US4366045A — Process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydroca…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 79 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: reacting coal or peat and a hydrosulfide or sulfide of an alkali metal or mixtures thereof in presence of water, up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed at a temperature between 50° C. and up to 450° C. substantially at atmospheric pressure, and recovering volatile liquid distillates and hydrocarbon gases.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 79 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: reacting coal or peat and a hydrosulfide or sulfide of an alkali metal or mixtures thereof in presence of water, up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed at a temperature between 50° C. and up to 450° C. substantially at atmospheric pressure, and recovering volatile liquid distillates and hydrocarbon gases.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

In a process as defined in claim 1, further defining said process by the presence of sulfur.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 88 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: reacting coal and an alkanolic solution of an alkali metal hydrosulfide, a sulfide, a polysulfide or mixtures thereof, or hydrates thereof, at a temperature of 50° C. and above, in the presence of water, up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed, continuing said reaction at a temperature up to 450° C. and recovering volatile liquid distillates and hydrocarbon gases.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: reacting coal and an alkanolic solution of an alkali metal hydrosulfide, a sulfide, a polysulfide or mixtures thereof, or hydrates thereof, at a temperature of 50° C. and above, in the presence of water, up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed, continuing said reaction at a temperature up to 450° C. and recovering volatile liquid distillates and hydrocarbon gases.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 3 wherein elemental sulfur is added to said alkanolic solution of said alkali metal hydrosulfide.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined in claim 3 wherein said alkali metal hydrosulfide is potassium hydrosulfide.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined in claim 3 wherein said alkali metal hydrosulfide is sodium hydrosulfide.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process as defined in claim 3 wherein said alkali metal hydrosulfide is a mixture of rubidium, potassium, and sodium hydrosulfides and sulfides.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 111 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps: reacting coal or peat having oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen present in bound form with an alkali metal hydrosulfide or polysulfide or mixtures of same or mixed alkali metals thereof, or hydrates thereof, as a reagent; said reaction being conducted between the temperatures of 135° C. to 450° C. in presence of steam up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed, said steam being substantially at atmospheric pressure, and without hydrogen being introduced during reaction; recovering volatile distillates or gaseous hydrocarbons; and reconstituting said reagent.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 111 words

A process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps: reacting coal or peat having oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen present in bound form with an alkali metal hydrosulfide or polysulfide or mixtures of same or mixed alkali metals thereof, or hydrates thereof, as a reagent; said reaction being conducted between the temperatures of 135° C. to 450° C. in presence of steam up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is formed, said steam being substantially at atmospheric pressure, and without hydrogen being introduced during reaction; recovering volatile distillates or gaseous hydrocarbons; and reconstituting said reagent.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the coal is lignite coal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the coal is sub-lignite.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the coal is bituminous or sub-bituminous coal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 11 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein peat is reacted.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the alkali metal is potassium.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the hydrosulfide, sulfide, or polysulfide is of an alkali metal mixture of rubidum, potassium, and sodium.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein part of 109 distillate is returned as an alcoholic solution to take part in the reaction of coal or peat and said reagent.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature between 135° C. and 450° C.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 16 wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature between 170° C. and 380° C.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 263 words

A continuous process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: introducing continuously into a reaction zone maintained above 50° C. and up to 450° C. coal or peat steamed at a temperature of 100° C. and above at the steam temperature thereof so as to expel air from said coal or peat; introducing continuously, as a reagent, a hydrosulfide, a sulfide or polysulfide of an alkali metal, or mixed alkali metals and mixtures of hydrosulfides, sulfides and polysulfides thereof or hydrates thereof or said reagent in an alcoholic solution; introducing water or steam in said reaction zone at a temperature between 50° C. and up to 450° C., up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is being formed; reacting continuously said coal or peat and said reagent in said zone at a predetermined temperature up to 450° C. in the presence of said introduced water or steam substantially at atmospheric pressure; recovering volatile distillates and/or gaseous products from said reaction zone; recovering hydrogen sulfide or carbonyl sulfide from said reaction zone; recovering coal or peat ash from said reaction zone; recovering unreacted reagent in said coal or peat ash and alkali metal values as alkali metal hydroxide from said coal or peat ash; reacting alkali metal hydroxides with hydrogen sulfide given off during said reaction and reconstituting said reagent and introducing a sufficient amount of said reconstituted reagent in said reaction zone so as to continue said reaction of coal or peat and said reagent.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 263 words

A continuous process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons and volatile distillates comprising the steps of: introducing continuously into a reaction zone maintained above 50° C. and up to 450° C. coal or peat steamed at a temperature of 100° C. and above at the steam temperature thereof so as to expel air from said coal or peat; introducing continuously, as a reagent, a hydrosulfide, a sulfide or polysulfide of an alkali metal, or mixed alkali metals and mixtures of hydrosulfides, sulfides and polysulfides thereof or hydrates thereof or said reagent in an alcoholic solution; introducing water or steam in said reaction zone at a temperature between 50° C. and up to 450° C., up to an amount such that up to a hydrogenated end product of one or two carbon atoms is being formed; reacting continuously said coal or peat and said reagent in said zone at a predetermined temperature up to 450° C. in the presence of said introduced water or steam substantially at atmospheric pressure; recovering volatile distillates and/or gaseous products from said reaction zone; recovering hydrogen sulfide or carbonyl sulfide from said reaction zone; recovering coal or peat ash from said reaction zone; recovering unreacted reagent in said coal or peat ash and alkali metal values as alkali metal hydroxide from said coal or peat ash; reacting alkali metal hydroxides with hydrogen sulfide given off during said reaction and reconstituting said reagent and introducing a sufficient amount of said reconstituted reagent in said reaction zone so as to continue said reaction of coal or peat and said reagent.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the reaction zone is maintained at a set, predetermined temperature for production of gaseous hydrocarbons.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature suitable for recovery of a predetermined hydrocarbon cut.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein an alcohol solution containing a portion of said dissolved distillate is recycled to said reaction zone.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein lignite coal is the coal being reacted.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein potassium sulfide, potassium polysulfide, potassium hydrosulfide or a mixture of same is used as a reagent.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the temperature in said reaction zone is between 135° C. to 450° C.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the temperature in said reaction zone is between 170° C. and 450° C.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein sodium and potassium hydrosulfide, a sulfide, a polysulfide or a mixture thereof is the reagent.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein a mixture of rubidium, potassium, and sodium polysulfides, sulfides, hydrosulfides, hydrates of the same, or mixtures thereof is used as the reagent.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein industrial sodium hydrosulfide is the reagent.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 55 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the reagent is reconstituted by reacting an alkali metal hydroxide in a saturated alcoholic solution with hydrogen sulfide, precipitating said reagent as a mixture of a sulfide and hydrosulfide of said alkali metal and recovering said precipitate as a reagent for reacting the same with said coal.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 44 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein the gaeous hydrocarbon is scrubbed in an alkali metal hydroxide solution thereby removing hydrogen sulfide from said gaseous hydrocarbon as a reaction product with said alkali metal and further recovering said reagent for recycle of same.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein said gaseous hydrocarbon products are distilled for recovery of a desired product cut.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein, as said reagent is used a theoretical composition K 2 S 3 , on basis of material balance.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined in claim 19 wherein anthracite coal is partially reacted with said reagent.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-12-27	1986-06-28	1986-12-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-12-27	1990-06-28	1990-12-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-12-27	1994-06-28	1994-12-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process for conversion of coal to gaseous hydrocarbons

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