Abstract: Solid particles and gaseous materials are separated by passing a suspension of solid particles and gaseous materials into the upper section of a cyclonic separation vessel equipped with a cyclonic swirl zone which may contain vortex stabilizing means and a lower dense bed zone which may contain stripping means, and wherein separated gaseous materials are removed from the upper section of the cyclonic zone and solid particles are passed in the lower dense bed zone, from which particles are removed by aeration through a discharge means which communicates with the dense bed zone.The present process and apparatus are preferably applied in the separation of gaseous materials from solid particles entrained in hot flue gases obtained in the combustion stage of a process for extracting hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-bearing substrate such as oil shale and tar sand.

Abstract: Synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas is produced by the noncatalytic partial oxidation of a sulfur-containing liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel or a slurry of sulfur-containing solid carbonaceous fuel with a free-oxygen containing gas in the free-flow reaction zone of a refractory lined gas generator at an autogenous temperature in the range of about 1900.degree. F. to 2900.degree. F. and above the ash-fusion temperature of the slag formed in the reaction zone, so that about 75 to 95 weight percent of the carbon in the fuel feed to the reaction zone is converted into carbon oxides. At least a portion of the hot effluent gas stream from the reaction zone is passed through a free-flow radiant cooler in admixture with an iron-containing additive. In the radiant cooler at least a portion of the sulfur-containing gases e.g. H.sub.2 S and COS react with the iron-containing additive to produce particulate matter comprising iron oxysulfide.

Abstract: Gasification is performed under pressures in the range from 5 bars to 150 bars with oxygen, steam and/or carbon dioxide as gasifying agents. Pellets are fed to the top of a fixed bed in the gasification reactor. The gasifying agents are introduced into the fixed bed from below. Mineral constituents are withdrawn as solid ash or liquid slag from the lower end of the fixed bed. The pellets are made from fine-grained hard coal which has a particle size below 1 mm and contains 3 to 10 wt. % of fines having particle sizes not in excess of 2 micrometers and 70 to 80 wt. % of particles not in excess of a fraction not in excess of 63 micrometers. The fine-grained hard coal is mixed with bentonite to obtain a mixture which contains 1 to 8 wt. % bentonite. With an addition of water, the mixture is shaped to form pellets which contain 15 to 25 wt. % water. The pellets are fed in an undried, moist, plastically deformable state to the top of the fixed bed.

Abstract: The gasification of sulfur-bearing coal produces a synthesis gas which contains a considerable concentration of sulfur compounds especially hydrogen sulfide that renders the synthesis gas environmentally unacceptable unless the concentration of the sulfur compounds is significantly reduced. To provide for such a reduction in the sulfur compounds a calcium compound is added to the gasifier with the coal to provide some sulfur absorption. The synthesis gas from the gasifier contains sulfur compounds and is passed through an external bed of a regenerable solid absorbent, preferably zinc ferrite, for essentially completed desulfurizing the hot synthesis gas. This absorbent is, in turn, periodically or continuously regenerated by passing a mixture of steam and air or oxygen through the bed for converting absorbed hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling moisture content of a solid, such as pulverized coal, conveyed to a reactor, such as a gasifier, by controlling the temperature of a gas injected into a pulverizer or dryer based on the moisture content control of the coal transported to the gasifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the coproduction of a combustible feed gas stream useable as an energy source and a sulfur-containing second gas stream useable as a feedstock for the production of sulfuric acid. The process includes heating coal in the presence of an oxygen-lean atmosphere under partial coal gasifying conditions to produce a solid carbonaceous char and a crude coal-gas stream. Sulfur-containing compounds are removed from the coal gas stream and converted to solid sulfur-containing materials. The solid sulfur-containing materials are combined with the solid carbonaceous char and gypsum to form a feed mixture. The non-gypsum portion of the feed mixture contains sufficient reducing potential to release substantially all of the sulfur in the gypsum as gaseous compounds of sulfur in a +4 or lower oxidation state. The feed mixture is heated under reducing conditions to produce a sulfur-containing second gas stream and a solid sintered product.

Abstract: In this process for the removal of residue particles from a discharge opening of a pressurized gasification reactor according to the fluidized bed or flue dust principle the residue particles are removed by a worm conveyor. To avoid pressure fluctuations in the actual gasification process and to perform a continuously operating residue removal not susceptible to disturbances the discharge opening of the worm conveyor housing is provided with an adjustable pressure device for exerting a closing pressure on a closing element.

Abstract: The invention is a method for transporting and for treating during transport a gas containing potential atmospheric pollutants, including carbon dioxide making use of the extensive heat exchange area so provided, to obtain either a clean-burning fuel gas or a residual gas that can be discharged into the atmosphere without danger of significant atmospheric pollution. A cross-country pipeline is structurally modified or initially constructed to circulate coolant fluid along circumferential positions thereof, preferably by externally jacketing such portions and circulating coolant fluid therethrough, and to provide a gravity settlement chamber therein for carbon dioxide snow and particulate matter and a mechanical arrangement, such as a ram, for pushing any previously precipitated matter into such chamber.

Abstract: An ash fusion temperature increasing agent principally comprising a silicon and/or titanium compound, such as SiO.sub.2 and/or TiO.sub.2 is mixed with an ash-containing fuel comprising a pumpable liquid hydrocarbonaceous material and/or petroleum coke to produce Mixture A. In one embodiment, the ash fusion temperature increasing agent comprises about 55-100 wt. % of silicon compound selected from the group consisting of fine silica or quartz, volcanic ash, and mixtures thereof; and the remainder, if any, of said ash fusion temperature increasing agent comprises a member of the group consisting of aluminum compound such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, magnesium compound such as MgO, and mixtures thereof. Mixture A is reacted with a free-oxygen containing gas in a free-flow refractory lined reaction zone of a partial oxidation gas generator. A hot raw effluent gas stream comprising H.sub.2 +CO along with fly-ash having an increased initial deformation temperature are produced at a higher temperature.

Abstract: An ash fusion temperature reducing agent principally comprising at least 50.0 wt. % of a manganese compound, such as MnO, and the remainder of the agent comprising a silicon compound, such as SiO.sub.2 is mixed with an ash-containing fuel comprising a pumpable liquid hydrocarbonaceous material and/or petroleum coke to produce Mixture A. In one embodiment, the ash fusion temperature reducing agent comprises a comminuted pyrolusite ore in which the following elements are present in weight percent basis ore: manganese in the range of about 50-75, calcium in the range of about 0-1.0, silicon in the range of about 0-3.0, magnesium in the range of about 0-1.0, and aluminum in the range of about 0-1.0. Mixture A is reacted with a free-oxygen containing gas in a free-flow refractory lined reaction zone of a partial oxidation gas generator. A hot raw effluent gas stream comprising H.sub.2 +CO along with molten ash having a reduced initial deformation temperature are produced at a lower temperature.

Abstract: Separation of clarified water and rapid settling of the particulate solids e.g. ash, slag, char and mixtures thereof from aqueous dispersions of quench cooling and/or scrubbing water as produced in the partial oxidation process for ash-containing solid carbonaceous fuels is effected by mixing with said dispersion a sulfonated product of humic acids and their salts and adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value in the range of about 2 to 6.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material, such as coal, is gasified through the catalytic action of an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal is provided as a sulfate which is converted to a sulfide during gasification. In one embodiment, sodium sulfate is converted to sodium sulfide at a temperature effective to form a transitory melt condition at an interface which obtains coal gasification at relatively low temperatures and material residence times for the reaction. An alkaline earth sulfate, such as a gypsum, may be concurrently converted to a sulfide during gasification. The alkali metal sulfide may then be regenerated to a sulfate for process reuse while converting the alkaline earth to a carbonate for environmentally safe disposal with concurrent recovery of valuable sulfur. The evolved carbon gases may be used for fuel, for process feed chemicals, or the like.

Abstract: In a coal or coal char gasification system using hot recycled inert heat transfer medium (IHTM) solids, the heat transfer medium and some of the unreacted or ungasified char are passed through a spouted-bed reactor. In the spouted-bed reactor, the unreacted char is burned in a way that more efficiently reheats the heat transfer medium and reduces fusion, agglomeration, plugging, fouling and erosion problems. These advantages are provided by the fact that only a central spout of solids is fluidized and the fact the solids undergo a systematic cyclic mechanism where there is greater contact between the hot char and IHTM solids. The spouted-bed produces a hydrodynamic system which is substantially different from conventional gas-solid combustor configurations, especially fluidized combustors.

Abstract: A method of generating a low-tar generator gas includes contacting the hot tar-containing generator gas in a contact zone with ballast bodies to cool the generator gas and capture tar and dust on the exposed surfaces of the ballast bodies, and admixing the thus heated ballast bodies to the wet solid fuel to be gasified to dry and pre-heat such fuel in preparation for the actual gasification which is performed in two separate gasification zones which are arranged one above the other by reacting the solid fuel with an oxygen-containing gasification medium that is introduced from above into the upper one, and from below into the lower one, of the gasification zones with attendant formation of two conflagration fronts in the gasification zones. The generator gas which is thus generated in the two gasification zones is discharged through a common discharge conduit which has the contact zone incorporated therein.

Abstract: Carbon and catalyst containing chars obtained from a catalytic coal gasification or combustion operation may be separated into two layers of fractions by contacting them with an inert gas so as to fluidize them and thereby separately recover fractions of carbon-rich chars and fractions of carbon-poor chars, and collecting the separate fractions. The carbon-rich chars may then be recycled to the gasifier to be gasified, and the carbon-poor chars may be treated to recover the catalyst. Larger catalyst containing chars may be effectively separated in the presence of a host medium of a bed of solids fluidized by the inert gas. Smaller chars may be separated in the absence of such a host medium.

Abstract: Pyritic sulfur is removed from coal to concentrate gas fraction collecting a gas fraction at decomposition temperatures within the range from 375.degree. to 550.degree. C. The collected fraction contains at least 60% of the total composable sulfur and not over 40% of the evolvable gas.

Abstract: A process for cooling and purifying a hot gas containing slag particles comprises the following steps:(a) the velocity of the gas mixture is reduced;(b) the flow of the gas mixture having a reduced velocity is deflected, the gas mixture being passed upward in substantially vertical direction so that part of the slag particles falls down into a fluidized bed of slag particles;(c) cold clean recycle gas is introduced through a fluidization distributor into the fluidized bed, thereby cooling the slag particles and keeping at least part of the slag particles in the fluidized bed;(d) the gas mixture flowing substantially vertically upward at reduced velocity is cooled by indirect exchange of heat, while a further quantity of slag particles falls down into the fluidized bed; and(e) the cooled slag particles are discharged from the bottom of the fluidized bed through a discharge pipe.An apparatus to carry out this procedure is also described.

Abstract: A coal gasifier has a fluidized bed reactor. The gasifier has a series of cyclones connected to an outlet of the gasifier to clean the gas generated by the fluidized bed reactor to isolate particulate matter. The cyclones are turned on and off individually to compensate for the variations in the gas output of the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of cooling retort coke is disclosed which provides for cooling hot coke from a coking chamber by direct heat exchange with fine-grained material, preferably coal, and the subsequent separation of the fine-grained material from lump coal which would form the cooling step.

Abstract: Use of an air-blown underground coal gasification plant to produce low-Btu gas thereby providing boiler fuel needed for an oxygen-blown underground coal gasification plant. The product from the oxygen-blown plant can be used for the production of synthetic natural gas or other uses. A preferred production gasification is also shown.

Abstract: In a method for safely operating a coal gasifier which is indirectly cooled by passing a heat-carrying oil through a cooling jacket of the gasifier, the pressure of the heat-carrying oil is continually measured after having passed through the cooling jacket. If the measured pressure falls below a predetermined pressure, the supply of coal and gasifying agents to the gasifier is interrupted, the passage of heat-carrying oil is interrupted and water or steam is passed through the cooling jacket until the gasifier is safely shutdown.

Abstract: In a hot gas generating apparatus coal is fed to a first gasifying fluidized bed wherein it is partially gasified to generate a combustible gas and char. The char is circulated to a second combustion fluidized bed for burning in the presence of excess air. The combustible gas is mixed with the oxygen rich gases from the second bed and burnt to give a hot gas product.

Abstract: A novel process, and the articles of manufacture, or compositions, formed thereby, wherein a Group II-A metal, or compound thereof, can be ion-exchanged onto coal, and thereafter a Group I metal physically admixed or otherwise incorporated therewith, so that the composition can be pyrolyzed, and gasified, to form a high-BTU, intermediate-BTU or synthesis fuel gas. Suitably, the Group II metal, or alkaline earth metal, can be directly ion-exchanged onto a low rank coal, without necessity of any pretreatment, by contact with a basic solution of a Group II-A metal compound since, of course, low rank coals contain natural ion-exchange sites.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning hot gases produced during a coal gasification process in a reactor, wherein the hot gases leaving the reactor are cooled in a plurality of cooling stages to a relatively low temperature. In accordance with this invention, a particulated solid is added to the hot gases and circulated through at least one of the cooling stages. The particulated solid may be a material which decomposes in the hot gases to liberate carbon dioxide or it may be inert.The apparatus of the invention makes use of a heat exchanger which functions as a radiant cooler and also as a mixer for the gases and solids, the heat exchanger being connected directly to the gasification reactor at the exhaust gas side thereof. The heat exchanger is followed by at least one downstream, multi-stage cyclone fluidized bed heat exchanger which also is provided with an indirect heat exchange capability.

Abstract: A method of underground gasification of a series of gently dipping and inclined coal seams comprises the steps of determining the depth of occurrence and the thickness of each coal seam in said series thereof, opening the seams by drilling operating wells, interconnecting them within the given seam, setting the coal afire, and gasifying the seams. A safe mining depth is determined for each coal seam in the series and said series of the seams is gasified upwards when a rock thickness therebetween exceeds a safe mining depth for the underlying seam and downwards when the rock thickness therebetween exceeds said safe depth, a firing boundary of the underlying seam being shifted towards a coal pillar by an amount equal to or greater than a first spacing of rock caving in the roof of a gasified layer.

Abstract: The fuel constitutes a fixed bed in the reactor, which is provided in its lower portion with a rotating grate, which is adapted to be speed-controlled. The gasifying agents consisting of oxygen, steam and/or carbon dioxide are introduced through the rotating grate into the fixed bed. Under the action of the rotating grate the incombustible mineral constituents are delivered as solid ash to a lock chamber container. The speed of the rotating grate is controlled in dependence on the temperature in the lock chamber container. The speed will be decreased when the temperature in the lock chamber container exceeds a desired value, and increased when the temperature is too low. The desired temperature in the lock chamber container is taken into account as a range, which varies with time. The speed can be controlled by hand or can be automatically controlled with the aid of a computer. The rate at which oxygen as a gasifying agent is supplied to the reactor is also taken into account in the speed control.

Abstract: Coal or similar carbonaceous solids are extracted by contacting the solids in an extraction zone (12) with an aqueous solution having a pH above 12.0 at a temperature between 65.degree. C. and 110.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to remove bitumens from the coal into said aqueous solution and the extracted solids are then gasified at an elevated pressure and temperature in a fluidized bed gasification zone (60) wherein the density of the fluidized bed is maintained at a value above 160 kg/m.sup.3. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, water is removed from the aqueous solution in order to redeposit the extracted bitumens onto the solids prior to the gasification step.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide recovered from pyrolysis zone effluent is separated and burned to produce sulfur oxides which are reacted with solid spent mineral byproduct.

Abstract: A method of operating a fluidized bed in which a bed of particulate combustible material is disposed on a perforated plate and air is introduced through the plate and into the bed to fluidize and promote the combustion of the material. Additional particulate material, of a size less than that of said combustible particulate material, is introduced to the bed so that it is entrained in the air to maintain the combustible material in the bed.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a methane-enriched gas wherein a hydrogen-deficient carbonaceous material is treated with a hydrogen-containing pyrolysis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a product gas mixture including methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The improvement comprises passing the product gas mixture sequentially through a water-gas shift reaction zone and a gas separation zone to provide separate gas streams of methane and of a recycle gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane for recycle to the process. A controlled amount of steam also is provided which when combined with the recycle gas provides a pyrolysis gas for treatment of additional hydrogen-deficient carbonaceous material.

Abstract: An improved coking process for normally solid carbonaceous materials wherein the yield of liquid product from the coker is increased by adding ammonia or an ammonia precursor to the coker. The invention is particularly useful in a process wherein coal liquefaction bottoms are coked to produce both a liquid and a gaseous product. Broadly, ammonia or an ammonia precursor is added to the coker ranging from about 1 to about 60 weight percent based on normally solid carbonaceous material and is preferably added in an amount from about 2 to about 15 weight percent.

Abstract: For the manufacture of acetylene and synthesis or reduction gas from coal by means of an electric arc or plasma process, coal converted into powder form is pyrolyzed in an electric arc reactor with an energy density of 1 to 5 kWh/Nm.sup.3, a residence period of 0.5 to 10 msec and at a temperature of at least 1500.degree. C. such that the gaseous compounds derived from the coal do not exceed 1.8 times the so-called volatile content of the coal. The coke remaining after subsequent quenching is then fed to a second electric arc reactor in which the coke, by means of a gasifying medium in conjunction with heating by means of an electric arc or plasma process, is converted into synthesis or reduction gas furing a residence period of 1 to 15 sec and at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C. The gas flow from the pyrolysis zone is cleaned and acetylene is recovered therefrom by selective solvents. The gas from the cleaning stage is similarly cooled and cleaned.

Abstract: A method of producing synthesis gas from coal hydrogenation residues, wherein a coal hydrogenation residue is subjected to a reduced pressure distillation in a one-shaft or multishaft worm apparatus where the gases and vapors evolved are withdrawn and the unvolatilized remaining material is re-pressurized and is then introduced into a gasification reaction.

Abstract: Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced from coal, char or other carbonaceous material in a processing combination comprising a catalytic CO generator employing as reactant materials, fluid carbon material and CO.sub.2 product of the reaction of steam with CO to produce hydrogen and CO.sub.2. CO.sub.2 produced in the process is relied upon as the primary endothermic heat source in the fluid CO generator.

Abstract: A steam generator for burning a normally-solid fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, including, an elongated combustion chamber, a fuel introduction means to introduce fuel adjacent the axis of the combustion chamber as a centrally-disposed stream moving in a downstream direction, a combustion-supporting gas introduction means for introducing the gas as an annular, rotating stream about the fuel stream and which, together with the fuel introduction means forms a rotating, toroidal vortex of the fuel and the combustion-supporting gas moving in a downstream direction. The combustion chamber has a volume sufficient to burn all of the fuel and, together with the fuel introduction means and the combustion-supporting gas introduction means, cause the vortex to collapse and form plug flow thereafter. Water introduction means introduces water into the flue gas at the downstream end of the combustion chamber as a plurality of peripherally-arranged jets.

Abstract: In a melting/gasifying furnace including a coke-filled layer, coal is gasified by oxygen blown through tuyeres into a hot reducing gas which is caused to ascend through the coke-filled layer so as to melt reduced iron supported on the top of the coke-filled layer. The resulting molten iron flows down through the coke-filled layer, and is collected in the lowermost region of the coke-filled layer and discharged therefrom, while the hot gas is recovered. The thus recovered gas is fed into a shaft reduction furnace to reduce iron ores, and the thus formed reduced iron is supplied into the melting/gasifying furnace. In addition to the coal, a variety of fuels mainly comprising carbon and hydrogen such as heavy oil, natural gas, etc. are used for gasification. The fuel is blown through the tuyeres and/or charged through middle openings disposed above the tuyeres.

Abstract: Coal tar resulting from the gasification of coal in an industrial gas producer, instead of being discarded as waste, is condensed from the hot fuel gas by a mist-like spray of water to produce a fog-like suspension of tar mixed with the fuel gas. This mixture flows to an electric precipitator where the tar is precipitated and the fuel gas and water vapor are conducted to a mixer while the tar, which has been condensed, is supplied to a tar burner where it is burned either with a stoichiometric volume of air, or less than a stoichiometric volume. The product gases from the tar burner are conducted and discharged hot into the mixer where they supply sensible heat to fuel gas and water vapor and raise the temperature of the mixture above the dew point of the tar remaining in the fuel gas, and from which the hot mixture produced is delivered to a fuel burner or gas consuming apparatus.

Abstract: A process for the production of economically significant amounts of ethyl and other hydrocarbon compounds, such as benzene, from coal is disclosed wherein coal is reacted with methane at a temperature in the approximate range of 500.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. at a partial pressure less than about 200 psig for a period of less than 10 seconds. Ethylene and other hydrocarbon compounds may be separated from the product stream so produced, and the methane recycled for further production of ethylene. In another embodiment, other compounds produced, such as by-product tars, may be burned to heat the recycled methane.

Abstract: In a coal-gasification reactor installation, carbon dioxide gas is added into a liquid coal suspension in the form of fine bubbles of gas to improve the flowability and dispersion of the liquid coal suspension. In a preferred embodiment, carbon dioxide is separated from the gaseous reactor products, dissolved in an ammonium solution, reacted to form solid ammonium carbonate salt; the solid chemical salt is added to the liquid coal suspension where it is made to decompose and generate carbon dioxide gas.

Abstract: Effluent gas streams for steam reforming, partial oxidation or coal gasification operations are advantageously treated in shift conversion, scrubbing and pressure swing adsorption units for recovery of a purified, hydrogen-containing product gas stream. By recycling a portion of the waste gas removed from the pressure swing adsorption system to the shift conversion unit and/or to the effluent gas generation operation, enhanced product recovery is achieved without the necessity for employing low temperature shift or for achieving essentially complete removal of the carbon dioxide content of the gas being treated prior to its passage to said pressure swing adsorption system.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material, such as crushed coal, is admixed or impregnated with an inexpensive alkali metal compound, such as sodium chloride, and then pretreated with a stream containing steam at a temperature of 350.degree. to 650.degree. C. to enhance the catalytic activity of the mixture in a subsequent gasification of the mixture. The treatment may result in the transformation of the alkali metal compound into another, more catalytically active, form.

Abstract: Utilizing air, rather than oxygen, to convert coal to synthesis gas containing very high proportions of inert nitrogen; subjecting this entire gas, possibly with intermediate cleanup, e.g., sulfur removal, to conversion over a special metal-zeolite catalyst to produce a product comprising C.sub.5 to C.sub.11 normally liquid hydrocarbons, a gas containing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and large proportions of nitrogen, and an aqueous product comprising water; utilizing the gas product to run electric power generation equipment, such as a direct fired turbine, at base load levels; storing and accumulating the liquid product; and intermittently using the liquid product for electric power generation to meet higher than base loads, including peak load situations.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for control and maintenance of fluidized beds under non-steady state conditions. An ash removal conduit is provided for removing solid particulates from a fluidized bed separate from an ash discharge conduit in the lower portion of the grate supporting such a bed. The apparatus and process of this invention is particularly suitable for use in ash agglomerating fluidized beds and provides control of the fluidized bed before ash agglomeration is initiated and during upset conditions resulting in stable, sinter-free fluidized bed maintenance.

