# US 2014/0190036 A1 · Coal drying method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190036 A1 - Document ID: US20140190036A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/205,996 - Filed: 2014-03-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-01 - Assignees: Vitrinite Services, LLC - Applicants: Vitrinite Services, LLC - Inventors: Richard W. BLAND; Bruce MCDANIEL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190036A1 ## CPC - F26B 5/16: by contact with sorbent bodies, e.g. absorbent mould; by admixture with sorbent materials - C10B 57/10: Drying - F23G 5/04: drying - F23K 1/00: Preparation of lump or pulverulent fuel in readiness for delivery to combustion apparatus - F26B 25/04: Agitating, stirring, or scraping devices {(arrangement of doctor blades F26B17/286)} - F26B 25/22: Controlling the drying process in dependence on liquid content of solid materials or objects - F23K 2201/20: Drying - F23K 2201/30: Separating - F23K 2201/505: with additives - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - F23K: FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS (fuel feeders specially adapted for fluidised bed combustion apparatus F23C10/22) ## Abstract The present invention provides a method and system for drying coal using activated alumina. The method and system dries the coal by combining coal with the activated alumina. While in combination, the mixture is agitated to maximize surface contact between the activated alumina and the coal. As the coal contact the activated alumina, the surfactant moisture on the coal is then absorbed by the activated alumina. The activated alumina allow for the water molecules to pass into the sieves, thus being removed from the coal. After a period of agitation, the method and system thereby separates the activated alumina and the coal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for drying coal comprising: combining a first volume of coal with a second volume of activated alumina; drying the coal through contacting engagement of the coal with activated alumina such that moisture content of the coal is reduced by the activated alumina; and separating the activated alumina from the coal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: agitating coal and activated alumina when in contacting engagement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: drying the coal to a first moisture content level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the drying of the coal to the first moisture content level includes placing the coal in contact engagement with the activated alumina for a first period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coal consists of coal having a sizing of 1 mm or larger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coal consists of coal fines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coal consists of coal fine refuse. ### Claim 8 A system for drying coal comprising: a combination unit for holding a first volume of coal and a second volume of activated alumina such that a moisture content of the coal is reduced by the contacting engagement with the activated alumina; a coal distribution unit for placing the first volume of coal in the combination unit; a activated alumina distribution unit for placing the second volume of activated alumina in the combination unit; and a separation device for separating the activated alumina from the coal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 further comprising: an agitation device for agitating the combination unit and thereby agitating the coal and activated alumina when in contacting engagement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising: a moisture detection device determining the moisture level of the coal after being in combination with the activated alumina. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: a timing device for timing the contact engagement of the activated alumina and coal to achieve a first moisture level of the coal based on the engagement of the coal and activated alumina. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: a coal volume distribution adjuster for adjusting the first volume of coal in the combination unit such that the coal volume distribution adjuster is adjusted based on the moisture detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: an activated alumina volume distribution adjuster for adjusting the second volume of activated alumina in the combination unit such that the activated alumina distribution adjuster is adjusted based on the moisture detector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the coal includes at least one of: coal having a sizing of 1 mm or larger; coal fines; and coal fines refuse. ### Claim 15 A method for drying coal comprising: separating a plurality of coal to generate larger coal pieces and coal; placing a first volume of the coal in a combination unit; adding a second a volume of activated alumina in the combination unit; agitating the combination unit for a first period of time such that the coal are in contacting engagement with activated alumina, thereby reducing a moisture content of the coal; separating the activated alumina from the coal; and removing moisture content from the activated alumina. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: recombining the coal with the larger coal pieces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the separating of the activated alumina from the coal uses a screening technique. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the second volume of activated alumina is drawn from a activated alumina holding device, the method further comprising: after removing the moisture from the activated alumina, placing the activated alumina in the activated alumina holding device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: measuring the moisture content of the coal after agitation in the combination unit; and adjusting the first period of time based on the measured moisture content. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: measuring the moisture content of the coal after agitation in the combination unit; and adjusting at least one of: the first volume of coal and the second volume of activated alumina in the combination unit based on the measured moisture content.