Simultaneous production of clean dewatered and clean saturated streams

Abstract

The hot raw effluent gas stream from a free-flow partial oxidation gas generator comprising H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, entrained particulate carbon, and at least one material from the group H.sub.2 O, N.sub.2, Ar, H.sub.2 S, COS, CH.sub.4, and ash are split into two hot raw gas streams which are separately processed. One hot, raw split gas stream contains about 5 to 50 volume %, such as 10 to 20 volume % of the total amount of hot raw effluent gas stream and the other hot, raw split gas stream contains the remainder. One raw, split gas stream is cleaned by quenching and scrubbing with water to produce a clean product gas stream saturated with water. The entrained particulate carbon is removed from the raw synthesis gas as a carbon-water dispersion from which it is extracted with a liquid organic extractant. The resulting liquid organic extractant-carbon-water dispersion is vaporized in a vaporizing zone using the sensible heat from the other hot raw split gas stream at substantially the same conditions of temperature and pressure as in the gas generator less ordinary losses in the lines. The particulate carbon is then separated from the gaseous phase by scrubbing with a liquid hydrocarbon fuel to separate out a liquid hydrocarbon fuel- carbon dispersion which may be supplied to the gas generator as a portion of the feed. The remaining gaseous mixture is cooled and separated into a clean dewatered product gas stream, water, and liquid organic extractant. The latter two materials are recycled.