Methods of producing water-resistant solid fuels
AssigneeGTL Energy Holdings Pty Limited
InventorsRobert R. French, Robert A. Reeves, Patrick B. Auell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method by which high moisture low rank coal or other carbonaceous material may be transformed into a high-energy, water resistant product. The raw feed is comminuted then mechanically compacted by a roller press with rolls of a specified profile to mobilize the inherent moisture and collapse most of the interstitial pore space. The mobilized moisture is then removed by low-temperature drying and the material is sized and shaped to form a product that is resistant to re-absorption of water or other liquids. The present invention will promote the use of low rank coal for liquefaction and gasification.
Claims17
A method of removing void spaces present in a carbonaceous material comprising:
- comminuting a carbonaceous material to form a crushed material;
- compacting the crushed material in a roll press comprising first and second counter-rotating rolls to form a compacted material,
- wherein the first and second counter-rotating rolls each comprise a circumferential profile of assemblages of ridge and valley arcs repeating at equal spacing around the circumference of the roll, and connected by straight tangent segments,
- and the first and second rolls of the roll press are rotated together in a timed ridge-to-valley process to compact the crushed feedstock between respective peaks and valleys of the first and second counter-rotating rolls to increase a residence time of the crushed material in the roll press when forming the compacted material;
- and,
- drying the compacted material to produce a solid carbonaceous fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.