GASIFICATION OF CARBONACEOUS AGGLOMERATES IN A FIXED BED REACTOR

A process for the gasification of carbonaceous agglomerates in a reactor at a pressure of the range of 5 to 150 bar. The agglomerates are fed into said reactor from a storage zone located above the reactor and form a fixed bed in the reactor, in which they slowly descend when gasified. At least two gasification agents selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air, steam and carbon dioxide are introduced into said reactor through the bottom and rise through said fixed bed. Solid ash or liquid slag is discharged below said fixed bed and a steam-containing product gas is tapped from the reactor above said fixed bed. In order to minimize or prevent the condensation of steam on the agglomerates in the storage zone, the invention provides for a controlled atmosphere almost entirely free of oxygen and steam which is introduced into the storage zone at a pressure approximately equal to the pressure of the product gas.