Operation of an 11 Ton/Day Fluid Bed Coal Gasification Unit Using the Synthane Process

摘要

The objective of this contract with the Bureau of Mines was to rehabilitate the existing coal gasifier at the Trenton, New Jersey facility of Hydrocarbon Research, Inc. (HRI), and to use this unit to demonstrate the scale-up to 11 tons per day of certain features of the Bureau's Synthane process for producing SNG from coal. Specifically it was required to demonstrate: That the coal could be pretreated continuously under pressure to render it non-agglomerating; that the pretreated coal could be gasified at 1800 exp 0 F and psig without clinker formation; and that char could be withdrawn smoothly and continuously. The unit was operated between September and December 1972, and a total of 98 tons of coal was fed to the unit in 462 hours. The majority of this operation took place in the final six weeks of the program, including a continuous run at varying conditions over a period of seven days. Feed rates up to 80% of design were achieved, and pressures and temperatures approached the design figures in the later stages of operation. Data from a number of periods of steady state operation are summarized. Analysis of the operating data shows that the pretreatment and gasification steps of the Synthane process are basically sound, but the problems of fines elutriation and tar deposition are such that they require further study before commercialization of the process. With some minor modifications, the Trenton gasifier would be capable of producing extensive operating data in these areas. Several recommendations are aimed at improving the operability of the 75 ton per day pilot plant currently under construction.