Abstract: With the system of the present invention, high sulfur content coal—a mixture of coal, sulfur compounds and ash (e.g., stone and slate)—is crushed, and a proportion of the higher density sulfur compounds and ash are separated from the lower density coal. The result of the separation process, the continuous supply of the separated coal mixture, is then continuously monitored for sulfur content. The system uses electronic controls to vary the proportion of sulfur compounds and ash which are separated out and removed from the coal mixture so as to maximize the economics of reducing the sulfur content, and of generating power. A centrifugal separator is used for continuously separating the relatively dense high sulfur content coal and ash from the coal mixture. This separator preferably has a substantially rotationally symmetric drum element which rotates about a horizontal central axis.

Abstract: The present invention makes possible the economic and environmental use of high sulfur coal by removing the sulfur at the power generating plant. This process reduces the risk of fire, explosion, and freezing in storing and transporting reclaimed, ground coal, and moves the reclamation process to the site of the power plant, while providing electronic controls to monitor and adjust the reclamation process to produce controlled feedstock for the power plant.