US4018571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of solid fuels
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1975-02-20
•
Granted: 1977-04-19
•
Expires: 1995-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Low rank solid fuels are upgraded by heating a mixture of particulate fuel and water to a temperature between 300 DEG F. and the critical temperature of water under a pressure sufficient to maintain substantially all of the water in liquid state, cooling the mixture and separating the particles from the water by agglomeration with a hydrocarbon liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L. Cole
- 👤 Howard V. Hess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:50
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A process for upgrading a low rank solid fuel which comprises forming a slurry of said fuel with water, heating the slurry under super atmospheric pressure to a temperature between about 300° F. and the critical temperature of water, cooling the heated slurry, mixing with the slurry a hydrocarbon liquid in an amount between about 4 and 5 parts by weight fuel per part liquid thereby forming solid fuel-hydrocarbon agglomerates and separating said agglomerates from said water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for upgrading a low rank solid fuel which comprises forming a slurry of said fuel with water, heating the slurry under super atmospheric pressure to a temperature between about 300° F. and the critical temperature of water, cooling the heated slurry, mixing with the slurry a hydrocarbon liquid in an amount between about 4 and 5 parts by weight fuel per part liquid thereby forming solid fuel-hydrocarbon agglomerates and separating said agglomerates from said water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 in which the temperature is between 400° and 650° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 in which the slurry is maintained at said temperature for a period of time between 1 minute and 5 hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 in which the time is between 5 minutes and 4 hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 in which the heat treatment of the slurry is carried out in an inert atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 5 in which the inert atmosphere is supplied by nitrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 in which the low rank solid fuel is sub-bituminous coal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 in which the low rank solid fuel is lignite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 in which the slurry contains between 0.5 and 6 parts water by weight per part of dry fuel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 9 in which the slurry contains between 1 and 4 parts water by weight per part of dry fuel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 in which, after the heat treatment, the fuel is subjected to grinding in a slurry prior to the agglomeration step.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1479757A
Cited
US1508617A
Cited
US1960917A
Cited
US2830769A
Cited
US3673080A
Cited
US3660054A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-18 | 1980-10-18 | 1981-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-18 | 1984-10-18 | 1985-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-18 | 1988-10-18 | 1989-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |