Abstract: Measurements are taken of moisture, BTU/lb (British Thermal Units per pound), ash, forms of sulfur, volatile material, grindability, and absorption properties of any of a wide variety of mine-run solid fuels. Using that information, a dry electromagnetic process technology has been developed that can be controlled and monitored to selectively alter and enhance metallurgical solid fuel properties. Specific changes include altering the mechanical structure and chemical composition of solid fuels such as coal, coal coke or petroleum coke, increasing the BTU/lb to optimum levels, decreasing all forms of sulfur, and decreasing ash, while maintaining the BTU/lb of the fuels. A new family of solid fuel designer coals not found in nature can be produced via these methods and apparatus.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Measurements are taken of moisture, BTU/lb (British Thermal Units per pound), ash, forms of sulfur, volatile material, grindability, and absorption properties of any of a wide variety of mine-run solid fuels. Using that information, a dry electromagnetic process technology has been developed that can be controlled and monitored to selectively alter and enhance metallurgical solid fuel properties. Specific changes include altering the mechanical structure and chemical composition of solid fuels such as coal, coal coke or petroleum coke, increasing the BTU/lb to optimum levels, decreasing all forms of sulfur, and decreasing ash, while maintaining the BTU/lb of the fuels. A new family of solid fuel designer coals not found in nature can be produced via these methods and apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a method for purifying a biodiesel fuel while completely preventing or greatly reducing generation of waste water. The present invention relates to a method for purifying a biodiesel fuel characterized by applying an electric field to or heating a crude biodiesel fuel and a method for purifying a biodiesel fuel characterized by adding water (preferably containing a demulsifier such as an inorganic calcium salt or a magnesium salt) to a crude biodiesel fuel to form W/O emulsion, and breaking the emulsion by application of an electric field or heating, etc.

Abstract: Measurements are taken of moisture, BTU/lb (British Thermal Units per pound), ash, forms of sulfur, volatile material, grindability, and absorption properties of any of a wide variety of mine-run solid fuels. Using that information, a dry electromagnetic process technology has been developed that can be controlled and monitored to selectively alter and enhance solid fuel properties for the application in question. Specific changes include altering the mechanical structure and chemical composition of solid fuels such as coal, coal coke or petroleum coke, increasing the BTU/lb to optimum levels, decreasing all forms of sulfur, and decreasing ash, while maintaining the BTU/lb of the fuels. A new family of solid fuel designer coals not found in nature can be produced via these methods and apparatus.

Abstract: A method is provided for initiating and sustaining a combustive reaction in a solid fuel. The method includes generating at least one pulsed optical signal and directing the pulsed optical signal to a plurality of ignition points within at least one combustion chamber containing a solid fuel. The pulsed optical signal is generated by an optical source, e.g. a laser pump, and modulated using an intensity profiler. The intensity profiler modulates the pulsed optical signal to initially have a first peak power sufficient to initiate a combustive reaction in a solid fuel. The intensity profiler further modulates the pulsed optical signal to subsequently have a second peak power sufficient to sustain the combustive reaction until sufficient exothermic energy is released by the combustive reaction to make the reaction self-sustaining.

Abstract: Petroleum residua are combined with water or an aqueous solution to form an emulsion which is then treated with ultrasound at a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient period of time to cause a conversion of the heavy hydrocarbon components of the residua to lighter components, thereby shifting the entire boiling point curve to lower boiling points. This allows one to draw a greater proportion of usable oil from the residua.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and process for improving the combustion of any kind of combustible. Also the invention relates to a process and device for obtaining such composition. The variant destined to the firing installations using common liquid/gaseous combustible as well as those ones using solid combustibles and, simultaneously liquid/gaseous combustibles for enhancing the combustion contain ?20% of 6% watery solution of potassium dichromate, treated with monochromatic light having/=480?490. 10?9 m; 0.02 ammonia; 0.3% non-additivated mineral oil and ?80% demineralized water. The variant destined to the firing installations using solid combustibles ?10% of 5% watery solution of potassium permanganate, treated with monochromatic light having/=595?625. 10?9 m; 0.05% urea 0.3% non-additivated mineral oil and ?90% de-mineralized water.

