Abstract: A process and system for converting petroleum residue ("resid") into a liquid product and a solid product. The resid is first mixed with a solvent having a generally nonpolar molecular character. A strong electric field is then applied to the mixture to agglomerate the asphaltenes and other large molecules in the resid. The agglomerates are then separated from the remaining liquid, thereby producing liquid and solid products. The liquid product is useful as a feedstock for petrochemicals and transportation fuels, and the solid product is suitable for combustion as a coal substitute. A portion of the liquid product may be recycled as the solvent.

Abstract: A continuous process for treating a noncaking coal to form stable char. The process includes the sequential steps of drying the coal to remove moisture therefrom and form a dry coal; pyrolyzing the dry coal by progressively heating substantially all of the coal to a temperature sufficient to vaporize and remove low end volatile materials from the coal to form char and sufficient to mobilize at least a portion of high end volatile materials within the char and at least partially collapse micropores within the char. The char is then cooled to a temperature sufficient to demobilize the volatile materials within the at least partially collapsed micropores of the char to pyrolytically passivate the char. The char is then conveyed to a reaction vessel wherein a process gas having about 3%-21% by volume oxygen flows through the reaction vessel to oxidatively passivate the coal by chemisorption of oxygen.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the properties of materials. This nondestructive, noncontacting instrument detects electromagnetic radiation from the materials across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and combines these diverse data so as to derive the material property values desired. In particular, the properties detectable through particle magnetic resonance, spectroscopy of light in the infrared-visible-ultraviolet range, and detection of x-ray and gamma ray radiation may be included in the instrument. Sensors detect each wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation, and data from all of these sensors is merged in a central data processor to evaluate the material properties of interest.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering volatile distillates from coal, and other solid carbonaceous fuel sources, by heating the top surface of a bilayer of coal formed of an upper layer of recycled coal and a lower layer of green coal, maintaining the lower level of green coal at a temperature cool enough to condense constituents distilled from the upper layer of recycle coal, and recycling the once passed green coal as recycle coal is disclosed.