Cng Research Company

Consolidated Natural Gas Service

Robert I Brabets

Lester G Massey

William A Abel

David A George

James K Anderson

Davis A George

Thomas J Labus

A method for heating agglomerating slurries in association with a method and apparatus for heating such slurries to supercritical conditions by electrical resistance. A feed slurry and a dilution stream are passed in admixture to a heating zone, and heated. A portion of the heated admixture is separated to provide the dilution stream, which is substantially free of agglomerating solids, to lower agglomeration in the heating zone. Preferably, the solid particles of the dilution stream are comminuted between separation of the dilution stream and before admixture with the feed slurry.

Method for heating agglomerating slurries

An adiabatic expansion orifice assembly for substantially instantaneously passing a coal slurry from a high pressure region to a low pressure region and a corresponding process are disclosed. The orifice assembly includes a housing having an exit end wall and a passageway through the housing. The passageway terminates in a substantially cylindrical portion or opening adjacent the exit end wall. The effective dimensions of the opening provide a flow rate whereby the slurry passes from the high pressure region through the opening to the low pressure region in less than a predetermined period of time, most preferably less than approximately 0.3 microseconds. The corresponding process involves passing a coal slurry through an orifice in less than the predetermined period of time. This process provides substantially instantaneous transition from a high pressure region to a low pressure region.

Adiabatic expansion orifice assembly for passing a slurry from a high

A shattered hydrocarbonaceous product comprising a mixture of discrete comminuted hydrocarbonaceous particles having a volumetric mean particle size equivalent to less than about 5 microns in diameter separate from or in admixture with discrete inorganic and mineral particles having a mean particle size substantially the same as in the unshattered original solid is disclosed. The shattered product is produced by the explosive comminution of a slurry of fluid permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid which was heated and pressurized to supercritical conditions and then permitted to suddenly expand. The product hydrocarbonaceous fraction is substantially scissioned from the mineral fraction and has a lower density, greater solvent solubility and different reactivity to oxygen than does the feed solid. This hydrocarbonaceous fraction also includes a subfraction of particles having a particle size, by volume distribution, of less than about 2 microns in diameter which contain substantially no sulfur compounds. In addition, the product hydrocarbonaceous fraction has a solubility in methanol at least about twice that of a product produced by explosive comminution at sub-critical conditions.

Coal composition

A constant pressure system for pumping a coal slurry includes a slurry pump mechanically driven by a hydraulic motor which, in turn, is driven by a hydraulic pump. The output of the hydraulic pump is controlled by a pressure sensitive flow control valve that maintains the hydraulic fluid pressure drop as a constant across the hydraulic motor. The system assures a constant hydraulic motor output torque, driving the slurry pump at a constant delivery pressure.

System for pumping fluids at constant pressure

A method and apparatus for heating fluids, such as an agglomerating slurry of coal and water, to supercritical conditions, wherein an electrical current is passed directly through the fluid. The fluid is directed through a container and heated by passing an electric current between a conductor positioned within the container and the interior surface of the container. The current passes through the fluid, and the electrical resistance of the fluid dissipates the electrical current into heat energy, resulting in the direct heating of the fluid. The rate of heating is preferably controlled by adding an electrolyte to the fluid.

Method and apparatus for heating liquids and agglomerating slurries

A process is disclosed for treating a fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of hydrocarbonaceous components and mineral and sulfur components, to separate the solid into a hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction and a mineral and sulfur enriched fraction. The process involves comminuting the solid in the presence of a low molecular weight alcohol under conditions sufficient to substantially scission the hydrocarbonaceous components from the mineral and sulfur components and to selectively comminute the hydrocarbonaceous components. The resultant product is thereafter separated into the enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction and the enriched mineral and sulfur fraction. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is mixed with a low molecular weight alcohol, such as methanol, to form a slurry. The slurry is then heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the alcohol. In particularly preferred form, the slurry is heated for a sufficient length of time to form: (1) a dissolved portion of the hydrocarbonaceous components in alcohol; (2) an undissolved suspended portion of hydrocarbonaceous material saturated with the alcohol; and (3) a discrete undissolved suspended portion of the mineral components. The superheated slurry is thereafter expanded, preferably by a substantially instantaneous adiabatic expansion, most preferably in the presence of a sulfur scavenger compound. The result is a selective precipitation, comminution and production of substantially mineral and sulfur free, ultra-fine hydrocarbonaceous particles in admixture with discrete relatively larger mineral particles.

Method for removing undesired components from coal

A pressure relief apparatus for a high pressure slurry processing system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure container, an escape member in the container inlet and a flow restrictor in the container outlet.

Pressure relief system

A process for the fractionation of a porous or fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of mineral matter and hydrocarbonaceous matter, into a separate mineral enriched fraction and a separate hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction is disclosed. In this process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is comminuted to convert the hydrocarbonaceous matter in the coal into discrete particles having a mean volumetric diameter of less than about 5 microns without substantially altering the size of the mineral matter originally present in the coal. As a result of this comminution, the hydrocarbonaceous particles can be fractionated from the mineral particles to provide a hydrocarbon fraction having a lesser concentration of minerals than in the original uncomminuted material and a mineral fraction having a higher concentration of minerals than in the original uncomminuted material. A preferred method for comminuting the porous or fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, i.e. coal, is to first form a slurry of coal and a fluid such as water. This slurry is then heated and pressurized to temperatures and pressures in excess of the critical temperature and pressure of the fluid. The resultant supercritically heated and pressurized slurry is then passed to an expansion zone maintained at a lower pressure, preferably about ambient pressure, to effect comminution or shattering of the solid by the rapid expansion or explosion of the fluid forced into the coal during the heating and pressurization of the slurry. The supercritical conditions employed produce a shattered product comprising a mixture of discrete comminuted hydrocarbonaceous particles having a volumetric mean particle size equivalent to less than about 5 microns in diameter and discrete inorganic and mineral particles having a mean particle size substantially unchanged from that in the original solid. This mineral fraction, in turn, is then fractionated from the hydrocarbonaceous fraction.

Method for separating undesired components from coal by an explosion

An apparatus for connecting a power supply to an electrode within a high pressure, high temperature vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conductor extending through the vessel such that the net force exerted upon the conductor by the vessel pressure is negligible. An elastomeric material seals the vessel conductor interface and the apparatus cools the sealing material to avoid softening thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Lombard, IL, United States of America

Robert I Brabets