Abstract: A process for continuously and automatically producing a high concentration coal-water slurry having a uniform quality is provided, which process comprises always monitoring the viscosity, concentration, pH, particle diameter distribution and the like of the slurry, detecting the variations of the foregoing and adjusting the quantity of coal fed, the quantity of water fed and the quantities of a surfactant and a pH adjustor added to thereby control the specifications of the coal-water slurry to definite ones.

Abstract: A coal-water slurry producing system comprises: a continuous wet-type ball mill for grinding the coal with the addition of water and additives thereto to obtain coal-water slurry, supplying device for supplying the coal-water slurry discharged from the ball mill to a filtering apparatus, for filtering the supplied coal-water slurry to remove coal particles of a predetermined particle size or above, delivery device for delivering the filtered coal-water slurry containing coal particles of the predetermined particle size or below to a slurry storage tank, and a combustion apparatus. The coal-water slurry producing system further comprises a screen apparatus disposed at an exit of the ball mill to remove coarse coal particles contained in the coal-water slurry, and recovery device for recovering the removed coarse coal particles at an entrance of the ball mill.

Abstract: A process for producing a coal-water slurry having a high coal concentration (generally 60 to 80% by weight or more) and a lower viscosity, at a lower cost and with a smaller amount of dispersing agent added is provided, which process is directed to a process for producing a high concentration coal-water slurry by feeding coal, water and a dispersing agent into a wet, continuous ball mill and wet-milling them, characterized by feeding the dispersing agent in a multi-stage manner along the milling direction of coal within the ball mill.

Abstract: A process for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy oils and production of hydrogen is described, comprising contacting steam and heavy oils with fluidized catalyst particles containing reduced iron at high temperatures, wherein a fluidized bed is formed such that the catalyst particles are fed from the bottom and withdrawn from the top of the fluidized bed and the fluidized bed is provided with a means for retarding the mixing rate of the catalyst particles in the vertical direction, to thereby generate a temperature difference between zones of the fluidized bed above and below said means, and use the upper zone for cracking of heavy oils and the lower zone for production of hydrogen. Catalyst particles withdrawn from the fluidized bed may be regenerated and recycled. Thus, light oils and hydrogen can be produced in high yields.