Colette Braekman-Danheux, René Cyprès, André Fontana, Philippe Laurent and Michel Van Hoegaerden
Service de Chimie Générale et Carbochimie, Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP165, 50, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
In order to improve the economy of the hydropyrolysis process by reducing the hydrogen cost, pyrolysis of coal has been carried out with a simulated coke-oven gas (55% H2, 30% CH4, 15% N2) as the reactive gas at 3 MPa and between 700 °C and 900 °C. Comparisons have been made with hydropyrolysis, pyrolysis with helium and methanolysis under the same conditions. The results indicate that there are no major obstacles to the use of coke-oven gas as the reactive gas in coal pyrolysis. The experimental conditions have to be improved to optimize the yields of the valuable chemicals."
"Coal hydromethanolysis with coke-oven gas : 2. Influence of the coke-oven gas components on pyrolysis yields
Colette Braekman-Danheux, René Cyprès, André Fontana and Michel van Hoegaerden
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Générale et Carbochimie, Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, CP 165, 50, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
To improve the economics of the hydropyrolysis of coal by reducing the hydrogen cost, it has been suggested that coke-oven gas be used instead of pure hydrogen. The present paper describes the role of methane and some minor components in the coke-oven gas during pyrolysis and their influence on the oil and gas yields. Pyrolysis was conducted at 765°C under 3 MPa of various gas mixtures simulating coke-oven gas. The results clearly demonstrate the possibility of using coke-oven gas for coal pyrolysis and lead to the conclusion that synergy between metallurgical cokemaking and ‘creaming-off’ coal by hydropyrolysis will be profitable to both processes."
Colette Braekman-Danheux, André Fontana, Ali Labani and Philippe Laurent
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Générale et Carbochimie, Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, C.P. 165, 50 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
To improve the economy of the hydropyrolysis process by reducing the hydrogen cost, it has been suggested to use coke-oven gas instead of pure hydrogen. The results presented here describe some characteristics of the chars obtained by pyrolysis carried out at 765°C under 3 MPa of various gas mixtures simulating coke-oven gas composition. The char obtained after pyrolysis under coke-oven gas pressure is not fundamentally different from those obtained under inert or hydrogen pressure, at least in porosity, optical texture and oxyreactivity in fixed and fluidized beds. The results show clearly the possibility of using coke-oven gas for coal pyrolysis and lead to the conclusion that synergy between metallurgical cokemaking and ‘creaming-off’ coal by hydropyrolysis will be profitable to both processes."
We won't repeat the concluding sentence of the final abstract. These Belgian scientists have said it several times, in several ways, already. But, coke oven gas, from steel making operations, was once, like Carbon Dioxide, considered just another troublesome, objectionable waste generated by our use of coal. Both of those "pollutants", as we have documented, like coal, can be converted into liquid fuels; moreover, they enhance and increase the productivity of coal-to-liquid fuel conversion processes.
And, reclaiming CO2 and coke-oven gas to combine them with coal in the manufacture of liquid fuels would contribute to a cleaner environment.
Our use of coal doesn't generate pollutants, just valuable by-products.