Process for producing coal liquids and use of coal liquids in liquid fuels

Abstract

The present invention provides for the use of coal liquid fuels blended with alcohols such as ethanol, as an alternative to gasoline and other fuels. The coal liquids are obtained by distilling coal tar, or by solvent extraction of coal. A further aspect is a solvent extraction process to create coal liquids to be used as a petroleum substitute. In addition the steps of delayed coking, hydrothermal cracking, hydrodelalkylation, and catalytic cracking and other refining techniques can be used to modify the aromatic coal liquids, making them more aliphatic and hence more similar to petroleum. A preferred embodiment of the coal liquid gasoline substitute is comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% coal-derived counterparts. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of solvent extraction for coal liquids to be processed for use as a petroleum replacement

1 . A coal derived fuel comprising about 10-95% alcohol and about 5-90% coal derived counterparts.  
     
     
         2 . The coal derived fuel of  claim 1  wherein said coal derived counterparts are coal tar distillates.  
     
     
         3 . The coal derived fuel of  claim 2  wherein said coal tar distillates are upgraded said upgrading chosen from one or more of delayed coking, hydrothermal cracking, hydrodelalkylation, hydrodesulphurization, steam cracking, catalytic cracking and distillation.  
     
     
         4 . The coal derived fuel of  claim 1  wherein said alcohol is ethanol.  
     
     
         5 . A method of direct liquification of coal tar comprising combining an effective amount of coal, an effective amount of a carrier solvent, and an effective amount of hydrogen to dissolve said effective amount of coal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of direct liquification of coal tar of  claim 5  wherein said carrier solvent is one or more chosen from the group of an aromatic heavy oil, decant oil from petroleum refining, or other oil that contains compounds such as naphthalene or three-ringed aromatic molecules such as acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluorene, or anthracene.  
     
     
         7 . The method of direct liquification of coal tar of  claim 5  further comprising a separation process.  
     
     
         8 . A method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived comprising combining an effective amount of coal with an effective amount of a solvent wherein said solvent is hydrogenated wherein said hydrogenation further comprising the addition of an effective amount of a catalyst to said solvent, heating between about 350° C. and about 550° C. at a pressure of at least about 700 psig and digesing said coal, said digestion further comprising heating said combination to at least 350° C. at an effective pressure for at least a period of five minutes.  
     
     
         9 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 8  further comprising a separation of said solids from said liquids.  
     
     
         10 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 10  further comprising thermal processing said solids after separation.  
     
     
         11 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 9  further comprising distillation of said liquids after separation.  
     
     
         12 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 9  further comprising upgrading said liquids after distillation.  
     
     
         13 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 8  further comprising adding an effective amount of non-hydrogenated solvent and blending with said hydrogenated solvent before said digestion.  
     
     
         14 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 13  further comprising a separation of said solids from said liquids.  
     
     
         15 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 14  further comprising thermal processing said solids after separation.  
     
     
         16 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 14  further comprising distillation of said liquids after separation.  
     
     
         17 . The method to produce a hydrocarbon liquid from which fuel pitches and cokes can be derived of  claim 14  further comprising upgrading said liquids after distillation.  
     
     
         18 . A coal derived fuel comprising about 10-95% Fischer-Tropsch liquids and about 5-90% coal derived counterparts.  
     
     
         19 . The coal derived fuel of  claim 18  wherein said coal derived counterparts are coal tar distillates.  
     
     
         20 . The coal derived fuel of  claim 18  wherein said coal tar distillates are upgraded said upgrading chosen from one or more of delayed coking, hydrothermal cracking, hydrodelalkylation, hydrodesulphurization, steam cracking, catalytic cracking and distillation.