Upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels using a lean fuel gas stream from a pyrolysis step
AssigneeNational Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy (NICE)
InventorsDennis W. Coolidge, Deane A. Horne, Ronn G. Smith, Leslie C. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels includes subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases. Auxiliary fuel is combusted in an auxiliary fuel combustor to produce auxiliary fuel combustion gases, and the lean fuel gases are heated with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases. The heated lean fuel gases are combusted in a lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion, and at least a portion of the gas stream of products of combustion are directed to the pyrolyzer.
Claims12
The method of upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels comprising:
- subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases;
- combusting auxiliary fuel in an auxiliary fuel combustor to produce auxiliary fuel combustion gases;
- indirectly heating the lean fuel gases with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases without combining the lean fuel gases with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases;
- combusting the heated lean fuel gases in a lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion;
- and
- directing at least a portion of the gas stream of products of combustion to the pyrolyzer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.