Process for producing solid industrial fuel

A continuous process for making substantially pollution-free solid fuel from small particle woody materials characterized by having a moisture content of less than about 15 percent and a cellulosic fibrous structure comprising the steps of:

• continuously supplying said materials to a carbonizer;
• pyrolyzing said materials in said carbonizer only until the fibrous structure thereof is destroyed to form a solid fuel having a fuel value of at least about 11,000 B.t.u. per pound on a moisture and ash-free basis and having more than 30 percent volatile combustible matter therein;
• collecting said solid fuel, and cooling said fuel to a temperature of not less than about 200.degree. F;
• conditioning said fuel against spontaneous combustion.

A continuous process for making substantially pollution-free solid fuel from moist small particle woody materials characterized by having a cellulosic fibrous structure comprising the steps of:

• supplying said material to a drier;
• drying said materials until the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 percent;
• admitting said dried materials to a carbonizer;
• pyrolizying said materials in said carbonizer until the fibrous structure thereof is destroyed to form a solid industrial fuel having a fuel value of at least about 11,000 B.t.u. per pound on a moisture and ash-free basis and a volatile combustible matter content of at least about 30 percent;
• collecting said fuel as it leaves the carbonizer and immediately quench-cooling said fuel to a temperature between about 200.degree.-225.degree. F;
• conditioning said fuel by agitation in a steam atmosphere until said fuel is no longer pyrophoric.