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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Development of a packed-bed letdown valve for coal-liquefaction plants

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6591665

Pressure letdown of coal-liquefaction slurry from high-pressure (13.9 mPa or 2000 psig), high-temperature (730 K) reactor/dissolvers can be accomplished using a packed bed. This concept could resolve the severe erosion problem which accompanies the use of conventional valves. Three-phase slurry letdown was simulated using two-phase (H/sub 2/O(l)-N/sub 2/(g)) cocurrent upflow, with packed-bed pressure drops to 8.3 mPa (1200 psig). A semiempirical model predicting the pressure gradient for two-phase, cocurrent upflow in a packed bed is presented. Packed-bed letdown-valve designs which control linear slurry velocity and thus minimize erosion are presented. Preliminary cost analysis indicates carbon steel is an acceptable packing material.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Oak Ridge, TN (USA). School of Chemical Engineering Practice
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6591665
Report Number(s):
ORNL/MIT-321
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English