United States Patent Application: 0050256212
We have previously cited two of the University of California scientists, and the Coal and Carbon conversion technologies they have developed, named in this report, as in, from late last year:
California Hydrogasifies Coal & Carbon-Recycling Wastes | Research & Development | News; "US Patent 7,500,997 - Steam Pyrolysis ... to Enhance the Hydro-Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials; 2009; Inventors: Joseph Norbeck and Collin Hackett, Riverside, CA; Assignee: The Regents of the University of California; Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process. (And) wherein the carbonaceous material (utilized as raw material) comprises municipal waste, biomass, wood, coal, or a natural or synthetic polymer."
Note that the focus of that invention isn't on Coal, although Coal is specifically named as one of the suitable "carbonaceous materials".
In the follow-on technology we report herein, Coal isn't named at all; but, it is still a carbonaceous material; and, this entire invention is based, as it specifically states, on the Fischer-Tropsch process, which was originally developed, specifically, for the liquefaction of Coal.
We submit it to your attention for several reasons:
First, it documents again that all of the energy needed to convert Carbon into liquid fuels can be generated as a function of the Carbon conversion process itself.
It also documents that all of the Hydrogen required, to fully hydrogenate the Carbon, for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, can be generated within the process through the use of Steam.
In that way, it is similar to other, self-hydrogenating Coal conversion processes we have already documented for you, as in: Texaco Coal Hydrogenation Self-Supplies Hydrogen | Research & Development | News; which discloses: "United States Patent 4,523,986 - Liquefaction of Coal; 1985; Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation, NY; Abstract: Coal or similar solid carbonaceous fuels are liquefied by catalytic hydrogenation of coal-liquid hydrocarbon oil slurries with a hydrogen-rich gas. Both the liquid hydrocarbon slurrying oil and the hydrogen-rich gas are derived in the process".
Finally, it demonstrates that Carbon-recycling wastes, like and with Coal, can be converted into liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuels in what is, at it's roots, an indirect Coal liquefaction process.
Comment follows excerpts from:
"United States Patent Application 20050256212 - Production of Synthetic Transportation Fuels
Date: November, 2006
Inventors: Jospeh Norbeck, et. al., CA and MA
Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process. A slurry of particles of carbonaceous material in water, and hydrogen from an internal source, are fed into a hydro-gasification reactor under conditions whereby methane rich producer gases are generated and fed into a steam pyrolytic reformer under conditions whereby synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide are generated. A portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is fed through a hydrogen purification filter into the hydro-gasification reactor, the hydrogen there from constituting the hydrogen from an internal source. The remaining synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is either used as fuel for a gaseous fueled engine to produce electricity and/or process heat or is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced. Molten salt loops are used to transfer heat from the hydro-gasification reactor, and Fischer-Tropsch reactor if liquid fuel is produced, to the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.
Claims: A process for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel, the improvement comprising: feeding carbonaceous material, hydrogen from an internal source, and water, into a hydro-gasification reactor under conditions whereby methane rich producer gases are generated; feeding the methane rich producer gases from the hydro-gasification reactor into a steam pyrolytic reformer under conditions whereby synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide are generated; feeding a portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer into the hydro-gasification reactor as said hydrogen from an internal source; and either utilizing said synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer for process heat or as fuel for an engine to produce electricity, or feeding said synthesis gas into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced.
The process ... in which the carbonaceous material is fed into the hydro-gasification reactor as a slurry of carbonaceous particles in water.
(And) in which said slurry is formed by grinding said carbonaceous material in water.
(And) in which said slurry of carbonaceous material is heated with superheated steam from a steam generator prior to being fed into the hydro-gasification reactor.
(And) in which said carbonaceous material comprises biomass (and/or) municipal solid waste.
(And) in which the superheated steam is separated from the slurry, prior to feeding the slurry into the hydro-gasification reactor, and is fed into the steam pyrolytic reformer to react with the methane rich producer gases from the hydro-gasification reactor.
A substantially self-sustaining process for producing a liquid fuel from carbonaceous feed."
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It is the gaseous products of the Steam pyrolysis of the Methane, which is itself synthesized in the initial gasification of the "slurry of carbonaceous particles in water", that is the "synthesis gas" which is fed "into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced".
Note that there are other options.
Instead of being reformed only with Steam, to make a hydrocarbon "liquid fuel" synthesis gas, the Methane synthesized by the initial gasification of "carbonaceous material in water", could, instead, as in the technology reported by: Texas CO2 + Methane = Methanol + Gasoline | Research & Development | News; concerning "USP 5,026,934 - Converting Light Hydrocarbons to ... Gasoline and Methanol; 1991; Lyondell Petrochemical Company, Houston"; be reformed with Carbon Dioxide, reclaimed from whatever source, and made thereby to produce even more synthesis gas suitable for the production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
Thus, if some of the initial "carbonaceous feed" were to include Carbon-recycling materials, such as "municipal solid waste", in addition to Coal; and, some of the Methane were, rather than of being subjected to Steam pyrolysis, instead directed to a process such as disclosed in US Patent 5,026,934, and reacted thereby with Carbon Dioxide, and made to form yet another, somewhat different, hydrocarbon synthesis gas, then two Carbon-recycling avenues, one direct and one indirect, could be incorporated within this overall technical process, with we think important implications for economic and environmental sustainability.