Abstract: Coal particles are agglomerated in pulp water of coal particles by agitating the pulp water in the presence of a binder, which comprises conducting agglomeration in a plurality of zones, the zones being communicated one after another, and transferring the pulp water from one zone to another while agitating the pulp water in each zone and increasing a pulp concentration of the pulp water from one zone to another. Agitating power for the agglomeration is reduced with the successively increasing pulp concentration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for dehydrating organic porous material such as brown coal. The process comprises steps of charging the material to a plurality of pressure vessels and filling at least one of the pressure vessels with water, carrying out a dehydration step by supplying steam to the vessel which is filled with water to heat the material therein while exhausting water from that vessel to thereby lower the water surface in the vessel so that the material therein is gradually exposed to the steam and water in the material is removed and mixed with condensed steam to form hot water, transferring the hot water from said first vessel to a substantially top portion of a second vessel while continuously supplying the steam to the first vessel until the second vessel is substantially filled with the hot water, and then expelling the hot water from a substantially bottom portion of the second vessel by the hot water which is transferred from the first vessel to the second vessel.

Abstract: Process for dehydrating water-containing organic solid material which comprises steps of introducing the material into a pressure vessel, applying saturated steam to said vessel to heat the material so that water in the material is removed and mixed with condensate of the steam to be exhausted from the vessel as a waste water. The waste water is transferred to another pressure vessel in which the material is not charged yet, the material being then charged into the vessel to carry out the same dehydrating steps. According to the process, a sufficient amount of heat exchange is performed between the material and the waste water so as to recover the heat in the waste water. Further, the waste water functions as a cushion for the material which is being thrown into the vessel so that the material can be protected from being pulverized.

Abstract: A process for dehydrating water-containing organic solid material which comprises steps of introducing the material into a pressure vessel, applying saturated steam to said vessel to heat the material so that water in the material be removed and mixed with condensate of the steam to be exhausted from the vessel as a waste water. The process is characterized by a step of charging material of relatively large particle size at a bottom portion of the vessel and of relatively small particle size on the material of large particle size. The process makes it possible to dehydrate relatively fine particles of material by utilizing liquid form dehydration phenomemon.

Abstract: An economical method for liquefying low rank coal is proposed.

Abstract: Method of processing low rank coals which comprises steps of classifying crushed low rank coals into middle sized lumps and minute particles, subjecting the middle sized lumps to a non-evaporating dehydration treatment to produce low moisture content coals, separating ash content from the minute particles and then at least partly liquefying the minute particles to produce liquefied oil, and mixing the liquefied oil with the low moisture content coals to thereby produce low moisture coal-oil slurry. The method makes it possible to utilize even small sized particles of coal in a practical manner.

Abstract: In a non-evaporating dehydration of brown coal, the coal is crushed and classified into lumps and fine particles. The lumps of coal are subjected to a non-evaporating dehydration in which waste water is produced. The waste water is contacted with the fine particles of coal so that components which affect the COD value of the water are absorbed by the coal particles. The coal particles are then burnt to produce saturated steam which is used in the non-evaporating dehydration.

Abstract: A constant current circuit is provided which is capable of feeding a constant current to a load connected in series with the source-drain path of a load drive MOSFET. The circuit employs a current mirror comprising first and second P channel MOSFETs, and first and second N channel MOSFETs connected in series with the first and second P channel MOSFETs, respectively. To avoid dependence on variations in power source voltage and/or threshold voltage characteristics of the MOSFETs, a resistor is inserted between the first P and N channel MOSFET's and the gate of the load drive MOSFET is coupled to both the junction of the resistor and first N channel MOSFET and to the gate of the second N channel MOSFET. Variations of this basic arrangement are also disclosed.