DIRECT LIQUEFACTION OF COAL

PURPOSE:To liquefy coal efficiently and economically in a consistent manner without necessitating any special heat source, by supplying a coal slurry obtd. from a first-stage reaction to a second-stage reactor in which it is reacted after the coal slurry has been heated with a part of the coal liquid from the second-stage reactor. CONSTITUTION:After coal slurry is introduced via a conduit 5 into a first-stage reactor 1 and reacted at about 380 deg.C for a short time, it is introduced via a conduit 6 into a heat exchanger 4, in which it is heated with a part of a high- temp. coal liquid flowing from a second-stage reactor 2' via a conduit 8 at a flow rate controlled by a control valve 11 according to a temp. within a second-stage reactor 2, and sent via the conduit 6 to the second-stage reactors 2 and 2', where it is reacted at about 450 deg.C for 0.5-2hr to prepare a coal liquid. The coal liquid is withdrawn via a discharge conduit 7. It is partially introduced via a conduit 8 into said heat exchanger, where it is subjected to heat exchange and combined with the residual coal liquid via a conduit 9 and then withdrawn out of the system.