Method for processing pulverized solid fuel

A method for processing a pulverized solid fuel, consisting essentially of:

• (a) drying said fuel with a hot gas introduced at a rate sufficient to form a gaseous suspension containing a dry particulate fuel fraction and a volatile moisture containing fuel fraction;
• (b) separating and removing the entire volatile moisture containing fuel fraction from the gaseous suspension and feeding it to a power plant fuel supply, thereby leaving a residue of dry particulate fuel;
• (c) subjecting the entire residue of dry particulate fuel to a first stage pyrolysis to form a first gas-vapor product, which is separated, removed and condensed, and a first residue of small coke;
• (d) subjecting the entire first residue of small coke from step (c) to a second stage pyrolysis to form a gaseous product which is separated and removed, and a second residue of small coke;
• (e) introducing a portion of the second residue of small coke from step (d) into a gas fired furnace and heating to a temperature of about 800.degree.-1500.degree. C. to form a third residue of heated small coke and a hot flue gas;
• the remaining portion of said second residue of small coke from step (d) being removed as a product;
• (f) separating the third residue of heated small coke in step (e) from the hot flue gas;
• (g) recycling a portion of said hot flue gas, as a gaseous heat source, to the first stage pyrolysis in step (c), and recycling the remaining portion to step (a) to serve as the hot drying gas;
• (h) introducing said entire third residue of heated small coke from step (f) to a water-gas gasifier wherein a suspension consisting essentially of volatile water-gas and a fourth residue of heated small coke are formed;
• (i) separating and removing the water-gas, and recycling the entire fourth residue of coke from step (h) to the first stage pyrolysis in step (c) to serve as a solid heat source for said pyrolysis.