Abstract: A method is provided for producing a solid fuel to be used as fuel for a pulverized coal boiler from wood biomass as a source material at a high mass yield and calorie yield by performing a grinding treatment in a mixture with coal. A solid fuel is produced by adjusting the moisture of a ground powder of wood biomass to between 8 and 50%; densifying the ground powder of wood biomass to a bulk density of 0.55 g/cm3 or higher (measured according to JIS K 2151-6 “Bulk density test method”); and then subjecting the ground powder of wood biomass to torrefaction under conditions of an oxygen concentration of 10% or less and a temperature between 170 and 350° C. Since the bulk density of a source material is high, a trouble in conveyance such as clogging of a rotary valve at an inlet of a carbonization furnace, or clogging of a cyclone after a drier due to excessive reject can be prevented.

Abstract: A method is provided in which pretreated and densified cellulosic biomass particulates can be hydrolyzed at a high solids loading rate as compared with the solids loading rate of loose hydrolysable cellulosic biomass fibers. The resulting high concentration sugar-containing stream can be easily converted to biofuels or an entire suite of other useful bioproducts.

Abstract: Method for preparing coal for coke making includes controlling particles size of coal or caking additive before arriving at the plant so particles content having diameter of 6 mm or more in the coal or caking additive reaches 30% by mass or less when the coal or caking additive has permeation distance of 15 mm or more. In another method, the relationship between a critical permeation distance and Gieseler maximum fluidity is obtained using permeation distances and Gieseler maximum fluidity values of one or more brands of coal or caking additive, particles size of coal or caking additive is controlled before arriving at the plant so particles content having diameter of 6 mm or more in coal or caking additive reaches 30% by mass or less when permeation distance of coal or caking additive is larger or equal to a critical permeation distance calculated from the Gieseler maximum fluidity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for obtaining energy from organic-containing waste materials (1).

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: A product comprising at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers is provided, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and h a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface. Methods for using and making the product are also described.

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: A biocoke producing apparatus has a reaction vessel that has a preset temperature range and pressure range for, without carbonizing of the pulverized biomass, inducing a pyrolytic or thermal curing reaction of lignin and hemicellulose thereof. The reaction vessel has a pressurization device for pressurizing to the pressure range, a heating device for heating to the temperature range in the state of the pressurization and a cooling device for cooling after maintaining of the above state. Multiple reaction vessels are provided. A pulverization delivery conveyor is provided superior to these reaction vessels, and each of the multiple reaction vessels is connected via a connection tube to the conveyor. The connection tube is provided with a pulverizate charging device for charging a given amount of pulverized biomass in accordance with a timing of pulverizate charging to the reaction vessels.

Abstract: Ecologically friendly organically composed fuel products are presented whose composition includes, but is not limited to, ingredients: 58 to 60 percent decomposed straw, 38 percent horse or cow manure, two percent hay mixture from various blends used as feed, and two percent straw dust. The above ingredients are subjected to a number of processing steps with the end product being a hydraulically compressed fuel product, such as a brick, block, briquette, blank, pellet, etc., dried to a less than 10 percent moisture content. Eco-friendly organic fuel products may be created from other ingredients than those described herein could undergo the disclosed process to produce other types of fuel items, both organic and inorganic, with the ingredients comprising wood chips, other kinds of animal manure, and wood chips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing pellets from large pieces of renewable fibrous raw materials, such as, in particular, wood, straw, or energy crops, wherein the raw material is chopped up, then dried, and subsequently processed into pellets in a matrix press, characterized in that the material, optionally pre-chopped in choppers or shredders, is chopped in a first matrix press prior to drying.

Abstract: A solidified biomass consisting of semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter is pressure-formed from raw biomass material while being heated and has a maximum compressive strength of 60-200 MPa and calorific value of 18-23 MJ/kg. A method for producing the solidified biomass: includes crushing raw biomass material; loading a barrel with the crushed raw biomass material; inserting a pressure applying piston into a hollow of the barrel; pressure-forming the crushed raw biomass materials by applying pressure with the pressure applying piston while heating the material; obtaining semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter by retaining constant time of the heating and the pressurizing; cooling the semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter while maintaining pressure to obtain a cooled solid; and taking out and drying the cooled solid, wherein the pressure applying piston and the hollow of the barrel have very small clearance between their outer and inner peripheries.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for direct conversion of a used healthcare material into a burnable fuel and to burnable fuels derived therefrom.

