Abstract: A method of recovering coal liquids and producing metallurgical coke utilizes low ash, low sulfur coal as a parent for a coal char formed by pyrolysis with a volatile content of less than 8%. The char is briquetted and heated in an inert gas over a prescribed heat history to yield a high strength briquette with less than 2% volatile content.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for converting coal into useful motor fuels and metallurgical coke using a self-cleaning coal pyrolyzer wherein coal is heated in the absence of air at temperatures greater than 800.degree. F. to remove volatile hydrocarbon gases therefrom. Char remaining after such pyrolyzation is cooled and pulverized and mixed with selected binders at temperatures ranging from 125.degree. to 200.degree. F. to form briquettes. The briquettes are calcined at temperatures ranging from 1800.degree. to 2000.degree. F. to form metallurgical coke. The gaseous hydrocarbons are separated into liquid coal fuels, non-condensable gases and water vapor. The liquid coal fuels are further separated into various motor fuels while the non-condensable gases are used to fuel the coal pyrolyzer.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating lightweight particles from heavyweight and middling particles of the slurry generally consisting of means defining an upper cylindrical chamber, means defining a frusto-conical chamber communicating an upper end thereof with a lower end of the upper cylindrical chamber, means for tangentially injecting the slurry into the upper end of the upper cylindrical chamber to create a swirling vortex of the slurry, descending through the upper cylindrical chamber and the frusto-conical chamber, providing an axially disposed, low pressure zone, means for discharging an overflow of the slurry containing lightweight particles, the overflow discharging means including an intake orifice disposed in communication with the low pressure zone in the frusto-conical chamber and means for discharging an underflow of the slurry containing heavyweight and middling particles, the underflow discharging means having an intake orifice communicating with the frusto-conical chamber.