US3854896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of converting coal to pipeline quality gas
Assignee: GILBERT ASS INC US
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Filing: 1973-01-29
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The method of converting coal to pipeline quality gas comprising introducing coal particles of a size of about 4 microns into a reactor, rapidly heating the interior, such as by an external heat source to cause thermal comminution and devolatilization, the products of fractionation being immediately reacted with hydrogen. A portion or all of the excess submicron coal particles are gasified in a separate gasifier to produce a synthesis gas.
Inventors
- 👤 G Switzer
- 👤 C Bolez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:11
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10J; C10J3/00; C10J3/58; C07; C07C; C07C1/00; C07C1/02; C07C1/04; C07C1/0485; C10B; C10B49/00; C10B49/02; C10B49/04; C10B49/08; C10J3/46; C10J3/48; C10J3/482; C10J3/72; C10J3/721; C10J3/82; C10J3/84; C10J2300/00; C10J2300/09; C10J2300/0903; C10J2300/0906; C10J2300/0913; C10J2300/093; C10J2300/0953; C10J2300/0959; C10J2300/0966; C10J2300/0973; C10J2300/0976; C10J2300/18; C10J2300/1807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
THE METHOD OF CONVERTING COAL TO GAS COMPRISING INTRODUCING COAL PARTICLES OF A SIZE OF ABOUT 4 MICRONS AND SMALLER INTO A REACTOR, RAPIDLY HEATING SAID COAL PARTICLES IN SAID REACTOR, IN THE PRESENCE OF PRESSURIZED HYDROGEN, TO BETWEEN ABOUT 700* TO ABOUT 1,000*C TO EFFECT EXPLOSIVE DEVOLATILIZATION AND COMMINUTION OF SAID COAL PARTICLES TO FORM GASEOUS HYDROCARBON AND HIGHLY ACTIVE CHAR OF A SIZE OF THE ORDER OF ONE ONEHUNDREDTH MICRON, AND REACTING SAID CHAR DIRECTLY WITH SAID
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
THE METHOD OF CONVERTING COAL TO GAS COMPRISING INTRODUCING COAL PARTICLES OF A SIZE OF ABOUT 4 MICRONS AND SMALLER INTO A REACTOR, RAPIDLY HEATING SAID COAL PARTICLES IN SAID REACTOR, IN THE PRESENCE OF PRESSURIZED HYDROGEN, TO BETWEEN ABOUT 700* TO ABOUT 1,000*C TO EFFECT EXPLOSIVE DEVOLATILIZATION AND COMMINUTION OF SAID COAL PARTICLES TO FORM GASEOUS HYDROCARBON AND HIGHLY ACTIVE CHAR OF A SIZE OF THE ORDER OF ONE ONEHUNDREDTH MICRON, AND REACTING SAID CHAR DIRECTLY WITH SAID
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said direct reaction of char with hydrogen is exothermic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method recited in claim 1 togehter with the additional step of filtering and separating The product gas of said explosive devolatilization and communition and methanation from said char, partially purifying said product gas by removing sulfur, CO2 and excess water vapor from said product gas and thereafter conducting said product gas conatining methane into a pipeline to provide a source of fuel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said product gas containing methane and char are passed upwardly and out of said reactor and thereafter are separated, the methane then being passed into a pipeline as a source of fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method recited in claim 3 wherein said product gas includes CO and H2 and wherein before conduction into said pipeline, said CO and H2 are cryogenically separated from said product gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method recited in claim 3 wherein said separated char is introduced into a gasifier and wherein oxygen and steam are also introduced into said gasifier to form gaseous products including hydrogen and wherein said gaseous products are separated from the solid residue and the hydrogen content is enhanced by conversion of other gaseous products to hydrogen, the hydrogen then being introduced with said coal particles into said reactor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein the interior space of said reactor is initally rapidly heated sufficiently to effect said explosive devolatilization and comminution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein the interior space of said reactor is initially heated sufficiently to effect said explosive devolatilization and comminution by the introduction therein of a high temperature gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein inorganic materials including pyritic sulfur are removed from said coal particles before introduction of said coal particles into said reactor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said product gas and highly active char are passed upwardly and outwardly of said reactor at high temperatures, and include CH4, H2, CO2, H2S and H2O which are filtered and separated into a methane rich gas stream and a char stream, and wherein said methane rich gas is treated to remove CO2 and H2S, of which the H2S is further processed by a Claus plant to convert sulfur to its elemental form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in claim 10 wherein said methane rich gas stream is dried by a dryer and subjected to a cryogenic separation system to remove H2 and CO for recycling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method recited in claim 10 wherein said char stream is introduced into a char gasifier and reacted with oxygen and steam at an elevated temperature to form an effluent gas containing H2 and CO, and in which char gasifier a further reaction will result in the formation of CO and CO2 and carbon refuse, said H2 being separated and ultimately introduced into said reactor at a controlled temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method recited in claim 11 wherein residue comprising inorganic ash and a relatively small amount of carbon is removed from the effluent gas from the char gasifier, which gas is mixed with CO from said cryogenic separation system and the CO in the resultant stream is reacted with steam catalytically in a shift converter wherein the CO is reacted with steam to produce H2 and CO2, the H2 being treated for acid gas removal and then fed into said reactor at controlled temperature for direct methanation of said coal particles fed therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein excess heat is removed from said reactor means of a heat rejection system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |