Partial oxidation of solid carbonaceous fuel-water slurries

Abstract

Aqueous slurries of solid carbonaceous fuel having an increased reactivity of the solid material are produced by maintaining the solid carbonaceous fuel-water slurry at a temperature in the range of about 300.degree. to 650.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 100 to 3500 psia and sufficient to maintain the H.sub.2 O in the slurry in liquid phase; at substantially constant temperature depressurizing said slurry to a pressure in the range of about above atmospheric to 250 psia above that in the reaction zone of a partial oxidation gas generator, thereby partially vaporizing the water in the slurry and producing steam. After depressurizing, the slurry is cooled so that the solid particles drop in temperature about 2.degree. F. to 10.degree. F. and the water in the slurry drops in temperature about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. the upgraded solid carbonaceous fuel-water slurry is then introduced into the reaction zone of the gas generator with substantially no further charge in pressure and/or temperature except for that resulting from ordinary pressure and/or heat losses in the lines. By the partial oxidation of the upgraded stream of solid carbonaceous fuel-water slurry with a free-oxygen containing gas in the gas generator, synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is produced with a greater efficiency.