The University of Melbourne

Cra Services Ltd.

David A Cain

Alan S Buchanan

Reginald B Johns

Alan L Chaffee

Kaye F Harvey

Theodore V Verheyen

Kay F Harvey

Densified coal pellets of improved physical properties and enhanced calorific value are produced by a process which includes subjecting coal to a shearing-attritioning step followed by extrusion and drying steps, characterised by incorporating an additive into the coal that is subject to the said shearing-attritioning step, said additive being chosen from one or more of the group consisting of: alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates, alkaline earth carbonates, oxides of base metals, oxides of transition metals, and small molecule carbonyl compounds.

Upgrading solid fuels

Process for treatment of brown coal which comprises subjecting the said coal to shearing forces to produce a plastic mass which is capable of conversion by subsequent compaction and drying into a fuel of increased density and enhanced calorific value, is characterized in that the water content of the coal is more than 54% and the shearing forces are applied for less than one hour, shorter times being preferred, for example less than 30 seconds. A preferred embodiment provides a continuous process in which the coal is treated in a machine that subjects it to sequential steps of shearing and extrusion in a continuous manner. The extruded product after drying provides the fuel of increased density and enhanced calorific value. The desired effect may also be obtained by treating part of a quantity of brown coal and blending the treated portion with the untreated remainder of the said quantity.

A fuel of increased density and calorific value is produced by subjecting brown coal to shearing forces to produce a wet plastic mass which is subsequently compacted and dried.

Growing community of inventors

Heidelberg, Australia

David A Cain