Coal processing: the Exxon donor solvent process

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7350242

Furlong, L E; Effron, E; Vernon, L W; Wilson, E L

The development of the Exxon coal liquefaction process over 10 years is described. Exxon is using lower temperatures and lower pressures (approximately 100 bar) than were used in the Bergius process. The donor solvent is produced in a separate, fixed bed, catalytic hydrogenation step. Early research was broad in scope including, both hydrogenated and unhydrogenated recycle solvent studies. Alternate solids/liquids separation studies were tested (vacuum distillation was chosen). Work progressed with a pilot plant converting 1 ton/day, detailed solvent characterization, solvent hydrogenation research, and product characterization and possible product variations. Products are naphtha and fuel oil with some choice of proportions of each. Efficiency of the process is about 50 percent using the method of calculation given. Now, a 250 ton/day pilot plant is being designed. The 250-ton/day pilot plant size would allow us to establish commercial-scale equipment reliability and design criteria, to obtain engineering data for confident scaleup, to confirm process performance on a larger scale, and to establish key operability constraints. Engineering scaleup data are required particularly in those parts of the coal liquefaction plant that involve multiphase operation with coal-derived slurries. In this category, we can list slurry pumping and heating, slurry furnace operation, liquefaction reactor engineering, slurry fractionation, and handling of liquefaction residue. (LTN)

• Research Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Baytown, TX
• OSTI ID: 7350242
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 72:8; ISSN CEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010405* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
AROMATICS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EXXON LIQUEFACTION PROCESS
FLOWSHEETS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUEFACTION
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
TETRALIN