1813. ------. [KEITH, P. C.] (Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.). Fluidizing Process for Gasifying Carbonaceous Solids. United States Patent 2,445,327, July 20, 1948; appl. filed Aug. 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,722; 3 claims (Cl. 196-56).

A reactor that may be used for simultaneous pyrolytic distillation and exothermic gasification of coal, lignite, and oil shale is divided into 2 zones by internal baffling. The 2 zones merge in both the upper and lower regions. In operation the 2 zones are filled with a fluidized solid and are maintained at different fluid-static heads. The solid flows down the zone of greater fluid-static head, through the bottom channel, up the zone of lesser fluid-static head, and through the upper space to the zone of greater head. By "fluid-static head" is meant a pressure condition comparable to a hydrostatic head in a liquid system. Different gases may be introduced into the 2 zones to fluidize and react with the circulating solids. Gases and entrained particles of the treated solids are discharged from the upper space through suitable separators. For illustration the process is applied to carbonization and gasification of coal. 12 United States and 2 foreign patents cited.