Abstract: A process of producing a gas of high calorific value and low dust content comprising contacting coal with water vapor and free oxygen at a pressure of about 5 to 150 bars and a temperature sufficient to produce a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, containing at least about 10 grams of dust per standard cubic meter and having a temperature of about 350.degree. to 800.degree. C., subjecting the gas to a coarse purification to reduce the solids content thereof, then scrubbing the gas at about 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. with a liquid predominantly comprising hydrocarbons and including less than about 5% of water by weight, and withdrawing a purified gas substantially free of solids and having an enhanced calorific value. In accordance with preferred features, the coarse purification stage includes at least one cyclone separator, the gas leaves the coarse purification stage at a temperature above about 350.degree. C. and is cooled by spraying with water to below 350.degree. C.

Abstract: In the production of gas from a solid fuel comprising effecting gasification by contacting the solid fuel with oxygen and water under pressure to form raw gas containing tar, solids and water, cooling the raw gas to effect condensation of the tar and water, the condensate containing the solids, separating from the solids-containing condensate a fraction enriched in solids, and disposing of said fraction, the improvement which comprises effecting said disposition by feeding at least part of said fraction to a solids disintegrator wherein the solids are reduced in size, and recycling at least part of the condensate containing disintegrated solids to the gasification step. Disintegration serves to reduce substantially all the particles to below about 2 mm with the predominant part below about 0.5 mm. Part of the condensate may also be recycled to the separation stage and all the recycled condensate is kept above 50.degree. C. to prevent solidification of tars.

Abstract: A process for producing lean gases in which solid fuels are gasified under superatmospheric pressure by a treatment with free oxygen-containing gases, water vapor, and other gasifying agents. In the process, fuel and gasifying agent are caused to flow in opposite directions, about 1.5 to 3.5 kg of water vapor are added per standard m.sup.3 of free oxygen in the gasifying agent, about 70% of the lump coal to be gasified has a particle size from above 2 mm to about 30 mm and the remaining coal has a particle size below about 2 mm. The ballast content, consisting of water and ash, amounts to at least about 15% by weight, most of the mineral constituents have a particle size of about 2 to 30 mm and the ash which becomes available in the gasification process is withdrawn from the reactor shaft at temperatures above about 250.degree. C. Raw gas is withdrawn at temperatures above about 350.degree.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous gasification of fuels, which are mainly in lump form. The fuels are subjected to a superatmospheric pressure in a fixed bed treatment with a gasifying agent consisting of gases which contain free oxygen and water vapor and/or carbon dioxide in a water-cooled reactor housing. The housing contains a substantially conical rotary grate, which is rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the reactor housing and serves to discharge the gasifying agent into the reactor shaft and permits the removal of gasification residue from the shaft. The gasifying agent is positively distributed in correspondence with the quantity of fuel, which increases in the radial direction of the shaft resulting in an approximately uniform time of contact between the gas and fuel across the entire shaft area.

Abstract: In a process of gasifying solid fuel such as coal comprising the steps of contacting the solid fuel under a pressure of at least about 5 bars in a reaction chamber surrounded by a water-cooled zone, the reaction heat evaporating water in said zone, transferring the water vapor from said zone to the reaction chamber, removing product gas from the reaction chamber, scrubbing and cooling said product gas in a scrubber-cooler, and periodically interrupting normal gasification, the improvement which comprises discontinuing the transfer of water vapor to the reaction chamber during such periods of other than normal gasification and instead transferring the water vapor to said scrubber-cooler, whereby generation of product gas will be discontinued during such periods.

Abstract: An apparatus for gasifying solid fuels such as coal, in a packed bed by a treatment with a gasifying agent such as free oxygen-containing gas and water vapor under pressure, comprising a water-cooled reactor housing provided in its lower portion with gasifying agent inlet openings, a fuel distributor mounted on a vertical axis, a stirrer on a shaft disposed in the fuel bed in the upper portion of the reactor, and independent first and second drive means for independently rotating the fuel distributor and stirrer. Advantageously the distributor includes a hollow bearing shaft coaxial with the shaft of the stirrer and the stirrer shaft also has a bearing, a common bearing support cooperating with both of the bearings.