Fuel pellet and method for its production
AssigneeCQ Inc.
InventorsJames W. Parkinson, Glenn A. Shirey, Thomas DiMuzio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved pelletized fuel consisting essentially of from about 70% to about 98% coal fines and from about 2% to about 30% waste thermoplastic polymeric material (plastic) and a method of producing the improved pelletized fines are disclosed. The plastic is shredded or granulated before mixing with the coal fines, and the mixture is heated to a temperature to soften or melt at least a major portion of the plastic. The heated mixture is then shaped by applying a pressure of at least about 600 PSI and pressing the mixture through a pelletizing or extrusion die, or shaping the mixture in a briquetting operation.
Claims16
A high strength, water resistant compacted solid fuel consisting of a substantially homogeneous mixture of coal fines in an amount of from about 70% to about 98%, by weight, and granulated waste thermoplastic polymeric materials in an amount of from about 2% to about 30%, said coal fines and thermoplastic polymeric material being bonded together to form discrete particles having a hardness of at least about 10 Kg as measured by a spring loaded Kahl pellet hardness tester.
A method for producing a high strength water resistant pelletized fuel consisting of a mixture of coal fines in the amount of from about 70% to about 98%, by weight, and mixed granulated waste thermoplastic polymeric materials in the amount of from about 2% to about 30%, the method comprising the steps of heating the mixture of coal fines and thermoplastic polymeric materials to at least the softening point of the major portion of the thermoplastic polymeric material,
- mixing the heated coal and thermoplastic polymeric material to coat the coal fines with the melted thermoplastic polymeric material,
- pelletizing the heated mixture at a pressure of at least about 600 PSI, and
- cooling the pelletized fuel to form pellets having a strength of at least about 10 kg as measured by a spring loaded Kahl pellet hardness tester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.