Kinetics of coal liquefaction: effect of catalyst,H2 concentration and coal type

A process for dry coal hydrogenation—liquefaction has been developed that permits short residence times (seconds) and achieves notably high space rate utilization factors. The purpose of the work reported here is to identify more precisely the process variables that determine space rate utilization factors, and to express them in a kinetic scheme, in the hope of establishing more effective control of these variables in the process. A kinetic analysis of work done in a 3 mm i.d. × 1 m long reactor is presented. Some data from a 4.5 mm i.d. × 34 m long reactor is also included. A correlation of hydroaromatic, catalyst and hydrogen concentration is considered. Parameters considered important for an optimum space rate utilization factor are both chemical and physical in nature. Of special importance are heat transfer, catalyst concentration and hydrogen concentration. A large space rate utilization factor is important from the standpoint of reduced reactor volume.