US3660054A - Coal upgrading - Google Patents
Coal upgrading Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3660054A US3660054A US76601A US3660054DA US3660054A US 3660054 A US3660054 A US 3660054A US 76601 A US76601 A US 76601A US 3660054D A US3660054D A US 3660054DA US 3660054 A US3660054 A US 3660054A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- coal
- water
- sulfur
- temperature
- fuel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L9/00—Treating solid fuels to improve their combustion
Definitions
- coal has been extensively used as a fuel for the generation of electricity, and the like and has also been employed as the feed stock in processes for its conversion to gaseous and liquid hydrocarbonaceous products from which fuel gas, gasoline, residual fuel oil, and the like can be obtained.
- One process utilizing coal as a feedstock is the hydrogenation of coal to gasify and liquify same, a particularly suitable process being that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,770, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- a coal which can be one or a mixture of two or more of anthracite, bituminous, semi-bituminous, sub-bituminous, lignite, peat, and the like, is subdivided, for example so that substantially all of the coal particles are no larger than one inch in their largest cross-sectional dimension (effective diameter), and mixed with water.
- the mixing can be carried out in any desired manner so long as an intimate mixture of coal particles and water is achieved and can be conducted at sub-ambient, ambient, or super-ambient conditions of temperature and pressure.
- the coal and water are simply mixed together at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure.
- the mixture is preferably composed of coal and water in the weight ratio range of coal/water of from about 2 to about 0. 1.
- the mixture is then heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, e.g., steam, inert gas, reducing gas, and the like, at a tempera ture of from about 600 F to about the critical temperature of water, i'.e., 706 F.
- a non-oxidizing atmosphere e.g., steam, inert gas, reducing gas, and the like
- a tempera ture of from about 600 F to about the critical temperature of water, i'.e., 706 F.
- a broad temperature range of from about 600 to about 706 F. can be employed, a presently preferred range is from about650 to about 706 F.
- the pressure should be maintained sufficiently elevated so that substantially all of the water will be maintained in a liquid state at the temperature prevailing.
- the pressure therefore can be the autogenous pressure of water vapor at the temperature of reac-- tion and will generally range from about 1,545 to about 3,226 p.s.i.a.
- reaction should therefore be carried out for a time sufficient to achieve these results.
- This time will generally be at least about one minute, preferably at least'about five minutes, e.g., from about five minutes to about sixty minutes.
- the coal after completion of the reaction time, can be recovered with or separate from the water present in the reaction.
- the recovered coal can be utilized, either with or without and liquifaction process.
- the mixture was then heated in an autoclave at 650 F. under an autogenous pressure of 2,350 p.s.i.g. for 1 hour after which the autoclave was vented to the atmosphere and most of the water thereby expelled.
- a method for upgrading coal comprising mixing subdivided coal and water in the weight ratio range of coal/water of from about 2 to about 0. l heating said mixture in a nonoxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 600 to about 706 F., said heating being under a pressure sufficient to maintain substantially all of the water in the liquid state and for a time sufficient to reduce at least one of the sulfur and ash con tent of said coal, and recovering the treated coal.
Abstract
A method for upgrading coal to a higher quality fuel or feed stock by mixing coal with water and heating the mixture in a nonoxidizing atmosphere at a temperature near the critical temperature of water and under a pressure sufficient to maintain substantially all of the water in the liquid state. By this process at least the sulfur and/or ash content of the coal is reduced.
Description
0 United States Patent 1151 3,660,054 Rieve [4 1 Ma 2 1972 [s4] COAL UPGRADING 3,249,402 5/1966 Smyers et 81.... ..23/224 [72] Inventor: Robert W. Rieve, Springfield, Pa. FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [731 Assigne= z z Rlchfield CmPanY, New Yrk1 747,730 4/1956 Great Britain ..44/4
22 Filed; s 29, 1970 Primary Examiner-C. F. Dees A I N 76 601 Attorney-Blucher S. Tharp and Roderick -W. MacDonald pp 0.: v
[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. "sl t/l R A method for upgrading l to a higher quality fuel or feed [5 4 22 stock by mixing coal with water and heating the mixture in a [5 1 o arc non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature near the critical 5 6 R temperature of water and under a pressure sufiicient to main- 1 e erences l e tain substantially all of the water in the liquid state. By this UNITED STATES PATENTS process at least the sulfur and/or ash content of the coal is reduced. 51,231 11/1865 Smith ..44/1R 2,726,148 12/1955 McKinley et a] 4 Claims, No Drawings BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore coal has been extensively used as a fuel for the generation of electricity, and the like and has also been employed as the feed stock in processes for its conversion to gaseous and liquid hydrocarbonaceous products from which fuel gas, gasoline, residual fuel oil, and the like can be obtained. One process utilizing coal as a feedstock is the hydrogenation of coal to gasify and liquify same, a particularly suitable process being that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,770, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is highly desirable for evironmental purposes to reduce the-sulfur and ash content of any coal utilized as a fuel or as a feed stock for a process which produces a fuel. Although sulfur reduction can take place during the treatment of a coal feed stock to convert the coal into a liquid or gaseous product from which fuels can be obtained and although it is possible to reduce the sulfur and ash content of stack gases after the'coal or fuel product obtained therefrom has been burned, it is most desirable to reduce the content of these materials in the coal initially. This is desirable because it renders the conditions of subsequent burning or processing of the coal more flexible since they do not have to provide extensive sulfur and ash treating facilities at each location.
Accordingly, it is very desirable to be able to substantially reduce at least the sulfur and/or ash content of a coal before it is burned as a fuel or otherwise gasified and/or liquified for further processing into specific fuels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that if coal is mixed with water and heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature near the critical temperature of water, but not above the critical temperature of water, at least the sulfur and/or ash content of that coal is reduced. I
. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved process for upgrading coal. It is another object to provide a new and improved process for the removal of at least a portion of at least one of sulfur and'ash from raw coal. It is another object to provide a new and improved method for rendering a raw coal more acceptable as a fuel or feed stock for further processing into a fuel.
Other aspects, objects, and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure and the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to this invention a coal, which can be one or a mixture of two or more of anthracite, bituminous, semi-bituminous, sub-bituminous, lignite, peat, and the like, is subdivided, for example so that substantially all of the coal particles are no larger than one inch in their largest cross-sectional dimension (effective diameter), and mixed with water.
The mixing can be carried out in any desired manner so long as an intimate mixture of coal particles and water is achieved and can be conducted at sub-ambient, ambient, or super-ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. Preferably, the coal and water are simply mixed together at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. The mixture is preferably composed of coal and water in the weight ratio range of coal/water of from about 2 to about 0. 1.
The mixture is then heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, e.g., steam, inert gas, reducing gas, and the like, at a tempera ture of from about 600 F to about the critical temperature of water, i'.e., 706 F. Although a broad temperature range of from about 600 to about 706 F. can be employed, a presently preferred range is from about650 to about 706 F. It is important that the temperature of the water during the reaction be near but not above the'critical temperature so that the water will be more monomeric than polymeric and more adidic than normal. It is also important that the water not be in the vaporous state to any substantial extent. The pressure should be maintained sufficiently elevated so that substantially all of the water will be maintained in a liquid state at the temperature prevailing. The pressure therefore can be the autogenous pressure of water vapor at the temperature of reac-- tion and will generally range from about 1,545 to about 3,226 p.s.i.a.
By following the above conditions substantial amounts of sulfur and/or ash can be removed from the coal. The reaction should therefore be carried out for a time sufficient to achieve these results. This time will generally be at least about one minute, preferably at least'about five minutes, e.g., from about five minutes to about sixty minutes.
The coal, after completion of the reaction time, can be recovered with or separate from the water present in the reaction. The recovered coal can be utilized, either with or without and liquifaction process.
