Abstract: A method includes monitoring a pressure of a gasification system after gasifier shutdown via a pressure sensor, wherein the gasification system includes a gas treatment system and a gasifier configured to output syngas to the gas treatment system during gasification. In addition, the method includes depressurizing the gasification system after gasifier shutdown by opening a flare valve to release gas from the gasifier and the gas treatment system to an atmosphere. The method also includes pressurizing the gasification system after gasifier shutdown, when the monitored pressure reaches a lower pressure threshold, by establishing multiple purge flows of inert gas into the gasification system to remove residual gas from the gasification system. The multiple purge flows are established at different times and at different locations within the gasification system relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of acetylene and other higher hydrocarbons from methane feed using a reverse-flow reactor system, wherein the reactor system includes (i) a first reactor and (ii) a second reactor, the first and second reactors oriented in a series relationship with respect to each other, the process comprising supplying each of first and second reactant through separate channels in the first reactor bed of a reverse-flow reactor such that both of the first and second reactants serve to quench the first reactor bed, without the first and second reactants substantially reacting with each other until reaching the core of the reactor system.

Abstract: An improved artificial candle having an exterior appearance of a traditional wax candle, but which provides illumination by means of producing and burning acetylene gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gasifying carbon-containing compounds incorporating mineral elements and/or potential contaminants, and it also relates to a gasification installation having means for containing a bath of molten slag, means for charging said compounds into said bath, means for injecting at least oxidizer into the bath so that the mixture of carbon-containing compounds and oxidizer is super-stoichiometric, whereby a first fraction of the compounds is pyrolyzed, a second fraction is subjected to a combustion reaction suitable for delivering heat energy to the bath of slag, and a third fraction diffuses into the bath, means for recovering the gas given off by the pyrolysis and the combustion of the first and second fractions, and means for lowering the temperature of a portion of the molten slag so as to allow it to solidify, thereby immobilizing at least a portion of the third fraction of the compounds containing mineral elements and/or potential contaminants.

Abstract: A plural zone plant form converting a carbon source to synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen is disclosed. The carbon source which can consist of coal, automobile tires, or hazardous organic wastes, such as chlorinated biphenyls, polyhaloginated organics, organometallics, organic polymers, and the like is dissolved in a molten bath which can comprise iron in an oxygen deficient zone at one pressure and reacted with water, an oxygen source, or mixtures thereof in at least one other zone at higher temperatures and pressures from that present in the first zone. In one particularly advantageous embodiment, two zones, the first and the second, are at different vertical heights and circulation from one zone to the other occurs as a result of differences in density between the molten bath in the lower zone compared to that in the upper zone.