Patent US4030893A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4030893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel
Assignee: Keller Corp
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Filing: 1976-05-20
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from coal while simultaneously recovering valuable chemical products and taking advantage of a surprising co-action between comminution and dissolution and characterized as the steps of comminuting the coal in the presence of an alcohol containing 1-4 carbons atoms, inclusive; forming an admixture of the comminuted coal and alcohol to have a desired minimum of solids; separating the admixture into a first underflow of high density solids, a first middling stream of coal in alcohol and a first overflow stream of the alcohol and its dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first underflow into a second underflow having therein the sulfur and solids that would form ash if burned and a second overflow comprising a dilute slurry of the coal in the alcohol and dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first middling stream into a third underflow of high density solids, a second middling stream of coal with only a minor amount of sulfur and high density solids and a third overflow comprising the alcohol and dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first overflow into a fourth underflow and a fourth overflow; refining the fourth overflow into respective desired chemical products, or constituents and the alcohol; and forming a low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from the second middling stream. Also disclosed are specific preferred steps including the treatment of the low-sulfur, low-ash coal to turn it into a puffed coal that burns readily to produce a hot flame with very low pollution emissions, while recovering alcohol and valuable chemicals, organic gases and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard J. Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:52
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A method of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from coal comprising the steps of: a. comminuting the coal in the presence of an alcohol containing 1-4 carbon atoms, inclusive, to a size wherein a major part of said coal is of -100 mesh size; b. forming an admixture of the resulting comminuted coal and said alcohol; said admixture containing at least 40 percent by weight of said coal; c. separating said admixture into three streams, said streams being a first underflow stream comprising primarily a first slurry of high density solids, a first middling stream comprising primarily a first slurry of said coal particles, and a first overflow of stream comprising primarily said alcohol, a liquor of constituents dissolved from the comminuted coal in said alcohol and colloidal constituents suspended in said alcohol and said liquor; d. separating said first underflow of said first slurry of high density solids into a second underflow comprising a second viscous slurry of sulfur and solids that would form ash residue if burned with the coal, and a second overflow comprising a dilute slurry of coal in said alcohol and the liquor of constituents dissolved from the comminuted coal in said alcohol; e. separating said first middling stream into a third underflow comprising a second slurry of high density solids, a second middling stream comprising primarily a second slurry of said coal with only a minor amount of said high density solids and sulfur therein, and a third overflow comprising primarily said alcohol, a liquor comprising constituents dissolved in said alcohol and colloidal constituents suspended in said alcohol and said liquor; f. separating said first overflow into a fourth underflow and a fourth overflow; g. refining said fourth overflow into respective desired constituents and said alcohol; and h. forming a low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from said second middling stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
303 words
A method of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from coal comprising the steps of: a. comminuting the coal in the presence of an alcohol containing 1-4 carbon atoms, inclusive, to a size wherein a major part of said coal is of -100 mesh size; b. forming an admixture of the resulting comminuted coal and said alcohol; said admixture containing at least 40 percent by weight of said coal; c. separating said admixture into three streams, said streams being a first underflow stream comprising primarily a first slurry of high density solids, a first middling stream comprising primarily a first slurry of said coal particles, and a first overflow of stream comprising primarily said alcohol, a liquor of constituents dissolved from the comminuted coal in said alcohol and colloidal constituents suspended in said alcohol and said liquor; d. separating said first underflow of said first slurry of high density solids into a second underflow comprising a second viscous slurry of sulfur and solids that would form ash residue if burned with the coal, and a second overflow comprising a dilute slurry of coal in said alcohol and the liquor of constituents dissolved from the comminuted coal in said alcohol; e. separating said first middling stream into a third underflow comprising a second slurry of high density solids, a second middling stream comprising primarily a second slurry of said coal with only a minor amount of said high density solids and sulfur therein, and a third overflow comprising primarily said alcohol, a liquor comprising constituents dissolved in said alcohol and colloidal constituents suspended in said alcohol and said liquor; f. separating said first overflow into a fourth underflow and a fourth overflow; g. refining said fourth overflow into respective desired constituents and said alcohol; and h. forming a low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from said second middling stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said coal is reduced in said alcohol in step a. until a major portion is of -200 mesh size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said separating in said step c. comprises a settling velocity separation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second underflow of step d. is separated from said alcohol and discarded, said alcohol being removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said alcohol is returned to the process for dilution of a slurry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second overflow is being returned to said first middling stream for dilution thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said third overflow is added to said fourth overflow of step f. before said refining of step g.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said third underflow is added to said first underflow and the combined stream is separated in accordance with step d.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second middling stream is separated into a fifth underflow, a third middling stream and a fifth overflow; said fifth underflow being combined with said third underflow and said first underflow; said third middling stream comprising a slurry of low-sulfur, low-ash coal; said fifth overflow being combined with said first and third overflows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said third middling stream is separated into a low-sulfur, low-ash coal for fuel, and said alcohol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said third middling stream is formed into a thixotropic dispersion of coal in alcohol pumped through a pipeline to a destination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the thixotropic dispersion is treated at said destination by a process comprising the following steps: a. pressuring said dispersion to a predetermined pressure P1; b. heating said thixotropic dispersion to a temperature within the range of 140°-180° F; c. a flashing to atmospheric pressure to flash off and free said alcohol and organic gas including methane and to effect puffed coal particles that burn readily with a high efficiency and produce a hot flame with very little pollution; and d. collecting said alcohol and said organic gases and cooling and condensing the alcohol to separate said alcohol and said methane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said third middling stream is formed into a thixotropic dispersion of coal in alcohol and is treated by a process comprising the following steps: a. pressuring said dispersion to predetermined pressure P1; b. heating said thixotropic dispersion to a temperature within the range of 140°-180° F; c. a flashing to atmospheric pressure to flash off and free said alcohol and organic gas including methane and to effect puffed coal particles that burn readily with a high efficiency and produce a hot flame with very little pollution; and d. collecting said alcohol and said organic gases and cooling and condensing the alcohol to separate said alcohol and said methane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said refining of said fourth overflow comprises distillation to form respective products comprising alcohols, hydrocarbons, waxes, tars, paraffins, and resins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said separating in step c. comprises a settling velocity separation; said second underflow of step d is separated from said alcohol and discarded, said alcohol being recovered and returned to dilute one of said first underflow and said first middling stream; said second overflow is returned to said first middling stream for dilution thereof; said third overflow is added to said fourth overflow of step f. before said refining of step g.; said third underflow is added to said first underflow and the resulting combined stream is separated in accordance to step d.; said second middling stream is separated into a fifth underflow, a third middling stream and a fifth overflow; said fifth underflow being combined with said third and first underflows; said third middling stream comprising a slurry of low-sulfur, low-ash coal; said fifth overflow being combined with said first and third overflows.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said third middling stream is formed into a thixotropic dispersion of coal in alcohol and is stored in a contained storage; and organic gases including methane are collected and taken from the gas space above said dispersion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comminution of said coal and said alcohol is effected in an enclosed apparatus and organic gases, including methane, are collected during said comminution of said step a.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |