PATENT

3324. ----- [SELLERS, F. B.]  (Texaco Development Corp.).  Process for the Hydrogenation of Coal.  United States Patent 2,572,061, Oct. 23, 1951; appl. filed Sept. 16, 1948, Serial No. 49,583; 3 claims (Cl. 196-53).

 Heavy oil produced by liquid-phase hydrogenation of coal is admixed with particles of low-ash bituminous coal in size range of 3/32 in. 200-mesh.  About 5 bbl. of  oil are admixed with each ton of crushed coal to form a readily pumpable slurry.  FeSO4 is admixed with oil and added to the slurry at the rate of 4 lb. per ton of coal as catalyst for the hydrogenation reaction.  The slurry is pumped at about 1 ft. per sec. into a heating coil at a pressure of 500 p.s.i.  H₂ is supplied to the heating coil at the rate of 18,000 standard cu. ft. per ton of coal.  The suspension of coal and oil is heated in the heating zone to 650°-1,200° F.  The temperature at the outlet of the heating coil is about 1,000° F. and the pressure 350 p. s. i.  About 95% of the oil is vaporized on passing through the heating coil.  the temperature of the mixture discharged from the heating coil is reduced to about 650° F. at 350 p. s. i.  The condensed liquid, powdered coal, and uncondensed vapors are admixed with an additional 18,000 standard cu. ft. of H₂ and passed at 10,000 p. s. i.  pressure into a hydrogenation zone.  The effluent of the hydrogenation step is separated without reduction in pressure into a gaseous fraction, predominately H₂, which is recycled, a heavy-oil fraction or crude product of the hydrogenation step and residual solid or pitch.  A portion of the heavy oil is returned to the mixing zone for admixture with fresh coal.  The heavy oil product amounts to about 1,700 lb. per ton of coal fed. to the process.