"low-rank" Coal (e.g., Lignite, Etc.) Patents (Class 44/608)
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Patent number: 10221070Abstract: A coal upgrade plant includes: a dryer 1 that dries coal; a pyrolyzer 3 that pyrolyzes the coal dried by the dryer 1; a quencher 5 that cools the coal pyrolyzed by the pyrolyzer 3; a finisher 7 that deactivates the coal cooled by the quencher 5; and cyclones 28 and 94 that collect pulverized coal generated from the coal, wherein the pulverized coal collected by the cyclones 28 and 94 is fed to an absorber fed to a scrubber 32 that treats a flue gas. Thus, the mercury generated from the coal upgrade plant can be removed.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.Inventors: Shintaro Honjo, Kiyotaka Kunimune, Motofumi Ito, Junji Asahara
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Patent number: 10005955Abstract: Treatment fluids and methods include a method that includes the steps of providing or preparing a foamed chelating agent treatment fluid that includes: an aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent, an aqueous base fluid, a gas, and a foaming agent, and lacing the foamed chelating agent treatment fluid in a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore. The aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent foamed fluids may also be used in equipment clean-out operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Michael Beuterbaugh, Wirdansyah Lubis, Alyssa Lynn Smith, Enrique Antonio Reyes
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Patent number: 9005318Abstract: A process for upgrading brown coal having a first water content including subjecting the brown coal to a conditioning step which includes heating the brown coal to a first temperature to produce a conditioned brown coal having a second water content which is lower than the first water content; attritioning the conditioned brown coal to enable water to be released from the microstructure of the brown coal and thereby producing an admixture of the brown coal and released water; forming aggregates of the admixture; drying the aggregates to produce upgraded brown coal having a third water content which is lower than the second water content.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Pacific Edge Holdings Pty LtdInventors: Roderick Howard Carnegie, Brendon Gerrard Cooper, William John Stevens
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Patent number: 8999014Abstract: Systems and methods for producing engineered fuels from municipal solid waste material are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes combining a first waste stream that includes at least one of hard plastic, soft plastic and mixed plastic with a sorbent and increasing the temperature of the combined first waste stream and sorbent to a temperature of at least about 200° C. The method further includes combining the thermally treated first waste stream and sorbent with a second waste stream that includes fiber, and compressing the combined first waste stream, sorbent, and second waste stream to form a densified engineered fuel feedstock.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Accordant Energy, LLCInventor: Dingrong Bai
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Patent number: 8968520Abstract: A method of treating untreated low calorific coal containing moisture and organic volatiles includes feeding untreated coal to a dryer, and drying the coal. The dried coal is subjected to a pyrolyzing step where oxygen-deficient gases are brought into contact with the coal, thereby lowering the volatile content of the coal and producing a stream of pyrolysis effluent gases. The pyrolysis effluent gases are subjected to a separation process to separate lean fuel gases from liquids and tars, wherein the separation process removes less than about 20 percent of the pyrolysis effluent gases as the liquids and tars, with the remainder being the lean fuel gases. The lean fuel gases are returned to the dryer combustor, the pyrolyzer combustor, or the pyrolyzer.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: National Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy (NICE)Inventors: Dennis W. Coolidge, Deane A. Horne, Ronn G. Smith
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Publication number: 20150047253Abstract: To provide less expensive and non-polluting coals of which calorific values are increased by improving composition of coals having high moisture content and low fire power, such as peat and lignite, to thereby increase combustion calorie. Materials of coals are heated in a predetermined temperature range in an oxygen-free atmosphere while injecting inactive gas, and elements except for carbon in the atmosphere and in the coals are individually separated by thermal decomposition in the order from an element having a lower decomposition temperature at a temperature of 450 degrees C. or lower so as to obtain upgraded coals. Since the carbon composing the upgraded coals has strong activity, the upgraded coals have quality equivalent or greater than that of the coal of ordinary quality and demonstrate combustion efficiency that has been significantly improved from those of the materials before upgrading.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventor: Kunimichi SATO
