Pyrolysis process for converting refuse to fuel gas

Claim 1

In a process for disposing of refuse while simultaneously producing a useful gaseous product and an inert solid residue, comprising the steps of (a) feeding refuse into the top portion of a vertical shaft furnace, (b) feeding an oxygen containing gas into the base of said furnace, (c) pyrolyzing the organic portion of the refuse, (d) fluidizing the inorganic portion of the refuse, (e) discharging the gaseous products from the top of said furnace, and (f) tapping the fluidized inorganic material from the base of said furnace, the improvement comprising: removing char from the furnace in an amount such that oxygen consumption in said process is reduced, while retaining a sufficient amount of combustible materials in the furnace so that on oxidation thereof the energy requirements of the process are satisfied, the amount of char removed (lbs. char/ton refuse) being less than the value of 50X/Y, where: X = lbs. carbon contained in a ton of refuse Y = weight percent (%) carbon in the char and wherein the range of oxygen consumption for a given amount of char removed will be within the values determined by the equation: R = b - (4 × 10.sup. -6 ) (cy) where: R = oxygen consumption (tons oxygen/ton refuse) C = char removal (lbs. char/ton refuse) Y is the same as above, and B can vary between 0.15 and 0.28.