Abstract: Nozzles introduce jet streams of fine-grain fuel and a gasification medium downwardly toward the surface of a slag bath at the bottom of a cylindrical reactor shaft within a vessel to impinge upon the surface of liquid slag which is discharged through a centrally-arranged overflow in the bottom of the vessel. The nozzles are arranged at an angle within a range of 35.degree. to 40.degree. with respect to the horizontal and positioned so that the jet streams impinge upon the surface of the slag at points defined by a plurality of concentric circles with respect to the overflow to circulate and produce a resulting movement of the liquid slag toward the overflow while maintaining a high temperature and homogeneous slag bath. The nozzles are further positioned so that an angle of about 10.degree. is defined between each jet stream and a vertical tangential plane to the concentric circle at the point where the jet stream impinges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying fine-grained fuel, e.g., coal and a gasifying medium, e.g., oxygen in a slag bath generator. The fine-grained fuel and gasifying medium are injected at a downwardly-inclined angle to tangentially impinge with a turbulent rotary motion upon a slag bath in the lower end of a vertically-extending reactor shaft within a pressure vessel. A desired slag bath level is maintained in the bottom of the vessel by using an overflow to discharge slag from the bath through the bottom of the vessel. A first treatment zone for the high temperature gasification of the fuel is formed between the slag bath and a circular constriction to the reactor shaft. A second treatment zone for the final gasification of the fuel at a lower temperature as compared with the temperature in the first treatment zone extends above the circumferential constriction along the reactor shaft. Fuel and gases passing through the circumferential constriction are essentially free of a turbulent rotary motion.

Abstract: Fine-grain fuel is carbonized at a low temperature by feeding the fuel from a hopper downwardly into the gap formed between two vertically-arranged, plate-type conveyors. The plates of each conveyor move downwardly while their back face surfaces bear against the wall of a heating chamber. The position of the heating chambers is controlled to maintain a narrow gap, e.g., 10-30 millimeters between the plates of the conveyors. The conveyors and heating chambers are located within a container wherein a pressure of up to 100 bars is maintained and a clear gas is passed countercurrently to the downward advancement of the fuel in the gap between the conveyors. Breaker rollers below the conveyors subdivide the carbonized fuel issuing from the gap for passage into a gasification chamber. Part of the gas yield is used as fuel for the heating chambers.

Abstract: The gasification of solid fuels or mixtures of solid and liquid fuels takes place in a cylindrically-shaped pressure reactor vessel having feed jets at the top of the vessel for introducing the fuel and the gasification medium into the vessel. A ring-shaped chamber containing a bath of molten iron surrounds a gas discharge pipe within the lower portion of the vessel. A water bath is established below the lower rim of the discharge pipe in the vessel and pipe means passing through the side wall of the vessel at an elevation above the lower rim of the discharge pipe and below the ring-shaped chamber discharge the gases liberated within the vessel. Reactor means are provided for utilizing the residual heat of the gases passing from the vessel. In one embodiment, the reactor means comprise a fluidized bed chamber into which coal and steam are injected to utilize the residual heat of the gases.