Abstract: In crude oil fractions, fossil fuels, and organic liquids in general in which it is desirable to reduce the levels of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing components, the process reduces the level of these compounds via the application of sonic energy. The process can be performed both with and without the added presence of an oxidizing agent, and with or without elevated temperature and/or pressure. The invention is performed either as a continuous process or a batch process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for maintaining the active life of a catalyst in organic feed processing by applying a series of electromagnetic radiation pulses to the catalyst in a reactor. The pulsing of the catalyst selectively heats and cools the catalyst and can regulate the relative internal pressure of the catalyst particles to stimulate the acceleration of oil macromolecules mass-exchange through the catalyst pores and surface. This allows for the removal of cracked oil molecules from the particles. The application of electromagnetic pulses also regulates the activity of the catalyst. The electromagnetic radiation reduces the formation of coke on the catalyst and increases the life of the catalyst in the reactor. Further, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing water and salt from an organic feed. Water and salt is removed by applying a series of electromagnetic radiation pulses to the organic feed.

Abstract: Crude oil fractions, fossil fuels, and organic liquids in general in which it is desirable to reduce the levels of fused-ring compounds, aromatics, and olefins are combined with an aqueous phase to form an emulsion and treated with ultrasound with the effect of opening rings in the fused-ring compounds, saturating aromatics, and converting the olefins to paraffins. In fossil fuels and crude oil fractions, the process raises the API gravity, and in diesel fuels, the process raises the cetane index and thereby improves performance. In fuels and fractions with sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing components, the process reduces the level of these compounds. The process can be performed both with and without the added presence of hydrogen peroxide. The invention is performed either as a continuous process or a batch process.

Abstract: Fossil fuels are combined with a hydroperoxide, a surface active agent, and an aqueous liquid to form an aqueous-organic reaction medium which is passed through an ultrasound chamber on a continuous flow-through basis. The emerging mixture separates spontaneously into aqueous and organic phases, from which the organic phase is readily isolated as the desulfurized fossil fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for maintaining the active life of a catalyst in organic feed processing by applying a series of electromagnetic radiation pulses to the catalyst in a reactor. The pulsing of the catalyst selectively heats and cools the catalyst and can regulate the relative internal pressure of the catalyst particles to stimulate the acceleration of oil macromolecules mass-exchange through the catalyst pores and surface. This allows for the removal of cracked oil molecules from the particles. The application of electromagnetic pulses also regulates the activity of the catalyst. The electromagnetic radiation reduces the formation of coke on the catalyst and increases the life of the catalyst in the reactor. Further, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing water and salt from an organic feed. Water and salt is removed by applying a series of electromagnetic radiation pulses to the organic feed.

Abstract: A heavy oil emulsified fuel evaporator system is provided in which a heavy oil emulsified fuel, after being preheated at a preheater, flows into an evaporator to be heated and then to a separator for separation of its water content. The water content, after being separated, is used as a preheating source medium for said preheater, wherein water content separation at a predetermined level is enabled irrespective of load change in a heavy oil fuel combustion equipment, and no light oil content is discharged together with the separated water content. Heavy oil emulsified fuel 11a is preheated at a preheater 13, is heated at an evaporator 14 and flows into a separator 15 to be separated of its water content. Water content, after being separated, is sent via a piping 15a to be used as the preheating source medium for the preheater 13.

Abstract: A method to effectively break hydrocarbon and water emulsions with radio frequency energy. A stream of hydrocarbon and water emulsion is pumped into a multimode resonant reentrant microwave cavity. Dual opposing emulsion flow chambers with a centrally supplied microwave waveguide form a double ended resonant chamber with multiple RF energy reflections to effectively treat the flowing emulsion. The emulsified feedstock enters into the bottoms of both flow chambers and exits to a centrifuge or storage for separation.

Abstract: The process of demetalization and desulphuration of a mixture of carbonaceous material in an acid medium subjecting the mixture to the influence of wave energy in the microwave range, recovering, afterwards, the sulphur and separating the treated material from the rich in metal liquors.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for discriminating a coal species, discriminating values of coal species/properties are prepared corresponding to coal ranks, a coal to be discriminated is irradiated with near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, and light of near-infrared rays reflected from the coal is received; Aborbances of the coal are acquired, and the coal species/property discriminating value of the coal is discriminated on the basis of the absorbances and a prescribed calibration curve.

Abstract: A device for purifying fuel is safe and can be easily controlled, and is of low cost by applying a low frequency, low voltage and low current signal to fuel during the supply thereof. The device comprises a fuel supply pipe interposed between a fuel tank and an engine, a fuel communication pipe interposed in the fuel supply pipe, a conductive coil wound around a periphery of the fuel communication pipe, a protective cover for covering the conductive coil, and an AC signal generator connected to a battery and the conductive coil for generating a low frequency, low voltage and low current signal to the conductive coil.