Integrated gasification apparatus

Claim 1

A plant for the gasification of water and a carbon-containing substance consisting of coal alone or coal together with municipal waste, biomass or sewage sludge with comprises: a substantially horizontally disposed cylindrical gasifier provided internally with conveyor means for substantially horizontally, displacing said carbon-containing substances and other solids from one end of said gasifier to the opposite end thereof; first feeding means for feeding said carbon-containing substance into said gasifier at said one end thereof; second feeding means for feeding calcined lime or dolomite into said gasifier at said one end thereof whereby said carbon-containing substance undergoes devolatilization and pyrolysis proximal to said one end thereof; means for withdrawing a gas from the other end of said gasifier containing product gas components and means for separating components including carbon dioxide from said product gas components means for recycling, the separated carbon dioxide at least partially to said gasifier and further including means for distributing the carbon dioxide near the opposite end of the gasifier; recovery means for recovering solids containing char and calcium carbonate from said other end of said gasifier; a combustor connected to said recovery means for receiving the char and calcium carbonate and for burning said char at a temperature sufficient to effect decomposition of the calcium carbonate to CaO and CO 2 , means for delivering the CaO to the second feeding means for feeding calcined line or dolomite to said gasifier; and third feeding means for feeding water to said gasifier at a location intermediate said ends thereof to sustain a steam/carbon reaction in said gasifier.