Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heating a solid material in a process vessel are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) supplying a charge of the solid material to the vessel to form a packed bed; (b) supplying a fluid to the packed bed to pressurise the contents of the vessel; (c) supplying steam to the vessel to heat the solid material in the packed bed by indirect heat exchange while maintaining the contents of the vessel under pressure; and (d) controlling the operating conditions in step (c). The operating conditions in step (c) are controlled to transfer heat to the solid material and allow water in the solid material to be removed as a liquid phase in a first “wet” stage of the method and to transfer heat to the solid material to boil at least a part of the remaining water from the solid material as a vapor phase in a second “dry” stage of the method.

Abstract: Solid material, e.g., coal, is upgraded, e.g., the water content reduced and the BTU value increased, by a method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying the solid material to a reactor; (b) heating the solid material in the reactor under water saturation pressure conditions and removing water from the solid material; and (c) cooling the solid material by depressurising the solid material under water saturation conditions.

Abstract: Solid material, e.g., coal, is upgraded, e.g.