Abstract: A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of nodes distributed throughout the machine, a controller, and a plurality of waveguides. Each of the nodes is operable to communicate through one or more radio frequencies, where the machine includes a cooler portion and a hotter portion. The controller is operable to communicate with the network of nodes using a higher frequency to communicate with one or more of the nodes in the cooler portion of the machine and a lower frequency to communicate with one or more of the nodes in the hotter portion of the machine. The waveguides are configured to guide transmission of the one or more radio frequencies between the controller and one or more of the nodes.

Abstract: A system for treating biomass for the production of a composition of lignin pellets .is disclosed. Pellets comprising at least 50 percent lignin by dry weight is disclosed. Also disclosed are pellets produced from a lignin composition by a process comprising: pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass; separating the pre-treated biomass into a first liquid component comprising sugars and a first solids component comprising cellulose and the lignin composition; hydrolysing the first solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and the lignin composition; separating the hydrolysed biomass into a second liquid component comprising sugars and a second solids component comprising the lignin composition; supplying the second solids component comprising the lignin composition to a pelleting apparatus to produce the pellets; wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method of heat treating a solid fuel briquette may include heating the solid fuel briquette using energy from at least one of a heat furnace or an electromagnetic energy system of a solid fuel treatment facility as the solid fuel briquette is moved through the treatment facility to a specified internal temperature, and sealing the heat-treated solid fuel briquette in a vessel for a duration of time.

Abstract: A method for dewatering water-containing coal which includes heating the water-containing coal at a temperature of 100 to 350° C. under a pressure not less than a saturated steam pressure at the temperature for the heating, while applying a shearing force of 0.01 to 20 MPa to the coal, in a sealed vessel. The method is novel and allows the production of dewatered coal which is inhibited from reabsorbing water after dewatering and is also inhibited from absorbing oxygen after dewatering.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing fuel briquettes from high moisture fine coal. The apparatus includes a coal fine pelletizer, a pellet dryer and a fuel briquette former all provided in-line for the efficient production of fuel briquettes. The method comprises forming pellets from coal fines, drying those pellets to a desired moisture content of about 1 to about 10% and forming fuel briquettes from the dried pellets.

Abstract: Coal particles to be processed into compressed articles are impregnated with a substance before being mixed with a binder system containing water and finally being processed into compressed articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing fuel briquettes from high moisture fine coal. The apparatus includes a coal fine pelletizer, a pellet dryer and a fuel briquette former all provided in-line for the efficient production of fuel briquettes. The method comprises forming pellets from coal fines, drying those pellets to a desired moisture content of about 1 to about 10% and forming fuel briquettes from the dried pellets.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method of heat treating a solid fuel briquette may include heating the solid fuel briquette using energy from at least one of a heat furnace or an electromagnetic energy system of a solid fuel treatment facility as the solid fuel briquette is moved through the treatment facility to a specified internal temperature, and sealing the heat-treated solid fuel briquette in a vessel for a duration of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for splitting bitumen into two fractions and rendering a heavier bottom fraction as a useable emulsion fuel. The process is particularly effective in creating an alternate fuel to natural gas in a steam-based bitumen recovery process wherein bitumen is recovered from an underground reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing shaped, activated charcoal. According to the method, after being ground, carbon-bearing material, or a mixture of several carbon-bearing materials are rendered homogenous with a binding agent which contains water, or a mixture of several binding agents, at least one of which contains water. The mixture of carbon-bearing material and binding agent is then formed into shaped bodies. According to the invention, in order to consolidate the grain formation, these are dried until they exhibit a maximum total water content of 3% by wt. in relation to the shaped body. The shaped bodies which have been formed and dried in this manner are then subjected to a carbonization and subsequently a gas activation process.

Abstract: A method of producing coal briquette at a low energy cost by saving heating step or drying step for fine coal, which comprises adding and mixing from 1 to 10 mass parts of powdery starch to a coal having 15 mass % or more of water content and comprising 50 mass % or more of particles with grain size of 5 mm or less to form 100 mass parts of a mixture, and coating the surface of the briquette product with 0.1 to 5 mass parts of a heavy oil component simultaneously with or after pressure briquetting the mixture by a double roll briquetting machine in which concaves are formed on the roll surface, as well as coal briquette which is inexpensive and has high strength and high waterproof.