EXAMPLE Pittsburg No. 8 seam coal subdivided so that substantially all passes a l00 mesh sieve and is retained on a 200 mesh sieve (Tyler) was mixed with water in a weight ratio of coal/water of 0.25 by simple stirring at ambient conditions of temperature, pressure and under one atmosphere of nitrogen to provide an intimate mixture of the coal particles and water.
The mixture was then heated in an autoclave at 650 F. under an autogenous pressure of 2,350 p.s.i.g. for 1 hour after which the autoclave was vented to the atmosphere and most of the water thereby expelled.
The standard coal analysis for the coal before and I after treatment was as follows:
Analysis,
Wt. MAF
Coal Raw Coal Treated Coal Carbon 76.16 80.77 Hydrogen 5.21 4.76 Oxygen 5.96 5.49 Nitrogen 1.55 1.61 Sulfur 2.74 1.27 Ash 8.38 6.10 Volatile Matter 7 39.06 33.66, Fixed Carbon 52.56 60.24
It can be seen from the above data that the sulfur content was reduced by 53.6 percent and that the ash was also reduced by 27.3 percent. With such a substantial reduction in both sulfur and ash content, the treated coal was a much more acceptable burning fuel and liquid fuel feed stock since it would introduce substantially less sulfur and ash into the combustion products or other liquid and gas products obtained therefrom.
Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method for upgrading coal comprising mixing subdivided coal and water in the weight ratio range of coal/water of from about 2 to about 0. l heating said mixture in a nonoxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 600 to about 706 F., said heating being under a pressure sufficient to maintain substantially all of the water in the liquid state and for a time sufficient to reduce at least one of the sulfur and ash con tent of said coal, and recovering the treated coal.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said pressure is in the range offrom about 1,545 to about 3,226 p.s.i.a.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said coal is subdivided to be substantially all no greater than about 1 inch effective diameter particles.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said coal is at least one of bituminous and lignite and is subdivided to be substantially all no greater than about 1 inch effect diameter particles, said temperature is from about 650 to about 706 F., and said time is for at least about 1 minute.
Claims (3)
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said pressure is in the range of from about 1,545 to about 3,226 p.s.i.a.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said coal is subdivided to be substantially all no greater than about 1 inch effective diameter particles.
- 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said coal is at least one of bituminous and lignite and is subdivided to be substantially all no greater than about 1 inch effect diameter particles, said temperature is from about 650* to about 706* F., and said time is for at least about 1 minute.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US7660170A | 1970-09-29 | 1970-09-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3660054A true US3660054A (en) | 1972-05-02 |
Family
ID=22133063
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US76601A Expired - Lifetime US3660054A (en) | 1970-09-29 | 1970-09-29 | Coal upgrading |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3660054A (en) |
AU (1) | AU3375971A (en) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2526923A1 (en) * | 1974-06-19 | 1976-01-08 | Shell Int Research | PROCESS FOR THE PROCESSING OF BONDED WATER AND SOLID MATERIAL CONTAINING FREE OR CHEMICALLY BONDED CARBON, AND IN PARTICULAR BROWN COAL |
FR2306255A1 (en) * | 1975-03-31 | 1976-10-29 | Battelle Memorial Institute | SOLID FUELS TREATMENT PROCESS BY A GASING CATALYST |
US4018571A (en) * | 1975-02-20 | 1977-04-19 | Texaco Inc. | Treatment of solid fuels |
DE2654626A1 (en) * | 1975-12-11 | 1977-06-16 | Texaco Development Corp | PROCESS FOR PROCESSING A SLURRY FROM SOLID FUEL AND WATER |
FR2337757A1 (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1977-08-05 | Koppelman Edward | PROCESS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIGNITE-TYPE COALS |
