Bruce K Schmid

US Patent:

42228484, Sep 16, 1980

Filed:

Dec 15, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/969803

Inventors:

Norman L. Carr - Allison Park PA
Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 108

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

In a coal liquefaction process which includes a recycle of a product slurry which contain recycle mineral residue and recycle of extraneous catalytic material to said liquefication zone, hydrocracking of the hydrocarbonaceous material from the mineral residue occurs and a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, dissolved liquid, normally solid dissolved coal, suspended mineral residue and suspended extraneous catalytic mineral results. A first portion of said residue slurry is recycled to the liquefication zone, a second portion is passed to separation means and the third portion goes to a hydroclone. Overflow from the hydroclone goes to the liquefaction zone to reduce the median diameter of the particles recycled.

US Patent:

41592379, Jun 26, 1979

Filed:

May 12, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/905298

Inventors:

Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 106
C10J 316

US Classification:

208 10

Abstract:

Conversion of raw coal to distillate liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products by solvent liquefaction in the presence of molecular hydrogen employing recycle of mineral residue is commonly performed at a higher thermal efficiency than conversion of coal to pipeline gas in a gasification process employing partial oxidation and methanation reactions. The prior art has disclosed a combination coal liquefaction-gasification process employing recycle of mineral residue to the liquefaction zone wherein all the normally solid dissolved coal produced in the liquefaction zone is passed to a gasification zone for conversion to hydrogen, where the amount of normally solid dissolved coal passed to the gasification zone is just sufficient to enable the gasification zone to produce the process hydrogen requirement. An unexpected improvement in the thermal efficiency of the combination process is achieved by increasing the amount of normally solid dissolved coal prepared in the liquefaction zone and passed to the gasification zone to enable the gasification zone to generate not only all of the hydrogen required by the liquefaction zone but also to produce excess synthesis gas for use as process fuel. The gasification zone operates with steam and oxygen injection rates resulting in elevated temperatures in the range 2,200. degree.

US Patent:

42228450, Sep 16, 1980

Filed:

Dec 13, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/969279

Inventors:

Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 108
C10J 100
C10J 300

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

An integrated coal liquefaction-gasification-naphtha reforming process wherein the slurry containing substantially the entire yield of normally solid dissolved coal produced in the liquefaction zone constitutes the only hydrocarbonaceous feed for the gasification zone and wherein substantially all of the naphtha fraction produced in the liquefaction zone is passed through the reforming zone for conversion to gasoline. The cost in terms of thermal efficiency for performing the reforming step is very low when the amount of syngas produced in the gasification zone is adequate to provide upon direct combustion a considerable proportion of the fuel requirements of both the liquefaction and reformer zones.

US Patent:

42038235, May 20, 1980

Filed:

Jul 3, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/921338

Inventors:

Norman L. Carr - Allison Park PA
Ronald Schleppy - Pittsburgh PA
Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO
Yatish T. Shah - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Gulf Research & Development Company - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 106
C10J 300

US Classification:

208 10

Abstract:

This invention relates to a combination coal liquefaction-gasification process wherein hydrocarbonaceous mineral residue-containing slurry from the liquefaction zone is recycled to the liquefaction zone and all non-recycled hydrocarbonaceous mineral residue-containing slurry is passed to a gasification zone for conversion to synthesis gas to supply hydrogen for the liquefaction zone. It has now been discovered that in this process a surprisingly high reaction selectivity in favor of the desired distillate oil product is achieved by combining low liquefaction zone residence times and relatively high rates of recycle of mineral residue-containing slurry compared to feed coal rate. Under these conditions the yield of the desired distillate oil product can be increased to an unexpectedly high level while the yields of both higher and lower boiling products are each being decreased and while hydrogen consumption is being reduced.

