Abstract: A method of preconditioning agglomerating coal particles to substantially prevent agglomeration of a fluid-bed reaction zone in a reactor comprising preheating thd coal particles in dense phase flow, rapidly oxidizing the particles in a vertical standpipe having a regulated thermal environment, pressurizing the particles to a pressure above reactor pressure and introducing the preconditioned coal particles into the fluid-bed reactor zone at substantially reaction pressure for reaction at an elevated temperature and at reaction pressure in the presence of a reagent.

Abstract: An integrated continuous process for the production of liquid and gaseous fuels wherein coal particles are hydrocarbonized with a hydrogen-rich gas supplied by a gasification process employing two separate and interconnected zones for combustion and gasification and wherein char produced by the hydrocarbonization of the coal particles provides the feed for the gasification zone.

Abstract: A continuous, hydrocarbonization process wherein a dense-phase flow of coal particles is indirectly preheated in the absence of oxygen to a temperature below the temperature at which the coal particles undergo plastic transformation, introduced into the bottom of a vertical fluid-bed reaction zone at a high velocity in a vertically upwards direction and reacted with hydrogen to yield char, liquid and gaseous products. The hydrocarbonization reaction is conducted at a temperature of 480.degree. C-600.degree. C, a hydrogen partial pressure of from about 100 p.s.i. to about 1200 p.s.i. and an average solids residence time of 1 to about 30 minutes, preferably about 5 to about 60 minutes. A high velocity enables the coal particles entering the reaction zone to rapidly and uniformly distribute themselves at their preheated temperature within a matrix of nonagglomerating particles within the reaction zone, thus preventing agglomeration of the coal particles in the fluid-bed reaction zone.

Abstract: An improvement in a method and apparatus for conveying and/or heating coal particles in a dense phase flow through transfer lines wherein the velocity of the flow through the lines is controlled by a progressive enlargement of line size during indirect heating and/or transfer in the lines thereby minimizing erosion of the transfer lines by the coal particles.