US 4,157,245 AGranted

Countercurrent plug-like flow of two solids

AssigneeChevron Research Company

InventorsDavid S. Mitchell, David R. Sageman

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Abstract

A process is disclosed for contacting at least two solids and a fluid, particularly for retorting and/or gasification of solid carbonaceous materials such as coal, coke, shale or tar sands by introducing a solid heat-transfer material into an upper portion of a treatment or contacting zone and a solid carbonaceous material into a lower portion of the treatment or contacting zone. The solid heat carrier is fluidized by an upflowing gas and moves downwardly, while the solid carbonaceous materials are entrained and move upwardly. The fluidizing gas may be inert or reactive. Substantially countercurrent plug flow of the two solids in the treatment or contacting zone is maintained by including means for preventing back mixing, such as a packing material filling the treatment or contacting zone.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A process for gasifying a solid carbonaceous material in a vertically elongated vessel, said vessel including means for substantially impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said vessel, which comprises:

(1) introducing into an upper portion of said vessel a first particulate solid comprising a solid heat-transfer material;
(2) introducing into a lower portion of said vessel a second particulate solid comprising a solid carbonaceous material, the physical characteristics of said first solid and second solid differing such that a superficial velocity of a fluid flowing upwardly through said vessel is greater than the minimum fluidizing velocity of said first solid and less than the terminal velocity of said first solid while said superficial velocity is greater than the terminal velocity of said second solid;
(3) maintaining substantially countercurrent vertical flow of said first and second solids in said vessel without substantial top-to-bottom back mixing of said first and second solids in said vessel by passing a reactive gas stream including a reactive component upwardly through said vessel at a rate sufficient to fluidize said first solid and entrain said second solid and forming a fluid product and an at least partially gasified solid carbonaceous material by reacting said second solid with said reactive component, whereby said first solid substantially flows downwardly in a fluidized state through said vessel and said second solid substantially flows upwardly in an entrained state through said vessel, and said first and second solids pass through said vessel in countercurrent plug flow;
(4) removing from a lower end of said vessel said heat-transfer material at a temperature substantially different from the temperature at which said heat-transfer material was introduced into said vessel;
and
(5) removing from an upper end of said vessel said product fluid and said at least partially gasified solid.

3 more elements

A process for retorting a solid carbonaceous material in a vertically elongated retorting vessel, said retorting vessel including means for substantially impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said retorting vessel, which comprises:

(1) introducing at an elevated temperature into an upper portion of said retorting vessel a first solid comprising a solid heat-transfer material;
(2) introducing into a lower portion of said retorting vessel a second solid comprising a solid carbonaceous material, the physical characteristics of said first and second solids differing such that a superficial velocity of a fluid flowing upwardly through said retorting vessel is greater than the minimum fluidizing velocity of said first solid in said fluid and less than the terminal velocity of said first solid in said fluid while said superficial velocity is greater than the terminal velocity of said second solid;
(3) maintaining substantially countercurrent vertical flow of said first and second solids in said retorting vessel without substantial top-to-bottom back mixing of solids in said retorting vessel by passing a gaseous stream upwardly through said retorting vessel at a rate sufficient to fluidize said first solid and entrain said second solid, whereby said first solid substantially flows downwardly in a fluidized state through said retorting vessel in plug flow and is cooled by contact with said gaseous stream while said second solid substantially flows upwardly in an entrained state through said retorting vessel in plug flow countercurrent to said first solid and is heated sufficiently to form an at least partially retorted solid and a fluid product;
(4) removing from a lower end of said retorting vessel a cooled heat-transfer material;
(5) removing from an upper end of said retorting vessel said fluid product and said at least partially retorted solid.

2 more elements

A process for the gasification of a solid carbonaceous material in a vertically elongated gasification vessel substantially completely filled with a packing material, which comprises:

(1) introducing into an upper portion of said gasification vessel a first solid comprising a solid heat-transfer material;
(2) introducing into a lower portion of said gasification vessel a second solid comprising a solid carbonaceous material wherein the physical characteristics of said first and second solid differ such that the superficial velocity of a fluid flowing through said vessel is greater than the minimum fluidizing velocity of said first solid in said fluid and less than the terminal velocity of said first solid in said fluid while the superficial velocity of said fluid is greater than the terminal velocity of said second solid in said fluid;
(3) maintaining substantially countercurrent plug flow of said first and second solids in said vessel by passing a reactive gaseous fluid upwardly through said vessel at a rate sufficient to fluidize said first solid and entrain said second solid whereby said first solid substantially flows downwardly in a fluidized state through said vessel while said second solid substantially flows upwardly in an entrained state through said vessel and reacts with said reactive gaseous fluid forming a fluid product and an at least partially gasified solid carbonaceous material;
(4) removing from a lower portion of said vessel said heat-transfer material at a temperature substantially different than the temperature at which said heat-transfer material was introduced into said vessel;
and
(5) removing from an upper portion of said vessel said product fluid and said at least partially gasified solid.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/802,999Filed 3 Jun 1977 · continuation in part
Priority: 26 Mar 1976
Granted: 5 Jun 1979
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification45 codes

C10G 1/02
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal: by…
C10B 49/22
In dispersed form: according to the "fluidised bed" technique
C10J 3/12
Continuous processes: using solid heat-carriers
C10J 3/503
Fuel charging devices: for gasifiers with stationary fluidised bed