Burner-feed multi-zone molten metal syngas generator

Abstract

A gas impermeable vessel carrying a molten metal bath within the vessel bottom includes a downwardly directed baffle from a top wall of the vessel, which penetrates the bath to separate the vessel into a burner feed chamber and an outlet chamber with gas spaces above the level of the molten metal bath. A burner having a combustion chamber receiving an oxidant under pressure and fuel gas and pitch, combusts the pitch and passes the products of combustion at high velocity through a nozzle which opens directly or indirectly to the gas space above in the burner feed chamber such that a stream of carbon soot impinges against the surface of the molten metal bath and penetrates the same, thereby dissolving the carbon soot and disassociating gases such as carbon monoxide in the molten metal. Water may be supplied to the stream to effect disassociation of the hydrogen content in the molten metal. The molten metal passes under the baffle and gases such as CO and H S exit an outlet line open to the gas space above the outlet chamber. H O may be added to the outlet gas to effect a water gas shift CO+H O→CO +H . The burner may be water jacketed with the water passing through apertures on the inner wall of the jacket into the stream exiting from the nozzle. The vessel may have its axis horizontal or vertical. The vessel may be formed by a ceramic U-tube or a ceramic tubular structure of W elevational configuration.