Modeling of coal liquefaction kinetics based on reactions in continuous mixtures. Part II: Comparison with experiments on catalyzed and uncatalyzed liquefaction of coals of different rank

Experimental kinetic data for three Australian coals are compared with predictions from the mathematical model developed in Part I. For these coals, as well as data reported for North American coals, the model is found to show good agreement, using the characteristic molecular weight as the only parameter. The effects of reaction time and temperature are coupled via a severity index that arises in the model as a dimensionless reaction time. The model is also shown to be applicable when catalysts are present. The product distribution for a particular coal seems to be a function only of the conversion even in the presence of catalysts, as long as the chemical reaction controls the rate of liquefaction.