Production of ammonia synthesis gas from solid carbonaceous fuels

Abstract

This is a continuous process for producing ammonia synthesis gas and includes the partial oxidation of particles of solid carboniferous fuels entrained in nitrogen. In the process, air is separated into high pressure nitrogen and substantially pure oxygen. A first stream of said nitrogen is used as a safe pneumatic vehicle in a grinding and transport operation which introduces ground, finely divided solid carbonaceous fuel into a venturi injector where the particles of solid fuel are dispersed in a second stream of said nitrogen. The solid fuel-nitrogen gaseous dispersion is then reacted with a free-oxygen containing gas preferably in the absence of supplemental H.sub.2 O, other than any moisture normally found in the reactants, in a freeflow partial oxidation synthesis gas generator. The nitrogen stream serves as a carrier for the particles of solid carbonaceous fuel and as a temperature moderator in the gas generator. After cleaning, shifting, and purifying the raw synthesis gas, a gaseous mixture of N.sub.2 and H.sub.2 is obtained having the proper stoichiometric proportions for ammonia synthesis. High pressure is preferably used in all of the steps of the process and in the catalytic ammonia synthesis which takes place subsequently. The high pressure is preferably the same as that produced in the gas generator less ordinary drop in the lines. Thus, expensive gas compressors may be avoided.