Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are thermally upgraded in a pressurized steam environment to remove moisture and other byproducts. A variety of water/solid separation devices may be employed in a process vessel to maximize moisture removal from the upgraded charge. Heating media inlet nozzles and process chamber vents are strategically positioned at the process vessel wall to minimize short circuiting of heating media to vessel outlet vents and to continuously separate hot water removed from the charge and condensed steam, such that the upgraded material removed from the process vessel is not discharged with accompanying free moisture. After upgrading, the charge may be rehydrated to improve its stability during shipping and storage.

Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are thermally upgraded in a pressurized steam environment to remove moisture and other byproducts. A variety of water/solid separation devices may be employed in a process vessel to maximize moisture removal from the upgraded charge. Heating media inlet nozzles and process chamber vents are strategically positioned at the process vessel wall to minimize short circuiting of heating media to vessel outlet vents and to continuously separate hot water removed from the charge and condensed steam, such that the upgraded material removed from the process vessel is not discharged with accompanying free moisture. After upgrading, the charge may be rehydrated to improve its stability during shipping and storage.

Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are thermally upgraded in a pressurized steam environment to remove moisture and other byproducts. A variety of water/solid separation devices may be employed in a process vessel to maximize moisture removal from the upgraded charge. Heating media inlet nozzles and process chamber vents are strategically positioned at the process vessel wall to minimize short circuiting of heating media to vessel outlet vents and to continuously separate hot water removed from the charge and condensed steam, such that the upgraded material removed from the process vessel is not discharged with accompanying free moisture. After upgrading, the charge may be rehydrated to improve its stability during shipping and storage.

Abstract: A fixed-bed coal gasifier includes an upright cylindrical wall providing a fixed-bed coal gasification chamber for gasifying coal to produce synthesis gas, with an end-piece closing off the upper end of the cylindrical wall. A coal inlet opening is provided in the end-piece, and a gas outlet leads from the chamber at a high level. A gas collection device is provided within the gasification chamber below the inlet opening, and provides a central gas collection zone operatively connected to the gas outlet of the gasification chamber so that synthesis gas produced in the chamber can pass from the gas collection zone to the gas outlet. The device is spaced with clearance from the cylindrical wall so that coal can pass through the gap between the device and the cylindrical wall. A plurality of horizontally spaced coal distribution means, for distributing coal from an upper zone above the gas collection device into a lower zone immediately below the gas collecting device, are also provided.

Abstract: A fixed bed dry bottom coal gasifier has a cylindrical wall providing a gasification chamber for gasifying coal to produce synthesis gas. It also has a coal lock above the chamber. The coal lock has a coal discharge opening leading into the chamber. A gas outlet leads from the chamber at a high level. The gasifier further includes a first static coal distributor located in the gasification chamber below the coal discharge opening of the coal lock and a second static coal distributor located below the first coal distributor. The first coal distributor has an upper opening spaced with vertical clearance from the coal discharge opening, a lower opening spaced from the upper opening, and an upwardly directed peripheral coal distributing surface flaring downwardly outwardly from said upper opening and extending beyond the vertical projection of the periphery defining the coal discharge opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the ash temperature in a gasifier (10) of the kind described, which includes providing an ash contact member (31) in the ash flow path (20) downstream of the ash outlet (21) of the gasifier, and measuring the temperature of the ash contact member. The invention also provides ash temperature measurement means (30) for the gasifier (10). The ash temperature measurement means includes the ash contact member which is located in the ash flowpath below the ash outlet and which is capable of assuming a temperature proportional to the temperature of ash discharged from the gasification chamber (12) and which comes into contact with the contact member, as well as temperature sensing means adapted to measure the temperature of the ash contact member.