Gulf Research & Development Company

Shirley C Tsai

Robin R Oder

Howard G McIlvried

Richard H Graham

A coal solvation/liquefaction process wherein the coal is contacted with hydrogen and an octahydrophenanthrene-enriched solvent containing OHP and THP in a ratio of OHP/THP greater than 0.4, wherein the OHP is present in an amount of at least 5 percent by weight based upon the total weight of said solvent. The OHP-enriched solvent provides improved coal solvation and increases the production of distillate liquid (62) in a coal solvation/liquefaction (20, 24) process. The desired ratio of OHP/THP is provided by catalytic hydrogenation (68) of a coal liquid distillate stream (64). By increasing the OHP/THP ratio to a value greater than 1, the amount of hydrogen consumed in the process can be significantly reduced.

Coal Liquefaction process employing octahydrophenanthrene-enriched

Ash-containing raw coal is converted to a liquid fuel product by contacting the coal with hydrogen and an OHP-enriched solvent containing OHP and THP in a ratio of OHP/THP greater than 0.4, wherein the OHP is present in an amount of at least 5 weight percent of the solvent, to produce a liquid stream and a coal minerals stream, and recycling at least a portion of the coal minerals stream. A portion of the liquid stream (64) is catalytically hydrogenated (68), preferably with a tungsten-containing catalyst, to increase the ratio of OHP/THP to a value greater than 0.4 or preferably greater than l. The OHP-enriched liquid stream solvent is passed as solvent to a mixing zone (11) where it is admixed with raw coal (10) and recycled coal minerals (38), admixed with hydrogen (58) and passed to a preheater (20) and dissolver (24). The use of the OHP-enriched solvent improves coal solvation and liquid distillate production, while the recycle of coal minerals assists in maintaining a high OHP level in the circulated process solvent. By increasing the OHP/THP ratio to a value greater than 1, the amount of hydrogen consumed in the process can be significantly reduced.

Solvent refining of coal using octahydrophenanthrene-enriched solvent

In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the high gas-flow link between the injection and the production wells needed for the gasification process is produced by reverse combustion using air heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal. The heated air pretreats and conditions the coal proximate to the link under formation by increasing its permeability and reducing its swelling properties. Improved combustion and suppression of plugging results in the subsequent gasification stage.

Subterranean gasification of bituminous coal

The OHP content of an OHP- and THP-containing solvent is enriched by contacting the solvent with hydrogen in the presence of a supported catalyst comprising Group VIB and Group VIII metals under conditions to increase the OHP/THP ratio in the solvent to a level greater than 0.4 and preferably greater than 1. The preferred catalyst contains tungsten where it is desired to provide an OHP/THP ratio greater than 1 in the OHP-enriched solvent, and also contains titanium to improve the hydrogen selectivity of the catalyst so as to enhance the preservation of aromatics in the hydrogenated solvent. The OHP-enriched solvent provides increased solvation of coal and improved yields of liquid fuel product in a coal liquefaction process which utilizes the solvent.

Catalytic production of octahydrophenanthrene-enriched solvent

In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the high gas-flow link between the injection and the production wells is produced by introducing hot air into the injection well at a pressure sufficient to fracture the coal. The bulk permeability of the coal proximate to the link is increased and the plugging of the link during the subsequent in situ combustion and gasification procedure is suppressed by continuing the injection of the hot air, heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal, into the injection well, through the link to the production well without combustion of the coal.

Underground gasification of bituminous coal

In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the bulk permeability of the coal proximate to the linkage between the injection and the production holes is increased and the plugging of the linkage during the in situ combustion and gasification procedure is suppressed by subjecting this coal proximate to the linkage between the injection and production holes to a stream of air heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal prior to the in situ combustion and gasification procedure.

In situ gasification of bituminous coal

A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 600 psia (4.3 MPa) but no greater than about 3000 psia (20.8 MPa) at a reaction temperature ranging from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. for a period of time ranging from about 0.5 to about 6 hours.

Recovery of oil from oil shale

A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale at a reaction temperature of at least about 300.degree. C. with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 450 psia (3.1 MPa) and an organic solvent having a boiling point at ambient pressure, that is, about 15 psia (0.1 MPa), of at least about 80.degree. C.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Shirley C Tsai