Abstract: A process for the gasification of coal consisting essentially of forming a free-burning arc discharge between at least one anode and a cathode having a conical tip, wherein said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode, forcefully projecting a reactive material consisting of a mixture of pulverized coal and steam parallel to the surface of said conical tip of said cathode and through said contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode, at such a rate that said mixture of pulverized coal and steam is exposed to the free-burning arc for less than 3 milli-seconds, and recovering a solid carbonaceous fume having a surface area equivalent to a particle size in the range of 0.01 to 0.2 microns and a gaseous product comprising of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfurous by-product materials from high temperature reaction products of chemical processes consisting essentially in:(1) passing a simple or complex metal oxide in the form of a coarsely divided powder entrained in a conveying gas through a high energy transfer zone whereby said powder is heated to a degree sufficient to vaporize said powder and said powder is substantially vaporized to form a hot effluent stream of metal oxide vapor,(2) injecting said hot effluent stream of metal oxide vapor into a gaseous reaction product, including sulfurous by-product materials, from an elevated temperature chemical process,(3) allowing said metal oxide vapor to condense to solid particles with reaction with said sulfurous by-product materials to fix the sulfur content thereof in the form of solid particles, and(4) separating said solid particles containing substantially all of the sulfur content of said sulfurous by-product materials from said gaseous reaction product.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for projecting a solids-containing gaseous media into an arc discharge utilizing a cone shaped cathode, with a passage along the conical surface thereof for insertion of gaseous media into the arc discharge, employing a plurality of individual linear feed channels having a constant flow cross-sectional area in said passage, said individual feed channels being supplied from a common source of a solids entrained gaseous media through flow splitters splitting said gaseous media into equal amounts, said flow splitters having two or more converging channels on the outlet side forming an angle of 15.degree.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for energizing materials in a free-burning electric arc is provided by radially disposing a plurality of anodes around an extension of the cathode axis. The anodes are inclined at an angle ranging from about 45.degree. to about 135.degree.. The current to each of the anodes is adjusted whereby the anode jets merge with the cathode jet to provide a unidirectional tail flame.