Abstract: In a process for the direct production of sponge iron particles and liquid crude iron from iron ore in lump form, which is reduced in a direct reduction unit and fed in a hot condition to a melting gasifier, the sponge iron particles which are discharged from the direct reduction unit are separated into a fine grain fraction and a coarse grain fraction, and only the fine grain fraction is fed to the melting gasifier. That ensures economy of operation, without an excess of gas.

Abstract: In methanizing CO and H.sub.2 containing charge gases, the charge gas is passed upwardly through a vertically extending fluidized bed reactor flowing, in turn, through a fluidized bed zone, a dust bed zone and a separation zone. From the separation zone, the gas is conveyed out of the reactor to a point of use. Coolant tubes are positioned in the reactor passing vertically through the fluidized bed zone, the dust bed zone and the separation zone for removing the heat generated in the reaction. An evaporable coolant, preferably water, is circulated through the coolant tubes. In a separate steam drum, the vapor pressure of the coolant is set for maintaining constant the temperature of the vaporizing coolant.

Abstract: A cyclic char gasifier process and apparatus are described wherein reactant gases are first compressed into the pores of a char fuel to react and then the reacted gases are expanded out of the char fuel pores. This cycle of compression and expansion is repeated with fresh reactant gases supplied for each compression and with reacted gases removed at each expansion. Air and steam are preferred reactant gases when the char fuel is to be gasified by oxidation. Reacted gases from such an oxidation gasifier plant are preferred reactant gases when the char fuel is to be partially gasified by devolatilization. Rapid reaction to a rich product gas can occur over the large surface area inside the char pores and the undesireable Neumann reversion reaction is suppressed by the strongly reducing conditions prevailing therein. The gases of devolatilization gasification can be used to enrichen the gases of oxidation gasification by using two cyclic char gasifier plants in a combination system.

Abstract: A two-step method and apparatus, according to the fluidized bed principle, for the production of coke, rich gas and pyrolysis tar, with the object of executing the method in a compact apparatus arrangement, with high energy efficiency and high throughput capacity.This is accomplished by a sequence in which the fine grains removed from the drying vapor mixture are removed from the actual pyrolysis process, and a hot gas, alien to the carbonization, is used as fluidization medium in the pyrolysis reactor, and with a hot gas-high performance separator being used for the dust separation from the pyrolysis gas, with the combustion exhaust gas produced in the combustion chamber being used for the indirect heating of the fluidization medium, for the pre-heating of the gas, which is alien to the carbonization, and for the direct heating in the dryer.

Abstract: Coal and residual oil are simultaneously processed in a reactor with a combustion zone at the bottom and a fluidized bed on top of it. The residual oil is injected into heat exchange relationship with the top of the fluidized bed where it is cracked with heat generated by the combustion.

Abstract: A process for gasifying coal comprising supplying to an upper portion of an entrained flow gasifier a coal powder having a particle size of 100 .mu.m or less whereby gasification is conducted at 900.degree. C. or higher in the absence of oxygen, supplying a coal powder including coarser particles and oxygen in an amount from that necessary for complete combustion of coal to a half of said amount to a lower portion of the gasifier whereby gasification is conducted at a melting point of coal ash or higher, and leading the gases produced at the lower portion of the gasifier directly to the upper portion of the gasifier, does not require recycle of char to the gasifier and gives a high gasification efficiency by passing coal powder through the gasifier only one time.

Abstract: The overall conversion of coal to synthesis gas by pressurized counter-current gasification is improved by steam reforming the methane values in the gas and heating the steam reformer by means of a fluidized bed combustor fuelled by the coal fines which are too small to be employed in the gasification step. Coal can be crushed to increase the proportion of fines and/or conditions for gasifications and/or steam reforming varied so as to consume lump coal and fines in the desired ratio. The product gas may be used for methanol synthesis.