Hri, Inc.

Edwin J Hippo

Alfred G Comolli

Robert O'Brien

A process for the hydrogenation of undissolved coal and subsequent liquefaction of the hydrogenated coal particles to provide useful hydrocarbon liquid products including naphtha, gasoline and diesel fuel. These low boiling hydrocarbon liquids are produced by the process comprising: (a) mixing solid coal particles with a coal derived solvent in a solvent/coal ratio ranging from about 8/1 to about 1.5/1 to provide a flowable coal/oil slurry of solid coal particles; (b) passing the coal/oil slurry and hydrogen upwardly through a first reaction zone containing a coal-derived liquid and bed of particulate catalyst maintained at a temperature ranging from about 400.degree. to about 700.degree. F. and a hydrogen partial pressure of 100 to 2000 psig for a time sufficient to hydrogenate the solid coal particles; and (c) withdrawing the coal/oil slurry having the hydrogenated coal particles from the first reaction zone and passing the coal/oil slurry to a second reaction zone containing a catalytic bed which is maintained at a temperature of between about 700.degree. and about 850.degree. F. and a hydrogen partial pressure of 9 to 2000 psig to liquefy and convert the coal to useful hydrocarbon liquid fuel products. The first and second reaction zones may include the same or different catalysts such as Co/Mo on a porous substrate, or the second reaction zone can include a noble metal such as platinum on a porous substrate such as alumina or silica.

Hydrogenation of coal and subsequent liquefaction of hydrogenated

A process for improved catalytic hydrogenation of coal to produce increased yields of low boiling hydrocarbon liquids and gas products, in which a coal-oil slurry is fed directly with only limited preheating into an ebullated bed catalytic reaction zone to provide increased hydroconversion and improved yields of low boiling hydrocarbon liquids. In the process, a coal is slurried with a hydrogenated coal-derived liquid and heated to only a limited extent, as defined by a temperature-time severity unit index (STTU) less than about 0.1, so as to avoid depleting the hydrogen donor capacity of the solvent liquid, and the slurry is then fed directly into an ebullated bed catalytic reaction zone maintained at 650.degree.-900.degree. F. temperature and 1000-5000 psi hydrogen partial pressure. Supplemental heat is provided to the reaction zone as needed by heating recycled reactor liquid and recycled hydrogen streams to temperatures above the reaction zone temperature. If desired, effluent liquid from the reaction zone can be advantageously passed with hydrogen to a second ebullated bed catalytic reaction zone for further hydrogentation reaction at different severity selected to provide increased conversion of the coal and coal derived liquids and produce increased yields and/or improved selectivity of light hydrocarbon liquid products.

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Morrisville, PA, United States of America

Edwin J Hippo