THE ROLE OF HYDROGEN IN COAL PARTICLE DISINTEGRATION AT ELEVATED-TEMPERATURES

Coal particle size is considered to be a variable of secondary importance in coal/oil co‐processing and coal liquefaction. This finding is inconsistent with the proposed mechanism for coal particle disintegration, and product yields realized in previous large scale dissolution experiments. Coal particles are shown to break up as a consequence of hydrogen‐coal interactions occurring during preheating. The proposed mechano‐chemical mechanism for coal particle disintegration was identified through direct observation of disintegrating coal particles at elevated temperatures and pressures. Implications for the design of preheaters for coal/oil co‐processing and coal liquefaction are discussed. Copyright © 1990 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering