Method for energy utilization in producing synthesis gas and recovering

Abstract

The effluent gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator is scrubbed with water. A dispersion of particulate carbon and water is produced, mixed with a liquid organic extractant, and separated in a decanter. The overhead stream from the decanter, comprising a dispersion of carbon in the liquid organic extractant, together with small amounts of water, is mixed with extraction oil and heated in a vaporizing operation to produce a vaporized overhead mixture, comprising substantially all of the water and liquid organic extractant, and an unvaporized liquid bottoms dispersion of carbon in extraction oil containing only a minor amount of water and liquid organic extractant. The bottoms dispersion is passed into a steam stripper in counterflow with stripping steam. The overhead from the steam stripper, in admixture with 0 to 100 volume % of the overhead from the vaporizing operation is cooled and condensed to separate water and liquid organic extractant by indirect heat exchange in at least two and preferably three separate heat exchange or condensing zones in series, with a different coolant in each zone. Liquid organic extractant and air or water are coolants in two of the zones and the coolant for any remaining zone is selected from the group: (a) at least a portion of carbon/liquid organic extractant/water dispersion overhead from the decanter, (b) at least a portion of the extraction oil, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b). The bottoms stream from the steam stripper, comprising carbon and extraction oil may be mixed with hydrocarbonaceous feed and pumped into the gas generator with or without further heating.