Abstract:
A method of operating a gasification facility includes channeling steam into a grinding mill via a flow control device and a conduit. The method also includes mixing carbonaceous fuel, preheated water, and steam within the grinding mill, to form a preheated coal slurry stream.
Abstract:
A powdered fuel includes a powder including a material consisting of particles having a particle size distribution median and other statistical characteristics such that less than about 5% of the particles by weight have a size larger than an explosibility size limit for the material. The particle size distribution median and other statistical characteristics are selected based on the use of the powder as a substantially explosible fuel. In one embodiment the material is biomass. In other embodiments, the material is a metal material, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, a plastic material, or a hydrocarbon-bearing solid. A powdered fuel dispersion includes an oxidizing gas and a powdered fuel dispersed in the oxidizing gas at a ratio such that the powdered fuel dispersion is explosible. Proper control of the moving dispersion produces a stationary deflagrating wave that substantially consumes the fuel to produce energy.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process that comminutes fuel solids in a steam-driven shear field, with controlled water content and optionally a catalyst, with gasification of the free-standing or slurry particulate outputs. Unlike conventional gasification methods the invention requires no dioxygen to be present, and produces dry friable ash that has significant marketable value as a material in its own right.
Abstract:
The invention provides a micronized form of coal particles with improved characteristics for porosity, hydration and preservation of pristine surfaces. The coal of the invention can burn at low temperatures, avoiding emissions of nitrogen oxides, and also has improved properties for surfactant-free suspension in either water or oil media, as well as for liquefaction and gasification.
Abstract:
A process to produce a flowable fuel or fuel supplement from solid and/or liquid waste, such as industrial waste. A system to carry out the process includes producing from the solid and/or liquid industrial waste a solid char and vaporize liquids, recombining the char and the liquids, recovered from the wastes feed, to form a feed slurry containing solids, combining the feed slurry with additional combustible waste liquids which are added at a rate and amount to obtain a fuel slurry of specified properties, particularly specified viscosity and BTU content, subjecting the feed slurry and additional wastes to conditions of attrition in at least one attrition zone to produce a product slurry containing solids of fuel size, recovering the fuel slurry which be used as fuel in partial oxidation processes. The liquid waste may be collected as a product, particularly if they are high in organic compounds.
Abstract:
Described are methods that utilize high efficiency evaporative distillation to make a high softening point coal tar pitch, a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, and a mesophase coal tar pitch. Each of the methods uses a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. The methods may be carried out using appropriate conventional distillation equipment, a wiped film evaporator, or a thin film evaporator.
Abstract:
A process to produce a flowable fuel or fuel supplement from solid and/or liquid waste, such as municipal waste, industrial wastes or mixtures thereof and the system to carry out the process in which a feed of solid and liquid municipal waste, industrial wastes or mixtures thereof to a treatment zone under conditions of temperature to produce a solid char and vaporize liquids, recombining the char and the liquids, recovered from the wastes feed, to form a feed slurry containing solids, combining the feed slurry with additional combustible waste liquids which are added at a rate and amount to obtain a fuel slurry of specified properties, particularly specified viscosity and BTU content, subjecting the feed slurry and additional wastes to conditions of attrition in at least one attrition zone to produce a product slurry containing solids of fuel size, recovering the fuel slurry which be used as fuel in partial oxidation processes. The liquid waste may be collected as a product, particularly if they are high in organic compounds.
Abstract:
The invention is a process for producing a mixture of Fischer-Tropsch product that is solid at ambient conditions (between 32° F. and 95° F.), such as wax, and hydrocarbon liquid, such as naphtha, that can be pumped at ambient temperature (between 32° F. and 95° F.). The temperature of the mixture is controlled below the melting point of the Fischer-Tropsch product. The present invention provides for the transport of Fischer-Tropsch product from a remote location in a readily available medium, such as naphtha, via pipeline, tanker or railcar. At the completion of the transport, the hydrocarbon liquid and Fischer-Tropsch product are separated by conventional methods such as flashing, distillation, or filtration with minimal contamination from the hydrocarbon liquid.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a novel pumpable sewage sludge fuel and process for burning it. An aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is dewatered and dried to a solids content in the range of about 50 to 99 wt. % in a drying zone in the absence of free-oxygen containing gas but while in contact with a gaseous material selected from the group consisting of N.sub.2, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, CO, and mixtures thereof. The dried sewage sludge is mixed with a supplementary fuel from the group consisting of solid carbonaceous fuel, liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel, mixtures thereof, and optionally with water to produce a pumpable slurry fuel feedstream having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 65 wt. % and a higher heating value of at least about 6,000 Btu/lb. The slurry fuel feedstream may be burned in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator.