Integrated process and apparatus for producing coal-based jet fuel, diesel fuel, and distillate fuels

Abstract

Coal-based jet fuel, diesel fuel and/or distillate fuels are produced by selectively introducing a coal-based product directly into the petroleum refinery process flow to thereby create an integrated refinery process for producing the distillate fuels.

1 . In a petroleum refinery flow process comprising at least one fractionation unit and at least one hydrotreating unit, an improvement comprising a selectable process for introducing a coal-based product directly into the petroleum refinery flow process thereby to create an integrated refinery process for producing a coal-based jet fuel and other distillate fuels. 
     
     
         2 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein said process for introducing said coal-based product comprises a selectable coal-tar blending process. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein said process for introducing said coal-based product comprises a selectable co-coking process. 
     
     
         4 . An integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus comprising:
 at least one fractionation unit,   at least one hydrotreating unit, and   apparatus for selectively introducing a coal-based product directly into a petroleum refinery flow process that includes said at least one fractionation unit and at least one hydrotreating unit, to thereby enable the integrated petroleum and coal-based refinery apparatus to produce a coal-based jet fuel and other distillate fuels.   
     
     
         5 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for selectively introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises a coal tar blending apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for selectively introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises a co-coking introducing apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for selectively introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises a solvent extraction apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for selectively introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises a gasification by-product blending apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises at least two selected apparatus from a group comprising a coal-tar blending apparatus, a co-coking apparatus, a solvent extraction apparatus, and a gasification by-product blending apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein refined liquids extracted from said coal-based products are directly introduced into said integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery process. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the extracted liquids are subsequently introduced sequentially into a hydrotreating unit and then into a fractionation unit, thereby generating jet fuel and other distillate fuels. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for selectively introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises a solvent extraction apparatus that is remote from said integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 12 , further including an input for introducing product of the solvent extraction apparatus into said integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus for introducing said coal-based product into said petroleum refinery flow process comprises at least one selected apparatus from a group comprising a coal-tar blending apparatus, a co-coking apparatus, a solvent extraction apparatus, and a gasification by-product blending apparatus, and wherein said at least one selected apparatus is remote from said integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein liquids extracted from coal are introduced into said petroleum refinery flow process as said coal-based product. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said liquids extracted from coal are produced remotely from said integrated petroleum and coal-based product refinery apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein said process for introducing said coal-based product comprises a solvent extraction process. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 17 , wherein said solvent extraction process is carried out remotely from a refinery that provides said petroleum refinery flow process. 
     
     
         19 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein said process for introducing said coal-based product comprises a gasification by-product blending process. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein said process for introducing said coal-based product comprises at least one process selected from a group comprising a coal-tar blending process, a co-coking process, a solvent extraction process, and a gasification by-product blending process, and wherein said at least one process is carried out remotely from a refinery that provides said petroleum refinery flow process. 
     
     
         21 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 1 , wherein liquids extracted from coal are introduced into said petroleum refinery flow process as said coal-based product. 
     
     
         22 . The integrated refinery process of  claim 21 , wherein said liquids extracted from coal are produced remotely from a refinery that provides said petroleum refinery flow process. 
     
     
         23 . A method of producing a coal-based fuel, comprising:
 providing at least one coal-based product; and   introducing the coal-based product into a petroleum refinery flow process to thereby create an integrated refinery process for producing the coal-based fuel.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises providing a coal-derived liquid and mixing the coal-derived liquid with a light cycle oil. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises providing coal and oil, mixing the coal with the oil to create a mixture of coal and oil, and introducing the mixture of coal and oil to a delayed coker. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises providing coal and a solvent and contacting the coal with the solvent to thereby extract the coal-based product from the coal. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises providing coal and a mixture of steam and oxygen and contacting the coal with the mixture of steam and oxygen. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises selectively operating at least one of a plurality of auxiliary coal-based product input processes. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of coal-based product input processes comprises at least two of the group consisting of coal-tar blending, co-coking, solvent extraction, and coal-gasification. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the petroleum refinery flow process comprises at least one fractionator. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the petroleum refinery flow process comprises at least one hydrotreater. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the petroleum refinery flow process comprises a hydrotreater and a fractionator connected in series. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing at least one coal-based product comprises operating at least one auxiliary coal-based product input process at a location remote from the petroleum refinery flow process. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary coal-based product input processes is located remotely from the petroleum refinery flow process.