Reactor and method for gasifying and/or melting materials

A process for gasifying and/or melting feed materials in a reactor having a charging section with a feed opening through which the feed materials are charged to the reactor from above, a pyrolysis section which has an expanded cross section and is located below the charging section so that a discharge cone of the feed material can form, gas supply devices which open into the pyrolysis section substantially at a level of the expanded cross section and through which hot gases can be fed to the discharge cone, a melting and superheating section located below the pyrolysis section and has a narrowing cross section, upper injection devices through which an energy-rich medium is supplyable to the melting and superheating section immediately below a level of the narrowing of the cross section, a reduction section located below the melting and superheating section, the reduction section having gas exhaust devices through which excess gases are exhausted, a hearth with a tap below the reduction section for accumulating and draining molten metal and molten slag, and lower injection devices through which an energy-rich medium is supplyable directly above the molten metal and slag and below the gas exhaust devices so as to prevent solidification of the molten metal and slag, the process comprising the steps of:

• forming a feed column that is largely shielded from outside in the reactor;
• shock heating the feed column by supplying hot gases in an upper region of the reactor to initiate pyrolysis in the feed materials;
• producing a hot zone at a lower level in the reactor with temperatures above 1000° C. by supplying energy-rich media;
• combusting the pyrolysis products, melting any metallic and mineral constituents that may be present, and extensive coking of residual matter of the feed materials in the hot zone;
• drawing all gases downward through the feed column, through the hot zone, and through a reduction zone located below the hot zone;
• drawing off reduced excess gases from the reactor in a region of the reduction zone;
• accumulating any molten metal and/or molten slag in a lowermost section of the reactor;
• introducing energy-rich media directly above the accumulated molten material to maintain it in a molten state;
• and
• tapping the molten material as necessary.

A reactor for gasifying and/or melting feed materials, comprising:

• a charging section with a feed opening through which the feed materials are charged to the reactor from above;
• a pyrolysis section which has an expanded cross section and is located below the charging section so that a discharge cone of the feed material can form;
• gas supply devices which open into the pyrolysis section substantially at a level of the expanded cross section and through which hot gases can be fed to the discharge cone;
• a melting and superheating section located below the pyrolysis section and has a narrowing cross section;
• upper injection devices through which an energy-rich medium is supplyable to the melting and superheating section immediately below a level of the narrowing of the cross section;
• a reduction section located below the melting and superheating section, the reduction section having gas exhaust devices through which excess gases are exhausted;
• a hearth with a tap below the reduction section for accumulating and draining molten metal and molten slag;
• and
• lower injection devices through which an energy-rich medium is supplyable directly above the molten metal and slag and below the gas exhaust devices so as to prevent solidification of the molten metal and slag.