Abstract:
A process and apparatus for gasification of carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a stream of previously produced char, preferably produced from coal or other fuel, together with an oxidizer and steam is introduced into a combustion stage. The combustion gas produced by the combustion passes into a mixing zone and thence with high turbulence into a gasification zone or stage at subsonic velocity. Pulverized carbonaceous matter, preferably coal, is introduced and dispersed in the combustion gas in the mixing zone. The temperature, velocity and velocity changes principally of the gas in the gasification zone or stage are controlled to provide a heating rate for the particles of pulverized carbonaceous matter of at least about 10.sup.5 degrees Kelvin per second, and to effect rapid removal of volatile components from the immediate vicinity of the particles. Upon substantial gasification of the particles in the gasification stage, the resultant product stream may be quenched, the char removed, and preferably at least a portion thereof introduced into the combustion stage.
Abstract:
An increased amount of carbon monoxide is produced in a process for the gasification of carbonaceous materials by employing a reverse water gas shift reaction in the process. Raw gas produced by the gasification of carbonaceous materials contains predominantly carbon monoxide and hydrogen along with hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, water and methane. Carbon dioxide is separated from the raw gas as is the hydrogen sulfide. Thereafter, the carbon monoxide is separated from the raw gas to yield one portion of the carbon monoxide product gas. After the removal of carbon monoxide the raw gas consists of a hydrogen-rich gas. The hydrogen-rich gas which may be purified is mixed with the previously separated carbon dioxide along with any imported carbon dioxide and along with a recycle gas from a catalytic reaction loop. This mixed gas is conveyed to a heat exchanger in the catalytic reaction loop and passed through a heat exchanger located immediately after the gasifier through which the raw product gas passes. In the heat exchanger the hot raw product gas indirectly contacts the mixed gas and transfers some of its sensible heat to the mixed gas to effect the catalytically promoted, endothermic reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce a carbon monoxide-containing gas. The indirect contacting for heat exchange is conducted in a manner that limits the accumulation of elemental carbon from any of the carbon-containing components of the mixed gas. The carbon monoxide is separated from the other components of the carbon monoxide-containing gas to yield a second portion of carbon monoxide gas which is then combined with the first portion of carbon monoxide product gas to give the increased amount of carbon monoxide product gas.
Abstract:
A method of producing hydrogen and carbon-oxide-containing gases for use for reducing ores and synthesizing hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic substances, comprises, directing a suspension of finely ground coal and oxygen through a burner into a pressure reactor to convert the coal into gases and partly burning the gases, separating the gases from non-converted coal and ash, directing the separated gases into a quenching water so that their heat content is converted into pressure steam and the gases are precooled. The precooled gases are further purified and further cooled. During quenching, the gases are cooled from temperatures in the range of from 1300.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C. down to 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C., depending on the gasification pressure. The ash-free gases then become highly loaded with steam to a steam-to-gas ratio of 2 as they are cooled down to a temperature of from between 100.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., and to also form a condensate. The condensate is separated from the gases and recycled into the quenching process and the gases are further cooled to a temperature of from 4.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. and subsequently directed to the synthetic or ore-reducing process.
Abstract:
An entrained flow coal gasifier wherein a high temperature product gas stream is essentially formed by burning char with air. Additional char, formed by partial gasification of coal, is added immediately thereafter to obtain the gasification reaction. Fresh coal is thereafter supplied in a lower temperature region thereby obtaining the volatile components driven off at a relatively low temperature.
Abstract:
Apparatus and system for producing coal gas from coal, air and water. Pulverized coal is introduced into a rising stream of air and steam in a retort to constitute a fluidized or entrained bed. The coal reacts with the steam and air to form a gas consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane and higher hydrocarbons. In some cases the air may be eliminated to produce nitrogen-free gas. In other instances, the production of methane and higher hydrocarbons may be suppressed to produce a gas consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The retort is constructed so that product gas and air may be burned in an annular space surrounding the central reaction column to produce hot flue gas. Steam tubes may be disposed in the annular space so that the steam and air introduced to the central reaction chamber may be super-heated by the hot flue gas. A further annular space or "wet wall" may be provided surrounding the first annular space through which the intake water is passed, so that the intake water may be brought to a boiling point and converted to steam prior to its being introduced into the steam superheating tubes. This construction causes the walls to the retort to be maintained at a higher temperature than the reaction inside the column, so that all the heat radiated from the walls of the reaction column is directed inwardly, and no heat is lost through the walls. The product gas from the retort is then cooled and passed through a water spray which cools the gas to nearly room temperature, and removes all the fly ash and other particulate matter from the gas.
Abstract:
High temperature chemical reaction processes utilizing fluid-wall reactors can be conducted in fluid-wall reactors by a process which includes the steps of (a) generating a shell of a refractory material which reflects radiation, the volume enclosed by the shell constituting a black body cavity; (b) generating within the black body cavity an annular envelope of an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiation, the envelope having substantial axial length and the interior of the envelope defining a reaction chamber; (c) passing at least one reactant into the black body cavity and through the reaction chamber along a predetermined path substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the reactants being confined within the reaction chamber; and (d) directing high intensity radiant energy into the reaction chamber to coincide with at least a portion of the predetermined path of the reactants, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed within the reaction chamber to raise the temperature of the reactants to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction.
Abstract:
High temperature chemical reaction processes utilizing fluid-wall reactors can be conducted in fluid-wall reactors by a process which includes the steps of (1) generating a shell of a refractory material which reflects radiation, the volume enclosed by the shell constituting a black body cavity; (2) generating within the black body cavity an annular envelope of an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiation, the envelope having substantial axial length and the interior of the envelope defining a reaction chamber; (3) passing at least one reactant into the black body cavity and through the reaction chamber along a predetermined path substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the reactants being confined within the reaction chamber; and (4) directing high intensity radiant energy into the reaction chamber to coincide with at least a portion of the predetermined path of the reactants, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed within the reaction chamber to raise the temperature of the reactants to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction.
Abstract:
Production of synthesis gas from a slurry of particulate solid carboniferous fuels, e.g., petroleum coke, coke from bituminous coal, coal, oil shale, tar sands, pitch, or mixtures of these materials in water or in a hydrocarbon liquid fuel. The amount of particulate solid carboniferous fuel in a pumpable slurry may be increased to 75 wt. percent and the particle size of the solid fuel may be increased to pass through a 12 mesh screen by the addition of 2 to 10 wt. percent of soot as produced, for example, by the partial oxidation of crude oil. The slurry at a relatively low velocity in the range of 5 to 50 feet per second is mixed with a stream of oxidizing gas at a relatively high velocity in the range of 200 feet per second to sonic velocity at the burner tip to form an atomized dispersion of water, hydrocarbon liquid fuel, oxidizing gas, and solid carboniferous fuel. Under synthesis gas generating conditions, the atomized dispersion is reacted to produce a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. By this process, pumpable slurry feeds of low cost solid carboniferous fuels may be gasified in a synthesis gas generator without being preheated.