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US4394132A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Particulate coal-in-liquid mixture and process for the production thereof

Assignee: Ergon Inc
•
Filing: 1980-05-19
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Granted: 1983-07-19
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Expires: 2000-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract Improved particulate coal-in-liquid mixtures and a process for the production thereof wherein, prior to mixing with liquid, the coal component of the mixture is finally divided in a substantially airtight fluid energy attrition mill, and thereafter separated from ash particles. The particulate coal product thus produced is mixed with a suitable liquid to provide a product which may be used in coal gasification or hydrogenation processes, or as a composite fuel, and which can be stored for extended periods without appreciable settling out of the coal from the mixture.

Inventors

  • 👤 David W. Taylor

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 08:55
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/322; C10L1/326

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim 88 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. grinding raw coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air-free environment using a gaseous carrier medium to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; b. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash fraction are wetted, but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; c. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and d. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 88 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. grinding raw coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air-free environment using a gaseous carrier medium to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; b. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash fraction are wetted, but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; c. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and d. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is an oil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 87 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. deaerating raw coal; b. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; c. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; d. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and e. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 87 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. deaerating raw coal; b. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; c. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; d. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and e. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is an oil.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 96 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. heating raw coal to reduce the moisture content thereof; b. deaerating the coal; c. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; d. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal-fraction are left substantially dry; e. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and f. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 96 words
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. heating raw coal to reduce the moisture content thereof; b. deaerating the coal; c. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; d. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal-fraction are left substantially dry; e. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and f. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is an oil.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 30, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 30, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 93 words
The process according to claims 1, 12, or 23 wherein said separating step is carried out in a separation vessel having an inlet, a discharge, and wall means disposed between said inlet and said discharge defining a separation zone, said separation zone being surrounded at its outer periphery by an aqueous separation medium, and said separating step comprises subjecting said fractions to centrifugal force in said separation zone, collecting a substantial portion of the ash-fraction in said aqueous medium, and exhausting the coal-fraction from the interior of said separation zone through said discharge.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process according to claim 23 wherein heating and deaerating of the coal are carried out simultaneously.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process according to claims 1, 12, 23, or 35 wherein the steps of said process are carried out continuously.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 15 words
The product produced according to the process of any one of claims 1 through 33.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 75 words
A stable particulate coal-in-liquid mixture wherein the coal particles have a particle size of less than 40 microns and are hydrophobic without the presence of a stabilizing agent in said mixture, said mixture having a ash content of less than about 5% of its total weight, and the ratio of ash to coal in said mixture being less than the ratio of ash to coal in the raw coal from which said mixture is produced.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 75 words
A stable particulate coal-in-liquid mixture wherein the coal particles have a particle size of less than 40 microns and are hydrophobic without the presence of a stabilizing agent in said mixture, said mixture having a ash content of less than about 5% of its total weight, and the ratio of ash to coal in said mixture being less than the ratio of ash to coal in the raw coal from which said mixture is produced.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 11 words
The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 12 words
The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 13 words
The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 18 words
The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis of hydrogenation.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 15 words
The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 17 words
The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 11 words
The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is an oil.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 13 words
The product of claim 45, wherein the liquid is a residual fuel oil.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 13 words
The product of claim 45, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 18 words
The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 29 words
The particulate coal-in-liquid mixture of claim 38 wherein said coal particles are rendered hydrophobic as a result of being produced by grinding raw coal in a substantially air-free environment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1420165A Cited
US1390231A Cited
US1529706A Cited
US1939587A Cited
US2162200A Cited
FR2261330B1 Cited
GB1523193A Cited
US4138226A Cited
US4288231A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-07-18 1987-01-17 1987-07-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-07-18 1991-01-17 1991-07-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-07-18 1995-01-17 1995-07-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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