US4370201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for maintaining coal proportions in a coal blend
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1981-06-23
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Granted: 1983-01-25
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Expires: 2001-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A process is described for maintaining the proportions of each coal in a coal blend at a desired level. The process involves (1) making a spectral analysis, preferably by infrared spectrometry, of at least one sample of the coal blend, the sample having known desired proportions of each coal, (2) making a spectral analysis of the coal blend sample of unknown proportions of each coal, (3) comparing the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), and (4) upon noting a significant difference between the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), making adjustments to achieve a final coal blend having proportions of each coal closer to those of the blend of known desired proportions of each coal. The relationship of the aromatic to aliphatic groupings is preferably determined by spectral analysis of each coal sample. This process is particularly useful on-line in the production of blast furnace coke of high strength and high stability.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E. Lowenhaupt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:48
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10B; C10B57/00; C10B57/04; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/22; G01N33/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A process for maintaining the proportions of each coal in a finely divided coal blend at a desired level, which comprises: (1) making a spectral analysis of at least one sample of said coal blend, said sample having known desired proportions of each said coal, (2) making a spectral analysis of a coal blend sample of unknown proportions of each said coal, (3) comparing the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), and (4) upon noting a significant difference between the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), making adjustments to achieve a final coal blend having proportions of each said coal closer to those of said coal blend of known desired proportions of each said coal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for maintaining the proportions of each coal in a finely divided coal blend at a desired level, which comprises: (1) making a spectral analysis of at least one sample of said coal blend, said sample having known desired proportions of each said coal, (2) making a spectral analysis of a coal blend sample of unknown proportions of each said coal, (3) comparing the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), and (4) upon noting a significant difference between the spectral analyses of steps (1) and (2), making adjustments to achieve a final coal blend having proportions of each said coal closer to those of said coal blend of known desired proportions of each said coal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process as in claim 1 wherein the relationship of the aromatic to aliphatic groupings is determined by spectral analysis of each said coal sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process as in claim 2 wherein the aromatic to aliphatic ratio of each said coal sample is determined by infrared spectrometry of powdered coal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process as in claim 1 wherein said process is carried out in less than about 15 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for producing blast furnace coke by maintaining the proportions of each coal in a finely divided coal blend at a desired level which comprises (1) determining by spectral analysis the aromatic to aliphatic ratio of each of one or more samples of said coal blend, said samples each having different known desired proportions of each said coal, (2) determining on-line by spectral analysis the aromatic to aliphatic ratio of a sample of unknown proportions of said coal blend, which coal blend is in transit to coke ovens for carbonization, (3) comparing the measurements of steps (1) and (2) to thereby determine the proportions of each coal in said sample of unknown proportions, (4) adjusting the proportions of each coal in said coal blend in response to the comparison of step (3) to achieve a blend closer to that having the desired proportions of each coal, and (5) carbonizing said coal blend to thereby produce blast furnace coke of high strength and high stability.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for producing blast furnace coke by maintaining the proportions of each coal in a finely divided coal blend at a desired level which comprises (1) determining by spectral analysis the aromatic to aliphatic ratio of each of one or more samples of said coal blend, said samples each having different known desired proportions of each said coal, (2) determining on-line by spectral analysis the aromatic to aliphatic ratio of a sample of unknown proportions of said coal blend, which coal blend is in transit to coke ovens for carbonization, (3) comparing the measurements of steps (1) and (2) to thereby determine the proportions of each coal in said sample of unknown proportions, (4) adjusting the proportions of each coal in said coal blend in response to the comparison of step (3) to achieve a blend closer to that having the desired proportions of each coal, and (5) carbonizing said coal blend to thereby produce blast furnace coke of high strength and high stability.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process as in claim 5 wherein said blast furnace coke has a minimum hardness of about 68 and a minimum stability of about 55.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Process as in claim 6 wherein the spectral analyses are fed into a computer which carries out the comparison of step (3) and then determines whether the proportions of each coal in the sample is acceptable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process as in claim 7 wherein a calibration curve is obtained from the spectral analyses of two or more samples of said coal blend, each having different known desired proportions of each coal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process as in claim 8 wherein adjustments are made in the coal blending operations to change the proportion of the coals in said coal blend in response to the determination of the proportion of each coal in said sample of coal blend of unknown proportions as compared to the desired proportion of each coal in said coal blend.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process as in claim 9 wherein all of the steps are performed automatically and as an integral part of the process.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process as in claim 10 wherein the steps are performed by means of a computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process as in claim 9 wherein at least one of the steps is performed automatically.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process as in claim 5 wherein the spectral analysis is infrared spectrometry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process as in claim 13 wherein the infrared spectrometry is conducted by diffuse reflectance of a powdered coal sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Process as in claim 14 wherein the aromatic to aliphatic ratio is attained by dividing the intensity of the aromatic peak by that of the aliphatic peak measured on the Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectrum of the coal sample.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process as in claim 15 wherein the aromatic peak is located at about 3045 cm -1 on the spectrum and wherein the aliphatic peak is located at about 2945 cm -1 on the spectrum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process as in claim 15 wherein the powdered coal has an average particle size less than about 60 mesh.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as in claim 15 wherein the powdered coal has an average particle size of less than about 200 mesh.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process as in claim 5 wherein steps (2) and (3) are carred out in less than about 15 minutes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-24 | 1986-07-26 | 1987-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-07-26 | 1991-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-24 | 1994-07-26 | 1995-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |