Flash pyrolysis coal liquefaction process development. Quarterly report, April--June 1977, including the June 1977 monthly report
Year: 1977
Type: report
Abstract: The planned subbituminous coal pyrolysis baseline runs were completed. Material balance data for the three runs were compiled and are reported here. Mass and elemental balance closures were good. Yield distributions among the three runs were in good agreement. Compared to the bench-scale pyrolysis results reported earlier, lower tar and higher gas yields were obtained during the PDU baseline runs with subbituminous coal. Further PDU and bench-scale tests are being made to investigate these differences. Pyrolysis of bituminous coal was begun with the near-term objective of determining reactor performance over a wide range of operating conditions. Satisfactory performance at rates up to 100 lb/hr and at temperatures as low as 1200/sup 0/F was achieved in initial tests of up to 9 hours duration. There was no evidence of reactor fouling as confirmed by visual inspection after planned shutdown. Tests at rates of up to 200 lb/hr or temperature of about 1000/sup 0/F showed susceptibility to fouling due to erratic flow of hot char to the reactor. Work to reduce char rate fluctuations is continuing. Autoclave testing of commercially available catalysts was completed and an alumina supported Ni-Mo catalyst was chosen for pyrolysis tar hydrotreating studies. Operation of the continuous hydrotreater continued with the successful execution of a 40 hour material balance run processing tar produced in the PDU. The preliminary data indicate that ''Flash Pyrolysis'' tar can be hydrorefined using commercially available petroleum catalysts. High conversion of preasphaltenes and asphaltenes to oils and sulfur removal are obtainable under moderate severity. Nitrogen removal requires higher severity. Interpretation of the significance of these results is subject to performance data at greater catalyst age.
DOI: 10.2172/6812913
Authors: E. W. Knell, P. E. Gethard, B. W. Shaw, N. W. Green, W. G. Willson
Language: English
Subfield: Fuel Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W240764448