Apparatus and method for pumping hot, erosive slurry of coal solids in coal derived, water immiscible liquid
AssigneeThe Pittsburgh & Midway Coal Mining Co.
InventorCarl D. Ackerman
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Abstract
An apparatus for and method of pumping hot, erosive slurry of coal solids in a coal derived, water immiscible liquid to higher pressure involves the use of a motive fluid which is miscible with the liquid of the slurry. The apparatus includes a pump 12, a remote check valve 14 and a chamber 16 between and in fluid communication with the pump 12 and check valve 14 through conduits 18,20. Pump 12 exerts pressure on the motive fluid and thereby on the slurry through a concentration gradient of coal solids within chamber 16 to alternately discharge slurry under pressure from the outlet port of check valve 14 and draw slurry in through the inlet port of check valve 14.
Claims34
An apparatus for pumping a hot, erosive slurry of coal solids in a coal derived, water immiscible liquid to higher pressure which comprises:
- pumping means;
- remote check valve means separated from said pumping means having inlet and outlet ports for controlling suction and discharge of slurry;
- a chamber in fluid communication with said pumping means through a first conduit and with said check valve means through a second conduit, said second conduit and said check valve means containing hot, erosive slurry of coal solids in a coal derived, water immiscible liquid;
- and
- said pumping means and said first conduit containing a motive fluid which is miscible with the liquid of said slurry such that said motive fluid directly contacts said pumping means and intermixes with said slurry, whereby a concentration gradient of coal solids is formed in said chamber having an increasing greater concentration of said coal solids in a direction downstream of said pumping means.
A method for pumping a hot erosive slurry comprising coal solids in a coal derived, water immiscible liquid from a first pressure to a second, higher pressure, which comprises:
- passing said slurry through an inlet of a check valve zone at said first pressure and into one end of a chamber zone;
- exerting pressure on said slurry with a motive fluid, which is pressurized by direct contact with a pump and intermixes with said slurry, through a concentration gradient of coal solids in said chamber zone to close said inlet of said check valve zone, to open an outlet of said check valve zone and to discharge slurry from said outlet under said second, higher pressure, said concentration gradient of coal solids having a gradually increasing concentration of coal solids in a downstream direction, said motive fluid being miscible with said coal derived, water immiscible liquid;
- and
- reducing the pressure exerted on said slurry by said motive fluid below said first pressure to close said outlet of said check valve zone, to open said inlet of said check valve zone and to draw additional slurry into said check valve zone through said inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.