Abstract: A method for gasifying the bottoms fraction from a coal liquefaction process by mixing the bottoms fraction with at least one finely-divided calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide with the calcium compound being of a size consist no larger than about -200 Tyler mesh and present in an amount sufficient to produce agglomerate particles upon mixing with the bottoms fraction and thereafter gasifying the resulting agglomerate particles by reacting the agglomerate particles with steam in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement in the known process of making a coking feedstock from non-caking or weakly caking coals for slot-type coke ovens wherein the coal is subjected to solvent extraction; and at least the non-distillable extract in the effluent slurry product, after removal of part or all of the solvent, is mixed with carbonaceous solids to serve as a binder therefor. The improvement resides in the use of fluidizer char (which is produced by the low temperature carbonization of coal in a fluidized bed) as the carbonaceous solids. The fluidizer char is preferably mixed with the coal extract slurry (after removal of solvent) in a liquid state at elevated temperatures under pelletizing and non-carbonizing conditions. The pelletized product, after cooling and crushing, is suitable as part or all of the coking feedstock for coke ovens.

Abstract: A method for hydrocracking a heavy polynuclear hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lighter hydrocarbon fuels by contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst, the method comprising: mixing the feedstock with a heavy naphtha fraction which has an initial boiling point from about 100.degree. to about 160.degree. C. with a boiling point difference between the initial boiling point and the final boiling point of no more than about 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a coal slurry from a raw coal feedstock which contains coal and gangues. The process optimizes coal recovery, coal quality and the hydraulic characteristics of the pipeline slurry.

Abstract: In a process for agglomerating finely divided carbonaceous solids from an aqueous slurry containing from about 10 to 40 weight percent finely divided solids comprising finely divided carbonaceous solids and finely divided inorganic solids, comprising:(a) mixing the slurry with an amount of oil to produce agglomerates of the carbonaceous solids containing from about 10 to 15 weight percent oil; and,(b) recovering the agglomerates as a product,an improvement comprising:(c) admixing oil in an amount of about 40 to 70 weight percent based on the weight of finely divided solids with the slurry to produce a mixture; and,(d) mixing clean, finely divided carbonaceous solids with the mixture to produce agglomerates containing from about 12 to about 15 weight percent oil,whereby an aqueous slurry containing finely divided carbonaceous solids which do not agglomerate upon the addition of from about 10 to 30 weight percent oil can be agglomerated.

Abstract: In methods for transporting an aqueous slurry of particulate solids in a pipeline wherein the aqueous slurry has an effective viscosity greater than water and is pumped through the pipeline by at least one centrifugal pump wherein a flushing fluid is used to maintain the bearing surfaces in the centrifugal pump free of particulate solids, an improvement comprising; the use of a thickened aqueous flushing fluid having a viscosity equal to at least about 80 percent of the viscosity of the aqueous slurry.

Abstract: A gasification process is disclosed using a synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate supported in a refractory carrier matrix, the carrier having the general formula Ca.sub.5 (SiO.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3. A method for producing the synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in a molar ratio (NH.sub.3 /H.sub.2 S) from about 2.8 to about 3.7 from an aqueous ammonium thiosulfate solution by a method consisting essentially of: (a) contacting the aqueous ammonium thiosulfate solution with hydrogen sulfide at a temperature from about 260.degree. to about 360.degree. F. (125.degree. to 182.degree. C.) at a pressure greater than 100 psig to react at least about 70 percent of the thiosulfate to produce an aqueous solution containing ammonium polysulfide; and (b) heating the resulting aqueous ammonium polysulfide solution to produce ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in a molar ratio (NH.sub.3 /H.sub.2 S) from about 2.8 to about 3.7 and sulfur.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing hardened carbonaceous agglomerates from a feedstock selected from the group consisting of finely divided coal solids, finely divided coal-derived solids and hydrocarbonaceous binders is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved process for making metallurgical coke is provided as follows. An effluent slurry consisting essentially of coal extract, solvent and undissolved coal is obtained from the liquefaction of coal by solvent extraction. Solvent is removed from the slurry by distillation to produce a bottoms product which contains non-distillable extract, undissolved coal and residual solvent. The bottoms product is flowable at elevated temperatures below its carbonizing temperature and solidifiable at lower temperatures. The bottoms product is blended with sufficient finely divided hot coaly solids (unsuitable per se for making metallurgical coke) in a hot blending zone which is maintained at a temperature above the softening point of the non-distillable coal extract and below the coking temperature thereof to produce a solidifiable product which, in particulate solidified state, serves as part or all of the feedstock to a coking zone to produce coke suitable for use in a blast furnace.

Abstract: In methods for combusting carbonaceous sulfur-containing fuels in a fluidized bed wherein the fluidized bed contains at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and calcium bicarbonate to absorb sulfur oxides formed during the combustion of the carbonaceous fuel thereby producing calcium sulfoxy compounds having the formula CaSO.sub.x wherein x is 3 or 4, an improvement comprising (a) withdrawing a stream of fluidized bed solids containing said calcium sulfoxy compounds and mixing the fluidized bed solids and said calcium sulfoxy compounds with water to produce a slurry; (b) reacting the CaSO.sub.x compounds with NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2 to produce water-soluble ammonium sulfoxy compounds such as NH.sub.4 (HSO.sub.x) where x is 3 or 4 and CaCO.sub.3 ; and (c) separating the ammonium sulfoxy compounds from the fluidized bed solids and CaCO.sub.3.

