Abstract: A device for tapping molten slag of variable composition comprising:A. a metal duct provided with cooling means and having an inlet port at one end and a discharge port at the other, the lower portion of the face of the discharge port being sealed against the leakage of slag by being abutted againstB. a highly heat-conductive, water-cooled metal weir having a surface inclined up and away from the face of said discharge port and terminating in an edge which extends across the face of said discharge port and constitutes the forward most portion of the device. The weir is preferably made of copper and the metal duct lined with a refractory material behind the weir.

Abstract: A process for quenching molten residue discharged from a furnace hearth, through a non-submerged taphole, including the steps of: (a) providing a vertical slag duct in sealed communication at the top with the taphole and sealed at the bottom by being immersed a substantial distance into water in a quench tank, (b) flowing the molten residue from the hearth by gravity down the central axis of said slag duct and quenching it in the water contained in the submerged portion of the slag duct, said water being at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent slag explosions, wherein the improvement comprises:Substantially reducing cooling of the tap and hearth areas of said furnace by removing hot fluid from said duct and replacing same with cooler fluid, thereby substantially preventing steam generated by quenching of said molten residue in the water contained in the submerged portion of said duct from entering said tap and hearth areas.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously disposing of refuse and producing a useful fuel or synthesis gas and an inert inorganic residue by feeding shredded refuse, from which ferrous metal has preferably been magnetically separated, and which has been compacted into hard pellets, into an oxygen fed pyrolizing, slagging shaft furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates to improving the known process for disposing of refuse while simultaneously producing a useful gaseous product and an inert solid residue in a shaft furnace in which refuse is fed into the top portion of said furnace, an oxygen containing gas is fed into the base, and in which the organic portion of the refuse is pyrolized to char, oils and gas containing a high concentration of CO and H.sub.2, and the inorganic portion of the refuse is fluidized and tapped from the base of the furnace.The improvement in the above-described process comprises removing a portion of the char from the furnace while retaining a sufficient amount of combustible materials in the furnace to satisfy the energy requirements of the process. The improvement permits a reduction in the oxygen requirements of the process and has a beneficial effect on the specific heating value of the fuel gas produced.

Abstract: Apparatus for disposing of refuse by converting it to useful gaseous products and inert solid residue comprising a vertical metal shaft frusto-pyramidally shaped at the base, having vapor-tight inlet means for refuse and oxygen and outlet means for product gas and molten residue.