Texaco Inc.

Michael C Martin

George Morris Gulko

Beth E McCracken

Matthew A McMahon

Erwin A Reich

Kenneth W McKenzie

Radiant gas cooler apparatus for treating a particulate-laden synthetic gas, which cooler includes an elongated shell. A water wall in the shell defines an annulus communicated with a pressurized purge gas source. Hot effluent introduced to the unit passes through a heat exchange chamber defined by the water wall and enters a bath in the shell lower end wherein solid material is removed. Cooled synthetic gas which leaves the bath enters the annulus to be discharged into the bath. A regulated flow of purge gas directed into the annulus prevents entry of hot effluent gas therein, precludes the accumulation of residual solid particulate matter and corrosive gaseous components, and scours the annulus surfaces. A double dip tube arrangement also protects the vessel by equalizing the pressure across an internal water wall.

Synthetic gas radiant cooler with internal quenching and purging

An improved process for the low-cost disposal of noxious municipal sewage sludge in a safe way without polluting the environment. In the process, a portion of a stream of dewatered sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 17 to 40 wt.% is dried to produce dried sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 75 to 99 wt.%. The dried sewage sludge is ground to a small particle size. A pumpable aqueous feed slurry having a solids content in the range of about 45 to 70 wt.% is produced comprising (a) solid carbonaceous fuel, (b) ground dried sewage sludge, and (c) sheared and/or unsheared dewatered sewage sludge. The parts by weight of (a):(b):(c) are respectively in the range of about 3 to 8:0.5 to 2:0.5 to 2, and preferably 6:1:1. The aqueous feed slurry is gasified in a free-flow partial oxidation gas generator. Synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas is produced, Ash and slag are separated from the gas stream and safely disposed. Waste heat produced in the process may be used to dry the sewage sludge.

Partial oxidation of sewage sludge

This invention relates to a combination comprising two vertical cylindrical shaped high temperature pressure vessels coaxially connected. The upper vessel is a refractory lined free-flow partial oxidation gas generator for the production of gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 +CO from liquid hydrocarbonaceous and solid carbonaceous fuels. The lower vessel houses a radiation gas cooler for cooling the raw gas stream which is produced in the upper vessel and which passes down through a coaxial vertical cylindrical annular shaped refractory throat located between said upper and lower vessels. A vertical steel cylindrical gas barrier provided with a flanged bottom surrounds the refractory throat passage so that substantially no gas escapes into a stagnant annular zone outside of said gas barrier. Further the refractory throat is vertically supported by said flanged gas barrier. Supporting elements connected to the upper vessel are provided for supporting the gas barrier so that its lower end is free to move by thermal expansion.

Synthesis gas barrier and refractory support

In a heat exchange vessel which conducts a hot, pressurized synthetic gaseous stream carrying particulate matter through a central heat exchange chamber, a safety system for monitoring pressures within the vessel. Said heat exchange vessel includes a shell surrounding a water wall, defining an annulus therebetween. Pressure sensing means communicated with the respective heat exchange chamber and said annulus, connects to means for determining the pressure differential between said points. A purge gas source communicated with the monitor system maintains the latter free of internal passage blockage caused by accumulations of particulate matter.

Synthetic gas cooler with thermal protection

In a heat exchange vessel which conducts a hot, pressurized synthetic gaseous stream carrying particulate matter through a central heat exchange chamber, a safety system for monitoring pressures within the vessel. Said heat exchange vessel includes a shell surrounding a water wall, defining an annulus therebetween. Pressure sensing means communicated with the respective heat exchange chamber and said annulus connects to means for determining the pressure differential between said points. A purge gas source communicated with the monitor system maintains the latter free of internal passage blockage caused by accumulations of particulate matter.

A gasifier having a combustion chamber in which a hydrocarbonaceous fuel is burned to produce a usable gas. A quench chamber is positioned to receive said gas and other byproducts as an effluent stream, in a coolant liquid quench bath. A dip tube and draft tube define a tortuous passage within a quench chamber for directing the gaseous segment to a discharge port by way of said quench bath. A baffle positioned in the path of the gas includes a manifold at the baffle lower end to receive condensate which flows from said baffle face and returns water to the quench bath.

Gasification reactor with internal gas baffling and liquid collector

Control process for producing an aqueous slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel having a desired solids concentration for feed to a partial oxidation gas generator by grinding together in a size reduction zone a recycle aqueous slurry stream comprising carbon-containing particulate solids, a stream of solid carbonaceous fuel, and a specific amount of make-up water. No valves are in the line or path between the size reduction zone and the feed tanks for the solid carbonaceous fuel and recycle aqueous slurry. A system control unit automatically calculates the amount of make-up water and provides a corresponding signal to control the flow rate. Input signals that are provided to the system control unit include those corresponding to the weigh belt feeder speed and moisture content for the solid carbonaceous fuel; and pump speed, weight fraction, temperature, and density of the solids for the slurry of recycle particulate solids.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Michael C Martin