Abstract: A method of preparing a water in oil emulsion comprises forming a mixture of oil and emulsifying agent, progressively adding an aqueous salt solution to the mixture and dispersing the aqueous salt solution into the mixture. A concentrated water in oil emulsion is formed with drops of the aqueous salt solution (1) packed inside the oil solution phase (2). The emulsion is added to water and then mixed so that the emulsion absorbs the water. The salt concentration of the emulsion relative to the salt concentration of the water is controlled. Methods of agglomerating fine hydrophobic particles in a slurry using the water in oil emulsion are provided, where the emulsion is added to the slurry and then mixed so that the emulsion absorbs the water in the slurry. The salt concentration of the emulsion relative to the salt concentration of the slurry is controlled.
Abstract: A process is described whereby wet coal may be dehydrated and inhibited against rehydration by immersing in a bath of molten paraffin hydrocarbon for a sufficient period of time to evaporate and expel inherent water from the coal. The hydrocarbon then inhibits any rehydration period. It is also an embodiment of this invention to describe a process whereby the water expelled may be recovered for useful purposes.
Abstract: In a coal liquefaction process an aqueous slurry of coal is prepared containing a dissolved liquefaction catalyst. A small quantity of oil is added to the slurry and then coal-oil agglomerates are prepared by agitation of the slurry at atmospheric pressure. The resulting mixture is drained of excess water and dried at atmospheric pressure leaving catalyst deposited on the agglomerates. The agglomerates then are fed to an extrusion device where they are formed into a continuous ribbon of extrudate and fed into a hydrogenation reactor at elevated pressure and temperature. The catalytic hydrogenation converts the extrudate primarily to liquid hydrocarbons in the reactor. The liquid drained in recovering the agglomerates is recycled.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 1990
Date of Patent:
May 14, 1991
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy