Particulate coal-in-liquid mixture and process for the production thereof
AssigneeErgon, Inc.
InventorDavid W. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved particulate coal-in-liquid mixtures and a process for the production thereof wherein, prior to mixing with liquid, the coal component of the mixture is finally divided in a substantially airtight fluid energy attrition mill, and thereafter separated from ash particles. The particulate coal product thus produced is mixed with a suitable liquid to provide a product which may be used in coal gasification or hydrogenation processes, or as a composite fuel, and which can be stored for extended periods without appreciable settling out of the coal from the mixture.
Claims49
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising:
- a. grinding raw coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air-free environment using a gaseous carrier medium to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction;
- b. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash fraction are wetted, but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry;
- c. separating the ash particles from the coal particles;
- and
- d. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising:
- a. deaerating raw coal;
- b. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction;
- c. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry;
- d. separating the ash particles from the coal particles;
- and
- e. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising:
- a. heating raw coal to reduce the moisture content thereof;
- b. deaerating the coal;
- c. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction;
- d. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal-fraction are left substantially dry;
- e. separating the ash particles from the coal particles;
- and
- f. mixing the coal particles with liquid.
A stable particulate coal-in-liquid mixture wherein the coal particles have a particle size of less than 40 microns and are hydrophobic without the presence of a stabilizing agent in said mixture, said mixture having a ash content of less than about 5% of its total weight, and the ratio of ash to coal in said mixture being less than the ratio of ash to coal in the raw coal from which said mixture is produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.