Upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels using a lean fuel gas stream from a pyrolysis step
AssigneeMR&E, Ltd.
InventorsDennis W. Coolidge, Deane A. Horne, Ronn G. Smith, Leslie C. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels includes subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases. Auxiliary fuel is combusted in an auxiliary fuel combustor to produce auxiliary fuel combustion gases, and the lean fuel gases are heated with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases. The heated lean fuel gases are combusted in a lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion, and at least a portion of the gas stream of products of combustion are to directed to the pyrolyzer.
Claims20
The method of upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels comprising:
- subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases;
- combusting auxiliary fuel in an auxiliary fuel combustor to produce auxiliary fuel combustion gases;
- heating the lean fuel gases with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases;
- combusting the heated lean fuel gases in a lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion;
- and
- directing at least a portion of the gas stream of products of combustion to the pyrolyzer.
The method of upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels comprising:
- subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases;
- directing the flow of lean fuel gases and a flow of primary combustion air into a lean fuel combustor;
- combusting the lean fuel gases in the lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion;
- measuring the oxygen concentration of the gas stream of the lean fuel combustion process;
- and
- controlling the flow rate of the primary combustion air into the lean fuel combustor in response to the measured concentration of oxygen in the gas stream of the lean fuel combustion process.
The method of upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels comprising:
- subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases;
- directing the flow of lean fuel gases and a flow of primary combustion air into a lean fuel combustor;
- combusting the lean fuel gases in the lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion;
- introducing at least a portion of the gas stream into the flow of primary combustion air;
- determining the temperature of the flow of lean fuel gases and the flow of primary combustion air introduced into the lean fuel combustor;
- and
- controlling the flow rate of the introduced portion of the gas stream in response to the temperature of the flow of lean fuel gases and the flow of primary combustion air.
The method of upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels comprising:
- subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases;
- directing the flow of lean fuel gases and a flow of primary combustion air into a lean fuel combustor;
- combusting the lean fuel gases in the lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion;
- introducing at least a portion of the gas stream into the flow of primary combustion air;
- and
- directing the remainder of the gas stream to the pyrolyzer, wherein at least about 60% of the heat provided to the pyrolyzer is provided by the combustion of the lean fuel gases from the pyrolyzer, with the remainder of the heat being provided by the auxiliary fuel combustor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.