Process for the gasification of carbonaceous solid fuel at constant volume

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS OF GASIFICATION OF SOLID CARBONACEOUS FUEL IN SUSPENSION WITH FREE OXYGEN AND STEAM TO FORM SYNTHESIS GAS COMPRISING PRIMARILY CO AND H2, WHICH COMPRISES REACTING A SUSPENSION OF SAID SOLID CARBONACEOUS FUEL IN FINELY DIVIDED FORM IN FREE OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF STEAM WITH THE FREE OXYGEN IN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT FOR COMBUSTION OF ONLY THAT PART OF THE FUEL REQUIRED FOR SUPPLYING THE HEAT FOR REACTION OF THE REMAINING PART OF THE FUEL WITH THE STEAM TO FORM THE SYNTHESIS GAS COMPRISING PRIMARILY CO AND H2, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING IGNITING SAID SUSPENSION AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN A CLOSED ZONE OF CONSTANT VOLUME SO THAT AN EXPLOSIVE COMBUSTION OF SAID FUEL TAKES PLACE IN SAID CLOSED CONSTANT VOLUME ZONE, AND MAINTAINING THE VOLUME OF THE EXPLODED PRODUCTS CONSTANT IN SAID CLOSED ZONE DURING SAID EXPLOSION AND THEREAFTER TO PRODUCE THE SYNTHESIS GAS COMPRISING PRIMARILY CO AND H2 UNTIL COMPLETION OF THE SYNTHESIS GAS REACTION WHEREBY THE GASES CANNOT EXPAND AND COOL DURING THE REACTION AND AS A RESULT THE HEAT THEREOF IS CONSUMED IN FURTHERING THE ENDOTHERMIC REACTION OF THE STEAM AND CARBON.