Process for the production of hydrogen
We first refer you to an earlier report, now posted on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site, detailing the "United States Patent 3,188,179 - Hydrogen from Hydrocarbon Gas and Steam", which was issued to Consol in June of 1965; and, which details one way to obtain, according the inventor, Everett Gorin, the "high purity hydrogen ... required to convert coal into gasoline".
Herein, via the enclosed link and attached document, we see that Gorin and Consol had addressed the issue of obtaining such needed Hydrogen, for more efficient Coal conversion, even earlier, and in a somewhat different way.
Comment follows excerpts from, as accessible via the enclosed link and attached file:
"United States Patent 3,115,394 - Process for the Production of Hydrogen
Date: December 1963
Inventors: Everett Gorin and Charles Rice, both of Pittsburgh, PA
Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company, Pittsburgh
Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for the production of high-purity hydrogen from carbonaceous solids.
The primary object of this invention is to provide a process for producing low-cost high purity hydrogen from hydrocarbonaceous solids.
Briefly, the process of this invention comprises preparing an inexpensive methane-containing gas from hydrocarbonaceous solids and then subjecting the inexpensive gas to a modified steam reforming reaction zone to produce high purity hydrogen.
... our new process (can be) applied to the hydrocarbonaceous solid residues obtained by the low temperature distillation or carbonization of hydrocarbonaceous solid fuels such as the high volatile bituminous coal found in the Pittsburgh Seam."
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To explain: "Low temperature distillation or carbonization" of Coal refers to some specific methods of converting Coal into Syngas, and, subsequently, into hydrocarbon liquids. Such techniques would include, among several others, the Karrick Process, developed by the US Bureau of Mines; and, the COED process, reduced to practice for the US Government, in New Jersey, by FMC Corporation and ARCO; all as we have documented.
As in other of our reports, the technology described by Gorin herein actually details how carbonaceous residues from such primary indirect Coal conversion processes can be reacted with Steam to produce both Methane and pure Hydrogen.
The technology disclosed by this patent is one that enables the recycling of Coal conversion residues to provide raw materials, "low-cost high purity hydrogen" and/or "inexpensive methane", which can be used to improve the efficiency and productivity of the indirect Coal conversion processes from which the residues are produced.
Either Methane or pure Hydrogen can be used to enrich the Hydrogen content of synthesis gas, or of liquid fuels, produced from Coal.
Furthermore, Methane can be reacted, as we have documented and as we will further document, in various bi-reforming and tri-reforming techniques, with Carbon Dioxide, to recycle that supposed pollutant in the synthesis of higher hydrocarbons.
And, all of it can start with "bituminous coal found in the Pittsburgh Seam".
We found that Coal long ago. Far past time we all found out about all that we can really do with it
