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WO-2026091482-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPARING NATURAL GAS BY ULTRAHIGH-TEMPERATURE STEAM-ACCELERATED COAL METAMORPHIC EVOLUTION AND HYDROCARBON GENERATION

WO2026091482A1WO 2026091482 A1WO2026091482 A1WO 2026091482A1WO-2026091482-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of natural gas preparation, and in particular to a system and method for preparing natural gas by ultrahigh-temperature steam-accelerated coal metamorphic evolution and hydrocarbon generation. The system comprises: a feeding device used for pneumatically feeding pulverized coal; an accelerated coal metamorphic evolution and hydrocarbon generation reactor provided with a material steam inlet, a pulverized coal inlet, and a product outlet, wherein the material steam inlet is connected to a material steam supply device and used for inputting a material steam, and the pulverized coal inlet is connected to the feeding device; and a heating component used for heating the accelerated coal metamorphic evolution and hydrocarbon generation reactor. The natural gas preparation system and method of the present invention are derivative technologies established on the basis of studies on the formation mechanism of coalbed methane, are characterized by coal gasification without oxygen participation and carbon reactions conducted without hydrogen participation, overturn the traditional technical concept of coal-to-natural gas production, exhibit high energy efficiency, low energy consumption, high methane yield, and significant energy saving effect, and are advanced energy conversion technologies for realizing efficient and clean cascade utilization of coal.

Inventors

  • WANG, ZHONGSHENG

Assignees

  • 华燃气有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250519
Priority Date
20241031

Claims (14)

  1. A system for accelerating coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation to produce natural gas using ultra-high temperature steam, characterized in that the system comprises: Feeding device (1), used for pneumatic feeding of pulverized coal; The accelerated coal metamorphism and evolution hydrocarbon generation reactor (2) is provided with a material steam inlet (2-1), a coal powder inlet (2-2) and a product outlet (2-3). The material steam inlet is connected to a material steam supply device (7) for inputting material steam, and the coal powder inlet is connected to the feeding device. Heating component (8), the heating component being used to heat the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor.
  2. The system according to claim 1 is characterized in that the feeding device comprises a storage tank (1-1), a screw feeder (1-2), a feeding stabilizer (1-3), and a powder gas-solid mixer (1-4) connected in sequence.
  3. The system according to claim 2 is characterized in that the powder gas-solid mixer includes a mixer housing (1-5) and a turbine centrifugal fan blade (1-6) disposed within the mixer housing; The feed stabilizer is connected to the housing of the powder gas-solid mixer via a first feed line (1-7) and a second feed line (1-8). The feed ends of the first and second feed lines are tangent to the turbine centrifugal fan blades. Each of the first and second feed lines is provided with a discharge control valve (1-9). The outlet of the feed stabilizer is provided with a reversing valve (1-11), which is used to control the two discharge control valves to open and close alternately.
  4. According to claim 1, the system is characterized in that the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor (2) includes a steam-powder mixer (2-5) and a serpentine reaction tube (2-4) connected to each other, the material steam inlet and the coal powder inlet are connected to the steam-powder mixer, and the product outlet is located at the end of the reaction tube.
  5. According to claim 4, the system is characterized in that the steam powder mixer includes a steam powder mixer shell (2-51) and a plurality of mixing chambers (2-52, 2-53, 2-54) arranged sequentially from top to bottom and interconnected within the steam powder mixer shell, and an annular gap (2-55) is provided between the steam powder mixer shell and the outer walls of the plurality of mixing chambers, and each mixing chamber is connected to the annular gap; The outer shell of the steam powder mixer has a hemispherical annular steam pipe (2-56) that protrudes outward from the middle. The material steam inlet is located on the annular steam pipe, and the coal powder inlet is connected to the uppermost mixing chamber.
  6. According to the system of claim 5, the outer wall of the mixing chamber is provided with a plurality of steam inlets communicating with the annular gap, and each steam inlet is provided with a steam distribution pipe (2-57) extending into the mixing chamber, the steam distribution pipe being bent; the bending directions of the steam distribution pipes of adjacent mixing chambers are opposite, and the steam distribution pipes of adjacent mixing chambers are offset from each other circumferentially.
  7. The system according to claim 5 is characterized in that the plurality of mixing chambers include a first mixing chamber (2-52), a second mixing chamber (2-53) and a third mixing chamber (2-54) arranged sequentially from top to bottom and interconnected with each other, the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber are interconnected with each other through a central channel (2-58), and the second mixing chamber and the third mixing chamber are interconnected with each other through a peripheral channel (2-59).
  8. The system according to claim 1 is characterized in that it further includes a coal powder preparation device (3), a first temperature-controlled heat exchanger (4), a dust collector (5), a gas-solid-liquid separator (6), a desulfurizer (9), and a second temperature-controlled heat exchanger (10). The coal powder preparation device, feeding device, accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor, first temperature-controlled heat exchanger, dust collector, gas-solid-liquid separator, desulfurizer, and second temperature-controlled heat exchanger are connected in sequence. The outlet pipeline of the second temperature-controlled heat exchanger includes a first outlet pipeline (10-1) and a second outlet pipeline (10-2). The first outlet pipeline is connected to the feeding device, and the second outlet pipeline is used to output the finished natural gas.
  9. A method for producing natural gas by accelerating coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation using ultra-high temperature steam, utilizing the system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the method comprises: Obtain pulverized coal; Obtain material vapor at the first set temperature; The pulverized coal is transported to the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor using natural gas as the transport gas, and the steam of the material is also input into the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor. In the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor, under an oxygen-deficient environment and with the help of high-temperature steam, the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reaction takes place, producing natural gas and high-quality coal.
  10. According to the method of claim 9, the product of the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reaction passes sequentially through a first temperature-controlled heat exchanger, a dust collector, a gas-solid-liquid separator, a desulfurizer, and a second temperature-controlled heat exchanger. Dust is removed in the dust collector, and high-quality coal is output. After separation, desulfurization, and heat exchange in the gas-solid-liquid separator, desulfurizer, and second temperature-controlled heat exchanger, the natural gas is output. A portion of the natural gas is fed into the feeding device as a transport gas. After passing through the second temperature-controlled heat exchanger, the output natural gas is also fed into a methane catalytic converter.
  11. The method according to claim 9 is characterized in that obtaining coal powder includes: obtaining coal powder of a set mesh size; the set mesh size is preferably 50 to 200 mesh.
  12. The method according to claim 9 is characterized in that the first set temperature is 300℃～1200℃.
  13. According to the method of claim 9, the oxygen content of the oxygen-deficient environment is no more than 1% by volume. The pressure for accelerating the hydrocarbon generation reaction of coal metamorphism is 0.1–2 MPa, the temperature is 500℃–1500℃, and the time is 5s–100s.
  14. According to the method of claim 9, the material steam is water vapor, and the mass ratio of the coal powder to the material steam is 1:0.5 to 1:10.

Description

A system and method for accelerating coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation to produce natural gas using ultra-high temperature steam. Technical Field This invention belongs to the field of natural gas production technology, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for producing natural gas by accelerating the metamorphic evolution of coal with ultra-high temperature steam. Background Technology Coal is one of the most important fossil fuels on Earth. It evolved from ancient plant remains through complex geological processes spanning tens to hundreds of millions of years, undergoing different stages of physicochemical changes, ultimately forming coal and minerals of varying grades. Figure 1 shows the natural metamorphic evolution of coal and the names and annotations of different coal types. Peat is the initial stage of coal formation, formed from the partial decomposition and accumulation of plant remains in swampy wetlands under anaerobic conditions. At this stage, the organic matter has not yet been fully converted into coal, and it remains a low-calorific-value fuel. As the peat layer is covered by sediments and subjected to crustal subsidence, the temperature and pressure gradually increase, and the peat enters the lignite stage. Lignite still has a low calorific value and produces a lot of smoke and dust when burned, primarily used for power generation or as a chemical feedstock. Under even higher temperatures and pressures, lignite undergoes further dehydration and volatile matter removal, forming dense bituminous coal. The calorific value of bituminous coal significantly increases, making it one of the most important energy sources since the Industrial Revolution, widely used in power generation, coking, and steel smelting. When bituminous coal undergoes more intense metamorphic evolution, its volatile matter content decreases further, transforming it into anthracite. Anthracite is the highest grade of coal, but its reserves are scarce. Under extreme conditions, anthracite may completely lose its volatile matter, and its crystal structure may recombine into graphite. Graphite is a mineral resource used in industries such as batteries and lubricants. During the long process of coal formation, plant remains are gradually transformed into solid fuels of different coal ranks through compaction, dehydration, and carbonization. Each metamorphic evolution also generates another important resource—coalbed methane (CBM). CBM, primarily composed of methane, is long-term stored in the micropores or fractures of the coal seam due to adsorption. As the degree of coalification deepens (especially in the transition from bituminous to anthracite), the increase in formation temperature and pressure promotes the generation of more methane from organic matter. Its methane content is usually closely related to coal rank, burial depth, and geological structure. As a clean energy source, the development and utilization of CBM can reduce the risk of underground gas explosions in coal mines, mitigate the ecological hazards of direct methane (a strong greenhouse gas) emissions, and supplement natural gas supply. While CBM possesses clean properties, the coal from which it is generated remains the primary target for pollution control. If CBM production can be increased while simultaneously making coal cleaner and more efficiently utilized, it will have a profound impact on the entire energy industry. Summary of the Invention The purpose of this invention is to provide a system and method for accelerating the metamorphic evolution of coal to produce natural gas. This system and method revolutionize traditional coal-to-natural-gas technologies. The natural gas production process is environmentally friendly, simple, easy to operate, and has high efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, it improves the maturity of coal while producing natural gas, resulting in higher quality coal. To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a system for accelerating coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation to produce natural gas using ultra-high temperature steam, the system comprising: Feeding device for pneumatic feeding of pulverized coal; An accelerated coal metamorphism and evolution hydrocarbon generation reactor is provided with a material steam inlet, a pulverized coal inlet, and a product outlet. The material steam inlet is connected to a material steam supply device for inputting material steam, and the pulverized coal inlet is connected to the feeding device. A heating element for heating the accelerated coal metamorphism and hydrocarbon generation reactor. Optionally, the feeding device includes a storage tank, a screw conveyor, a feeding stabilizer, and a powder gas-solid mixer connected in sequence. Optionally, the powder gas-solid mixer includes a mixer housing and a turbine centrifugal fan blade disposed within the mixer housing; the discharge stabilizer is connected