Apparatus and method for desulfurizing and completely gasifying coal

Claim 2

The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of adding oxygen comprises adding air.

Claim 3

A process for completely gasifying coal utilizing a plurality of fluidized beds having interconnecting conduit means for the exchange of particulate matter and gases in a generally counterflow relationship to produce a gaseous fuel having a low sulfur content, said process comprising the steps of: crushing the coal to a predetermined fineness; drying the coal in a first fluidized bed; adding a desulfurizing agent to the process; desulfurizing and devolatilizing the coal to react the desulfurizing agent with the sulfur bearing volatiles and to produce a char, in a second fluidized bed; removing reacted desulfurizing agent from the process; partially gasifying the char in a third fluidized bed; transferring the partially gasified char from the third fluidized bed to a fourth fluidized bed; adding oxygen and steam to the partially gasified char to completely gasify the char in the fourth fluidized bed thereby forming a hot combustible gas and ash therein; agglomerating the ash and removing the ash from the fourth fluidized bed; and utilizing the hot combustible gas to supply heat for partially gasifying the char and for desulfurIzing and devolatilizing the coal.

Claim 4

A process as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of adding oxygen comprises adding air.

Claim 5

A process as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of desulfurizing and devolatilizing is carried on in successively disposed fluidized beds, the second successive desulfurizing and devolatilizing bed comprising a fifth fluidized bed intermediate the first-mentioned second fluidized bed and the third fluidized bed, desulfurizing agent being transferred with the char, and the desulfurizing agent is removed from the fifth fluidized bed.