METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING THE DRIVE-SIDE PORTION OF A PREPARATION AND HYDROGENATION CHAMBER FOR HYDROGENATING COAL WITH HYDROGEN TO FORM HYDROCARBONS

摘要

A method and apparatus for sealing the drive end of a chamber for the preparation and hydrogenation of coal with hydrogen to form hydrocarbons in which the chamber comprises a hollow cylinder with a rotatable element therein having a conveying web thereon and in a sealing region a pressurised sealing substance such as coal particles mixed with oil is fed from a storage container through a feed passage into an annular recess at a pressure higher than that in the chamber so that the sealing substance passes through a conical annular gap which tapers towards the chamber. A further narrower gap on the drive side of the recess leads to a further annular recess from which the sealing substance can be extracted through a return pipe. Pressure comparison means control the feed pressure in the feed passage. The recesses and the annular gap can be provided by machining the rotatable element rather than the hollow cylinder and forward feed screw forms may be provided on the rotatable element in the sealing region.