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Publication number: 20140352583Abstract: This mixed coal fuel is obtained by mixing a low-grade coal and residual coal. The residual coal is obtained by separating, through evaporation, a solvent from concentrated solids left over when a solution portion, which contains soluble coal components in solvent, is separated from a slurry obtained by mixing and heating coal and a solvent. Furthermore, the ratio (base/acid) of basic components to acidic components contained in ash of the residual coal is lower than that of the low-grade coal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2012Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Toshiya Tada, Yoji Takubo
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Publication number: 20140299028Abstract: Powder components containing calcium, alumina, silica, iron, magnesium, and a halogen sorbent are used in combination during coal combustion to produce environmental benefits. Sorbents are added to the coal ahead of combustion and/or are added into the flame or downstream of the flame. The alkalinity and chlorine of the powder is minimized in order to mitigate unwanted fouling, especially when used with sub-bituminous and lignite coals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: George M. Kotch, Murray Abbott, Sally Batanian
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Publication number: 20140290130Abstract: A device for upgrading a solid organic material into a resulting product comprises a reactor with an organic material inlet, and a flue gas inlet adapted to introduce flue gas into the reactor, an input driver adapted to continuously transfer the solid organic material to the organic material inlet, an output driver adapted to continuously transfer the solid organic material out of the reactor, a gas flow element operatively connected to the flue gas inlet permitting flue gas to mix with the solid organic material but restricting flow of the solid organic material away from the flue gas inlet, and a rapid cooling device operatively connected to the output driver and adapted to apply a heat transfer liquid directly onto the solid organic material and thereby form the resulting product.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventor: Harsudi Supandi
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Patent number: 8821695Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Setsuo Omoto, Makoto Susaki
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Patent number: 8795395Abstract: A structurally modified lignite composition with or without having functionally enhanced organic molecules extracted there-from, said functionally enhanced organic molecules having enhanced or reduced number of one or more of functional groups selected from a group comprising of carbonyl, carboxyl, amidic, ester, phenolic, alcoholic, ketone and aldehyde groups and having molecular weight selected from a group comprising of (i) below 500, (ii) between 500 and 1000, (iii) between 1000 and 5000, (iv) equal to or greater than 5000 and (v) a combination of utmost of any of the three of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Bijam Biosciences Private LimitedInventor: Durga Yandapalli Prasad
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Publication number: 20140196362Abstract: A process for upgrading brown coal having a first water content including subjecting the brown coal to a conditioning step which includes heating the brown coal to a first temperature to produce a conditioned brown coal having a second water content which is lower than the first water content; attritioning the conditioned brown coal to enable water to be released from the microstructure of the brown coal and thereby producing an admixture of the brown coal and released water; forming aggregates of the admixture; drying the aggregates to produce upgraded brown coal having a third water content which is lower than the second water content.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: PACIFIC EDGE HOLDINGS PTY LTDInventors: Roderick Howard Carnegie, Brendon Gerrard Cooper, William John Stevens
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Patent number: 8673032Abstract: The present invention provides methods of transforming low rank coals into high quality metallurgical coke, and the coke products produced by such methods.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: GTL Energy Holdings Pty LimitedInventors: Robert French, Robert A. Reeves
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Patent number: 8585786Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a system and method for briquetting solid fuel before or after treatment with electromagnetic energy. In the system and method, solid fuel is transported through a continuous feed solid fuel treatment facility, treated using electromagnetic energy, and briquetted after treatment.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: CoalTek, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Drozd, Steven L. Lawson, Michael C. Druga, Frederick Christopher Lang, Jan M. Surma, Herbie L. Bullis
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Patent number: 8523961Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for a briquetted solid fuel that can reduce the briquetting cost while maintaining the strength of the briquetted product. A mixed oil that includes a heavy oil and a solvent oil, and a porous coal are mixed to obtain a slurry. The slurry is dewatered by heating to obtain a dewatered slurry. Solvent oil is separated from the dewatered slurry to obtain a cake, the cake is heated, and solvent oil is further separated from the cake to obtain a modified coal. Moisture is added to the modified coal to obtain a moist modified coal with a moisture content of 3 wt % to 10 wt %, and then the moist modified coal is briquetted under pressure.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Mitou, Seiichi Yamamoto, Takuo Shigehisa, Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Shimizu, Yuko Sugita
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Patent number: 8460407Abstract: The invention provides a micronized form of coal particles with improved characteristics for porosity, hydration and preservation of pristine surfaces. The coal of the invention can burn at low temperatures, avoiding emissions of nitrogen oxides, and also has improved properties for surfactant-free suspension in either water or oil media, as well as for liquefaction and gasification.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Inventor: David Walker Taylor
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Patent number: 8343243Abstract: A method may include preparing a coke slurry, preparing a lignite slurry separate from the coke slurry, and combining the coke slurry with the lignite slurry to form a coke/lignite slurry.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Jaleh Khorami Ghani
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Patent number: 8250996Abstract: The present invention provides a process for burning coal instead of oil comprising the stages of coal gasification, gas combustion and optionally gas purification, utilization of residual heat of flue gas and flue gas discharge. The present invention further provides an apparatus for burning coal instead of oil. By present invention, the fuel cost for an oil-burning apparatus can be reduced by about four-fifths, so the resources of oil and natural gas can be saved either. Furthermore, the present invention has the advantages such as good reliability, high heat efficiency, high level of automation, high return on investment and good environmental benefits.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Inventors: Zhongcheng Huang, Peilan Wang, Zhigang Huang
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Publication number: 20110314728Abstract: A process for simultaneously drying coal and/or torrefying biomass is provided in which coal and/or biomass are passed into a fluidized bed reactor and heated to a predetermined temperature. The dried coal and/or biomass is then fed to a cooler where the temperature of the product is reduced to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit and water is added to further passivate the coal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: River Basin Energy, Inc.Inventors: Clinton B. Camper, Vijay Sethi
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Publication number: 20110131873Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a fluid waste stream following mining or ore processing operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: David Soane, William Ware, JR., Robert P. Mahoney, Nathan Ashcraft
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Patent number: 7909896Abstract: An improved process for the production of smokeless (low CO2—CO emitting) boiler fuels which have been obtained by careful temperature control and the addition of waste, trash or other carbonaceous material during carbonization of various coal materials such as tar sands, bituminous coal, peat lignite, and oil shale.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Bennett Engineers and Associates of Austin ColoradoInventor: Harold L. Bennett
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Publication number: 20100263269Abstract: A process for drying coal is provided in which coal is passed into a fluidized bed reactor and heated to a predetermined temperature. The dried coal is then fed to a cooler where the temperature of the product is reduced to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit and water is added to further passivate the coal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: River Basin Energy, Inc.Inventors: Donald D. Dunlop, Clinton B. Camper, Vijay Sethi, Leon C. Kenyon, JR.
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Patent number: 7645362Abstract: Methods for pretreating and improving coking coal quality for producing blast-furnace coke by: (a) rapid-heating the coal charge in a fluidized-bed to a temperature range between not lower than 300° C. and not higher than the temperature at which the coal charge begins to soften, at a rate of 30 to 103 ° C./min., (b) classifying the rapid-heated coal charge to fine- and coarse-size coal, and then (c-1) briquetting the fine-size coal or (c-2) rapid-heating the fine- and coarse-size coal individually in a pneumatic preheater to a temperature range between not lower than 300° C. and not higher than the temperature at which the coal charge begins to soften, at a rate of 103 to 105 ° C./min., and (d) forming the fine-size coal.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: The Japan Iron and Steel FederationInventors: Kenji Kato, Yukihiro Kubota, Takashi Arima, Masaki Sasaki, Makoto Matsuura, Hiroki Nakai
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Publication number: 20090255173Abstract: The present invention provides a process and an apparatus for producing a low-pyrophoricity, transportable, storable dewatered solid fuel from a low rank coal, in which the amount of heavy oil added can be reduced. A solid fuel production process includes the steps of mixing an oil containing a solvent oil with a coal to prepare a raw material slurry; evaporating moisture from the raw material slurry; subsequently performing solid-liquid separation on the slurry to yield a solid fuel; and adding a heavy oil to the slurry after the completion of or in the course of evaporating moisture.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2006Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Satoru Sugita, Tetsuya Deguchi, Takuo Shigehisa
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Patent number: 7537700Abstract: A method and a system for removing water from high water content solid such as high water content coal, which enables dewatering with small energy consumption. A liquefied material which is a gas at 25° C. under 1 atm. (hereinafter referred to as material D) is contacted with a solid containing water to allow the liquefied material D to dissolve the water contained in the solid, and to produce a liquefied material D having a high water content and simultaneously remove the water from the solid, and by vaporizing the material D in the liquefied material having a high water content, to thereby separate the water from the resulting gaseous material D, recovering the separated gaseous material D, and liquefying the recovered gaseous material by pressurizing, cooling or a combination thereof, to reuse the resulting liquefied material for removing water from a solid containing water.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power IndustryInventors: Hideki Kanda, Hiromi Shirai
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Publication number: 20080307700Abstract: A coking method comprises in combination, the steps of providing a quantity of coals, providing a quantity of chemical change agents selected from the class of chemical change agents including: (i) acrylic latex, (ii) styrene-butadiene polymers, and (iii) natural and synthetic polymers, blending said chemical change agent with water in a ratio of about 40:60 to 60:40, spraying the provided quantity of lower quality coal with the blended water and chemical change agent in a ratio of about one ton of coal plus or minus ten percent to about four gallons of blended water and chemical change agent plus or minus ten percent, baking the coated coal in a reducing, heated, oxygen-free environment, including a heating element, at a temperature of about 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling the resultant higher cold strength baked product by exposing said product to a water quench or cooling said product in a dry quench box.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Inventor: George Montgomery
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Patent number: 7338542Abstract: Coal-based cellular products that can be custom designed to have integral stiffeners or load paths, directed heat transfer paths, and/or directed mass transfer paths and methods for their production are described. Such design and production is made possible by the appropriate selection of starting materials, thermal treatment conditions and mold materials combined in at least some instances with segregation of different starting materials in different regions of a forming mold.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.Inventors: Darren Rogers, Janusz Wladyslaw Plucinski
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Patent number: 6846339Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Pacific Edge Holdings Pty LtdInventors: Roderick Howard Carnegie, John Kenneth Hamilton, Alan Stuart Buchanan
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Publication number: 20030097784Abstract: An improved process for the production of smokeless (low CO2—CO emitting) boiler fuels which have been obtained by careful temperature control and the addition of waste, trash or other carbonaceous material during carbonization of various coal materials such as tar sands, bituminous coal, peat lignite, and oil shale.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2001Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventor: Harold L. Bennett
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Patent number: 6558441Abstract: A process of upgrading low rank coal, including subjecting the low rank coal to pyrolysis in a liquid phase such as in an organic solvent at a temperature of 400-450° C.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2000Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and TechnologyInventor: Yoshiki Sato
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Publication number: 20030009931Abstract: Process for treating coal to enhance its rank, wherein the temperature of the material is gradually increased in a controlled set of atmospheres, to allow for the reduction of surface and inherent moisture and the controlled reduction of volatile matter while maintaining the coal's natural structural integrity. The process reduces the time, capitalization, and production costs required to produce coal of enhanced rank, thus substantially increasing the cost effectiveness and production rate over prior processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: Saudi Americal Minerals Inc.Inventor: Larry Hunt
