Process for the preparation of mixtures of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane
We have so far been unable to learn much about the corporate assignee of this invention, "Con-Gas"; which was once, it seems, at the time the enclosed US Patent was issued, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.
We make this submission both because our United States Patent office, as herein, confirms the validity of the technology disclosed, for making an hydrogenated synthesis gas from Coal and Steam, and from Hydrogen produced within the process; and, because it is congruent with other technologies we have documented, and will further document.
In all these seemingly-related processes, Steam can be utilized, first, in reactions with hot Coal, or Coke, as an Hydrogen donor, to hydrogenate materials made primarily of Carbon, and to thereby generate a synthesis gas suitable for more efficient catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbons; and, wherein Steam can be reacted with specific heated metals, most usually Iron, to generate any additional, supplemental Hydrogen that might be needed.
As noted, multiple similar technologies exist. Most are described as methods to produce "pipeline" gas, from Coal, and from other carbon-containing, some carbon-recycling, materials. And, especially in the instances where Coal is the specified Carbon source, such processes require the import of little or no external energy.
Moreover, nearly all of these related technologies specify, as herein, that it is a mixture of Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen and Methane that is produced by the "Steam-Coal", and integral "Steam-Iron", reactions.
We submit for consideration that the product gases could be separated. The Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen could then be directed towards a "conventional" Fischer-Tropsch, or related, catalytic reactor for condensation into liquid hydrocarbons. The Methane could be, as in the "Tri-reforming" technology described by Penn State University, and others, reacted with imported Carbon Dioxide to synthesize even more liquid hydrocarbons.
In any case, summary comment follows brief excerpts from:
"United States Patent 3,222, 147 - Preparation of Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide and Methane
Date: December, 1965
Inventor: Homer Benson, Pittsburgh, PA
Assignee: Con-Gas Services Corporation, Pittsburgh
Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane from carbonaceous materials ... by reacting the carbonaceous solid fuel with both hydrogen and steam, the hydrogen being obtained from the oxidizing reaction of a metal and steam.
It has been proposed in the past to gasify carbonaceous solids such as coal ... to obtain more useful gases for further synthesis ... . It is also well known that carbonaceous solids react with steam at high temperature to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Claims: A process for preparing a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane which comprises, reacting an oxidizable metal with steam ... to produce a first gas mixture of hydrogen and steam, and thereafter reacting said gas mixture with carbonaceous solids ... to produce a second gas mixture ... containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane."
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And, once we have, from Coal, Steam and hot Iron, i.e., "oxidizable metal", the "hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane", we can catalyze the Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons; and, we can tri-reform the Methane with imported Carbon Dioxide to synthesize even more liquid hydrocarbons.
And, as always, it all starts with: Coal.
