Method and apparatus for converting coal to liquid hydrocarbons
First Claim
1. A method of forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal comprising the steps of:
- pulverizing the coal to provide a particulate coal feed;
extruding said coal feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube;
extruding a clay feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of said coal tube;
burning a combustible fuel inside of said clay tube, the temperature of said combustion being sufficient to fire said extruded clay and pyrolyze said extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char, said support tube having holes for releasing said hydrocarbon gases, and said hydrocarbon gases containing suspended particles formed during said combustion;
removing said suspended particles from said hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases;
passing said clean gases through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion of said clean gases;
passing said ionized gases through a magnetic field to separate said ionized gases from each other according to their molecular weight;
mixing selected portions of at least some of said separated gases; and
cooling said mixed gases to provide at least one liquid hydrocarbon product of predetermined composition.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal. The coal is pulverized to provide a particulate coal feed, which is then extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube. A clay feed is extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of the coal tube and a combustible fuel is burned inside of the clay tube. The temperature of combustion is sufficient to fire the extruded clay and pyrolyze the extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char. The support tube has holes for releasing the hydrocarbon gases, which contain suspended particles formed during combustion. The suspended particles are removed from the hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases, which are passed through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion thereof. The ionized gases are then passed through a magnetic field to separate them from each other according to their molecular weight. Selected portions of at least some of the separated gases are mixed, and the mixed gases are cooled to provide at least one liquid hydrocarbon product of predetermined composition.
99 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method of forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal comprising the steps of:
-
pulverizing the coal to provide a particulate coal feed; extruding said coal feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube; extruding a clay feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of said coal tube; burning a combustible fuel inside of said clay tube, the temperature of said combustion being sufficient to fire said extruded clay and pyrolyze said extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char, said support tube having holes for releasing said hydrocarbon gases, and said hydrocarbon gases containing suspended particles formed during said combustion; removing said suspended particles from said hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases; passing said clean gases through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion of said clean gases; passing said ionized gases through a magnetic field to separate said ionized gases from each other according to their molecular weight; mixing selected portions of at least some of said separated gases; and cooling said mixed gases to provide at least one liquid hydrocarbon product of predetermined composition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of converting solid coal and a solid plastic material to a liquid fuel comprising the steps of:
-
pulverizing the coal to provide a particulate coal feed; extruding said coal feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube; extruding a clay feed to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of said coal tube; burning a combustible fuel inside of said clay tube, the temperature of said combustion being sufficient to fire said extruded clay and pyrolyze said extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char, said support tube having holes for releasing said hydrocarbon gases; breaking up and cooling said fired clay and said coal char to provide pieces of clay and pieces of char; separating said char pieces from said clay pieces; pulverizing said char pieces to provide powdered char; and dispersing said powdered char in a combustible liquid to provide a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, said combustible liquid being formed by a process comprised of heating the solid plastic material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
Specification