Method of enhancing the quality of high-moisture materials using system heat sources

A method for thermally amplifying a gaseous stream for use within a manufacturing operation that produces at least one waste heat source, such method comprising:

• (a) providing a gaseous stream at a first temperature;
• (b) providing heat from a waste heat source and a first heat exchanger, whereby the gaseous stream is delivered to the first heat exchanger and heat content contained within the waste heat source is delivered to the gaseous stream which exits the first heat exchanger at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature;
• and
• (c) providing heat from a waste heat source and a second heat exchanger, whereby the gaseous stream that exited the first heat exchanger is delivered to the second heat exchanger, and heat content contained within the waste heat source is delivered to the gaseous stream which exits the second heat exchanger at a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature.

A method for improving a quality characteristic of a particulate material through the application of a heat source, such particulate material being for use within an industrial process operation that produces one or more waste heat sources, wherein such method comprises:

• (a) providing a dryer bed for receiving the particulate material and heat from at least one heat source to be directed through the particulate material;
• (b) providing heat exchange means operatively connected to the dryer bed for communicating heat content contained within the at least one heat source to the dryer bed, whereby the heat source(s) is selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• (i) one type of waste heat other than hot condenser cooling water;
• (ii) a combination of at least two different types of waste heat;
• or (iii) a combination of at least two different types of waste heat and a primary heat source;
• (c) maintaining the particulate material within the dryer bed exposed to heat from the heat source(s) for a sufficient temperature and time duration to achieve the desired degree of improvement to the quality characteristic to the particulate material;
• and
• (d) removing the treated particulate material from the dryer bed.

A coal drying system incorporated into an industrial plant operation having at least two different types of waste heat, such system comprising:

• (a) a fluidized-bed dryer unit having an interior for receiving the coal, the dryer unit having a first drying stage in operative communication with a second drying stage wherein coal disposed in the dryer unit travels from the first dryer stage toward the second drying stage while being dried;
• (b) an air pre-heater operatively disposed between the dryer unit and the two different waste heat sources to transfer heat from each of the waste heat sources to an air stream passing through the air pre-heater before it flows to and through the dryer unit, wherein the air stream fluidizes the coal particles contained within dryer unit;
• and
• (c) a heat exchanger operatively connected to the dryer unit for transferring heat from at least one of the waste heat sources to the dryer unit for increasing the interior temperature of the dryer unit such that moisture within the coal is reduced.