Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Other

Alberta Research Council Incorporated

Eniricerche S.p.a.

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta As Represented

Yamaoka, Keijiro

Ignasiak, Boleslaw L.

Boleslaw L Ignasiak

Wanda Pawlak

Kazimierz Szymocha

Ali A Turak

Conrad J Kulik

Howard E Lebowitz

Jerzy S Janiak

Teresa Ignasiak

Antonio Vettor

Otto P Strausz

Keijiro Yamaoka

Carlos R Guerra

Melvin L Zwillenberg

Jerzy Janiak

Yevgenia Briker

Loredana Caldiero

The present invention is directed to a type of flotation machine that combines three separate operations in a single unit. The flotation machine is a hydraulic separator that is capable of reducing the pyrite and other mineral matter content of a coal. When the hydraulic separator is used with a flotation system, the pyrite and certain other minerals particles that may have been entrained by hydrodynamic forces associated with conventional flotation machines and/or by the attachment forces associated with the formation of microagglomerates are washed and separated from the coal.

Flotation machine and process for removing impurities from coals

A process for preparing a coal-water fuel from a low rank coal. The first step of the process provides for an aqueous slurry containing particles of the low rank coal. A quantity of an agglomerating agent in the range of about 10% to 30% weight to dry ash - free low rank coal weight is added to the slurry to produce a mixture. The mixture is then agitated to form agglomerates. Following separation of the agglomerates, the agglomerates are contacted with steam or an inert gas having a temperature in the range of about 250.degree. C. to 420.degree. C. at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce partially deoiled agglomerates containing less than about 7% by weight of residual bridging liquid and having a moisture capacity reduced by a factor of at least about 2.5 at a relative humidity of 96% compared to the moisture capacity of the low rank coal. A first amount of the partially deoiled agglomerates is then first wet milled in the presence of water and at least one anionic dispersant, wherein the concentration of the first amount of the partially deoiled agglomerates in water is about 35% to 55% by weight, to produce a micronized fraction of the first amount of the partially deoiled agglomerates having a maximum size of about 15 to 25 micrometers and an average diameter of about 4 to 10 micrometers. Finally, a combination of the micronized fraction of the first amount of the partially deoiled agglomerates and a second amount of the partially deoiled agglomerates is final wet milled in the presence of water, wherein the combination is comprised of about 20% to 50% by weight of the micronized fraction, to produce the coal-water fuel which contains solid particles having a maximum size of about 250 to 300 micrometers and an average diameter of about 15 to 30 micrometers. In a further embodiment, the process utilizes a paste in place of the agglomerates, the paste being formed by mixing particles of the low rank coal with a quantity of a bridging liquid.

Coal-water mixtures from low rank coal and process of preparation thereof

A process for removing oil from coal fines that have been agglomerated or blended with heavy oil comprises the steps of heating the coal fines to temperatures over 350.degree. C. up to 450.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere, such as steam or nitrogen, to convert some of the heavy oil to lighter, and distilling and collecting the lighter oils. The pressure at which the process is carried out can be from atmospheric to 100 atmospheres. A hydrogen donor can be added to the oil prior to deposition on the coal surface to increase the yield of distillable oil.

Process for converting heavy oil deposited on coal to distillable oil in

A method is provided for separating an inert solid substantially inorganic fraction comprising sand or soil from a tarry or oily organic matter in a feedstock. The feedstock may be contaminated soil or tarry waste. The feedstock is combined with pulverized coal and water. The ratio (oil or tar to dry weight of coal) of about 1.0:10 to about 4.0:10 at a temperature in the range of 60.degree.-95.degree. C. The mixture is agitated, the coarse particles are removed, and up to about 0.10% by weight (based on weight of coal) of a frothing agent is added. The mixture is then subjected to flotation, and the froth is removed from the mixture.

Method for recovery of hydrocarbons form contaminated soil or refuse

A process is provided for removing pyritic sulfur and lowering ash content of bituminous coals by grinding the feed coal, subjecting it to micro-agglomeration with a bridging liquid containing heavy oil, separating the microagglomerates and separating them to a water wash to remove suspended pyritic sulfur. In one embodiment the coal is subjected to a second micro-agglomeration step.

Process for removing pyritic sulfur from bituminous coals

A method is provided for separating agglomerated subbituminous coal and the heavy bridging liquid used to form the agglomerates. The separation is performed by contacting the agglomerates with inert gas or steam at a temperature in the range of 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Method for providing improved solid fuels from agglomerated

The process involves adding a low quality oil to an aqueous slurry of sub-bituminous coal particles to act as a selective agglomerating agent. When the mixture is agitated, as by pumping it through a pipeline loop, the coal particles agglomerate and may later be separated from the minerals by screening. The low quality oil used is selected from the group consisting of bitumen, heavy oil, and emulsions thereof. In a preferred aspect, a light hydrocarbon diluent, selected from the group consisting of kerosene, naphtha, and diesel oil, is added to improve the agglomeration results.

Process for the selective agglomeration of sub-bituminous coal fines

A three step process is provided for producing high strength metallurgical coke from high volatile caking coals. Firstly, the caking coal is oxidized by heating the coal in an oxygen-containing atmosphere for a period of time. Secondly, the oxidized caking coal is blended with fresh or relatively non-oxidized caking coal. Thirdly, the blend is carbonized to yield metallurgical grade coke.

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Boleslaw L Ignasiak