Such residual concentrations of hydrogen can be eliminated according to German Pat. No. 366,791 by catalytic reaction with oxygen (air) to form water, or with carbon dioxide with the additional formation of methane. Lastly, German Pat. No. 396,115 discloses a method for the hydrogen enrichment, for methanation purposes, of a water gas having an H2 :CO ratio of about 1:1, by subjecting the water gas, after the addition of steam, to a conversion reaction in which carbon monoxide reacts with water vapor to form carbon dioxide,Jaw Crusher Pirce In KSA the gas being delivered to the methanation process after desulfuration. The manufacture of a synthetic natural gas consisting mainly of methane is increasingly important because a gaseous fuel of high heat value has many advantages over solid and liquid fuels in regard to transportability and environmental protection requirements. It burns without solid residue to a sulfur-free exhaust gas and can be distributed to residential and industrial consumers through long-distance gas pipes without danger to the ground water.
The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a methane-rich gas which is interchangeable with natural gas, from a gas rich in oxides of carbon which is produced by the gasification of coal with steam and oxygen under elevated pressure, and which shall be referred to hereinafter as pressure-gasification gas. It is in the prior art to manufacture both fuel gases for community fuel supply and synthesis gases containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the pressure-gasification of coal. It is also in the prior art to increase the hydrogen content of the pressure-gasification gas through the partial conversion of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and hydrogen by means of steam. Gases produced by the pressure-gasification of coals with steam and, in some cases, oxygen generally contain so much CO2 and CO that the hydrogen present in them is not sufficient for the complete hydrogenation of the...