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Patent number: 6447559Abstract: Process for treating coal to enhance its rank, wherein the temperature of the material is gradually increased in a controlled set of atmospheres, to allow for the reduction of surface and inherent moisture and the controlled reduction of volatile matter while maintaining the coal's natural structural integrity. The process reduces the time, capitalization, and production costs required to produce coal of enhanced rank, thus substantially increasing the cost effectiveness and production rate over prior processes.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Saudi American Minerals Inc.Inventor: Larry Hunt
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Patent number: 6436158Abstract: As one of the coal reforming treatment steps constituting a coal reforming process, an oxidation treatment step is carried out on a circular grate. For this purpose, there is used a coal reforming apparatus comprising a circular grate, the circular grate being separated into a plurality of zones which include fixed bed zones and mixing zones for fluidizing the coal properly between adjacent fixed bed zones.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.Inventors: Keiji Fujikawa, Setsuo Omoto, Hisao Yamaguchi
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Process to improve boiler operation by supplemental firing with thermally beneficiated low rank coal
Patent number: 6325001Abstract: The invention described is a process for improving the performance of a commercial coal or lignite fired boiler system by supplementing its normal coal supply with a controlled quantity of thermally beneficiated low rank coal, (TBLRC). This supplemental TBLRC can be delivered either to the solid fuel mill (pulverizer) or directly to the coal burner feed pipe. Specific benefits are supplied based on knowledge of equipment types that may be employed on a commercial scale to complete the process. The thermally beneficiated low rank coal can be delivered along with regular coal or intermittently with regular coal as the needs require.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Western Syncoal, LLCInventor: Ray W. Sheldon -
Patent number: 6146432Abstract: This invention is a process for the passivation or deactivation with resp to oxygen of a carbonaceous material by the exposure of the carbonaceous material to an oxygenated gas in which the oxygenated gas pressure is increased from a first pressure to a second pressure and then the pressure is changed to a third pressure. Preferably a cyclic process which comprises exposing the carbonaceous material to the gas at low pressure and increasing the pressure to a second higher pressure and then returning the pressure to a lower pressure is used. The cycle is repeated at least twice wherein the higher pressure may be increased after a selected number of cycles.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of EnergyInventors: Thomas L. Ochs, William D. Sands, Karl Schroeder, Cathy A. Summers, Bruce R. Utz
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Patent number: 5527365Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method for drying low-quality solid carbonaceous fuels such as lignite and sub-bituminous coal to reduce the moisture content substantially to zero, and to minimize re-adsorption of moisture during storage and transporation. The method involves drying the solid fuel in a mildly reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 150.degree.to 300.degree. C., preferably 200.degree.to 210.degree. C. The mildly reducing atmosphere may be provided by a gaseous lower-alkane e.g. propane and methane. In some cases, the coal may beneficiated by agglomeration with small amounts of oil.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: National Research Council of CanadaInventors: Richard D. Coleman, Floyd N. Toll, Bryan D. Sparks
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Patent number: 5503646Abstract: A process for upgrading a low rank coal and a heavy oil to produce an improved coal product and an improved oil product. First, the low rank coal is dewatered to reduce its moisture content to less than about 4 percent in order to render the low rank coal more oleophilic. Next, the dewatered low rank coal is mixed with a quantity of the heavy oil of between about 15 and 40 percent of the dry weight of the low rank coal so that the heavy oil substantially contacts the low rank coal in order to produce a mixture. The mixture is then heated to a temperature less than the mild thermal cracking limit of the mixture in order to separate hydrocarbons from the mixture and to produce the improved coal product. The hydrocarbons separated from the mixture during the heating step are then collected in order to produce the improved oil product.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignees: Fording Coal Limited, PanCanadian Petroleum LimitedInventors: Colin J. McKenny, Brian W. Raymond
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Patent number: 5482517Abstract: A coal-water mixture is disclosed which can be produced without using synthetic additives. After an acid such as a mineral acid is added to coal powder which is obtained by grinding coal such as jet coal or gas coal, water anti a plasticizer, composed of a humic acid derivative, are added to produce the coal-water mixture. The humic acid derivative is produced by grinding brown coal into brown coal powder, and adding and mixing caustic soda and sodium sulfite thereto. By the addition of the mineral acid to the powder of jet coal or gas coal, organic ferrum complexes which act as a stabilizer can be produced. With the use of coal powder in which coarse coal particles of a larger particle size are mixed with fine coal particles of a smaller particle size, the suspension can be further improved.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Inventor: Hideji Ikeda
