Process for conversion of solid refuse to fuel gas using pelletized refuse feed

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 and forming a bed of said refuse within the furnace, (b) feeding an oxygen containing gas into the base of said furnace, (c) pyrolysing 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: feeding the refuse into the furnace in the form of pellets of compacted refuse, said pellets being of sufficient structural strength to remain coherent at least within the drying and pyrolysis zones of the furnace, in order to inhibit channeling and to provide a porous structure throughout the height of the refuse bed, said pellets having: 1. a density greater than that given by the equation: D = 2,000/(100-0.8A) where: D = the density of the pellet (lbs./ft. 3 ), and A = percent inorganics in the refuse pellet, and 2. a surface to volume ratio greater than that given by the equation: R = 15(G/H).sup.0.625 where: R = the ratio of the surface area to the volume of the pellet (ft. 2 /ft. 3 ) H = the height of the refuse bed in the furnace (ft.) G = the refuse feed rate (tons/day/ft. 2 of furnace cross-sectional area).