Study on coal liquefaction characteristics of Chinese coals

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has implemented the collaborative research work with China Coal Research Institute (CCRI) on the liquefaction of Chinese coals for about 20 years. A total of 53 runs in a 0.1 t/d bench scale coal liquefaction plant installed at the CCRI were made on 27 kinds of coal selected among coals existing throughout China. The bench plant was operated in a direct hydrogenation (DH) mode and NEDOL mode. In the DH mode, 25 MPa of reaction pressure was employed with decrystallized anthracene oil used as the solvent, while 17 MPa of reaction pressure was employed and hydrogenated solvent was used in the NEDOL mode. This study confirmed that the NEDOL mode, which uses comparatively mild in liquefaction conditions, can liquefy each coal with the high oil yield more efficiently, and is capable of liquefying about 60% of inertinite in high inertinite coals.