Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement of the fuel-properties of biomass in an integrated manner to facilitate storage, shipping and applicability thereof. In the process, biomass (6) is thermally treated within a combustion process to cause partial torrefaction of the organic matter present in biomass, thus yielding components inert to biological decomposition processes. Constituents (10) separated in gaseous form are utilized as fuel, while the thermally treated biomass (8) remaining in the solid form is utilized in a separate process.

Abstract: A method of calcining green petroleum coke which includes separating the green coke having a particle size of between 0.1 mm and 50 mm into undersized and oversized fractions, pelletizing the undersized fraction with a binder to form pelletized coke, combining the oversized fraction and the pelletized coke to form a feed mixture, and calcining the feed mixture to form calcined coke. The method includes the addition of a pulverization step wherein all the green coke is pulverized before pelletization and the pellets are then calcined to produce a pelletized calcined coke product.

Abstract: A coal reforming system includes a drying furnace for drying low-grade coal, a carbonizing furnace for carbonizing the dried low-grade coal, hot air generating furnaces for supplying hot air to the drying furnace or the carbonizing furnace, and a carbonizing gas circulation line for supplying a carbonizing gas, which is generated in the carbonizing furnace, as a fuel for the hot air generating furnaces while the temperature thereof is maintained.

Abstract: A reactor for converting organic feed is provided. A retort extends through the furnace of the reactor. The retort has a retort auger, an inlet and an outlet. The reactor includes a charcoal delivery assembly having a collection line, delivery line, and a transfer zone. The collection line is adjacent to the outlet of the retort receives charcoal from the retort, and contains a collection auger with a flighted portion extending at least partially therethrough. The delivery line is connected to a downstream portion of the collection line and has a flighted delivery auger extending therethrough. The transfer zone is a space, between a downstream end of the flighted portion of the collection auger and an upstream end of the flighted delivery auger, where charcoal collected and delivered by the collection auger forms a plug, thereby blocking biogas from the retort from entering the delivery line.

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 method of calcining green petroleum coke which includes separating the green coke having a particle size of between 0.1 mm and 50 mm into undersized and oversized fractions, pelletizing the undersized fraction with a binder to form pelletized coke, combining the oversized fraction and the pelletized coke to form a feed mixture, and calcining the feed mixture to form calcined coke. The method includes the addition of a pulverization step wherein all the green coke is pulverized before pelletization and the pellets are then calcined to produce a pelletized calcined coke product.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems and methods for converting biomass into highly inert carbon. Specifically, some embodiments densify the carbon into anthracite-style carbon aggregations and store it in geologically stable underground deposits. The use of certain embodiments yield a net effect of removing atmospheric carbon via the process of photosynthesis and converting it into hard coal, which can be stored in underground beds that mimic existing coal deposits which are known to be stable for thousands of years.

Abstract: Described is a process for converting pyrolysis oil obtained by pyrolysis of biomass into fuel range hydrocarbon by alcoholysis of pyrolysis oil with subsequent hydrotreatment. A straightforward methodology to prepare upgradeable pyrolysis oil via alcoholysis. A method hydrotreating technology for oxygen removal and hydrocarbon production. The resulting hydrocarbon products are 100% fungible with conventional transportation fuels.

Abstract: Methods, process, apparatus, equipment, and systems are disclosed for converting biomass into bio-oil fractions for chemicals, materials, feedstocks and fuels using a low-cost, integrated fast pyrolysis system. The system improves upon prior art by creating stable, bio-oil fractions which have unique properties that make them individually superior to conventional bio-oil. The invention enables water and low-molecular weight compounds to be separated into a final value-added fraction suitable for upgrading or extracting into value-added chemicals, fuels and water. Initial bio-oil fractions from the process are chemically distinct, have low-water content and acidity which reduces processing costs normally associated with conventional bio-oil post-production upgrading since fewer separation steps, milder processing conditions and lower auxiliary inputs are required. Biochar is stabilized so that it can be handled safely.

Abstract: A method of production of blast furnace coke comprising drying mixed coal, then, or simultaneously with the drying, classifying it to fine-grained coal and coarse-grained coal, then adding to the fine-grained coal at a temperature of 80 to 350° C. a caking additive comprised of one or more of a heavy distillate of tar, soft pitch, and petroleum pitch, agglomerating it by hot pressing, then mixing the clumps of coal and the coarse-grained coal and charging and carbonizing the mixture in a coke oven.

Abstract: A solid composite fuel for the mitigation of emissions from a coal-fired power plant includes a solid monothilic fuel material formed from the pyrolysis of a coal material and at least one solid renewable fuel material.

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 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 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 process for making a fuel product including blending a sewage sludge with an acid, mixing an oxide-containing chemical with the blended sludge so as to cause a reaction which elevates a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a. for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, mixing the pressurized mixed sludge with coal fines, and solidifying the mixture of pressurized mixed sludge and coal fines. The oxide-containing chemical is either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The acid is sulfamic acid. The step of solidifying includes pelletizing the mixture. The solidified mixture has a BTU content of greater than 5000 BTU per pound.