Abstract: A synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate supported in a refractory carrier matrix of the general formula 3CaO(SiO.sub.2).sub.x (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x wherein x is from about 0 to about 1.0.

Abstract: A cylindrical valve spool is slidably positioned in a chamber of a valve housing having a plurality of fluid inlet ports and a plurality of fluid outlet ports. The valve spool is movable to a selected one of a plurality of positions to interconnect a selected inlet port with a selected output port. A detent apparatus is associated with one end of the valve spool and is operable to lock the valve spool in one of three positions in the chamber. A remotely operated first pilot valve is operable to convey pressurized fluid to either end of the valve spool and thereby shift the valve spool to either a first or second end position for interconnecting selected inlet and outlet ports. A centering device is operable to shift the valve spool from either detented end position to a detented center or neutral position by deactivating the pilot valve and simultaneously conveying pressurized fluid from a second pilot valve to the centering apparatus.

Abstract: A method for removing water-soluble inorganic salts and ice from refrigerated heat exchange surfaces by contacting the surfaces with a methanol-water mixture.

Abstract: A method for converting calcium sulfoxy compounds selected from the group consisting of CaSO.sub.x and Ca(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 where x is 3 or 4, into calcium carbonate by a method consisting essentially of: (a) converting the Ca(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 compounds into CaSO.sub.x compounds by reacting the CA(HSO.sub.x).sub.2 compounds with CaCO.sub.3 in the presence of water; (b) reacting the CaSO.sub.x compounds with NH.sub.3 and CO.sub.2 in the presence of water to produce NH.sub.4 HSO.sub.x and CaCO.sub.3 ; (c) separating the NH.sub.4 HSO.sub.x and CaCO.sub.3 ; (d) reacting the NH.sub.4 HSO.sub.x with H.sub.2 S to produce ammonium polysulfide (NH.sub.4).sub.2 S.sub..omega. wherein .omega. is from 1 to about 4; (e) decomposing the ammonium polysulfide to produce NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 S, elemental sulfur and water; and (f) recovering the elemental sulfur from the NH.sub.3, H.sub.2 S and water.

Abstract: A method for desulfurizing a gaseous mixture such as flue gas by sequentially contacting the gaseous mixture with an aqueous solution containing ammonium thiosulfate in a first zone; an aqueous solution containing ammonia and ammonium thiosulfate in a second zone; and an aqueous solution containing ammonium thionate or thionic acid in a third zone. The sulfur is optionally recovered as elemental sulfur.

Abstract: In a process for hydrocracking heavy polynuclear carbonaceous feedstocks to produce lighter hydrocarbon fuels by contacting the heavy feedstocks with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst in a hydrocracking zone, thereafter separating at least a major portion of the lighter hydrocarbon fuels from the spent molten metal halide and thereafter regenerating the spent molten metal halide by incinerating the spent molten metal halide by combustion of carbon and sulfur compounds in the spent molten metal halide in an incineration zone, the improvement comprising: (a) contacting the heavy feedstocks and hydrogen in the presence of the molten metal halide in the hydrocracking zone at reaction conditions effective to convert from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of the feedstock to lighter hydrocarbon fuels; (b) separating at least a major portion of the lighter hydrocarbon fuels from the spent molten metal halide; (c) contacting the spent molten metal halide with oxygen in a liquid phase gasifi

Abstract: A trolley wire for conveying direct current power to an electrically powered vehicle in an underground mine is connected in series with a shunt to a power source. The current drawn by the trolley wire passes through a circuit breaker and the shunt. The shunt generates a voltage input signal proportional to the current drawn by the trolley wire. A solid state comparator device receives the input signal and compares it to a reference signal having a magnitude representing the maximum level of current permitted to flow through the conductor. If the reference signal exceeds the input signal, the comparator device supplies an output signal that oscillates between a positive and a negative voltage to a trip circuit. The output signal actuates the operating coil of the circuit breaker so that the circuit breaker contacts remain closed to permit current to flow through the shunt to the trolley wire.

Abstract: An attachment, such as an operator's compartment or a mine roof drilling and bolting assembly is positioned adjacent the body portion of a self-propelled mine vehicle with the bottom portion of the attachment in slidable contact with the mine floor. In one embodiment a slide assembly for supporting the attachment for upward and downward movement relative to the mine vehicle is pivotally connected by a hinge assembly to the vehicle body. With this arrangement the attachment is operable to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the hinge assembly, which is fixed to the vehicle body. The attachment is operable to pivot about the hinge assembly as the bottom portion of the attachment slides along the undulating surface of the mine floor. In another embodiment the hinge assembly is secured to the attachment and supports guide rails of the slide assembly which are slidably received within a guide member secured to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A solvent extraction coal conversion process is provided wherein the effluent slurry product is subjected to vacuum distillation to yield distillate and extrudable still bottoms. The latter are removed from the vacuum still by means of an extrusion screw which is operatively associated with the still.