Abstract: Synthesis gas is produced by partial oxidation of hydrocarbon charge, a first portion being cooled by indirect heat exchange and scrubbed before being combined with the quenched second portion en route to particulate scrubbing, the combined gas scrubber overhead being characterized by a desired steam:dry gas ratio which is controlled by regulating the flow of the quenched second portion in accordance with the measured properties of the combined scrubber overhead gas.

Abstract: Synthesis gas prepared from ash-containing carbonaceous fuel is passed to a water-containing contact zone wherein the ash is collected in a lower settling portion of the contact zone prior to passage through a valved passageway and thence to a lock hopper during a valve-open period, flow of said ash being augmented by intermittent positive flow of water during the time said valve is open, through said valve from said settling zone to said lock hopper whereby more positive flow of ash is obtained (when compared to that obtained by use of continuous flow of water from the lock hopper) with substantially decreased heat loss.

Abstract: Synthesis gas is produced by partial oxidation of hydrocarbon charge, a first portion being cooled by indirect heat exchange and scrubbed before being combined with the quenched second portion en route to particulate scrubbing, the combined gas scrubber overhead being characterized by a desired steam:dry gas ratio which is controlled by regulating the flow of the quenched second portion in accordance with the measured properties of the combined scrubber overhead gas.

Abstract: A control system for a partial oxidation process for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which process one fuel is replaced by a different fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. This multifuel process is not tied to one particular fuel and reacts slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbonaceous fuels. Problems of fuel availability are reduced due to the wide selection of fuels that are suitable for the subject process. A two-section burner having a high turndown feature is employed that comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of tubes positioned in said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of tubes positioned in said annular passage. The downstream ends of said central and/or annular bunches of tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e.

Abstract: A partial oxidation control system for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which one process fuel is replaced by a different fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. Suitable burners for introducing the feedstreams into the gas generator comprise a central conduit means radially spaced from a concentric coaxial outer conduit having a downstream exit nozzle, and providing a coaxial annular passage means therebetween. The central conduit means may be retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 and preferably 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice. A premix zone is preferably provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial chambers in series where substantial mixing of the reactant streams and optionally volatilization of the slurry medium takes place.

Abstract: Synthesis gas is produced by partial oxidation of slurried coal followed by separation of ash, the temperature of the gas being thereafter controlled to permit a desired portion thereof to be directly contacted with water to achieve a gas/stream mixture of predetermined composition prior to shift conversion, the other portion being preferably convectively cooled for maximum thermal efficiency and then scrubbed prior to withdrawal as carbon monoxide-containing product.

Abstract: A burner and partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The burner has a high turndown feature and comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said annular passage; and wherein the downstream ends of said central and annular bunches of parallel tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e. 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice and the minimum width of the annular exit orifice. Three ranges of flow through the burner may be obtained by using one or both bunches of tubes and their surrounding conduits.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process and control system for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which one process fuel is replaced by a different fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. This multifuel process is not tied to one particular fuel and reacts slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbonaceous fuels. Suitable burners for introducing the feedstreams into the gas generator comprise a central conduit means radially spaced from a concentric coaxial outer conduit having a downstream exit nozzle, and providing a coaxial annular passage means therebetween. The central conduit means may be retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 and preferably 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process for continuously producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas in which process one fuel is replaced by a differing fuel without shutting down or depressurizing the gas generator. This multifuel process is not tied to one particular fuel and reacts slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbonaceous fuels. Problems of fuel availability are reduced due to the wide selection of fuels that are suitable for the subject process. A two-section burner having a high turndown feature is employed that comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of tubes positioned in said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of tubes positioned in said annular passage. The downstream ends of said central and/or annular bunches of tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e.

Abstract: A burner and partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The burner has a high turndown feature and comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said annular passage; and wherein the downstream ends of said central and annular bunches of parallel tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e. 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice and the minimum width of the annular exit orifice. Three ranges of flow through the burner may be obtained by using one or both bunches of tubes and their surrounding conduits.

Abstract: A process for the partial oxidation of pumpable slurries of solid carbonaceous fuels in which the pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in a liquid carrier is passed in liquid phase through one passage of a burner comprising a retracted central coaxial conduit, an outer coaxial conduit with a converging orifice at the downstream tip of the burner and, optionally, an intermediate coaxial conduit. The downstream tips of the central conduit and the intermediate conduit, if any, are retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of respectively two or more say 3 to 10 for the central conduit, and about 0 to 12 say 1 to 5 for the intermediate conduit times the minimum diameter of the converging orifice of the outer conduit at the burner tip. A pre-mix zone is thereby provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial pre-mix chambers in series.

Abstract: A swirl burner and partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The swirl burner may have pre-mix and/or high turndown features. By means of the burner a first reactant stream is split into a plurality of swirling streams by being passed down through a central bundle of helical tubes. Simultaneously a second reactant stream is split into a plurality of swirling streams by being passed down through a plurality of related passages formed in the cylindrical space that surrounds said central bundle of helical tubes and/or the interstices between the helical tubes. When the two swirling reactant feed streams impinge, either upstream from the face of the burner in a pre-mix zone or downstream from the face of the burner, in the gas generator, they are intimately mixed together. The combustion efficiency of the burner is thereby improved.

Abstract: A partial oxidation process using a swirl burner for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The swirl burner may have pre-mix and/or high turndown features. By means of the burner a first reactant stream is split into a plurality of swirling streams by being passed down through a central bundle of helical tubes. Simultaneously a second reactant stream is split into a plurality of swirling streams by being passed down through a plurality of related passages formed in the cylindrical space that surrounds said central bundle of helical tubes and/or the interstices between the helical tubes. When the two swirling reactant feed streams impinge, either upstream from the face of the burner in a pre-mix zone or downstream from the face of the burner, in the gas generator, they are intimately mixed together. The combustion efficiency of the burner is thereby improved.

Abstract: A burner and process for the partial oxidation of pumpable slurries of solid carbonaceous fuels in which the pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in a liquid carrier is passed in liquid phase through one passage of a burner comprising a retracted central coaxial conduit, an outer coaxial conduit with a converging orifice at the downstream tip of the burner and, optionally, an intermediate coaxial conduit. The downstream tips of the central conduit and the intermediate conduit, if any, are retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of respectively two or more say 3 to 10 for the central conduit, and about 0 to 12 say 1 to 5 for the intermediate conduit times the minimum diameter of the converging orifice of the outer conduit at the burner tip. A pre-mix zone is thereby provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial pre-mix chambers in series.

Abstract: A method for starting up a partial oxidation gas generator without a separate preheat burner is described. The burner used includes central and annular bunches of parallel tubes that extend through central and annular passages formed by concentric conduits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The burner has a high turndown feature and comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said annular passage; and wherein the downstream ends of said central and annular bunches of parallel tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e. 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice and the minimum width of the annular exit orifice. Three ranges of flow through the burner may be obtained by using one or both bunches of tubes and their surrounding conduits.

Abstract: A burner for producing synthesis gas, fuel gas or reducing gas from slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. The burner has a high turndown feature and comprises a central conduit; a central bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said central conduit; an outer conduit coaxial with said central conduit and forming an annular passage therewith; and an annular bunch of parallel tubes that extend longitudinally through said annular passage; and wherein the downstream ends of said central and annular bunches of parallel tubes are respectively retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of about 0 to 12 i.e. 3 to 10 times the minimum diameter of the central exit orifice and the minimum width of the annular exit orifice. Three ranges of flow through the burner may be obtained by using one or both bunches of tubes and their surrounding conduits. Throughput levels may be rapidly changed--up and down--without sacrificing stable operation.

Abstract: A process for the partial oxidation of pumpable slurries of solid carbonaceous fuels in which the pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in a liquid carrier is passed in liquid phase through one passage of a burner comprising a retracted central coaxial conduit, an outer coaxial conduit with a converging orifice at the downstream tip of the burner and, optionally, an intermediate coaxial conduit. The downstream tips of the central conduit and the intermediate conduit, if any, are retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of respectively two or more say 3 to 10 for the central conduit, and about 0 to 12 say 1 to 5 for the intermediate conduit times the minimum diameter of the converging orifice of the outer conduit at the burner tip. A pre-mix zone is thereby provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial pre-mix chambers in series.

Abstract: A nitrogen-rich inert gas mixture is produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed containing substantially no metals nor noncombustible materials with air in a free-flow, unpacked, refractory-lined gas generator at a temperature in the range of about 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres. The product gas will comprise a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide and may contain small amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, depending on the O/C atomic ratio selected. The atomic ratio of free oxygen in said air to carbon in said hydrocarbonaceous fuel is in the range of about 1.7 to stoichiometric, or slightly less than stoichiometric. By operating at this level of O/C atomic ratio, the H.sub.2 +CO content of the product gas may be minimized or deleted, substantially all of the particulate carbon may be oxidized, substantially no NO.sub.x is produced, and the product gas contains substantially no free oxygen.

Abstract: A nitrogen-rich inert gas mixture is produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed containing substantially no metals nor noncombustible materials with air in a free-flow, unpacked, refractory-lined gas generator at a temperature in the range of about 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres. The product gas will comprise a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide and may contain small amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, depending on the O/C atomic ratio selected. The atomic ratio of free oxygen in said air to carbon in said hydrocarbonaceous fuel is in the range of about 1.7 to stoichiometric, or slightly less than stoichiometric. By operating at this level of O/C atomic ratio, the H.sub.2 + CO content of the product gas may be minimized or deleted, substantially all of the particulate carbon may be oxidized, substantially no NO.sub.x is produced, and the product gas contains substantially no free oxygen.