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 reactor for gasifying coal including a vortex burner. Helical ribs are arranged in the inner combustion gas supplying conduit of the burner to impart a spiral trajectory to the gas and also the coal-water suspension which suspension is supplied in the annular space between the inner conduit and an outer concentric conduit. Means are provided for adjustably supporting the ribs inside the inner conduit. In addition, other rib supporting arrangements and also burner structure for supplying the coal-water slurry centrally are disclosed.

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: The present invention is directed to a coal-water slurry atomizer for use a high-pressure dryer employed in a pumping system utilized to feed coal into a pressurized coal gasifier. The slurry atomizer is provided with a venturi, constant area slurry injection conduit, and a plurality of tangentially disposed steam injection ports. Superheated steam is injected into the atomizer through these ports to provide a vortical flow of the steam, which, in turn, shears slurry emerging from the slurry injection conduit. The droplets of slurry are rapidly dispersed in the dryer through the venturi where the water is vaporized from the slurry by the steam prior to deleterious heating of the coal.

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 method is disclosed for burning a pulverized carbonaceous material containing sulfur and ash. According to this method, a slurry is formed containing the carbonaceous material, water, a reagent adapted to react during combustion with the sulfur in the material and a cementing agent adapted to reduce particulate emissions during combustion. The slurry is burned in a first stage with less than 100% theoretical air and preferably at a temperature below about 1100.degree. C. The products of combustion from the first stage are removed to a second stage and burned with additional air.

Abstract: Carbonaceous solids slurried in an aqueous solution, which preferably contains catalyst constituents having gasification activity, are dried by contacting the slurry with superheated steam in a fluid bed slurry dryer and the resultant dried solids are subsequently gasified with steam generated in the dryer.

Abstract: Coal or other carbonaceous material is gasified by reaction with steam and oxygen in a manner to minimize the problems of effluent water stream disposal. The condensate water from the product gas is recycled to slurry the coal feed and the amount of additional water or steam added for cooling or heating is minimized and preferably kept to a level of about that required to react with the carbonaceous material in the gasification reaction. The gasification is performed in a pressurized fluidized bed with the coal fed in a water slurry and preheated or vaporized by indirect heat exchange contact with product gas and recycled steam. The carbonaceous material is conveyed in a gas-solid mixture from bottom to top of the pressurized fluidized bed gasifier with the solids removed from the product gas and recycled steam in a supported moving bed filter of the resulting carbonaceous char. Steam is condensed from the product gas and the condensate recycled to form a slurry with the feed coal carbonaceous particles.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the production of fuel gas such as synthetic natural gas from coal. A sized coal feed of larger particle size is gasified in a moving bed gasifier such as the British Gas/Lurgi slagging gasifier, and forms a methane rich synthesis gas containing heavy and light organics which is quenched to form a water phase containing dissolved phenolic and other compounds. The water phase is separated from the gas phase and insoluble organics and mixed with a second portion of the coal containing fine particles which are not suitable for moving bed gasification to form a slurry. This coal-phenolic water slurry is gasified in an entrained bed gasifier, for example, the Texaco partial oxidation process, and forms a methane lean synthesis gas. The phenol, ammonia and dissolved organics in the water phase are destroyed and converted to valuable product gas.

Abstract: Coarse, graded coal is fed to a pressurized relatively fixed bed, non-slagging gasifier from which crude gas is recovered. Fine coal is slurried in an aqueous mixture comprising the discharge from the relatively fixed bed gasifier, which discharge is composed of hydrocarbons, phenolic water and other liquids as major components and additional makeup water, if required, and the slurry is fed to a slagging, pressurized entrained flow gasifier from which additional crude gas is recovered. The two streams of gas are cleaned and then used to meet a variety of demands, including, but not limited to, gas turbine generation of electric power, manufacture of synthetic natural gas and manufacture of methanol.

Abstract: Low quality solid fuels are gasified by being fed to a gasifier in a concentrated water slurry, the high solids content of the slurry being possible by subjecting the solid fuel to hydrothermal treatment in the product gas quench zone.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a system for feeding coal into a gasifier operating at high pressures. A coal-water slurry is pumped to the desired pressure and then the coal is "dried" prior to feeding the coal into the gasifier by contacting the slurry with superheated steam in an entrained bed dryer for vaporizing the water in the slurry.

Abstract: A method of producing a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method employs carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation. The method steps include:(a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form,(b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material at said elevated temperature to form said hydrocarbon, and(c) recovering said hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A method of continuously feeding solid particles into a pressurized container which comprises the steps of confining a body of liquid having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the particles in proximity to the pressurized container, maintaining communication of the pressure conditions within the pressurized container with a free surface of the confined body of liquid so as to maintain the body of liquid under pressure, continuously introducing a supply of solid particles entrained in liquid under pressure into the body of liquid under pressure, causing the entrained particles introduced into the body of liquid to continuously move toward the bottom portion thereof, mechanically continuously moving the particles in the bottom portion of the body of liquid upwardly along a confined path which extends from a position adjacent the bottom portion of the body of liquid upwardly above the level of the aforesaid free surface thereof to a feed position in pressure communication with the interior of t

Abstract: Apparatus for converting coal into a gas substitute in which a slurry mix of pulverized coal and water is heated to form an emulsion which is then successively passed through a catalytic chamber and a convertor chamber.The catalyzed emulsion mix is heated to destructive distillation temperatures in the convertor chamber as superheated steam is introduced into the convertor chamber to effect a continuous destructive distillation process. The products of destructive distillation are then successively scrubbed, condensed and passed through separators to separate the solids and free hydrogen from the gaseous constituents with a portion of the distillation products not comprising the final natural gas substitutes being recycled to the burner as fuel to generate the heating temperatures necessary to perform the method. The condensed water is also recycled to form the slurry or the steam introduced into the convertor.

Abstract: A gasification process in which gasification of lump size gas producing material, such as coal, is carried out under high pressure on a fixed-bed principle with a continuous feed of coal particles thereto, the continuous feed being accomplished by feeding coal of an appropriate particle size range into a volume of liquid within a first confinement path through a free surface thereof exposed to atmospheric conditions, collecting successive incremental volumes of particles and entrained liquid and transferring them into a liquid within a second circuitous confinement path maintained under pressure by virtue of the exposure of the free surface of a volume thereof with the gasification pressure conditions, conveying the particles of the incremental volumes communicated with the second path through a pumping action upstream of the particle communication therewith, collecting the particles in the volume and moving them upwardly through the free surface thereof into the gasification zone.

Abstract: Water-solid fuel slurries suitable for use as feed to a solid fuel gasifier are prepared by forming a ground solid fuel-water mixture containing about 35-55 wt. % water, adding sufficient organic liquid to form a pumpable slurry, pumping the slurry through a heating zone to a separator, and separating organic liquid from the fuel-water mixture.

Abstract: An aqueous coal slurry is preheated, subjected to partial oxidation and vaporization by injection of high pressure oxygen and is introduced into a top section of a hydrogasifier in direct contact with hot methane-containing effluent gases where vaporization of the slurry is completed. The resulting solids are reacted in the hydrogasifier and the combined gases and vapors are withdrawn and subjected to purification and methanation to provide pipeline gas. The amount of oxygen injected into the slurry is controlled to provide the proper thermal balance whereby all of the water in the slurry can be evaporated in contact with the hot effluent gases from the hydrogasifier.

Abstract: A process for providing pressurized, pulverized coal for use in combustion or gasifying of coal by the fluidized bed or suspended particle combustion principles which comprises the steps of introducing lump coal, of stoker size to run of mine size, into a low energy liquid circulation stream; transferring the lump coal to a high energy, high pressure, liquid circulation stream; separating the lump coal from the high energy liquid circulation stream by lifting the coal through a free liquid surface, said high energy liquid draining from the coal by gravity; directing the coal by gravity transfer to a continuous mechanical dryer for removal of surface liquid; gravity transfer to a coal crusher for major size reduction; gravity transfer to a coal pulverizer for size reduction necessary for the gasification processes; transfer of pulverized coal by gas circulation from the pulverizer to a cyclone separator, said circulating gas used in the pulverizer for coal particle classifying; and final injection of the pulve

Abstract: A method of continuously feeding coal or the like to coal gasifier means or the like operating under a predetermined elevated pressure and of continuously removing ash or the like therefrom in which the coal feeding and ash removing procedures are interrelated to provide energy conservation by removing heat from the ash and transferring the heat to the coal, such energy conservation being performed by means of the liquid medium (water) used to feed the coal and remove the ash. In the coal feeding procedure, coal is continuously introduced into a first low energy water circuit from which successive volumes of coal particles and entrained water are transferred to a second high energy water circuit during which transfer the first circuit gains water from the second circuit, the second circuit includes a first liquid volume having a free liquid surface maintained at a high pressure level at or near the pressure level of the gasifier through which the coal is moved to supply the gasifier.