Gasifiers are high temperature, high pressure containment vessels used to convert carbon feedstock,
such as coal or petcoke, into H2 and CO, called syngas. The syngas produced by gasification is used
as a fuel in energy production or as a raw material feedstock for chemical synthesis. Slagging gasifiers
used in gasification operate at temperature between 1325-1575oC and pressures between 2.1-6.9
MPa; and are lined with high chrome oxide refractory materials. Impurities exist in the carbon
feedstock, which include Si, Fe, Ca, Al, Na, and S in coal; and include additional elements of Ni and V
in petcoke. Depending on the feedstock source, the quantities of impurities generally range from one to
over ten pct; leading to ash waste quantities reaching 100 tons/day or higher. At the operational
temperatures of a slagging gasifier, the ash wastes liquefy and react with or penetrate within the
refractory liner pores; leading to their wear and corrosion, and ultimately, premature brick failure. This
paper will discuss interactions between slag components and the refractory liner that lead to lining
failure.
Keywords: gasifier refractory, chrome oxide refractory, refractory corrosion