In this submission, we're sending along information that illustrates, yet again, just how sophisticated and thorough our knowledge of Coal gasification, specifically Coal hydro-gasification, to form a hydrocarbon synthesis gas, actually is.
We preface our discussion by noting that the Eastman Chemical technology disclosed herein is yet another "partial oxidation" process, which relies on the controlled and limited oxidation of Coal to provide both the energy and the raw materials needed for the production and subsequent processing of hydrocarbon syngas.
Such processes lead to the co-production of some Carbon Dioxide, as noted in our excerpts from the Disclosure. And, some of the Coal's content of potential chemical energy is thus lost in during the partial oxidation.
But, we note, as in just the latest example out of several that we have already sent, our concurrent report today of:
"United States Patent: 6872378 - Solar Thermal Aerosol Flow Reaction Process; 2005; Abstract: The present invention provides an environmentally beneficial process using concentrated sunlight to heat radiation absorbing particles to carry out highly endothermic gas phase chemical reactions ultimately resulting in the production of hydrogen or hydrogen synthesis gases";
that, environmental energy, especially sunlight, can be harnessed and employed to provide the needed heat to drive Coal, or other hydrocarbon gasification, processes.
And, true combustion of Coal, for energy production in the gasification process, along with the concomitant generation of Carbon Dioxide, can thus be avoided.
However, in the United States Patent disclosed herein, Eastman does illustrate just how complete our nuts and bolts technology base for promoting and controlling the reactions between Coal and Steam, to generate hydrocarbon synthesis gas, has, in certain circles, become.
The full document, as accessible via the initial link in this dispatch, is devoted primarily to exposition of the mechanics of the technology, since it does center on an innovative gasification device.
However, some advance excerpts, from the Background and Fields discussions, should help to focus for you what the intents and purposes are; as follows:
"The present invention relates to an apparatus for a partial oxidation synthesis gas generation of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen from the combustion of a fossil fuel source in the presence of water and oxygen.
Synthesis gas mixtures comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen are important commercially as a source of gaseous feed stocks, such as hydrogen, for hydrogenation reactions and as a source of feed gas for the synthesis of hydrocarbons ... (and, they are generated from) ... a fuel stream composed primarily of a pumpable slurry of finely particulated coal and water."
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Thus, syngas, "comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen", which is suitable for "the synthesis of hydrocarbons", can be made by gasifying a mixture of "coal and water".
And, Eastman, with US Government certification, tells us herein how to more efficiently accomplish such transformations, as seen in our more complete, though still, because of the extended discussion of apparatus, abbreviated excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 6,358,041 - Threaded Heat Shield for Burner Nozzle Face
Date: March, 2002
Inventor: Gary Whittaker, et. al., TN
Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport
Abstract: A burner nozzle assembly for the production of synthesis gas in a synthesis gas generation chamber has a cooling water jacket face that is protected from hot gas corrosion by an annular shield fabricated from a high melting point material. The heat shield is affixed to the cooling water jacket face by means of a threaded retaining member that engages in one of the surfaces an aligned channel having correspondingly mating threads.
Claims: (A) burner nozzle assembly for the production of synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of carbonaceous fuel ... .
Background and Field: The present invention relates to an apparatus for a partial oxidation synthesis gas generation of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen from the combustion of a fossil fuel source in the presence of water and oxygen. Specifically, the present invention relates to a shielding means for protecting the combustion facing surface of a fuel-injection burner assembly utilized in a synthesis gas combustion chamber. .
Synthesis gas mixtures comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen are important commercially as a source of gaseous feed stocks, such as hydrogen, for hydrogenation reactions and as a source of feed gas for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing organic compounds or ammonia.
Generally, in a synthesis gas operation a fuel stream composed primarily of a pumpable slurry of finely particulated coal and water are sprayed along with an oxidizer into the refractory-lined combustion chamber of the synthesis gas generator. The oxidizer gas contains substantial quantities of free oxygen to support the combustion reaction of the coal.
The effluent raw gas stream from the gas generator includes such gasses as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and can include other gases such as methane ... .
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat-shielded burner for synthesis gas generation which is an improvement over the shortcomings of prior art appliances, is simple in construction and economical in operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a synthesis gas generation burner nozzle having a greater operational life expectancy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas generation burner nozzle for synthesis gas generation having a reduced rate of corrosion."
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Eastman Chemical, thus, as herein, developed an improvement in apparatus that converts mixtures of "particulated coal and water" into "feed gas for the synthesis of hydrocarbons".
Their improvement consists in making the apparatus, through specified design, "simple in construction and economical in operation".
Further, note that both "carbon dioxide and ... methane" can be co-generated, along with the hydrocarbon "feed gas"; and, we remind you of just one of our earlier reports, available on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site as:
Texas Recycles CO2 to Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development | News; "United States Patent 5,741,440 - Production of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide; April, 1998; Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company; Abstract: A method for the preparation of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is disclosed. The invention method entails contacting carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and at least one hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst containing an active metal";
wherein, Eastman themselves, via a team of their scientists working in Texas, reveal that the Carbon Dioxide and the Methane - as "one hydrocarbon" actually specified by them in the full USP 5,741,440 Disclosure - which are generated as by-products in a Steam-Coal gasification process utilizing the technology of their US Patent 6,358,041, as detailed herein, can be collected and further reacted, i.e., "reformed", together, and made thereby to generate even more hydrocarbon synthesis gas.