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US 4,358,359 AGranted
Two-stage coal liquefaction process with process-derived solvent having a low heptane-insolubles content
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorsJoel W. Rosenthal, Arthur J. Dahlberg, Christopher W. Kuehler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a two-stage process for the production of clean liquid hydrocarbons from coal. In the process subdivided coal is dissolved in a process derived solvent. The dissolver effluent is passed through a catalytic reactor operating under hydrocracking conditions, to produce normally liquid products and recycle solvent. The solvent is further cooled to precipitate unconverted heptane-insolubles prior to recycle to the dissolution stage.
Claims37
A process for liquefying coal which comprises:
- forming a coal-solvent slurry by mixing subdivided coal with a solvent;
- passing said slurry with added hydrogen through a dissolving zone to substantially dissolve said coal to produce a first effluent;
- contacting at least a portion of said first effluent from said dissolving zone in a reaction zone containing hydrocracking catalyst under hydrocracking conditions to produce a second effluent, having a normally liquid portion containing heptane-insolubles;
- cooling at least a portion of said normally liquid portion of said second effluent to precipitate substantially all of said heptane-insolubles;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the cooled, substantially heptane-insoluble-free, liquid portion for use as coal solvent.
3 more elements
A process for liquefying coal which comprises:
- forming a coal-solvent slurry by mixing subdivided coal with a solvent;
- passing said slurry with added hydrogen through a dissolving zone to substantially dissolve said coal to produce a first effluent;
- contacting at least a portion of said first effluent from said dissolving zone in a reaction zone containing hydrocracking catalyst under hydrocracking conditions to produce a second effluent having a normally liquid portion which contains heptane-insolubles and coal residue;
- separating a substantial portion of the coal residue from at least a portion of said normally liquid portion of said second effluent to produce a solids-lean liquid;
- cooling at least a portion of said solids-lean liquid to precipitate substantially all of said heptane-insolubles;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the cooled, substantially heptane-insoluble-free liquid for use as a coal solvent.
4 more elements
A process for liquefying coal which comprises:
- forming a coal-solvent slurry by mixing subdivided coal with a solvent;
- passing said slurry with added hydrogen through a dissolving zone to substantially dissolve said coal to produce a first effluent;
- contacting at least a portion of said first effluent from said dissolving zone in a reaction zone containing hydrocracking catalyst under hydrocracking conditions to produce a second effluent, having a normally liquid portion containing heptane-insolubles;
- cooling at least a portion of said normally liquid portion of said second effluent to precipitate at least a substantial portion of the heptane-insolubles therein, thereby producing a hydrocarbon liquid having a substantially reduced heptane-insolubles content;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the cooled, hydrocarbon liquid having a substantially reduced heptane-insolubles content for use as coal solvent.
3 more elements
A process for liquefying coal which comprises:
- forming a coal-solvent slurry by mixing subdivided coal with a solvent;
- passing said slurry with added hydrogen through a dissolving zone to substantially dissolve said coal to produce a first effluent;
- contacting at least a portion of said first effluent from said dissolving zone in a reaction zone containing hydrocracking catalyst under hydrocracking conditions to produce a second effluent having a normally liquid portion which contains heptane-insolubles and coal residue;
- separating a substantial portion of the coal residue from at least a portion of said normally liquid portion of said second effluent to produce a solids-lean liquid;
- cooling at least a portion of said solids-lean liquid to precipitate at least a substantial portion of the heptane-insolubles therein, thereby producing a hydrocarbon liquid having a substantially reduced heptane-insolubles content;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the cooled hydrocarbon liquid having a substantially reduced heptane-insolubles content for use as coal solvent.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.