Reacting coal. [9 claims]

Patent · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7223807

Stowell, W R; Sagmuller, J R

A description is presented of an apparatus and a method for reacting coal with hydrogen to provide hydrocarbon products. In a container having an anode and a cathode spaced therefrom, an electric potential about 200 to 1000 volts more positive than the potential at the cathode is applied to the anode to provide an electric arc at a current density of about 0.01 to 100 amperes per square centimeter in a reaction zone between them comprising hydrogen at a pressure of about 10 to 500 millimeters of mercury, and thus to maintain a plasma therein. A magnetic field of about 100 to 1000 gauss is provided approximately perpendicular to the arc. Hydrogen is directed into contact with the anode (as through passages therein) and from there into the reaction zone to ionize a substantial portion of the hydrogen positively, while coal is directed either in a slurry or as a fine powder, into contact with the cathode (as through passages therein) and from there into the reaction zone to charge a substantial portion of the coal with a negative potential. The materials as ionized are reacted, whereby the free energy decrease for each reaction at a given temperature is greater than that for molecular hydrogen, and the hydrocarbon products are withdrawn from the reaction zone. The potential difference, current density, pressure, and magnetic field intensity are maintained at values such as to provide a temperature of about 500 to 6000/sup 0/K in the reaction zone. 9 claims, 4 figures.

• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Inst.
• Patent Number(s): US 4010089
• OSTI ID: 7223807
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010403* -- Coal & Coal Products-- Hydrogenation-- (-1987)
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATHODES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL FINES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
CURRENTS
DIRECT CURRENT
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENATION
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE