Method and system for reducing the moisture content of sub-bituminous coals and the like
OwnerG. William Kalbinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention proposes a method and system for addressing the specific processing requirements which must be satisfied to successfully thermally dry sub-bituminous materials in order to raise the heating values of such materials to levels approximating those of bituminous coals. In addition, the present invention proposes a new integration of technical mechanisms to satisfy these requirements, which, in addition to being unique from an overall process perspective, incorporates several individually unique components and sub-systems. The invention further includes systems and methods for restructuring such thermally dried materials into commercially usable handleable and marketable fuel product.
Claims43
A method of increasing the BTU value of carbonaceous particulate fuel material by reducing the inherent moisture content thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a pressurized heated gas stream into an inlet of a chamber and introducing a feed of carbonaceous particulate fuel material into said chamber, said chamber having a sub-atmospheric oxygen content;
- and
- heating said particulate material using said pressurized heated gas stream introduced into said chamber until such time that particles introduced into said chamber achieve a reduced inherent moisture content and an attendant particle size reduction essentially at or below a predetermined maximum particle size and a predetermined maximum moisture content whereat the velocity of said heated pressurized gas stream is sufficient to entrain in said gas stream and carry from an outlet of said chamber of the fuel particles introduced into said chamber.
A combined method of increasing the BTU value of carbonaceous particulate fuel material by reducing inherent content thereof and recombining of such particulate material into a fuel product, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a pressurized heated gas stream into an inlet of a chamber and introducing a feed of carbonaceous particulate fuel material into said chamber, said chamber having a sub-atmospheric oxygen content;
- heating said particulate material using said pressurized heated gas stream introduced into said chamber until such time that particles introduced into said chamber achieve a reduced inherent moisture content and an attendant particle size reduction essentially at or below a predetermined maximum particle size and a predetermined maximum moisture content whereat the velocity of said heated pressurized gas stream is sufficient to entrain in said gas stream and carry from an outlet of said chamber of the fuel particles introduced into said chamber;
- subsequent to being carried from said second end of said chamber, separating a substantial portion of the particles from said gas stream;
- and
- recombining the particles separated from said gas stream into a fuel product of reduced moisture content and increased BTU value relative to said feed of carbonaceous particulate fuel material.
A system for increasing the BTU value of carbonaceous particulate fuel material be reducing the moisture content thereof, said system comprising, in combination:
- means for containing a feed stock of said carbonaceous particulate fuel material, and means for heating said particulate material;
- means for delivering a feed of said particulate material from said means for containing to said means for heating, said means for heating having a sub-atmospheric oxygen content;
- and
- means for supplying a heated pressurized gas stream to an inlet of said means for heating, said heated pressurized gas stream heating said particulate material until such time that particles delivered to said means for heating achieve a particle size and a reduced inherent moisture content essentially at or below a predetermined maximum particle size and a predetermined maximum moisture content whereat the velocity of said heated pressurized gas stream is sufficient to entrain in said gas stream and carry from an outlet of said means for heating the particles delivered to said means for heating.
A system for increasing the BTU value of carbonaceous particulate fuel material by reducing the inherent moisture content thereof and for recombining of such particulate material into a fuel product, said system comprising, in combination:
- means for containing a feed stock of said carbonaceous particulate fuel material, and means for heating said particulate material;
- means for delivering a feed of said particulate material from said means for containing to said means for heating, said means for heating having a sub-atmospheric oxygen content;
- means for supplying a heated pressurized gas stream to an inlet of said means for heating, said heated pressurized gas stream heating said particulate material until such time that all particles introduced into said means for heating achieve a particle size and an inherent moisture content essentially at or below a predetermined maximum particle size and a predetermined maximum moisture content whereat the velocity of said heated pressurized gas stream is sufficient to entrain in said gas stream and carry from an outlet of said means for heating particles introduced into said means for heating;
- means for separating from said gas stream a substantial portion of the particles entrained therein subsequent to said particles being carried from outlet;
- and
- means for recombining the particles separated from said gas stream into recombined fuel product of reduced moisture content and increased BTU value relative to said feed of particulate material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.