Gasification apparatus with pressure relieving means

An upright cylindrical reactor for producing pressurized gas from powdery fuels, comprising an outer jacket;

• an inner jacket defining with the outer jacket a first interspace for a cooling liquid;
• a reinforcing lining adjoining the inner wall of said inner jacket;
• a cooling shield enclosing a reaction chamber and defining with said lining a second interspace for an inert cooling fluid;
• a gap formed in said shield to establish a communication between said second interspace and said reaction chamber, said first interspace being in non-communicating relationship with said reaction chamber and said second interspace;
• an outer connecting conduit for applying inert gas to said second interspace;
• a burner insert communicating with the reaction chamber by passing through the upper end of the reactor through the outer jacket, the inner jacket, the reinforcing lining and the cooling shield and opening into the reaction chamber;
• a discharge opening means located at the lower end of the reaction chamber passing through the cooling shield, the reinforcing lining, the inner jacket and the outer jacket for discharging produced gases and liquid slag;
• and another outer connecting conduit communicating with said second interspace at a point remote from said gap to release in the event of an interruption of the gas generating process the pressurized gas flowing from said reaction chamber via the gap and a major part of said second interspace.