US4047898A (en) * | 1975-06-03 | 1977-09-13 | Texaco Inc. | Upgrading of solid fuels |
US4052169A (en) * | 1975-02-20 | 1977-10-04 | Texaco Inc. | Treatment of solid fuels |
US4057399A (en) * | 1975-03-07 | 1977-11-08 | Texaco Inc. | Process for dewatering carbonaceous materials |
US4058976A (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1977-11-22 | Encotech, Inc. | Method and apparatus for removal of last traces of soluble ash and elements from solvent refined coal |
US4098583A (en) * | 1976-03-19 | 1978-07-04 | Firma Carl Still Recklinghausen | Method of removing ash components from high-ash coals |
EP0026011A1 (en) * | 1979-09-25 | 1981-04-01 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | Process for the upgrading of low-grade solid fuel |
US4364740A (en) * | 1980-03-06 | 1982-12-21 | Cng Research Company | Method for removing undesired components from coal |
US4377392A (en) * | 1980-03-06 | 1983-03-22 | Cng Research Company | Coal composition |
US4405332A (en) * | 1981-07-28 | 1983-09-20 | Rodriguez Larry A | Alternative fuel comprised of sewage sludge and a particulate solid fuel |
US4441886A (en) * | 1982-11-22 | 1984-04-10 | Southern Illinois University Foundation | Process for removing organic sulphur from coal and material resulting from the process |
US4516980A (en) * | 1983-06-20 | 1985-05-14 | Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. | Process for producing low-ash, low-sulfur coal |
US4762527A (en) * | 1986-12-16 | 1988-08-09 | Electric Fuels Corporation | Slurry fuel comprised of a heat treated, partially dewatered sludge with a particulate solid fuel and its method of manufacture |
US5080692A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1992-01-14 | The University Of Akron | Extraction of organic sulfur from coal by use of supercritical fluids |
EP1427795A1 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2004-06-16 | Generation Technology Research Pty Ltd | Coal dewatering system and method |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US51231A (en) * | 1865-11-28 | Improvement in treating peat | ||
US2726148A (en) * | 1950-06-09 | 1955-12-06 | Gulf Research Development Co | Production of low sulfur solid carbonaceous fuels |
GB747730A (en) * | 1953-04-21 | 1956-04-11 | Salimuzzaman Siddiqui | Improvements in and relating to the reduction of the sulphur content of coal |
US3249402A (en) * | 1962-10-02 | 1966-05-03 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Recovery of sulfur from blast furnace slag |
-
1970
- 1970-09-29 US US76601A patent/US3660054A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1971
- 1971-09-22 AU AU33759/71A patent/AU3375971A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US51231A (en) * | 1865-11-28 | Improvement in treating peat | ||
US2726148A (en) * | 1950-06-09 | 1955-12-06 | Gulf Research Development Co | Production of low sulfur solid carbonaceous fuels |
GB747730A (en) * | 1953-04-21 | 1956-04-11 | Salimuzzaman Siddiqui | Improvements in and relating to the reduction of the sulphur content of coal |
US3249402A (en) * | 1962-10-02 | 1966-05-03 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Recovery of sulfur from blast furnace slag |
Cited By (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2526923A1 (en) * | 1974-06-19 | 1976-01-08 | Shell Int Research | PROCESS FOR THE PROCESSING OF BONDED WATER AND SOLID MATERIAL CONTAINING FREE OR CHEMICALLY BONDED CARBON, AND IN PARTICULAR BROWN COAL |
US4018571A (en) * | 1975-02-20 | 1977-04-19 | Texaco Inc. | Treatment of solid fuels |
US4052169A (en) * | 1975-02-20 | 1977-10-04 | Texaco Inc. | Treatment of solid fuels |
US4057399A (en) * | 1975-03-07 | 1977-11-08 | Texaco Inc. | Process for dewatering carbonaceous materials |
FR2306255A1 (en) * | 1975-03-31 | 1976-10-29 | Battelle Memorial Institute | SOLID FUELS TREATMENT PROCESS BY A GASING CATALYST |
US4047898A (en) * | 1975-06-03 | 1977-09-13 | Texaco Inc. | Upgrading of solid fuels |
US4058976A (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1977-11-22 | Encotech, Inc. | Method and apparatus for removal of last traces of soluble ash and elements from solvent refined coal |
DE2654626A1 (en) * | 1975-12-11 | 1977-06-16 | Texaco Development Corp | PROCESS FOR PROCESSING A SLURRY FROM SOLID FUEL AND WATER |
