Process for producing synthesis gases

Abstract

In the production of a synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, by a process comprising gasifying a solid fuel under a pressure of about 5-150 bars by a treatment with oxygen and water vapor to produce a water vapor-containing raw gas at a temperature of about 350.degree.-700.degree. C, the improvement which comprises further reacting the water vapor-containing raw gas under a pressure of about 5-150 bars with oxygen in a succeeding reactor to produce an intermediate product gas which leaves the reactor at a temperature between about 800.degree. C and 1400.degree. C, cooling the intermediate product gas, and freeing the intermediate product gas from sulfur compounds. A dust fuel and/or liquid hydrocarbon can be added to the raw gas as such or after prereaction with oxygen, the addition advantageously taking place in the succeeding reactor. The reactor may contain a granular bed of a catalyst such as nickel, cobalt or chromium oxide and/or sulfide, and/or a contact material or catalyst support such as an oxide, spinel or silicate of aluminum and/or magnesium. The bed can be fluidized or otherwise mechanically moved. The resulting gas is suited for use as a starting material in a methanol, ammonia, oxo or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.