Abstract: Binder compositions for converting coal waste into fuel including a distillable petroleum hydrocarbon emulsified with a surfactant and water are provided. The invention also includes methods for making the binder compositions. The methods include blending a distillable petroleum hydrocarbon petroleum hydrocarbon with water and a surfactant. In another aspect, a fuel product is provided which includes the reaction product of carbonaceous fine particles and a binder composition of this invention. The binder composition is provided in an amount necessary to increase the hydrophobic characteristics of the carbonaceous fine particles and bring about a statistically significant change in their chemistry. In one embodiment the binder composition is present in an amount between about 1.5 percent and about 4.0 percent of the total weight. Methods are also provided for making fuel from fine carbonaceous materials, which include exposing the carbonaceous materials to a binder composition of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for the production of low ash fuel using calcined petroleum coke by crushing and screening of calcined petroleum coke below 3 mm size, mixing the crushed and screened materials to achieve a bulk density in the range of 760 to 800 kg/m3, mixing 10-100% of the resultant calcined petroleum coke with 0 to 50% coke breeze, pre-soaking the mix so obtained with 5-10% water, mixing with hinder followed by kneading in presence of live stream, then briquetting and curing of the raw briquettes in a furnace in a controlled oxidising atmoshpere to obtain the low ash fuel.

Abstract: A fuel pellet is produced by the combination of organic waste material with a binder obtained by direct liquefaction and/or fast pyrolysis of biomass material. Direct liquefaction and fast pyrolysis are carried out according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as petroleum asphalt and cross-linking agents, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is mixed with organic-waste material preheated to 100° C. or more and allowed to react at about 150-200° C. Combustible extenders and fillers, reinforcing fibers, and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the organic material or the bio-binder base to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized or otherwise molded in conventional equipment.

Abstract: A coal agglomerate is produced by the combination of coal fines with a binder obtained by the direct liquefaction of biomass material. The direct liquefaction is carried out in the absence of oxygen at typical temperatures between about 450 and 700.degree. F. and typical pressures between 200 and 3,000 psi, according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as fast pyrolysis tars and petroleum asphalt, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is sprayed on coal fines preheated to at least 250.degree. F. and allowed to react at about 300-400.degree. F. Combustible extenders and fillers; reinforcing fibers; and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the coal prior to combination with the binder to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized by the application of pressure in conventional equipment.

Abstract: A solid carbonaceous fuel having reduced sulfur dioxide emission upon combustion is provided. The fuel comprises a coagglomerate formed of coke or coal, a novel silica-enhanced sulfur-dioxide sorbent and a bitumen binder.

Abstract: A coal substitute product and process for producing it from by-products formed in the production of acetylene from natural gas is disclosed. The first by-product is an aqueous slurry of soot which is mixed with the second by-product, an acetylene polymer. After mixing the material is filtered to produce a filter cake which is processed into chunks similar to coal in appearance, handling qualities and burning characteristics. Alternatively another carbonaceous tarry substance such as an asphaltenes or acryloid polymer waste can be substituted for the acetylene polymer.

Abstract: Raw material bodies such as briquettes, for use in the production of silicon or silicon alloys, are formed by mixing a pitch and caking coal at a temperature above 100.degree. C. and up to 200.degree. C. to form a pitch/coal alloy. This hot binder composition is mixed with sand and a noncaking carbon carrier at a temperature in this range to form the starting composition from which preforms are pressed. The preforms are subjected to a heat treatment which involves raising the temperature to above 450.degree. C., preferably in a sand filled rotary furnace to harden the preforms into the bodies.

Abstract: A finely-divided carbonaceous material is dewatered and reconstituted in a combined process by adding a binding agent directly into slurry of finely divided material and dewatering the material to form a cake or consolidated piece which can be hardened by drying at ambient or elevated temperatures. Alternatively, the binder often in the form of a crusting agent is sprayed onto the surface of a moist cake prior to curing.