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Abstract

Apparatus and system for producing high pressure gas, such as high pressure coal gas from coal, air and water. Pulverized coal is introduced into a rising stream of steam in a central reaction column of a retort to constitute a fluidized or entrained bed. The coal reacts with the steam to form a gas consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane and higher hydrocarbons. The retort is constructed so that product gas and air may be burned in an annular chamber surrounding the central reaction column to produce hot flue gas. The hot flue gas is used to drive a turbine which in turn, drives a compressor which introduces compressed air into the annular chamber. Steam tubes may be disposed in the annular space so that the steam introduced to the central reaction chamber may be super-heated by the hot flue gas. The high pressure in the annular chamber enables the pressure within the central reaction column to be relatively high without causing the hot wall surrounding the reaction column to rupture. This is because the high pressure in the central reaction column may be equalized by the high pressure in the annular chamber. The high internal pressure is contained by the cool outer pressure shell which is much more capable of withstanding stress than the hot walls forming the annulas.

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First Claim