Partial oxidation process

Abstract

Synthesis gas is produced by the partial oxidation of a feedstock comprising sulfur and ash-containing heavy liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuels, solid carbonaceous fuels, or mixtures thereof. An iron-containing additive is introduced into the reaction zone along with the feed to produce first and second liquid phase washing agents that collect and transport the vanadium-containing oxide laths and spinels and other ash components out of the reaction zone. A gaseous slag fludizing agent is also introduced into the top of the reaction zone so tha the gasifier is operated at a uniform temperature throughout under conditions that maximize the fluidity of the molten slag over the full opereating temperature range in the gasifier. Equilibrium oxygen and sulfur concentrations are provided in the gas phase in the reaction zone which provide specific partial pressures. By this method substantially all of the molten slag having a reduced viscosity and containing the nickel and vanadium-containing impurities from the feedstock are readily removed from the walls of the gas generator at a lower temperature. Simultaneously, in-situ desulfurization of the feedstock takes place in the gasifier so that the raw effluent product gas may leave the gasifier containing less than about 1.00 mole % of H.sub. 2 S and COS. In one embodiment, an additional supplemental gas e.g. free-oxygen, H.sub.2 S, COS, SO.sub.2, and mixtures thereof may be introduced into the gasifier so as to increase the carbon conversion without increasing the temperature in the reaction zone; or to prevent the formation of free-iron.