Method for increasing steam decomposition in a coal gasification process
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
InventorMarvin W. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The gasification of coal in the presence of steam and oxygen is significantly enhanced by introducing a thermochemical water-splitting agent such as sulfuric acid, into the gasifier for decomposing the steam to provide additional oxygen and hydrogen usable in the gasification process for the combustion of the coal and enrichment of the gaseous gasification products. The addition of the water-splitting agent into the gasifier also allows for the operation of the reactor at a lower temperature.
Claims6
A method for the gasification of coal in the presence of steam and a combustion supporting medium at a temperature less than about 2300.degree. F., comprising the steps of heating coal in a gasifier in the presence of a combustion supporting medium and steam to a temperature less than about 2300.degree. F. and sufficient to effect gasification of the coal and thermal decomposition of a first portion of the steam for producing oxygen and hydrogen, and introducing a sufficient amount of sulfuric acid as a water splitting agent into the gasifier for the thermochemical decomposition thereof while thermally decomposing said first portion of the steam for increasing by a factor of at least two the percent of steam thermally decomposable in the gasifier without the introduction of the sulfuric acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.