3744.     WRIGHT, C. C., BARCLAY, K. M., AND MITCHELL, R. F.  Production of Hydrogen and Synthesis Gas by the Oxygen Gasification of Solid Fuels.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 40, 1938, pp. 592-600; Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 4329.

        Information in this paper is additional to that reported recently by Mitchell and by Wright and Newman.  The oxygen gasification of solid fuels in fixed-bed producer-gas equipment has been demonstrated as a practical commercial success.  The construction and operation of the equipment is simple, its performance well known, and its cost relatively low.  The results of plant-scale operation indicate that the overall C, O2, and steam consumption for synthesis-gas production compare favorably with any fixed-bed, fluid-bed, or coal-suspension process thus far developed.  Gasification efficiencies for synthesis-gas production are high.  the gasification rates per unit of generator area are appreciably higher than those normally attained in air-blown producer operations and higher than those attained in the standard water-gas generator when using the same size fuel, but appreciably lower than the rates attained for the pulverized-fuel processes.  The gasification rates per unit of generator volume are, however, comparable to those of the pulverized-fuel processes.  The quality of the raw gas from O2 gasification of anthracite was such that with a slight reduction in CO2 content it could be used directly for the isosynthesis process.  Raw gas from the coke at the highest steam:O2 ratio approached this composition.  For conversion to a gas of 2:1=H2:CO ratio, the shift reaction must be used.  Removal of CO2 from the gas by pressure scrubbing with water results in a substantial loss of CO and H2.  This loss may be reduced appreciably by 2-stage pressure letdown and by recycling part of the gas.  Material and heat balances over the producer and over the converter system are shown for the production of H2, and a calculated material balance is shown for the production of synthesis gas of 2:1=H2:CO ratio.  These balances indicate some of the factors involved in the overall problem of synthesis-gas production from solid fuels.  The economics of the O2 gasification of solid fuels in fixed bed hinges largely upon the cost of the solid fuel suitable for the process and upon the cost of O2, the relative efficiency, as compared with other processes, and the capital charges.