Converting solid fuels to gaseous and liquid fuels

Claim 1

A process for the production of gaseous and liquid fuels from solid fuel sources which comprises: 1. subjecting said solid fuel to oil extraction and hydrogenation in an oil extractor at a temperature of from about 500° to about 900° F; 2. removing top vent gases from said oil extractor to a cobalt oxide treater, removing hydrogen sulfide therefrom by reaction with said cobalt oxide to form cobalt sulfide, and recovering desulfurized low heat content gaseous fuel; 3. reacting the cobalt sulfide with steam and air to produce elemental sulfur and regenerate cobalt sulfide; 4. removing said elemental sulfur; 5. removing solids-oil slurry from said oil extractor to a hydrocracker, reducing high molecular weight compounds to lower molecular weight compounds therein; 6. removing the hydrocracked solids-oil slurry to a solids reactor, admixing said slurry with hot recirculating sand at a temperature of from about 900° to about 1300° F in a downward flow, producing high heat content gaseous fuel and vaporized gasoline and diesel fuels therein; 7. separating said gaseous and vaporized fuels; 8. hydrogenating and recycling said diesel fuel to said oil extractor; 9. recovering said gasoline fuel; 10. recycling a portion of said high heat content fuel gas to the diesel hydrogenator, desulfurizing and recovering the remainder as product; 11. removing ash from said solids reactor; 12. separating solid alkali metals therefrom;