Pumpable solid fuels for small furnace

Claim 1

A method for producing a pumpable solid fuel for small furnaces which contains coal in a finely divided particulate form, is easily pumped through a pipeline, is stable in storage, and has improved combustion quality, comprising the following steps: (a) grinding a coal or mixture of coals having a heating value of about 10,000 to 14,000 Btu per pound to a fineness below 200 mesh.; (b) blending the coal or coals with an additive combination consisting essentially of at least one additive selected from each group set forth below: (1) an SO 2 scavenger for minimizing the effects of sulfur in said coal selected from the group consisting of limestone, lime, dolomite, and mixtures thereof; (2) a combustion improver and ash modifier for imparting burning properties and for reducing corrosion, fouling, and ash slagging, comprising manganese nodules; (3) an ignition and combustion promoter selected from the group consisting of alcohols, and light hydrocarbons; the solid additives having approximately the same particle size distribution and average particle size as the coal; (c) adding sufficient water to the blended mixtures to wet the mixture; and (d) slurrying said wetted mixture with water containing a surfactant or polymer in an amount sufficient to stabilize the slurry so as to prevent the subsidence and compaction of the coal particles thereby enabling the slurry to be transported and stored for extended periods of time and remain pumpable.

Claim 2

A method for producing a pumpable solid fuel for small furnaces which contains coal in a finely divided particulate form, is easily pumped through a pipeline, is stable in storage, and has improved combustion quality, comprising the following steps: (a) grinding a coal or mixture of coals having a heating value of about 10,000 to 14,000 Btu per pound to a fineness below 200 mesh.; (b) blending the coal or coals with an additive combination consisting essentially of at least one additive selected from each group set forth below: (1) an SO 2 scavenger for minimizing the effects of sulfur in said coal selected from the group consisting of limestone, lime, dolomite, and mixtures thereof; (2) a combustion improver and ash modifier for imparting burning properties and for reducing corrosion, fouling, and ash slagging, comprising manganese nodules; (3) an ignition and combustion promoter selected from the group consisting of alcohols, and light hydrocarbons; the solid additives having approximately the same particle size distribution and average particle size as the coal; (c) adding sufficient water to the blended mixtures to wet the mixture; and (d) slurrying said wetted mixture with water containing a surfactant or polymer in an amount sufficient to stabilize the slurry so as to prevent the subsidence and compaction of the coal particles thereby enabling the slurry to be transported and stored for extended periods of time and remain pumpable.