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Patent number: 5474582Abstract: A process for preparing a coal-water fuel from a low rank coal. The first step of the process provides for an aqueous slurry containing particles of the low rank coal. A quantity of an agglomerating agent in the range of about 10% to 30% weight to dry ash - free low rank coal weight is added to the slurry to produce a mixture. The mixture is then agitated to form agglomerates. Following separation of the agglomerates, the agglomerates are contacted with steam or an inert gas having a temperature in the range of about 250.degree. C. to 420.degree. C. at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce partially deoiled agglomerates containing less than about 7% by weight of residual bridging liquid and having a moisture capacity reduced by a factor of at least about 2.5 at a relative humidity of 96% compared to the moisture capacity of the low rank coal.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignees: Alberta Research Council, Eniricerche, S.p.A.Inventors: Boleslaw Ignasiak, Wanda Pawlak, Kazimierz Szymocha, Yevgenia Briker, Loredana Caldiero, Antonio Vettor
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Patent number: 5411560Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus of forming pellets and in particular spherical binderless pellets from lower rank coals. The method includes the steps of feeding a pelletizing means 10, with a lower rank feedstock, 1; rotating the coal in said pelletizing means, 10, to form pellets in the absence of any binder, wherein the pellets are formed by compaction and layering of coal fines. The moisture content of the lower rank coal is at a level so as to at least substantially fill the voids within the coal.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1993Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Swinburne LimitedInventors: David E. Mainwaring, David W. Guy
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Patent number: 5364421Abstract: Coal blends suitable for combustion in a slagging-type combustion apparatus comprise blends of (1) a bituminous coal which forms ash slag having unacceptably high viscosity with (2) a lignitic coal which forms ash slag having marginal viscosity characteristics or T.sub.cv whereupon combustion of the blends results in formation of ash slag having viscosity which is synergistically lowered and acceptable for slagging.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1991Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Ziegler Coal Holding CompanyInventors: Timothy S. Westby, Thomas G. McCord, Lynton W. R. Dicks
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Patent number: 5324336Abstract: Abundant low cost low rank coal may now be gasified by partial oxidation or burned in a furnace or boiler. About 30 to 45 parts by wt. of comminuted low rank coal is mixed and reacted in the reaction zone of a partial oxidation gas generator with a free-oxygen containing gas and (a) about 1 to 3 parts by wt. of a residual fuel oil, and (b) about 70 to 55 parts by wt. of water. The hot effluent stream of synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas from the partial oxidation gasifier may be purified to provide a gas stream which will not pollute the environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1992Date of Patent: June 28, 1994Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventor: Edward T. Child
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Patent number: 5322530Abstract: A process for upgrading and stabilizing low-rank coal involving the sequential processing of the coal through three fluidized beds; first a dryer, then a pyrolyzer, and finally a cooler. The fluidizing gas for the cooler is the exit gas from the pyrolyzer with the addition of water for cooling. Overhead gas from pyrolyzing is likely burned to furnish the energy for the process. The product coal exits with a tar-like pitch sealant to enhance its safety during storage.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1992Date of Patent: June 21, 1994Assignee: Western Research InstituteInventors: Norman W. Merriam, Vijay Sethi, Lee E. Brecher
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Patent number: 5290324Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a coal-water mixture using a reaction mixture obtained by subjecting a low-rank coal of high water content to a hydrothermal treatment in the presence of carbon monoxide and water at a temperature not higher than the critical temperature of water. The above hydrothermal treatment makes the walls of pores present in the coal hydrophobic and densifies the coal matrix, whereby the coal after the treatment has a lower equilibrium moisture content. Hence, it becomes possible to produce a coal-water mixture containing a high concentration of coal and having good stability and fluidity, from a low-rank coal of high water content which has been unusable as a material for a coal-water mixture. Further, in the production of a coal-water mixture from the above reaction mixture, the amount of surfactant used can be reduced because the liquid phase of the reaction mixture contains a large amount of humic acid having surface activity.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1992Date of Patent: March 1, 1994Assignee: Mitsui Mining Company, LimitedInventors: Chikao Yokokawa, Sadao Wasaka
