US4250014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coal liquefaction process
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1978-08-21
•
Granted: 1981-02-10
•
Expires: 1998-08-21
Abstract
Abstract Particulate coal is contacted with a vapor phase hydrogen donor solvent to swell the coal particles and, thereafter, the swollen coal particles are subjected to coal liquefaction conditions in the presence of a liquid phase solvent.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B. Long
- 👤 Martin L. Gorbaty
- 👤 Lonnie W. Vernon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:08
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/006; C10G1/04; C10G1/042; C10G1/06; C10G1/065; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
In a coal liquefaction process wherein the particulate coal is converted to a hydrocarbonaceous oil in the presence of a liquid phase solvent, in a coal liquefaction zone, at coal liquefaction conditions, the improvement which comprises: (a) contacting said particulate coal with a vapor phase hydrogen donor solvent at a temperature ranging from about 150° to about 350° C. and at a pressure ranging from about 0 to about 150 psig, for a time sufficient for said coal to sorb at least a portion of said vapor phase solvent and thereby swell, and increase in weight by at least about 3 weight percent, and (b) subsequently subjecting the resulting swollen coal to said coal liquefaction conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a coal liquefaction process wherein the particulate coal is converted to a hydrocarbonaceous oil in the presence of a liquid phase solvent, in a coal liquefaction zone, at coal liquefaction conditions, the improvement which comprises: (a) contacting said particulate coal with a vapor phase hydrogen donor solvent at a temperature ranging from about 150° to about 350° C. and at a pressure ranging from about 0 to about 150 psig, for a time sufficient for said coal to sorb at least a portion of said vapor phase solvent and thereby swell, and increase in weight by at least about 3 weight percent, and (b) subsequently subjecting the resulting swollen coal to said coal liquefaction conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said coal is increased in weight from about 3 to about 50 weight percent, based on the initial weight of said coal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said temperature of step (a) ranges from about 204 to about 350° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said particulate coal is contacted with said vapor phase solvent for a period of time ranging from about 10 to about 100 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent to coal weight ratio ranges from about 0.05:1 to 1:1 in said contacting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said coal liquefaction is conducted in the presence of added molecular hydrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said coal liquefaction conditions include a temperature ranging from about 371° to about 816° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said coal liquefaction conditions include a pressure ranging from about 0 to about 3000 psig.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said particulate coal in step (a) is maintained in a fluidized bed fluidized by a fluidizing agent comprising said vapor phase solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the process of claim 1, the improvement which comprises the additional steps of separating the effluent of said coal liquefaction zone into a vapor phase product and a solid residue, and contacting said solid residue with steam and an oxygen-containing gas to produce a hydrogen-containing gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said temperature of step (a) ranges from about 204° to about 250° C.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-10 | 1984-08-11 | 1985-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-10 | 1988-08-11 | 1989-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-10 | 1992-08-11 | 1993-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |