Patent GB-811603-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to process for the gasification of finely divided carbonaceous solid, liquid or gaseous fuel
IPC: C01B3/36
Filed: 1956-12-21
Abstract: 811,603. Gasifying solid, liquid or gaseous fuel. KOPPERS CO. Inc. Dec. 21, 1956 [Dec. 21, 1955 (2)], No. 39026/56. Classes 55 (1) and 55 (2) In a process in which finely divided carbonaceous solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel is reacted with a free oxygen-containing gas to produce gases containing primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the volume of the product gases is maintained constant during the pressure increase which results from the reaction. The gasifier comprises a rigid pressure vessel 2 surrounded by a jacket 16. Initially steam is passed through line 10 into the annular space between jacket 16 and the wall of vessel 2 to heat the latter to e.g. 410‹ F. Subsequently the annular space is supplied with cooling liquid, such as water, through line 10, the gaseous medium, such as steam, which is developed, leaving by line 11, collector vessel 12 and line 12a. Water carried up by the steam into vessel 12 is returned through line 13. To start the process the vessel 2 is purged with steam which enters by valved line 1 and leaves by valved line 17. Thereafter the steam valves are closed. Finely divided carbonaceous solid fuel such as bituminous coal, anthracite, brown coal, lignite or lignitic coal, peat, coke, charcoal, or wood is charged into feed vessel 5 through line 4 and carrier gas is admitted through valved line 6. Subsequently the fuel is blown at a relatively high velocity with the carrier gas into the vessel 2 through valved line 8. When the desired pressure in vessel 2 is reached, such as between 2 and 20 atmospheres or higher, the valve 7B is closed and the mixture ignited by means of a spark plug 9, an electric resistance heater, injection of selfigniting chemicals, a torch device or other means. The reaction terminates usually after 0.1 to 5 seconds, the pressure increasing to as much as ten times the initial pressure. As the cooling proceeds the pressure decreases and after a period of from 5 seconds to 5 minutes, the gas mixture is discharged through valve 14 into main 15. The synthesis gas pressure may be between 5 and 50 atmospheres. Vessel 2 may be vented into an atmospheric pressure main and the synthesis gas compressed, or the vessel may be purged by additional steam. With large gasifiers, water may be sprayed into them, and the steam produced purges the vessels. When gaseous or liquid fuel is used, such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, natural gas, mineral oils, petroleum oil, gas oil, distillate or residual fuel oil, coal tar oil, browncoal tar oil, shale oil or tar oils from low temperature carbonization, the vessel 2 is charged with steam, oxygen-containing gas is passed into it under pressure and then the gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuel is fed in at high speed, a liquid fuel being sprayed in through an atomizer. The reactants may be added in different sequences and the igniting may take place as soon as only small amounts of fuel have entered the vessel. A small amount of oxygen and combustible gas or combustion patalysts may be passed into the vessel in the cicinity of the igniting means immediately vrior to the ignition.