Simulator for coal liquefaction based on the NEDOL process

Direct coal liquefaction test plants have been constructed and successfully operated under subsidies from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. To analyze the data, which had been collected on these plants, a simulator was constructed for the material and enthalpy balances in the preheaters and reactors. This simulator was evaluated in a process supporting unit (PSU) with a capacity of 1 ton of dry coal/day and a pilot plant (PP) with a capacity of 150 tons of dry coal/day, from the standpoint of vapor-liquid equilibria, reaction rate constants, and hydrodynamics in the reactors. Reaction rate coefficients were determined in the PSU by iteration until the calculated yields at the outlet of the third reactor coincided with the observed data. The kinetic data were then applied to the PP, which was operated under conditions similar to those of the PSU, and the liquefaction product yields at the outlet of the third reactor were calculated. The calculated values were in general agreement with the observed data.