Abstract: A blast furnace coal is produced by rapidly heating a coal blend having 10 to 30% by weight of a non-slightly-caking coal having softening initiation temperature T with the balance including a caking coal having softening initiation temperature T.sub.0 (T.sub.0 .ltoreq.T +40.degree. C.) at a rate of 1.times.10.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.6 .degree. C./min to a temperature region from (T -60.degree. C.) to (T +10.degree. C.) wherein T represents the softening initiation temperature of the non-slightly-caking coal; or rapidly heating a non-slightly-caking coal having softening initiation temperature T and a caking coal having softening initiation temperature T.sub.1 separately at a rate of 1.times.10.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.6 .degree. C./min to a temperature region from (T -100.degree. C.) to (T +10.degree. C.), wherein T represents the softening initiation temperature of the non-slightly-caking coal, or a temperature region from (T.sub.1 -100.degree. C.) to (T.sub.1 +10.degree. C.), wherein T.sub.

Abstract: A burnable article such as a fire log or a barbecue briquette is formed of a top fire-igniting layer, a middle fire-catching layer, and a body layer. The fire-igniting layer has a composition, in weight percent, of from about 47 to about 67 percent carbonized wood, from about 22 to about 34 percent barium nitrate, from about 3 to about 11 percent sodium nitrate, from about 3 to about 11 percent starch, from about 0.25 to about 0.65 percent zeolite, and from about 0.25 to about 0.65 percent potassium alum, the total of the constituents of the fire-igniting layer being 100 percent. The fire-catching layer has a composition, in weight percent, of from about 57 to about 67 percent carbonized wood, from about 18 to about 28 percent barium nitrate, from about 3 to about 11 percent sodium nitrate, from about 4 to about 12 percent starch, from about 0.15 to about 0.35 percent zeolite, and from about 0.15 to about 0.35 percent potassium alum, the total of the constituents of the fire-catching layer being 100 percent.

Abstract: A continuous process for treating a noncaking coal to form stable char. The process includes the sequential steps of drying the coal to remove moisture therefrom and form a dry coal; pyrolyzing the dry coal by progressively heating substantially all of the coal to a temperature sufficient to vaporize and remove low end volatile materials from the coal to form char and sufficient to mobilize at least a portion of high end volatile materials within the char and at least partially collapse micropores within the char. The char is then cooled to a temperature sufficient to demobilize the volatile materials within the at least partially collapsed micropores of the char to pyrolytically passivate the char. The char is then conveyed to a reaction vessel wherein a process gas having about 3%-21% by volume oxygen flows through the reaction vessel to oxidatively passivate the coal by chemisorption of oxygen.

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: The present invention is directed to methods for producing carbon containing fuel elements especially suited for use in cigarette--like smoking articles. One method of the present invention makes use of two separate pyrolysis steps to ensure that the carbon used to form the fuel elements for smoking articles is substantially free of materials which could adversely affect the aerosol delivered by such articles. Also disclosed is a method in which a fuel element formed from carbon and a binder is pyrolyzed after formation to convert the binder to carbon.

Abstract: Form or pressed bodies, such as briquettes, are made of a mixture including at least two components. A first component is formed by at least one fine grained solid material which does not soften below 800.degree. C. A second component is formed by at least one binding agent that is pyrolytically decomposable. Each of the components has a mean mixing and deformation temperature such that the mean temperature of the first component is above a standard mixing and deforming temperature while the mean temperature of the second component is below the standard temperature. The standard temperature is such that a pyrolysis and degassing performed at the standard temperature does not destroy the binding ability of the second component. The second component constitutes about 15% by weight to about 50% by weight of the total mixture. Further, the second component is at least partly a liquified bituminous material having a mean CCT-value above 20%.

Abstract: A process for producing coal fillers, which comprises the steps of:(a) carbonization step, which comprises carbonizing crushed coal particles having a particle size of not more than 10 mm and an ash content of not more than 10% by weight by thermal decomposition at a temperature of 500.degree. to 2,000.degree. C.; and cooling the carbonized solids;(b) ultrafine pulverization step, which comprises preparing a slurry of the carbonized solids having a solids content of 10 to 50% by weight by adding a dispersion medium to the carbonized solids; and ultrafinely pulverizing the carbonized solids dispersed in the slurry to reduce the average particle size to not more than 5 .mu.m;(c) agglomeration step, which comprises adjusting the solids content of the slurry to 1 to 20% by weight by further adding water to the slurry of the ultrafinely pulverized solids; adding an oil having a boiling point of not more than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Fine-grained substances which do not soften below 800.degree. C., such as oil coke, coking duff, pitch coke and/or fine-grained coal with less than 14% volatile constituents, sand, ores, metal oxides, metals or mixtures of such substances, are introduced in at least two places into a carrier gas stream and are thermally heated to 550-650.degree. C. in the solid discharge of a first cyclone. Then the same carrier gas stream heats coking coal amounting to 18-38% of the intended briquettable product material to 200-400.degree. C. in the solid discharge of a second cyclone. The two solid flows are mixed and treated, producing the briquettable material at 500.+-.50.degree. C. The carrier gas stream is produced by the combustion of liquid and/or gaseous fuels with an excess air factor of 2 or more. Thermally inert, low-ash solid fuels, such as oil coke, pitch coke and/or low-ash, fine-grained, low-volatility coal, amounting to 20-40% of the briquetting material, are initially introduced.

Abstract: A cold coal briquetting process comprises mixing fine coal with polyvinyl alcohol and a hardening agent selected from iron oxide, phosphate rock and bauxite or combination of two or more thereof. The process permits economies in process and capital costs compared to existing briqueting processes, while still producing satisfactory briquettes.