US Patent:

42279917, Oct 14, 1980

Filed:

Dec 15, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/969823

Inventors:

Norman L. Carr - Allison Park PA
Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 108

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

In a coal liquefaction process including recycle to the liquefaction zone of a product slurry containing mineral residue, the minimum slurry recycle rate is determined by a pumpability constraint on the solids level of the slurry contained in the feed coal mixing vessel. If the solids level in the feed coal mixing vessel rises above the constraint level, the slurry recycle rate must increase. For coals which generate a high mineral residue content, adequate dilution of the slurry in the feed coal mixing vessel requires the slurry recycle rate to rise to an economically impracticable level. To avoid a high recycle rate the catalytic advantage of recycle solids is increased by reducing the median diameter of the particles in the recycle slurry stream by passing a portion of the product slurry through a hydroclone to produce a second recycle slurry comprising hydroclone overflow. The process employs a plurality of feed coals, one of which upon dissolution generates smaller and more catalytically active particles of mineral residue than the other. The hydroclone overflow stream selectively concentrates in the recycle slurry the smaller mineral residue particles generated from said feed coal.

US Patent:

42228468, Sep 16, 1980

Filed:

Dec 13, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/969280

Inventors:

Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 108
C10J 100
C10J 300

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

A combination coal liquefaction-gasification-naphtha reforming process wherein the slurry containing substantially the entire yield of normally solid dissolved coal produced in the liquefaction zone comprises substantially the only hydrocarbonaceous feed for the gasification zone and wherein a portion of the naphtha produced in the liquefaction zone is passed through the reforming zone for conversion to gasoline with the remainder of the naphtha being burned as fuel within the process. The amount of hydrocarbonaceous material charged to the gasification zone is established so that the thermal efficiency of the process is substantially unaffected by changes in the ratio of naphtha passed through the reforming zone to naphtha burned as process fuel. The thermal efficiency of the process is maintained at a high level regardless of minor variations in normally solid dissolved coal yield by changing the ratio of naphtha passed through the reforming zone to naphtha burned as process fuel.

US Patent:

42305560, Oct 28, 1980

Filed:

Dec 15, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/970005

Inventors:

Norman L. Carr - Allison Park PA
Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 108
C10J 300

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

In a coal liquefaction process the yield of liquid coal is increased with a concomitant decrease in the yield of normally solid dissolved coal by recycle of a product slurry containing mineral residue. In an integrated coal liquefaction-gasification process employing product slurry recycle wherein the net yield of normally solid dissolved coal from the liquefaction zone comprises the entire hydrocarbonaceous feed to the gasification zone, a moderate net yield of normally solid dissolved coal is conducive to an optimized efficiency for the integrated process. However, it is frequently difficult to perform the process at slurry recycle rates which are sufficiently low to be economically practicable because of a pumpability constraint on the solids level in the feed coal mixing vessel. In the present process, mechanical operability is improved and enhanced conversion of normally solid dissolved coal is achieved by passing a portion of the liquefaction zone product slurry through a hydroclone with the hydroclone overflow stream constituting a second recycle slurry. Deployment of the second recycle slurry accomplishes selective recycle of relatively small particles of mineral residue and tends to reduce the yield of normally solid dissolved coal without resorting to excessive recycle rates, contributing to optimized efficiency for the integrated process.

US Patent:

41592387, Jun 26, 1979

Filed:

May 12, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/905299

Inventors:

Bruce K. Schmid - Denver CO

Assignee:

Gulf Oil Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C10G 106
C10J 306

US Classification:

208 10

Abstract:

Conversion of raw coal to distillate liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products by solvent liquefaction in the presence of molecular hydrogen employing recycle of mineral residue is commonly performed at a higher thermal efficiency than conversion of coal to pipeline gas in a gasification process employing partial oxidation and methanation reactions. The prior art has disclosed a combination coal liquefaction-gasification process employing recycle of mineral residue to the liquefaction zone wherein all the normally solid dissolved coal not converted to liquid or gaseous products in the liquefaction zone is passed to a gasification zone for conversion to hydrogen, where the amount of normally solid dissolved coal passed to the gasification zone is just sufficient to enable the gasification zone to produce the process hydrogen requirement. The process of the present invention provides an unexpected improvement in the thermal efficiency of the combination process by increasing the amount of normally solid dissolved coal prepared in the liquefaction zone and passed to the gasification zone to enable the gasification zone to generate not only all of the hydrogen required by the liquefaction zone but also to produce synthesis gas in an amount adequate to supply all or a significant amount of the fuel requirements of the process. It would have been expected that shifting some of the processing load from the ordinarily more efficient liquefaction zone to the ordinarily less efficient gasification zone would decrease process efficiency, but the present combination process unexpectedly achieves an overall efficiency increase by said shift.