Abstract: A densification system for shredding and densifying specification raw materials for use as an alternative fuel source. The densified specification raw materials formed by the inventive system are readily transportable to a fuel processing site where they may be used to generate energy.

Abstract: A combustible pellet comprising municipal solid waste. The pellet has a water content of less than 10% by weight and a fuel value of at least 10,000 BTU. A process for the forming of a combustible pellet from municipal solid wastes, comprising the steps of removing solid hazardous waste from said municipal solid waste; subjecting the municipal solid waste so obtained to at least one step to separate recyclable products therefrom; and subjecting the resultant product to a shredding and a pulverizing step. A fluff with a water content of less than 10% by weight is obtained. The fluff is compacted to form a combustible pellet.

Abstract: A process for upgrading brown coal is disclosed, including providing at least two converging surfaces defining a nip, wherein at least one of the surfaces is rollable in a direction toward the nip; feeding the brown coal to the nip where, by the rolling action of the rollable surface, the brown coal is subjected to shearing stresses, causing attritioning of the microporous structure of the brown coal and the release of water contained in the micropores; and continuing the shearing attritioning until the brown coal forms into a plastic mass. Processes for the production of char are also disclosed utilizing as feed material pellets formed from the upgraded brown coal produced by the above process, as well as a process for recovering metal from a metal containing material.

Abstract: A process for making a fuel product from paper mill sludge including dewatering the paper mill sludge so as to have a solids content of greater than 7 percent by weight, mixing an oxide-containing chemical and molasses with the dewatered paper mill sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 6 p.s.i. for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and drying the pressurized mixed sludge to no less than 60 percent solids by weight. The oxide-containing chemical can be either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The oxide-containing chemical is mixed in an amount of between 1 percent to 10 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The molasses is mixed in an amount of between 0.1 percent and 1 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The method also includes grinding the dried sludge to a desired size of no less than 325 mesh and no larger than one-quarter inch in diameter. The dried sludge has a heating content of no less than 5,000 BTUs/pound.

Abstract: An artificial firelog and firestarter chip producing apparatus comprising a cutting assembly, a compression conveyor auger assembly and a die. The apparatus converts standard waxed corrugated cardboard boxes into artificial firelogs by first slicing cardboard sheets into cardboard strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments in the cutting assembly. The cardboard segments are horizontally disposed between the rifling and compressed in the compression conveyor auger assembly and extruded in the die to form generally horizontally disposed, circular, longitudinally-shaped sections of a firelog. Firestarter chips are fabricated by the cutting assembly, which slices waxed cardboard sheets in conjunction with paper sheets into waxed cardboard and paper strips, then chopping the waxed cardboard strips into waxed cardboard segments and the paper strips into paper segments and waxed cardboard segments mix.

Abstract: Mechanically and biologically stable briquettes and pellets are obtained from either municipal solid waste (MSW), Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) or municipal sewage sludge and their combination for purposes of disposing said briquettes and pellets as fuel in waste-to-energy processes such as the one described herein or to form geometric aggregates with such briquettes for their disposal at landfill sites. The use of binding material is not required whereas fuel additives such as crushed coal and petroleum residues may be added to enhance fuel performance but are not needed to improve waste processing or product stability and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method of preparing a synthetic fuel from coal comprising reacting the coal with a polymer composition comprising an aqueous solution or an aqueous emulsion of one or more reactive polymers, the reactive polymers selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate), vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers, poly(vinyl acetate/acrylic acid/ethylene), acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymers and poly(acrylamide).

Abstract: A solid combustible composition having an apparent density lower than 0.6 g/cm3 and comprising a first portion consisting of an urban solid waste, a second portion consisting of elastomeric material and a third portion consisting of non-elastomeric polymeric material.

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: An artificial firelog and firestarter chip producing apparatus comprising a cutting assembly, a compression conveyor auger assembly and a die. The apparatus converts standard waxed corrugated cardboard boxes into artificial firelogs by first slicing cardboard sheets into cardboard strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments in the cutting assembly. The cardboard segments are compressed and in the compression conveyor auger assembly and extruded in the die to form generally circular, longitudinally-shaped sections of a firelog. Firestarter chips are fabricated by the cutting assembly, which slices cardboard sheets in conjunction with paper sheets into cardboard and paper strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments and the paper strips into paper mix.

Abstract: A pelletized cellulosic pulp product is produced from a delignified and bleached paper pulp raw material that is useful as a combustion material. The size, shape, density and glazed outer surface of the pelletized product contributes to controlled combustion of the pellets to support a smoldering burn in use.

Abstract: A particulate waste wood fuel comprising wood particles comprising less than 20% water by weight and having a particle size distribution suitable for combustion of the particulate wood fuel in a particulate fossil fuel suspension furnace. A method for making the particulate wood fuel includes shredding of waste wood and drying the shredded waste wood to obtain the desired particle size distribution and water content. A method for producing energy comprises injecting the particulate wood fuel into the combustion chamber of a particulate fuel suspension furnace separately from a particulate fossil fuel which is also injected into the combustion chamber. The particulate fossil fuel and particulate wood fuel are combusted in the combustion chamber in a gas flow through the combustion chamber to form a flame in the gas flow. The wood particles are substantially completely combusted within the combustion chamber while suspended in the gas flow and are not combusted at the furnace wall.

Abstract: An improved pelletized fuel consisting essentially of from about 70% to about 98% coal fines and from about 2% to about 30% waste thermoplastic polymeric material (plastic) and a method of producing the improved pelletized fines are disclosed. The plastic is shredded or granulated before mixing with the coal fines, and the mixture is heated to a temperature to soften or melt at least a major portion of the plastic. The heated mixture is then shaped by applying a pressure of at least about 600 PSI and pressing the mixture through a pelletizing or extrusion die, or shaping the mixture in a briquetting operation.

Abstract: A solid combustible composition having an apparent density lower than 0.6 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising a first portion consisting of an urban solid waste, a second portion consisting of elastomeric material and a third portion consisting of non-elastomeric polymeric material.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing charcoal and intermediate char-containing articles from paper and/or paperboard comprises forming an aqueous pulp of cellulose fibers from the paper or paperboard and blending the aqueous pulp with comminuted char in a dry or slurried state. The resulting mixture may be shaped into any desired form, such, for example, as briquettes, by forcing the mixture into a perforated die or porous mold to form substantially rigid articles. The formed product is dried in a kiln.

Abstract: A cellulosic composition 42 is provided which may be used as a charcoal briquette replacement, germination medium, oil and animal excretion absorbent, or as a source of nourishment.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing solid fuel which includes the steps of mixing a biomass, a heavy hydrocarbon and a sorbent to form a hydrocarbon-biomass slurry, the biomass being characterized by a particle size and distribution of about 50% between about 250-2000 .mu.m and about 50% less than about 250 .mu.m, and more preferably as follows:______________________________________ distribution particle size ______________________________________ 10-20% 1250-2000 .mu.m 10-20% 500-1250 .mu.m 10-20% 250-500 .mu.m balance .ltoreq.250 .mu.m ______________________________________compacting the slurry to form a solid fuel agglomerate; and baking the agglomerate so as to form a solid fuel briquette having a resistance to compression of at least about 22 kg/cm.sup.2. The mixing step includes the step of mixing the biomass, hydrocarbon and sorbent in the following proportions, by weight: ______________________________________ biomass 50-70%; hydrocarbon 30-45%; and sorbent 5-10%.

Abstract: The invention discloses fuel nuggets with high heat value which is virtually dust-free, and a method of making the same. The nuggets are preferably made of scrap particleboard made of wood particles bonded together by a urea/formaldehyde adhesive. The scrap is hogged and shaped into roughly spherical nuggets of a preselected size suited for automated furnaces. The nuggets are then coated with an aqueous urea solution and then oven-dried to achieve a preselected moisture content.

Abstract: Process for recycling and recovering solid urban waste and the like, consisting in subjecting solid urban waste (SUW), after the removal of any ferromagnetic material present therein, to high-pressure compression inside a screening press or the like, so as to separate the putrescible organic material from the dry material intended to form the combustible material, then subjecting the organic material to a process of anaerobic fermentation in a sealed and dry environment, so as to allow to extract, at the end of the fermentation cycle, the biogas thus produced, which can be used directly for producing electric power or for other uses, the residuals of fermentation in the form of humus being subsequently subjected to refining and then to screening to recover the light materials; sifting, within a known rotary screen, the dry material so as to separate the combustible components, such as paper, fabrics, wood, plastics, leather and rubber, from the inert ones, such as glass, non-ferrous metals and any organic par