produce solid residues and raw carbonization gases, the residues and gases are separated, the gases are divided into two parts, one part of the gases is completely burned to produce hot flue gases, the flue gases are mixed with the second part of the raw carbonization gases, the mixture of gases is cracked in a reactor, and the cracked gases are cooled.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which a waste gas containing sulfur compounds and carbon dioxide from pulp mill is contacted with an aqueous alkali solution derived from green liquor, white liquor or weak white liquor having low pH value and low sodium ion concentration and having been oxidized, whereby the sulfur compounds are absorbed as completely as possible with minimal absorption of carbon dioxide in the waste gas.

Abstract: A pressure container forms a shaft gasifier for receiving coarse coal in the form of a coal bed. A burner extends through the pressure container into a chamber therein and produces at least one primary gas jet directed against the coal bed, thereby gasifying the coal and generating a product gas and forming liquid slag. The liquid slag collects in a slag bath tank having an overflow weir over which the collected slag flows and falls freely toward a cooling water bath beneath the chamber. A water jet nozzle directs at least one water jet against the liquid slag as it falls freely between the weir and the cooling water bath. This atomizes the liquid slag, thereby cooling the slag and generating steam. At least a part of the steam is supplied as process steam to the coarse coal.

Abstract: Strongly exothermic, catalytically induced or promoted chemical reactions, e.g. the production of methane by the reaction of hydrogen with carbon oxides, are carried out by passing the reactants through an isothermically operated reactor in addition to an adiabatic reactor.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction vessel makes hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam using heat stored in the vessel, and the vessel is then regenerated to restore the heat. Regeneration is done by preheating, separately and within the vessel, an oxygen containing gas and a hydrogen purge gas, and mixing these preheated gases so that they combust within the vessel and heat material disposed in the vessel. This is the heat which is used in converting the hydrocarbon feedstock to hydrogen.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids and a methane-containing gas are produced from carbonaceous feed solids by contacting the solids with a mixture of gases containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a devolatilization zone at a relatively low temperature in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst. The devolatilization zone effluent is treated to condense out hydrocarbon liquids and at least a portion of the remaining methane-rich gas is steam reformed to produce the carbon monoxide and hydrogen with which the carbonaceous feed solids are contacted in the devolatilization zone. The char produced in the devolatilization zone is reacted with steam in a gasification zone under gasification conditions in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and the resultant raw product gas is treated to recover a methane-containing gas.

Abstract: Particulates are both filtered from a product stream and recycled to an associated reactor by a filtration means disposable in a product stream outlet port of the reactor.

Abstract: A fuel enrichment apparatus and method is shown for a gaseous fuel carburetor of either a fixed venturi or air valve type. The apparatus provides fuel enriching at the starting and wide open throttle conditions of the carburetor when the pressure drop in the induction passage is at a minimum. The apparatus also economizes on fuel usage by being closed to fuel transfer at idle speed and normal engine speed. The apparatus operates from the fuel supply line to the carburetor with only the fuel pressure available in that line, thereby obviating the need for either a second fuel line or a high pressure fuel line.

Abstract: Carbonaceous solids slurried in an aqueous solution, which preferably contains catalyst constituents having gasification activity, are dried by contacting the slurry with superheated steam in a fluid bed slurry dryer and the resultant dried solids are subsequently gasified with steam generated in the dryer.