Abstract:
A process for disposing of sewage sludge comprising the steps of, (1) dewatering the sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content of about 10 to 50 wt. %; (2) heating and mildly shearing said dewatered sewage sludge at about 150.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. in the absence of air for 3 seconds to 60 minutes by a rotor/mixer at a speed of about 15 to 1000 r.p.m., thereby producing a pumpable slurry having a viscosity of less than about 2500 centipoise; (3) mixing at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 200.degree. F. the slurry of sewage sludge from (2) with a supplemental fuel to produce a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge and supplemental fuel having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 65 wt. % and a higher heating value in the range of about 6,000 to 18,000 BTU/LB; and (4) burning said pumpable slurry from (3) in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream. In a preferred embodiment, the effluent gas stream is cleaned and purified and non-contaminating ash and slag are separated. By this process, noxious sewage sludge may be disposed of without contaminating the environment.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a burner for the partial oxidation under pressure of a first fluid by the second fluid. This burner comprises two fluid introduction tubes, one being internal to the other, with each of the tubes comprising a plate, and with each plate having several holes and a plate of the external tube has holes placed opposite the holes in the internal plate.
Abstract:
Synthesis gas is produced by the partial oxidation of a fuel feedstock comprising sulfur-containing petroleum coke and/or heavy liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel and having a nickel and iron-containing ash in a free-flow refractory lined partial oxidation reaction zone. The production of toxic nickel subsulfide (Ni.sub.3 S.sub.2) in said slag is prevented, and there is a substantial reduction in the concentration of H.sub.2 S+COS in the raw product gas stream by introducing an iron-containing additive into the reaction zone along with the feed. The weight ratio of iron-containing additive to ash in the fuel feedstock is in the range of about 0.5 to 10.0. The weight ratio of iron to nickel in said mixture of iron-containing additive and fuel feedstock is greater than 0.33. The additive combines with at least a portion of the nickel and iron constituents and sulfur found in the feedstock to produce a very fluid sulfide phase of iron and nickel, and an Fe, Ni alloy phase. In another embodiment, a minor amount of a calcium compound is included with the iron-containing additive only at startup to reduce the softening temperature of the iron-containing addition agent. By this method, the molten slag produced is free from toxic Ni.sub.3 S.sub.2 and has a comparatively reduced viscosity. Further, the slag may be readily removed from the gas generator at a lower temperature and may be disposed of without contaminating the environment. Further, the life of the refractory lining is extended.
Abstract:
A partial oxidation process for the production of a stream of mixed gases comprising H.sub.2 and CO. An aqueous particulate solid carbonaceous fuel slurry feedstream is preheated by indirect heat exchange with a process-derived stream of skimmed gases substantially comprising H.sub.2 O. The aqueous carrier of the slurry is vaporized by introducing superheated steam directly into the slurry pipeline. A suspension of particulate solid carbonaceous fuel entrained in a gaseous mixture substantially comprising steam e.g. about 90 to 99.9 wt. % H.sub.2 O and about 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a CO.sub.2 -containing gas mixture is produced. The suspension of solid fuel in the gaseous mixture is then separated in a skimming operation into an overhead gas stream substantially comprising steam, as previously described, and a bottom stream comprising particulate solid carbonaceous fuel with the remainder of said gaseous mixture. The bottom stream from the skimming operation is introduced into the reaction zone of a partial oxidation gas generator in admixture with a free-oxygen containing gas and with or without a temperature moderator where a gaseous stream comprising H.sub.2 +CO is produced. In one embodiment, the temperature of the suspension of solid carbonaceous fuel feed stream entering the partial oxidation reaction zone by way of a burner is monitored. An increase in temperature would flag the back-flow of synthesis gas or oxygen into the burner. When this happens, the feedlines to the burner and the overhead gas stream from the cyclone separator may be automatically shut down to prevent thermal damage to the system.
Abstract:
A burner is provided for introducing four separate feedstreams including a stream of gaseous material from the group free-oxygen containing gas, steam, recycle product gas, and hydrocarbon gas; a pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in liquid phase e.g. coal-water; and two high velocity streams of free-oxygen containing gas into a free-flow partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas. The burner has a central conduit and three concentric annular passages. A central core of a gas selected from the group consisting of free-oxygen containing gas, steam, recycle product gas, and hydrocarbon gas surrounded by the slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel is discharged from the central conduit and first annular passage respectively and is impacted by two separate streams of free-oxygen containing gas passing through the second and outer annular passages. With this burner, at least one stream of high velocity free-oxygen containing gas is always available, even at turn-down, to provide atomization and intimate mixing of the slurry feed.
Abstract:
Burner for use in a coal gasification process wherein a combustible mixture is formed comprising a combustion supporting gas such as oxygen, and a coal slurry. To avoid deposition of slag and ash particles along the hot, exposed face of the burner, a dynamic fluid blanket or barrier is directed transversely of the burner face. The fluid flow originates at the burner periphery and is addressed to sweep, or impinge against at least a part of the burner face adjacent to the central opening which defines the burner discharge port.
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 is disclosed for gasifying solid carbonaceous material at elevated temperature and pressure to produce a gas consisting of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which comprises forming a slurry at atmospheric pressure of the carbonaceous material with a liquid having a specific gravity of from 1.1 to 1.9, a boiling temperature of at least 70.degree. F., a latent heat of vaporization less than about 200 BTU per pound, a critical temperature which is less than the incipient coking temperature of the carbonaceous material, a stability at temperatures up to 600.degree. F., an essentially inert chemical reaction with the carbonaceous material at temperatures less than about 600.degree. F., an immiscibility with water or solubility in water at no more than 5%, and a dissolving ability for hydrogen sulfide at temperatures of from -40 to 250.degree. F., and raising the formed slurry to a pressure of at least the gasification pressure and vaporizing said liquid and gasifying said carbonaceous material, either in the same or in separate steps. Examples of suitable slurrying liquids are: carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulfide, trichloroethylene, bromoethane, chlorobenzene, methane dichloride, chloroform, or mixtures thereof.
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:
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.