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Patent number: 5162050Abstract: A selectively-sized, raw, low-rank coal is processed to produce a low ash and relative water-free agglomerate with an enhanced heating value and a hardness sufficient to produce a non-decrepitating, shippable fuel. The low-rank coal is treated, under high shear conditions, in the first stage to cause ash reduction and subsequent surface modification which is necessary to facilitate agglomerate formation. In the second stage the treated low-rank coal is contacted with bridging and binding oils under low shear conditions to produce agglomerates of selected size. The bridging and binding oils may be coal or petroleum derived. The process incorporates a thermal deoiling step whereby the bridging oil may be completely or partially recovered from the agglomerate; whereas, partial recovery of the bridging oil functions to leave as an agglomerate binder, the heavy constituents of the bridging oil. The recovered oil is suitable for recycling to the agglomeration step or can serve as a value-added product.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1991Date of Patent: November 10, 1992Assignee: University of North Dakota School of Engineering & Mines Foundation (UND-SEM Foundation)Inventors: Curtis L. Knudson, Ronald C. Timpe, Todd A. Potas, Raymond A. DeWall, Mark A. Musich
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Patent number: 5085764Abstract: In a process for reducing the sulfur and ash contents of coal, coal is sequentially contacted with fused alkali metal caustic, wash water, and acid. Contacting the coal with the caustic produces water-soluble compounds. Sufficient wash water is used to reduce the temperature of the caustic treated coal and dissolve the bulk of the water-soluble compounds before the water-soluble compounds convert to water-insoluble compounds that precipitate on the caustic-treated coal. Caustic removed from the coal by the water is recovered as anhydrous caustic for again contacting coal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: February 4, 1992Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Meyers, Walter D. Hart, Loren C. McClanathan
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Patent number: 5084160Abstract: A method is provided for isolating a less than 5,000 dalton molecular weight extracellular product from Coriolus versicolor. The extracellular product is useful for biosolubilizing low-rank coals to form water-soluble products.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1989Date of Patent: January 28, 1992Inventors: Dorothy L. Stewart, James K. Fredrickson, James A. Campbell, John W. Pyne, Jr., Roger M. Bean, Bary W. Wilson
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Patent number: 5059307Abstract: In a process for reducing the sulfur and ash contents of coal, coal is sequentially contacted with fused alkali metal caustic, water, carbonic acid, and a strong acid. Caustic removed from the coal by the water and the carbonic acid is recovered as anhydrous caustic for again contacting coal.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1989Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignees: TRW Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Meyers, Walter D. Hart, Leslie J. Van Nice, deceased, Leslie J. Van Nice, heir
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Patent number: 5049163Abstract: This invention discloses a process for reducing sulphur dioxide emission from burning coal containing sulphur. In the disclosed process, pulverized combustible materials, such as coal, wood flour, combustible plant, charcoal, etc., and a sulphur trapping agent composition are mixed homogeneously to form an admixture which is ground to powder with dimension from about 30 mesh to about 60 mesh. With an improved roll briquetter of the present invention, briquettes with a microporous surface layer of said admixture powder can be prepared. In such briquettes, the atomic ratio of calcium in the sulphur trapping agent composition to sulphur in the pulverized coal is within the range of from about 1.0 to about 2.0. Microporous pellets of said admixture having opening-porosity are also prepared with conventional roll briquetter. The diameter of the prepared pellets is within the range from about 8 mm to about 20 mm. A layer of said pellets covers the surface of pulverized coal in a burner for combustion.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1989Date of Patent: September 17, 1991Assignee: Briquetting Research and Design Institute, Beijing Graduate School of China University of Mining and TechnologyInventors: Zhongcheng Huang, Peilan Wang, Xiaoxu Lei
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Patent number: 5035721Abstract: A method is provided for removing moisture and improving the handling and storage characteristics or low-rank coal by demoisturizing the coal and rendering the coal surfaces hydrophobic, separating the fines and agglomerating the fines in a slurry.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1989Date of Patent: July 30, 1991Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventor: Linda Atherton