427. COMPAGNIE PAN-EUROPÉENNÉ D’INSTALLATIONS ET D’EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIELS. Gas for the Synthesis of Ammonia. British Patent 677,643, Aug. 20, 1952. Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 277.

Patent Abstracts

Gas containing CO, 32.4%; H₂, 34.1%; CO₂, 11.3%; and N₂ 22.2% is produced in a multiple-stage process in which pulverized carbonaceous material, such as lignite or coal, is mixed in a 2-stage reaction chamber with air and steam at a temperature of 800º-1000º; the product is passed through a dust separator and wash towers. Part of the gases produced in the 1^st stage can be diverted to heat the unused reaction chamber for alternate operation. S-bearing gases are removed by distillation at 300º-500º. Gases for CH₃OH synthesis and for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis containing CO and H₂ can be prepared by passing O₂ and steam into the generator chambers at a temperature of 1,000º-1,300º. In this application, recirculation of a portion of the gases is not feasible.