US4208251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for producing nonaqueous coke slurry and pipeline transport thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-19
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Granted: 1980-06-17
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Expires: 1998-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A process comprising heating coal in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products and dispersing the coke therein to form a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination. Apparatus comprising a tube furnace having an external heating means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, means to feed powdered coal to the furnace under pressure and force the volatile materials and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to a condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to a pipeline for transport to a destination.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross H. Rasmussen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:51
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L5/00; C10B; C10B47/00; C10B7/00; C10B7/10; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/322; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/088; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A process comprising: heating coal in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing in the presence of the coke at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products and dispersing the coke therein to form a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process comprising: heating coal in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing in the presence of the coke at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products and dispersing the coke therein to form a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 in which liquefied products are separated from the coke slurry at the destination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1 in which a supplemental organic liquid from an exterior source is included in the coke slurry after it is formed to reduce the slurry viscosity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 3 in which the organic liquid is light oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the slurry, at the destination, is used substantially entirely as a fuel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process comprising: heating powdered coal at a temperature of at least 600° F. in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke enveloped by the volatile materials, condensing in the presence of the coke at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products with the coke dispersed therein thereby forming a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process comprising: heating powdered coal at a temperature of at least 600° F. in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke enveloped by the volatile materials, condensing in the presence of the coke at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products with the coke dispersed therein thereby forming a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A process according to claim 6 in which powdered coal is conveyed by a power auger to a tube furnace, the coal is moved through the tube furnace as it is heated and converted to coke and volatile materials, and at least some of the volatile materials are condensed in the presence of coke to liquefied products with the coke dispersed therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 7 in which liquefied products are separated from the coke slurry at the destination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 6 in which the coal is heated at a pressure of at least 15 psig.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 7 in which the coal is continuously fed to the furnace and continuously moved through the furnace.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus comprising: a tube furnace having an external heating means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, means to feed powdered coal to the furnace under pressure and force the volatile materials and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to said condensing means, A pipeline for transport of said coke slurry to a destination, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to said pipeline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus comprising: a tube furnace having an external heating means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, means to feed powdered coal to the furnace under pressure and force the volatile materials and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to said condensing means, A pipeline for transport of said coke slurry to a destination, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to said pipeline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the means to feed the powdered coal to the furnace is a power auger, and the auger furnishes the force to move the coal, coke and volatile materials through the furnace and the condensing means to the pipeline.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 including means to feed a liquid into admixture with the coke slurry after it is formed to reduce its viscosity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus comprising: a furnace having means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, means to move the volatile material and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to said condensing means a pipeline for transport of said coke slurry to a destination, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to said pipeline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus comprising: a furnace having means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, means to move the volatile material and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to said condensing means a pipeline for transport of said coke slurry to a destination, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to said pipeline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which at least two tube furnaces are in parallel with a common discharge means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-17 | 1983-12-17 | 1984-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-17 | 1987-12-17 | 1988-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-17 | 1991-12-17 | 1992-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |