Abstract: The invention provides methods to efficiently reduce the water concentration of raw solid fuels, including low rank coals such as brown coal, lignite, subbituminous coal, and other carbonaceous solids. Efficiently drying these materials at low temperatures significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and allows the production of low-rank coals for gasification and liquifaction.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to efficiently reduce the water concentration of raw solid fuels, including low rank coals such as brown coal, lignite, subbituminous coal, and other carbonaceous solids. Efficiently drying these materials at low temperatures significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and allows the production of low-rank coals for gasification and liquifaction.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to efficiently reduce the water concentration of raw solid fuels, including low rank coals such as brown coal, lignite, subbituminous coal, and other carbonaceous solids. Efficiently drying these materials at low temperatures significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and allows the production of low-rank coals for gasification and liquifaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method by which high moisture low rank coal or other carbonaceous material may be transformed into a high-energy, water resistant product. The raw feed is comminuted then mechanically compacted by a roller press with rolls of a specified profile to mobilize the inherent moisture and collapse most of the interstitial pore space. The mobilized moisture is then removed by low-temperature drying and the material is sized and shaped to form a product that is resistant to re-absorption of water or other liquids. The present invention will promote the use of low rank coal for liquefaction and gasification.

Abstract: A system is provided for temporarily converting a conventional hand truck to provide an adjustable platform. The system may comprise a shelving unit and a control unit, where the control unit is configured to raise and lower the shelving unit on the frame of the transporting device. The shelving unit may comprise a platform for supporting removable items thereon, and a back plate configured to engage a portion of the transporting device frame, where the back plate comprises a plurality of rollers that minimize lateral movement of the shelving unit when it is being raised or lowered during operation. The control unit may comprise a drive unit and a cable system configured to permit the drive unit to direct movement of the shelving unit, the cable system comprising at least one cable, at least one pulley, and a winch upon which a portion of the cable may be radially wound.

Abstract: The molding method of the invention is a low-temperature, liquid-phase, injection molding process using an externally heated mold. This molding process is ideally suited for production of limited quantities of molded parts, as comparatively low cost molds can be used. The molding composition used in the invention is a mixture of a carrier and binder component and a powdered polyethylene component. The carrier and binder component can be a very low density polyethylene, petroleum jelly, hydrocarbon waxes, liquid hydrocarbon oils, or mixtures thereof. The powdered polyethylene component is finely subdivided polyethylene, preferably ultra high molecular weight, having a low melt index, at least no greater than 30. The carrier and binder component is used in sufficient quantity to provide a thixotropic mixture with a consistency of toothpaste, typically having a stirred viscosity up to 30,000 centipoise at the injection temperature of the molding process.

Abstract: The transfer of the invention is prepared by printing a layer onto a carrier substrate with an ink that comprises a mixture of finely subdivided polyethylene powder, an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, a dispersing agent, and an additive material such as a dye or pigment indicia material and/or a physical property enhancing material such as alumina, glass beads, silica, metal flakes, etc. Preferably high and very high molecular weight polyethylene is used, alone or in mixture with lower density polyethylene in amounts from 25 to 45 weight percent in the ink. The printed layer is thermally treated to remove the hydrocarbon solvent resulting in a transfer having a carrier substrate coated with a printed layer consisting essentially of polyethylene and the additive material.

Abstract: A system is provided for temporarily converting a conventional hand truck to provide an adjustable platform. The system may comprise a shelving unit and a control unit, where the control unit is configured to raise and lower the shelving unit on the frame of the transporting device. The shelving unit may comprise a platform for supporting removable items thereon, and a back plate configured to engage a portion of the transporting device frame, where the back plate comprises a plurality of rollers that minimize lateral movement of the shelving unit when it is being raised or lowered during operation. The control unit may comprise a drive unit and a cable system configured to permit the drive unit to direct movement of the shelving unit, the cable system comprising at least one cable, at least one pulley, and a winch upon which a portion of the cable may be radially wound.

Abstract: The invention provides a method by which high moisture low rank coal or other carbonaceous material may be transformed into a high-energy, water resistant product. The raw feed is comminuted then mechanically compacted by a roller press with rolls of a specified profile to mobilize the inherent moisture and collapse most of the interstitial pore space. The mobilized moisture is then removed by low-temperature drying and the material is sized and shaped to form a product that is resistant to re-absorption of water or other liquids. The present invention will promote the use of low rank coal for liquefaction and gasification.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of transforming low rank coals into high quality metallurgical coke, and the coke products produced by such methods.

Abstract: The invention provides low-cost, non-thermal methods to transform and beneficiate bulk materials, including low rank coals such as peat, lignite, brown coal, subbituminous coal, other carbonaceous solids or derived feedstock. High pressure compaction and comminution processes are linked to transform the solid materials by eliminating interstitial, capillary, pores, or other voids that are present in the materials and that may contain liquid, air or gases that are detrimental to the quality and performance of the bulk materials, thereby beneficiating the bulk products to provide premium feedstock for industrial or commercial uses, such as electric power generation, gasification, liquefaction, and carbon activation. The handling characteristics, dust mitigation aspects and combustion emissions of the products may also be improved.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of reducing the energy required to remove moisture from biomass, carbonaceous materials and mixtures of the same. The method significantly reduces the energy requirements by removing moisture as a liquid and by transferring the moisture to the surface of the material where it is more easily and efficiently evaporated.

Abstract: The invention provides low-cost, non-thermal methods to transform and beneficiate bulk materials, including low rank coals such as peat, lignite, brown coal, subbituminous coal, other carbonaceous solids or derived feedstock. High pressure compaction and comminution processes are linked to transform the solid materials by eliminating interstitial, capillary, pores, or other voids that are present in the materials and that may contain liquid, air or gases that are detrimental to the quality and performance of the bulk materials, thereby beneficiating the bulk products to provide premium feedstock for industrial or commercial uses, such as electric power generation, gasification, liquefaction, and carbon activation. The handling characteristics, dust mitigation aspects and combustion emissions of the products may also be improved.

Abstract: The ink of the invention comprises a mixture of finely subdivided polyethylene powder, an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, a dispersing agent, an indicia material additive such as a dye or pigment and/or a physical property enhancing additive such as alumina, glass beads, silica, metal flakes, etc. Preferably high and very high molecular weight polyethylene is used, alone or in mixture with lower density polyethylene in amounts from 25 to 45 weight percent in the ink. The polyethylene can have a particle size from 1 nanometer to 150 microns, preferably from 0.1 to 100 microns. The printing ink can be used to prepare a transfer having a decorative layer printed onto a carrier sheet. Various printing methods can be used to prepare the transfer such as gravure printing with etched or engraved chrome-plated or copper rolls; flexography printing with a flexible printing plate; and screen printing. The preferred method is screen printing.

Abstract: This invention comprises a self-supporting, temperature-stable, indicia-bearing laminate of at least one layer of a non-oriented polyolefin film having an indicia array and a layer of a non-oriented polyolefin support film. The indicia layer laminate is formed by printing a carrier sheet with at least one layer of a printing ink comprising a mixture of particulate polyolefin, indicia material and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The polyolefin support film is printed as a layer over the indicia layer with a mixture of a polyolefin and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The printed layers are cured into non-oriented films, forming an indicia transfer. The transfer is used by removing the indicia-bearing laminate from the carrier sheet and applying the laminate to the inside surface of a rotational mold where it melts and fuses into the outer wall of a polyolefin product during the formation of the product in the rotational molding cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of transforming low rank coals into high quality metallurgical coke, and the coke products produced by such methods.

Abstract: This invention comprises a self-supporting, temperature-stable, indicia-bearing laminate of at least one layer of a non-oriented polyolefin film having an indicia array and a layer of a non-oriented polyolefin support film. The indicia layer laminate is formed by printing a carrier sheet with at least one layer of a printing ink comprising a mixture of particulate polyolefin, indicia material and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The polyolefin support film is printed as a layer over the indicia layer with a mixture of a polyolefin and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The printed layers are cured into non-oriented films, forming an indicia transfer. The transfer is used by removing the indicia-bearing laminate from the carrier sheet and applying the laminate to the inside surface of a rotational mold where it melts and fuses into the outer wall of a polyolefin product during the formation of the product in the rotational molding cycle.

Abstract: The ink of the invention comprises a mixture of finely subdivided polyethylene powder, an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, a dispersing agent, an indicia material additive such as a dye or pigment and/or a physical property enhancing additive such as alumina, glass beads, silica, metal flakes, etc. Preferably high and very high molecular weight polyethylene is used, alone or in mixture with lower density polyethylene in amounts from 25 to 45 weight percent in the ink. The polyethylene can have a particle size from 1 nanometer to 150 microns, preferably from 0.1 to 100 microns. The printing ink can be used to prepare a transfer having a decorative layer printed onto a carrier sheet. Various printing methods can be used to prepare the transfer such as gravure printing with etched or engraved chrome-plated or copper rolls; flexography printing with a flexible printing plate; and screen printing. The preferred method is screen printing.

Abstract: The invention provides low-cost, non-thermal methods to transform and beneficiate bulk materials, including low rank coals such as peat, lignite, brown coal, subbituminous coal, other carbonaceous solids or derived feedstock. High pressure compaction and comminution processes are linked to transform the solid materials by eliminating interstitial, capillary, pores, or other voids that are present in the materials and that may contain liquid, air or gases that are detrimental to the quality and performance of the bulk materials, thereby beneficiating the bulk products to provide premium feedstock for industrial or commercial uses, such as electric power generation, gasification, liquefaction, and carbon activation. The handling characteristics, dust mitigation aspects and combustion emissions of the products may also be improved.