The complete exposition of the United States Patent we enclose herein is so full of convoluted mechanical process descriptions that it's easy to forget, or not even realize, what it's really all about. For clarity, we submit one passage, as a foreword, taken from deep within it's bowels, that we won't repeat in our very abbreviated excerpts:
"The water gas reaction is one of reacting 1 mole of carbon with 1 mole of water to produce 1 mole of carbon monoxide and 1 mole of hydrogen. This reaction is endothermic and in this invention the heat required is provided by the sensible heat of the particulate material. Substantially any carbon source can be employed so that the invention is applicable to carbonaceous material ... . Generally, it is preferred to employ subdivided coal, coke, coal char, and the like. The water reactant is normally provided in the form of steam although mixtures of steam and liquid water can be employed if desired."
What it is all about, in sum, is an efficient, almost-automated way to manufacture, on a large and continuous scale, a fully hydrogenated hydrocarbon synthesis gas out of nothing but Water and hot Coal.
We have previously reported on, and explained, the "water gas" reaction, as was being widely employed to generate a synthetic natural gas for various municipalities as long ago as the late 1800's, and that's what this technology is an advanced version of.
Comment follows additional excerpts from:
"United States Patent 3,620,697 - Apparatus and Method for Producing Hydrogen
Date: November, 1971
Inventor: Donald Wunderlich, et. al., Texas
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing hydrogen utilizing an inert particulate material as a heat transfer medium, fluidizing the particulate material to convey same to the reaction zone wherein, inter alia, hydrogen is formed, and heating the particulate material while so conveyed.
Claims: 1. Apparatus comprising a reaction chamber having upper and lower portions, a closed conveying-heating chamber having upper and lower portions, first conduit means operatively connecting said reaction and conveying-heating chambers, second conduit means operatively connecting said reaction and conveying-heating chambers, said first conduit means being adapted to move its contents from said conveying-heating chamber to said reaction chamber, said second conduit means being adapted to move its contents from said reaction chamber to said conveying-heating chamber, inert particulate material for circulation through both said chambers and both said conduit means as a heat exchange medium, means for introducing reactants into said reaction chamber, means for removing reaction products from said reaction chamber, means for introducing reactants and a fluidizing fluid into the lower portion of said conveying-heating chamber, and means for preventing gases in either chamber from passing through either conduit means into the other chamber comprising vent means for removing gas from the upper portion of said conveying-heating chamber, a pipe operatively connected to said second conduit means to introduce fluid into said second conduit means toward said reaction chamber, and a separate pipe to introduce fluid ... .
6. In a hydrogen production method wherein carbon is reacted in a reaction zone with water to form in part hydrogen and carbon monoxide ... .
9. A method ... wherein the carbon source is one of coal ... ."
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The bulk of the full Disclosure is similar in format to Claim 1, above, so you'll understand our not providing fuller excerpts.
But, the technology comprises and represents, again, a large-scale, continuously-operating industrial process for manufacturing fully-hydrogenated hydrocarbon synthesis gas, a blend of molecular Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide, from which, using Fischer-Tropsch, and related, catalytic technology, liquid hydrocarbons suitable as feed stock for conventional petroleum refineries could be condensed.
And, the raw materials for that hydrogenated synthesis gas consist of nothing but Water and Coal.
Finally: Such efficient, industrial scale technology for the manufacture of, essentially, Petroleum-type fuel raw material, out of Water and Coal, has been officially "in-place", as herein verified by our United States Government, for very nearly four decades.