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Coal liquefaction in a synthoil reactor without added catalyst

Conference · · AIChE Natl. Meet.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6789644

In studies at the U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Research Center, parallel packed-bed runs of the liquefaction of Kentucky coal over silica/alumina-supported cobalt/molybdenum catalyst and over inert glass beads, designed to determine the catalyst activity, revealed that an acceptable fuel oil of low sulfur content was produced in high yields without the catalyst. The runs were carried out at 450/sup 0/C preheater and reactor temperature, 400 psig, a 25 lb/hr coal/oil slurry feed rate, 1000 cu ft/hr recycle gas rate, and 350 cu ft/hr makeup gas rate for up to 1068 hr to give a stable conversion of 95-98%, measured as benzene-soluble oil. Presumably, a combination of high-velocity contacting plus indigenous catalysis by the minerals in the coal, especially iron sulfide, achieved the hydroliquefaction. The catalyst decayed completely in 300 hr. The product oils, after the first centrifugation, had viscosities of 30-130 SSF from the inert and 32-220 SSF from the catalytic packing, and heating values of 16,600 Btu/lb from inert and 17,200 Btu/lb from the catalytic packing.

Research Organization:
Dept. of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Res. Cent.
OSTI ID:
6789644
Report Number(s):
CONF-780611-
Journal Information:
AIChE Natl. Meet.; (United States), Journal Name: AIChE Natl. Meet.; (United States) Vol. 55c; ISSN ACENC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English