# US 2014/0190074 A1 · Process for treating coal to improve recovery of condensable coal derived liquids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190074 A1 - Document ID: US20140190074A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/151,385 - Filed: 2014-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: C2O Technologies, LLC - Applicants: C2O Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Franklin G. Rinker; Timothy J. Kuhn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190074A1 ## CPC - C10G 5/06: by cooling or compressing - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES ## Abstract A method for treating coal includes drying coal in an initial drying step. The dried coal is pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis step to form coal char and evolved gases. The coal char is eventually cooled and blended. The evolved gases are condensed in at least two, preferably three or more, distinct zones at different temperatures to condense coal-derived liquids (CDLs) from the evolved coal gas. Noncondensable gases may be returned to the pyrolysis chamber as a heat-laden sweep gas, or further processed as a fuel stream. The CDLs may optionally be centrifuged and/or filtered or otherwise separated from remaining particulate coal sludge. The sludge may be combined with coal char, optionally for briquetting; while the CDLs are stored. Precise control of the condensing zone temperatures allows control of the amount and consistency of the condensate fractions collected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating effluent gases evolved from a coal pyrolysis process, the method comprising passing the evolved gases through at least two distinct condensation zones, each zone being maintained at a different temperature to condense to liquids the different boiling point fractions of the evolved gases; (optionally) directing the liquids from each condensation zone to one or more separation units to separate particulate sludge and/or impurities from the condensed liquids; and directing the condensed liquids from each separation unit to its own separate storage tank, wherein the temperature of each condensing zone is controlled within a predetermined temperature range to collect a desired CDL fraction in each of the storage tanks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining the temperature of each condensation zone at or near a predetermined target temperature within a predetermined temperature range by a heat exchanger to sequentially cool each zone more than the prior zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising at least three condensation zones, for heavy (high BP), medium and light (low BP) CDL fractions, and wherein the predetermined temperature ranges for the three condensation zones are, sequentially, from about 450 F (232 C) to about 550 F (288 C) for the heavy CDL fraction, from about 250 F (121 C) to about 400 F (204 C) for the middle CDL fraction, and from about 150 F (65 C) to about 250 F (121 C) for the light CDL fraction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising bleeding the bottom particulates from the heavy CDL fraction condensation zone and combining these with the sludge and coal char in the blending area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 further comprising briquetting the blended coal char and separated sludge into fuel briquettes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising using a portion of the heavy CDL fraction as binder for the briquettes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the effluent gases through a high temperature cyclone prior to the at least two condensation zones. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising passing the effluent gases from the cyclone through a variable throat venturi prior to the at least two condensation zones. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the effluent gases through a variable throat venturi prior to the at least two condensation zones. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gases evolved from the lowest temperature condensation zone are further processed by an electrostatic precipitator to remove mist particulates of light oils. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising cooling the gases from the electrostatic precipitator to condense and remove water vapor present. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising reheating the cooled gases prior to pumping them to another destination to prevent condensation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the noncondensable gases evolved from the electrostatic precipitator are recycled to the pyrolysis chamber as a sweep gas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least another portion of the noncondensable gases evolved from the electrostatic precipitator are cooled to condense and remove water vapor present to form a dried gaseous fuel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the dried gaseous fuel has a heat value of at least 8000 BTU/lb (20.4 MJ/kg). ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A gaseous fuel prepared by the method of claim 14, the dried gaseous fuel having a heat value of at least 8000 BTU/lb (20.4 MJ/kg). ### Claim 17 A method for treating effluent gases evolved from a coal pyrolysis process, the method comprising passing the effluent gases through a high temperature cyclone to remove particulates; passing the effluent gases from the cyclone through a variable throat venturi; passing the evolved gases from the venturi through at least two distinct condensation zones, each zone being maintained at a different temperature to condense to liquids the different boiling point fractions of the evolved gases; (optionally) directing the liquids from each condensation zone to one or more separation units to separate particulate sludge and/or impurities from the condensed liquids; and directing the condensed liquids from each separation unit to its own separate storage tank, wherein the temperature of each condensing zone is controlled within a predetermined temperature range to collect a desired CDL fraction in each of the storage tanks. ### Claim 18 A method for treating effluent gases evolved from a coal pyrolysis process, the method comprising passing the evolved gases through at least two distinct condensation zones, each zone being maintained at a different temperature to condense to liquids the different boiling point fractions of the evolved gases; (optionally) directing the liquids from each condensation zone to one or more separation units to separate particulate sludge and/or impurities from the condensed liquids; directing noncondensed gases from the absorber to an electrostatic precipitator to remove mist particulates, dividing the gases evolved from the electrostatic precipitator into a first portion that is returned to the pyrolysis chamber as a sweep gas, and a second portion that is cooled to condense and remove water vapor present to form a dried gaseous fuel; and directing the condensed liquids from each separation unit to its own separate storage tank, wherein the temperature of each condensing zone is controlled within a predetermined temperature range to collect a desired CDL fraction in each of the storage tanks.