US4104035A (en) * | 1975-12-11 | 1978-08-01 | Texaco Inc. | Preparation of solid fuel-water slurries |
FR2337757A1 (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1977-08-05 | Koppelman Edward | PROCESS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIGNITE-TYPE COALS |
US4098583A (en) * | 1976-03-19 | 1978-07-04 | Firma Carl Still Recklinghausen | Method of removing ash components from high-ash coals |
EP0026011A1 (en) * | 1979-09-25 | 1981-04-01 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | Process for the upgrading of low-grade solid fuel |
US4364740A (en) * | 1980-03-06 | 1982-12-21 | Cng Research Company | Method for removing undesired components from coal |
US4377392A (en) * | 1980-03-06 | 1983-03-22 | Cng Research Company | Coal composition |
US4405332A (en) * | 1981-07-28 | 1983-09-20 | Rodriguez Larry A | Alternative fuel comprised of sewage sludge and a particulate solid fuel |
US4441886A (en) * | 1982-11-22 | 1984-04-10 | Southern Illinois University Foundation | Process for removing organic sulphur from coal and material resulting from the process |
US4516980A (en) * | 1983-06-20 | 1985-05-14 | Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. | Process for producing low-ash, low-sulfur coal |
US4762527A (en) * | 1986-12-16 | 1988-08-09 | Electric Fuels Corporation | Slurry fuel comprised of a heat treated, partially dewatered sludge with a particulate solid fuel and its method of manufacture |
US5080692A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1992-01-14 | The University Of Akron | Extraction of organic sulfur from coal by use of supercritical fluids |
EP1427795A1 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2004-06-16 | Generation Technology Research Pty Ltd | Coal dewatering system and method |
US20040237809A1 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2004-12-02 | Mcintosh Malcolm John | Coal dewatering system and method |
EP1427795A4 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2004-12-29 | Generation Technology Res Pty | Coal dewatering system and method |
US7383766B2 (en) | 2001-08-29 | 2008-06-10 | Mte Research Pty Ltd | Coal dewatering system and method |
AU2002325633B2 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2008-08-21 | Mte Research Pty Ltd | Coal dewatering system and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU3375971A (en) | 1973-03-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3660054A (en) | Coal upgrading | |
US4127391A (en) | Process for making coke from bituminous fines and fuels produced therefrom | |
US4234402A (en) | Sulfur removal from crude petroleum | |
Ulbrich et al. | Impact of HTC reaction conditions on the hydrochar properties and CO2 gasification properties of spent grains | |
US4123230A (en) | Sulfur removal from coal | |
US3808119A (en) | Process for refining carbonaceous fuels | |
US2662816A (en) | Gasification of carbonaceous materials containing volatile constituents | |
US3574065A (en) | Fractional carbonization of coal | |
US3920536A (en) | Coal dissolving process | |
US4702747A (en) | Coal derived/carbon dioxide fuel slurry and method of manufacture | |
US3813329A (en) | Solvent extraction of coal utilizing a heteropoly acid catalyst | |
US4842615A (en) | Utilization of low rank and waste coals in transportable fluidic fuel systems | |
US4045187A (en) | Carbonaceous material | |
US4338182A (en) | Multiple-stage hydrogen-donor coal liquefaction | |
US4832831A (en) | Method of refining coal by hydrodisproportionation | |
US4047898A (en) | Upgrading of solid fuels | |
US4787915A (en) | Method of varying rheology characteristics of novel coal derived fuel system | |
US2234769A (en) | Heat treatment of carbonaceous materials | |
US4206033A (en) | CO2 Pretreatment prevents calcium carbonate formation | |
US3663420A (en) | Coal processing | |
US4082519A (en) | Process for the gasification of coal | |
US4040941A (en) | Process for liquefying coal | |
US2809938A (en) | Activatable chars, activated carbons, and process for preparing the same | |
US3347647A (en) | Conversion of solid fossil fuels to high-b. t. u. pipeline gas | |
US3819506A (en) | Coal dissolving process |