Preparation of synthesis gases from carbonaceous solids

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A SYNTHESIS GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN BY THE PARTIAL COMBUSTION OF COAL WITH SUBSTANTIALLY PURE OXYGEN, THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE PREPARING A UNIFORM SUSPENSION OF PULVDRIZED COAL IN STEAM, THOROUGHLY MIXING THAT SUSPENSION WITH OXYGEN TO BETTER THAN 90% PURITY AND IN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT THE COAL TO CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN, BUT SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT THE COAL TO CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER; MAINTAINING THE SUSPENSION OF COAL AND THE STREAM AND THE SUSPENSION OF COAL, STEAM, AND OXYGEN AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE DEW POINT OF THEIR MOISTURE CONTENT BUT BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THE COAL IS PLASTIC; AND PASSING THE COAL-STEAM-OXYGEN SUSPENSION INTO A REACTION ZONE WHEREIN THE COAL IS SUBJECTED TO A PARTIAL COMBUSTION REACTION IN THE PRESENCE OF THE STEAM TO GIVE SYNTHESIS GASES.