US3983027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for recovering upgraded products from coal
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-01
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1994-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering and upgrading products from solid coal by contacting the coal with a dense-water-containing fluid at a temperature in the range of from about 600°F. to about 900°F. in the absence of an externally supplied catalyst and hydrogen or other reducing gas. The density of water in the water-containing fluid is at least 0.10 grams per milliliter, and sufficient water is present to serve as an effective solvent for the recovered liquids and gases.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. McCollum
- 👤 Leonard M. Quick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:06
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; C10G1/08; C10G1/083; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A process for recovering upgraded products from coal solids, comprising contacting the coal solids with a water-containing fluid to thereby produce gases, liquids, and upgraded solids from the coal solids, under super-atmospheric pressure, at a temperature in the range of from about 600° F. to about 900° F. in the absence of an externally supplied catalyst and hydrogen or other reducing gas, wherein sufficient water is present in the water-containing fluid and said pressure is sufficiently high so that the water in the water-containing fluid has a density of at least 0.10 gram per milliliter and serves as an effective solvent for the liquids and gases produced from the coal solids; and lowering said temperature or pressure or both, to thereby make the water in the water-containing fluid a less effective solvent for such liquids and gases and to thereby form separate phases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A process for recovering upgraded products from coal solids, comprising contacting the coal solids with a water-containing fluid to thereby produce gases, liquids, and upgraded solids from the coal solids, under super-atmospheric pressure, at a temperature in the range of from about 600° F. to about 900° F. in the absence of an externally supplied catalyst and hydrogen or other reducing gas, wherein sufficient water is present in the water-containing fluid and said pressure is sufficiently high so that the water in the water-containing fluid has a density of at least 0.10 gram per milliliter and serves as an effective solvent for the liquids and gases produced from the coal solids; and lowering said temperature or pressure or both, to thereby make the water in the water-containing fluid a less effective solvent for such liquids and gases and to thereby form separate phases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the density of water in the water-containing fluid is at least 0.15 gram per milliliter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the density of water in the water-containing fluid is at least 0.2 gram per milliliter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature is at least 705° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the coal solids and water-containing fluid are contacted for a period of time in the range of from about 1 minute to about 6 hours.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the coal solids and water-containing fluid are contacted for a period of time in the range of from about 5 minutes to about 3 hours.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the coal solids and water-containing fluid are contacted for a period of time in the range of from about 10 minutes to about 1 hour.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of coal solids-to-water in the water-containing fluid is in the range of from about 3:2 to about 1:10.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the weight ratio of coal solids-to-water in the water-containing fluid is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:3.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-containing fluid is substantially water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-containing fluid is water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the coal solids have a maximum particle size of one-half inch diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the coal solids have a maximum particle size of one-quarter inch diameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the coal solids have a maximum particle size of 8 mesh.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-containing fluid contains an organic material selected from the group consisting of biphenyl, pyridine, a highly saturated oil, an aromatic oil, a partly hydrogenated aromatic oil, and a mono- or polyhydric compound.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the water-containing fluid contains an organic material selected from the group consisting of biphenyl, pyridine, a highly saturated oil, and a mono- or polyhydric compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the water-containing fluid contains a highly saturated oil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3745108A
Cited
US3850738A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |