TWO-ZONE MOLTEN METAL HYDROGEN-RICH AND CARBON MONOXIDE-RICH GAS GENERATION PROCESS

摘要

A high pressure two-zone molten iron gasification process for converting solid, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon feeds into separate substantially hydrogen-rich and carbon monoxide-rich streams at 2 to 200 atmospheres pressure by feeding hydrocarbons into the molten iron in a first zone (4) in which hydrogen-rich gas is formed and then circulating the molten iron into contact with an oxygen containing gas in a second zone (5) in which carbon monoxyide-rich gas is formed. The carbon level in the circulating molten iron is carefully controlled above 0.3 wt. % to minimize formation of FeO. Hydrogen sulfide and other volatile sulfur compounds are removed from the separate gas streams via scrubbing in downstream equipment (12 and 16).