METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS GASIFICATION, OF SOLID AND/OR FLUID CARBON-CONTAINING AND/OR HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING SUBSTANCE IN MOLTEN IRON IN A REACTION VESSEL

1498318 Gasification of carbon- and/or hydrocarbon-containing substances EISENWERK GES MAXIMILIANSHUTTE mbH 7 May 1976 [9 May 1975 10 May 1975 (3) 4 Feb 1976] 18728/76 Heading C5E Solid and/or liquid carbon-containing and/or hydrocarbon-containing substances are continuously gasified in a bath of molten iron in a refractory-lined reaction vessel, by passing them together with oxygen or a free-oxygen-containing gas into the bath through one or more nozzles which are mounted in the refractory lining of the vessel below the surface level of the bath, and which thereby wear away at an equal rate with the lining. Fig. 7 shows a suitable reaction vessel in combination with an installation for desulphurizing the slag formed during the process. Vessel 21 contains molten iron 22 through which is passed via nozzle 23 most preferably oxygen and particulate coal. The slag 24 that is formed flows through an outlet passage 25 in which is incorporated a settling chamber 26 for separating out droplets of iron, into the desulphurizing vessel 27. The iron flows back into vessel 21 through a passage 28. Oxygen or oxygen-containing medium is fed into vessel 27 through a nozzle 29 to convert the sulphur in the slag to sulphur dioxide, which is removed. By means of gas lift 30, the slag is pushed back to the main vessel 21 through a passage. A proportion of the slag can be continuously withdrawn from the circuit. The gas obtained consists largely of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and may be used as reduction gas for metallurgical purposes.