716.    ---------------.  [DOLCH, P.]  [Chemical Principles of Synthesis-Gas Production.  I.  Water-Gas Equilibrium.]  Feuerungstech., vol. 27, 1939, pp. 1-5; British Chem. Abs., 1939, B, p. 684; Chem. Abs., vol. 33, 1939, p. 3997.

     In a discussion of the water-gas equilibrium as the chemical basis of synthesis-gas production, H₂:CO=2, the author compares the direct method of production in which all the water gas is passed through the catalyst vessel and conversion with steam continues until H₂:CO=2, and the indirect method in which some of the water gas is converted with steam into a gas with a low proportion of CO (2-4%) and this gas is mixed with the remaining water gas to obtain the desired ratio H₂:CO=2.  The quantity of synthesis gas produced by the 2 methods is the same, but the steam consumption differs considerably.