Abstract: The present invention is an integrated process and apparatus for supplying at least a portion of the reducing gas feedstock to a reduction reactor, such as a reactor for the direct reduction of iron, wherein the reducing gas contacts a feed material at a mean operating gas pressure and effects reduction of the feed material to provide a reduced product. The integrated process includes gasifying a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a partial oxidation reaction to produce a synthesis gas which comprises hydrogen, and carbon monoxide at a pressure substantially greater than the mean operating gas pressure in the reduction reactor. The synthesis gas is expanded to lower its pressure to substantially the mean operating gas pressure in the DRI reduction reactor to thereby form the reducing gas feedstock at the pressure conditions used for the DRI reaction.

Abstract: A method of operating a diesel or spark ignition engine which includes enriching the combustion air supply with oxygen while simultaneously adjusting the fuel injection or ignition timing of the engine to compensate for advanced combustion caused by an increased oxygen content in the conbustion air. Oxygen producing means such as an oxygen generating membrane can eliminate the requirement for, or significantly reduce the size of, an intercooler which is normally installed between a turbocharger and the air/fuel inlet of an engine. Oxygen enrichment of the combustion air permits combustion of otherwise unsuitable or difficult to combust fuels such as residual or heavy fuel oils, alcohol and alcohol blends, seed oil and blends of light gas oils and residual or heavy fuel oils.

Abstract: A system for the production of hardened coal agglomerates comprising a first pump (P1) for pumping a coal-water slurry and a predetermined quantity of oil or other suitable hydrophobic liquid into an agitated mixing tank (1), a second pump (P2) for pumping the coal-water slurry and partially formed agglomerates from the first mixing tank (1) into a pipeline loop (L1) which returns the slurry/agglomerates to the tank (1), a third pump (P3) for removing slurry/agglomerates from the first mixing tank (1) and transporting it to a second mixing tank (2), means for introducing further fresh coal-water slurry into the inlet of the third pump (P3) and/or into the second mixing tank (2), a fourth pump (P4) for withdrawing the slurry/agglomerates from the second mixing tank (2) and transporting the mixture through a second pipeline loop (L2) which discharges back into the second mixing tank (2), and a fifth pump (P5) for withdrawing the slurry/agglomerates from the second mixing tank (2) for a recovery of the agglomera

Abstract: This specification discloses a greatly simplified method and system for recovering coal from a particulate coal bearing slurry (1) in which an appropriate hydrophobic liquid or emulsion of hydrophobic liquid in water (2) is introduced into the inlet of a centrifugal turbulent flow slurry pump (3) simultaneously with the introduction of said coal bearing slurry to said pump inlet, said hydrophobic liquid being introduced in a quantity sufficient to achieve substantially intimate contact between said hydrophobic liquid and coal particles in said slurry whereby the coal may be separated from the slurry by discharging the slurry from the pump directly over a simple static screen or other suitable separating device (4) whereupon the separated coal matter (5) may be collected for subsequent use.