Abstract: The production of hydrogenated tar and distillates from coal which is passed through successive condensing, hydrogenation, desulfurization and cooling zones of a dense bed while a flue gas is discharged into the lower portion of the desulfurization zone in admixture with steam and hydrogen for countercurrent flow contact with the coal and coke solids. The gases evolved from the desulfurization zone are passed into countercurrent contact with the coal in the preceding hydrogenation zone where the high boiling coal tar fractions evolved from the coal are hydrogenated and pyrolyzed. The total effluent from the hydrogenation zone is then passed into countercurrent contact with the coal in the condensing zone, preheating the coal by direct contact and initiating the pyrolysis of the coal. The preferred method is practiced in a vertical kiln through which the coal is passed as a dense, compact gravitating bed of solids.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recovering energy from subterranean geothermal brines and increasing geothermal well production. The method comprises establishing a column of brine in a well casing having a tubing therein, open at its lower end to the column of brine and injecting a high pressure vapor such as nitrogen or steam into the bottom of the tubing in sufficient quantities to form a mixture of brine and vapor having a substantially lesser density than the surrounding column of brine whereby the hydrostatic head of the column of brine lifts the mixture to the surface. The mixture is withdrawn from the well and passed to a vapor-liquid separator where the vapor portion is separated without effecting any significant reduction in pressure of the produced mixture, whereby the pressure is maintained on the brine in the well at a sufficient value to prevent carbonate and scale formation.