US4465495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for making coal-water fuel slurries and product thereof
Assignee: ARC-COAL Inc
•
Filing: 1982-03-22
•
Granted: 1984-08-14
•
Expires: 2002-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A process for making fluid, stable slurries of finely divided coal in water and products thereof, which can be sufficiently highly loaded to serve as a fuel.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Scheffee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:12
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Process for making substantially stable coal-water slurries comprising: a. Admixing: (i) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of about 10 μMMD in an amount comprising about 10 to 50% by weight of the slurry, (ii) larger coal particles within the size range of about 20% to 200 μMMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry (iii) water in an amount sufficient to provide the water carrier component of said slurry, and (iv) a minor amount of dispersant sufficient to maintain the coal particles in stable dispersion, said dispersant consisting essentially of alkaline earth metal salt of organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi-functional, and b. subjecting the mixture to mixing at a shear rate of at least about 100 sec -1 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Process for making substantially stable coal-water slurries comprising: a. Admixing: (i) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of about 10 μMMD in an amount comprising about 10 to 50% by weight of the slurry, (ii) larger coal particles within the size range of about 20% to 200 μMMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry (iii) water in an amount sufficient to provide the water carrier component of said slurry, and (iv) a minor amount of dispersant sufficient to maintain the coal particles in stable dispersion, said dispersant consisting essentially of alkaline earth metal salt of organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi-functional, and b. subjecting the mixture to mixing at a shear rate of at least about 100 sec -1 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process of claim 1 in which the ultrafine particles comprise about 10 to 30% by weight of the slurry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Process of claim 1 in which: a. the ultrafine particles are within a size range of about 1 to 8 μMMD, and, b. the larger coal particles are within the size range of about 20 to 150 μMMD.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Process of claim 2 in which: a. the ultrafine particles are within a size range of about 1 to 8 μMMD, and b. the larger coal particles are within the size range of about 20 to 150 μMMD.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process of claim 1 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process of claim 2 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process of claim 3 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process of claim 4 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 1 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 2 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 3 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 4 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 5 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 6 in which the minimum shear rate is about 500 sec -1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 1 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 2 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 3 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 4 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 5 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 6 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 9 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process of claim 10 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 1 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 2 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 15 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 16 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 17 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 18 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 19 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 20 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 21 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process of claim 22 in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of about 5 to 8.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 23 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 24 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 25 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 26 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 27 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 28 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 29 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 30 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 31 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phsopahte.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process of claim 32 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
106 words
A coal-water slurry which comprises: a. ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of about 10 μMMD, in an amount comprising about 10 to 50% by weight of slurry; b. larger coal particles within the size range of about 20 to 200 μMMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry; c. water in an amount sufficient to provide the water carrier component of the slurry; and d. a minor amount of a dispersant sufficient to maintain the coal particles in stable dispersion, said dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multifunctional.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
106 words
A coal-water slurry which comprises: a. ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of about 10 μMMD, in an amount comprising about 10 to 50% by weight of slurry; b. larger coal particles within the size range of about 20 to 200 μMMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry; c. water in an amount sufficient to provide the water carrier component of the slurry; and d. a minor amount of a dispersant sufficient to maintain the coal particles in stable dispersion, said dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multifunctional.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The slurry of claim 43 in which the ultrafine particles comprise about 10 to 30% by weight of the slurry.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The slurry of claim 43 in which: a. the ultrafine particles are within a size range of about 1 to 8 μMMD; and b. the larger coal particles are within the size range of about 20 to 150 μMMD.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
The slurry of claim 44 in which: a. the ultrafine particles are within a size range of about 1 to 8 μMMD; and b. the larger coal particles are within the size range of about 20 to 150 μMMD.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
The slurry of claim 43 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The slurry of claim 44 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The slurry of claim 43 which is buffered to a pH of about 5 to 8 by means of an added inorganic alkali metal buffer salt.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The slurry of claim 44 which is buffered to a pH of about 5 to 8 by means of an added inorganic alkali metal buffer salt.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The slurry of claim 47 which is buffered to a pH of about 5 to 8 by means of an added inorganic alkali metal buffer salt.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The slurry of claim 48 which is buffered to a pH of about 5 to 8 by means of an added inorganic alkali metal buffer salt.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
The slurry of claim 49 in which the buffer salt is a phosphate.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
The slurry of claim 50 in which the buffer salt is a phosphate.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
13 words
The slurry of claim 51 in which the buffer salt is a phosphate.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The slurry of claim 5 in which the buffer salt is a phosphate.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 43 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 44 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 45 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 46 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 47 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The slurry of claim 48 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process of claim 1 in which sub-sieve particle sizes are defined in terms of those obtainable by sedimentation measurement employing Stoke's Law.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process of claim 2 in which sub-sieve particle sizes are defined in terms of those obtainable by sedimentation measurement employing Stoke's Law.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
23 words
The slurry of claim 43 in which sub-sieve particle sizes are defined in terms of those obtainable by sedimentation measurement employing Stoke's Law.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
23 words
The slurry of claim 44 in which sub-sieve particle sizes are defined in terms of those obtainable by sedimentation measurement employing Stoke's Law.
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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) | 1987-08-14 | 1988-02-13 | 1988-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-14 | 1992-02-13 | 1992-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-14 | 1996-02-13 | 1996-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |