CA2008470A1 - Coal and oil upgrading by micro-agglomeration and thermopelletizing process ("comat" process) - Google Patents
Coal and oil upgrading by micro-agglomeration and thermopelletizing process ("comat" process)Info
- Publication number
- CA2008470A1 CA2008470A1 CA 2008470 CA2008470A CA2008470A1 CA 2008470 A1 CA2008470 A1 CA 2008470A1 CA 2008470 CA2008470 CA 2008470 CA 2008470 A CA2008470 A CA 2008470A CA 2008470 A1 CA2008470 A1 CA 2008470A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- coal
- oil
- feed
- improved quality
- improved
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- C10L5/00—Solid fuels
- C10L5/02—Solid fuels such as briquettes consisting mainly of carbonaceous materials of mineral or non-mineral origin
- C10L5/06—Methods of shaping, e.g. pelletizing or briquetting
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- C10L9/00—Treating solid fuels to improve their combustion
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved solid fuel and improved liquid fuel are obtained from a feed coal and feed oil by a method which comprises the steps of:
(a) forming microagglomerates of finely divided coal;
(b) combining said microagglomerates generated from finely divided coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil;
(c) thermally treating the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350° and 420°C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil; and (d) processing the improved quality coal thus formed to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength.
An improved solid fuel and improved liquid fuel are obtained from a feed coal and feed oil by a method which comprises the steps of:
(a) forming microagglomerates of finely divided coal;
(b) combining said microagglomerates generated from finely divided coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil;
(c) thermally treating the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350° and 420°C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil; and (d) processing the improved quality coal thus formed to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength.
Description
2~
"COMAT" PROCESS - COAL AND OIL UPGRADING BY
MICRO-AGGLOMERATION AND THER~OPELLETIZING PROCESS
_ The present in-~ention relates to a method for producing an improved solid fuel and an improved liquid fuel rom a feed coal and a feed oil by usinq a modified agglomeration process, a rnethod for separating the feed coal from the feed oil, and a means for transforming the solid product obtained into particles of uni~orm size and shape and improved compressive strength.
The process of oil agglomeration provides a method for removing impurities rom coal by combining an aqueous slurry of finely divided coal particles with a bridging liquid. The bridging liquid may either be a heavy oil, a light oil, or a combination of both, depending upon the type of coal which is the subject of the agglomeration process. The combination of the bridging li~uid with the carbonaceous constituents of the coal causes the mi~ture to agglomerate, due to the substantially hydrophobic nature of the coal particles. The size of the agglomerates increases as the mi~ture is agitated over a period o~ time. The agglomeration process is widely known and is described in US :?atent Nos. 4,209,301 and 4,153,419, and in Canadian Patent ~o. 1,216,551.
Once the agglomerates reach a desired size, they can be separated from the water and inorganic material remaining in the slurry by screening or other mechanical means. The agglomerates in turn can be treated to separate the bridging liquid from the coal particles. This process is described for various types of coals and bridging liquids in US Pa~ent No.
4,ql5,335 (Ma:inwaring et al) and Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 of Janiak et al, filed May 2, 1989, and en-ti-tled "Me-thod for Providing Improved Solid FueLs from A~lomerated Subbituminous Coal".
One disadvantage of the above procedure is that it can take hours or even days to produce agglomerates o sufficient size such that recovery of the bridging liquid from the coal can be accomplished efficiently to produce a solid fuel of suitable stability and strength. While increasing the amount of br.idging liquid that is used will accelerate the agglomeration process, the addition of bridging liquid past an optimurn amount causes the agglomerates to become soft, distorted and may result in their sticking together to form a mushy lump. Attempts to recover the bridging liquid from such soft and distorted agglomerates without disintegrating the agglomerates have not been successful.
A further disadvantage of the above procedure is that it is directed solely at the upgrading of coal, and is not a practical means for the upgrading of the bridging liquid in significant quantities.
There is therefore a need for a process that can be used to simultaneously upgrade both coals and the bridging liquid quickly and efficiently so that the upgraded bridging liquid is produced in sufficient quantities to make the process commercially feasible for the upgrading of oils.
It is th-ls an object of the present invention to provide a method ~or shortening the length of time required for the upgrading of coal using oil agglomeration techniques.
It is yet another object o~ the present inven~ion to provide a commerciall~ feasible method :~or the simultaneous upgrading of both coal and oil using oil agglomeration techniques.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for the production of particles of upgraded coal of uniform shape and dimensions with increased particle strength over that obtained by conventional ag~lomeration techniques.
These and o~her objects of the present invention will be apparent ~rom the ~ollowing description and appended claim~.
The present invention provides a method for the simultaneous upgrading of coal and oil which according to one aspect, comprises -the steps of forming microagglomerates of finely.divided coal, combining microagglomerates generated from finely divided feed coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil, contacting the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350C and 420C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil, and processing the improved quality coal to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength. According to another aspect, a calcium is added to the microagglomerates along with the feed oil and 2(3~
according to yet another aspect, a binding agent is added to the improved quality coal prior to processing it. The feed coal may be bituminous, sub-bituminous or lignitic. The feed oil may be a light hydrocarbon, diesel oil, kerosene, naphtha, a heavy oil, bitumen, or mixtures thereof. The carrier gas may be any inert gas or may be steam. The processin~ of the improved quality coal may take place in an e~truder, pellet mill or briquetting machine.
The binding agent which is addèd according to one aspect of the invention may be anthracene oil, pitch, bitumen, atactic polypropylene or any other substance cornmonly used as a bindlng agent.
In the accompanying figures:
IG 1 - is a schematic diagram of the steps involved in the present invention according to its various aspects.
IG 2 - is a table showing the effect of change of temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the physical characteristics of the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is a heavy oil with a specific gravity of API=12.2 (Lindberg oil) of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 3 - is a table showing the effect of change of temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the recovery of oil from the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the eed oil is Lindberg oil of which 35~ by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 4 - is a table showing the effect of change in the amount of feed oil added to the microagglomerates upon oil recovery at 410C, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 5 - is a table showing the efect of change o~ temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the physical characteristics of the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
.
IG 6 - is a table showing properties of feed coal, feed agglomerates and the products obtained after thermal treatment, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
Referring to Figure 1, the first step in the process of the present invention is the formation of microagglomerates o feed coal 10. The feed coal may be any type of coal which is sought to be upgraded, including both bituminous and subbituminous coals.
There is no minimum si~e of microagglomerate which must he used. As a result, the duration of the agglomeration process may be greatly shortened, because there is no need to continue the process to permit the growth of the agglomerates. Where the feed coal contains a large amount of clay, the preferred process for agglomeration is that described in Pawlak et al, Canadian Patent Application No. 607,809 filed August 9, 1989, and entitled "Process ~or Removing Pyritic Sulfur from Bituminous Coals".
Where the feed coal has a low clay content, the preferred process for agglomeration is that described in Canadian Patent No. 1,216,551. The agglomeration process may be carried out in laboratory batch reactors, including either a stirred vessel or a Denver Standard Laboratory Flotation Machine.
The second step in the process is the addition and blending with the microagglomerates of the feed oil in quantities of up to 55-O by dry weight of feed coal (12). The feed o:il may be any type of oil which is sought to be up~lraded, including light hydrocarbons, 2~C~8~
diesel oil, kerosene, naphtha, heavy oil, bitumen, or mixtures thereo~. I it is necessary or desirable to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide during combustion of the improved quality coal, calcium compounds in particles rangin~ in size from between O.01 mm to 0.1 mm may be added during this step as well (14). Suita~le calcium compounds include calcium carbonate, calcium nitrate, calcium acetate, calcium formate and like compounds. The mixing (16) of the feed oil and calcium compound may take place using any form of mixer or blender normally used in the food processing, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries.
The third step in the process is the upgrading of the feed coal and feed oil and the separation of the improved quality coal from the improved quality oil (18). This step involves contacting the mixture produced in the second step above with steam or an inert ~as at a t.emperature of between 350C and 420C at ne~r atmospheric pressure. With the e~ception or the temperature at which this step is performed, this third step of the process is . .
described fully in Janiak et al, Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 filed May 2, 1989, and entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels from Agglomerated Subbituminous Coal". The loss of volatile matter content when this step is performed at temperatures of greater than 350C as reported in the aforementioned Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels ~rom Agglomerated Subbituminous Coal" is not a disadvantage in the present invention, because the inherent compressive strength of the microagglomerates does not have to be relied upon as -a source of strength for the improved quality coal.
This third step produces the improved quality coal (24)~improved quality oil(26), and a gaseous by-product or by-p.oducts(22). The improved quality oil may be 8~ 8i~
recovered in the manner as disclosed in Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 of ~aniak et al, filed May 2, 1989 and entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels from A~glomera-ted Subbituminous Coal" and the gaseo~ls by-products may be recovered usin~ ~ny -typical me~ns for gas recovery, The fourth step in the process is the tranformation of the improved quality coal obtained in the third step above into a product consisting of uniform particles with improved strength (24), The improved guality coal is formed into either pellets or briquettes as required by using a typical e~truder, pellet mill or b:ciquetting machine. In order to achieve best reslllts in the formation of the pellets or briquettes, the temperature o the improved quality coal following the third step and during the fourth step should be malntained at no less than 400C. The binding of the particles of the improved quality coal during the pelletization or briquetting process is facilitated by the residual bridging liquid and feed oil contained in the improved quality coal. If there is an insufficient amount of residual bridging liquid and feed oil in the improved quality coal to facilitate optimum bonding of the improved quality coal par-ticles during the pelletizatio:n or briquetting process, any of the binding agents commonly used in such processes such as anthracene oil, pitch, bitumen and atactic polypropylene, may be added.
The process of the present invention results in increased calorific value and mechanical strength and decreased moisture capacity of the improved quality coal compared with the feed coal, and a decrease in J
the sulphur content of the improved quality oil compared with the feed oil.
In Figures 2, 3 and 5, test results demonstrating the effect of the temperature at which the third step of the process is conducted upon the recovery of the products of the process are shown, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50~ by weight of dry feed coal is added, and the carrier gas is steam. As may be seen from these ~igures, recovery of the improved quality oil increases as the temperature at which the third step oE the process is conducted increases, while the total recovery of combustible material decreases as the temperature at which the third step is conducted increases. Figure 4 demonstrates that the percentage o~ oil recovery during the third step increases as the percentage o~ feed oil relative to dry weight of feed coal increases from 16% to 50%, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil, and the carrier gas is stearn.
Figure 6 shows test results demonstrating the physical properties of the improved ~uality coal following the third step being conducted at different temperatures, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by dr~r weight of coal is added, and the carrier gas is steam.
The results presented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 reveal that recovery of oil increased as the temperature at which the third step was conducted increased to 41~)C, while the highest calorific ~alue obtained for the improved quality coal occurred whe~ the third step was conducted at a temperature of
"COMAT" PROCESS - COAL AND OIL UPGRADING BY
MICRO-AGGLOMERATION AND THER~OPELLETIZING PROCESS
_ The present in-~ention relates to a method for producing an improved solid fuel and an improved liquid fuel rom a feed coal and a feed oil by usinq a modified agglomeration process, a rnethod for separating the feed coal from the feed oil, and a means for transforming the solid product obtained into particles of uni~orm size and shape and improved compressive strength.
The process of oil agglomeration provides a method for removing impurities rom coal by combining an aqueous slurry of finely divided coal particles with a bridging liquid. The bridging liquid may either be a heavy oil, a light oil, or a combination of both, depending upon the type of coal which is the subject of the agglomeration process. The combination of the bridging li~uid with the carbonaceous constituents of the coal causes the mi~ture to agglomerate, due to the substantially hydrophobic nature of the coal particles. The size of the agglomerates increases as the mi~ture is agitated over a period o~ time. The agglomeration process is widely known and is described in US :?atent Nos. 4,209,301 and 4,153,419, and in Canadian Patent ~o. 1,216,551.
Once the agglomerates reach a desired size, they can be separated from the water and inorganic material remaining in the slurry by screening or other mechanical means. The agglomerates in turn can be treated to separate the bridging liquid from the coal particles. This process is described for various types of coals and bridging liquids in US Pa~ent No.
4,ql5,335 (Ma:inwaring et al) and Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 of Janiak et al, filed May 2, 1989, and en-ti-tled "Me-thod for Providing Improved Solid FueLs from A~lomerated Subbituminous Coal".
One disadvantage of the above procedure is that it can take hours or even days to produce agglomerates o sufficient size such that recovery of the bridging liquid from the coal can be accomplished efficiently to produce a solid fuel of suitable stability and strength. While increasing the amount of br.idging liquid that is used will accelerate the agglomeration process, the addition of bridging liquid past an optimurn amount causes the agglomerates to become soft, distorted and may result in their sticking together to form a mushy lump. Attempts to recover the bridging liquid from such soft and distorted agglomerates without disintegrating the agglomerates have not been successful.
A further disadvantage of the above procedure is that it is directed solely at the upgrading of coal, and is not a practical means for the upgrading of the bridging liquid in significant quantities.
There is therefore a need for a process that can be used to simultaneously upgrade both coals and the bridging liquid quickly and efficiently so that the upgraded bridging liquid is produced in sufficient quantities to make the process commercially feasible for the upgrading of oils.
It is th-ls an object of the present invention to provide a method ~or shortening the length of time required for the upgrading of coal using oil agglomeration techniques.
It is yet another object o~ the present inven~ion to provide a commerciall~ feasible method :~or the simultaneous upgrading of both coal and oil using oil agglomeration techniques.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for the production of particles of upgraded coal of uniform shape and dimensions with increased particle strength over that obtained by conventional ag~lomeration techniques.
These and o~her objects of the present invention will be apparent ~rom the ~ollowing description and appended claim~.
The present invention provides a method for the simultaneous upgrading of coal and oil which according to one aspect, comprises -the steps of forming microagglomerates of finely.divided coal, combining microagglomerates generated from finely divided feed coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil, contacting the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350C and 420C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil, and processing the improved quality coal to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength. According to another aspect, a calcium is added to the microagglomerates along with the feed oil and 2(3~
according to yet another aspect, a binding agent is added to the improved quality coal prior to processing it. The feed coal may be bituminous, sub-bituminous or lignitic. The feed oil may be a light hydrocarbon, diesel oil, kerosene, naphtha, a heavy oil, bitumen, or mixtures thereof. The carrier gas may be any inert gas or may be steam. The processin~ of the improved quality coal may take place in an e~truder, pellet mill or briquetting machine.
The binding agent which is addèd according to one aspect of the invention may be anthracene oil, pitch, bitumen, atactic polypropylene or any other substance cornmonly used as a bindlng agent.
In the accompanying figures:
IG 1 - is a schematic diagram of the steps involved in the present invention according to its various aspects.
IG 2 - is a table showing the effect of change of temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the physical characteristics of the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is a heavy oil with a specific gravity of API=12.2 (Lindberg oil) of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 3 - is a table showing the effect of change of temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the recovery of oil from the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the eed oil is Lindberg oil of which 35~ by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 4 - is a table showing the effect of change in the amount of feed oil added to the microagglomerates upon oil recovery at 410C, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil, and the carrier gas is steam.
FIG 5 - is a table showing the efect of change o~ temperature at which the thermal treatment step is performed upon the physical characteristics of the improved quality coal, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
.
IG 6 - is a table showing properties of feed coal, feed agglomerates and the products obtained after thermal treatment, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by weight of dry feed coal is added to the microagglomerates, and the carrier gas is steam.
Referring to Figure 1, the first step in the process of the present invention is the formation of microagglomerates o feed coal 10. The feed coal may be any type of coal which is sought to be upgraded, including both bituminous and subbituminous coals.
There is no minimum si~e of microagglomerate which must he used. As a result, the duration of the agglomeration process may be greatly shortened, because there is no need to continue the process to permit the growth of the agglomerates. Where the feed coal contains a large amount of clay, the preferred process for agglomeration is that described in Pawlak et al, Canadian Patent Application No. 607,809 filed August 9, 1989, and entitled "Process ~or Removing Pyritic Sulfur from Bituminous Coals".
Where the feed coal has a low clay content, the preferred process for agglomeration is that described in Canadian Patent No. 1,216,551. The agglomeration process may be carried out in laboratory batch reactors, including either a stirred vessel or a Denver Standard Laboratory Flotation Machine.
The second step in the process is the addition and blending with the microagglomerates of the feed oil in quantities of up to 55-O by dry weight of feed coal (12). The feed o:il may be any type of oil which is sought to be up~lraded, including light hydrocarbons, 2~C~8~
diesel oil, kerosene, naphtha, heavy oil, bitumen, or mixtures thereo~. I it is necessary or desirable to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide during combustion of the improved quality coal, calcium compounds in particles rangin~ in size from between O.01 mm to 0.1 mm may be added during this step as well (14). Suita~le calcium compounds include calcium carbonate, calcium nitrate, calcium acetate, calcium formate and like compounds. The mixing (16) of the feed oil and calcium compound may take place using any form of mixer or blender normally used in the food processing, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries.
The third step in the process is the upgrading of the feed coal and feed oil and the separation of the improved quality coal from the improved quality oil (18). This step involves contacting the mixture produced in the second step above with steam or an inert ~as at a t.emperature of between 350C and 420C at ne~r atmospheric pressure. With the e~ception or the temperature at which this step is performed, this third step of the process is . .
described fully in Janiak et al, Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 filed May 2, 1989, and entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels from Agglomerated Subbituminous Coal". The loss of volatile matter content when this step is performed at temperatures of greater than 350C as reported in the aforementioned Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels ~rom Agglomerated Subbituminous Coal" is not a disadvantage in the present invention, because the inherent compressive strength of the microagglomerates does not have to be relied upon as -a source of strength for the improved quality coal.
This third step produces the improved quality coal (24)~improved quality oil(26), and a gaseous by-product or by-p.oducts(22). The improved quality oil may be 8~ 8i~
recovered in the manner as disclosed in Canadian Patent Application No. 598,432 of ~aniak et al, filed May 2, 1989 and entitled "Method for Providing Improved Solid Fuels from A~glomera-ted Subbituminous Coal" and the gaseo~ls by-products may be recovered usin~ ~ny -typical me~ns for gas recovery, The fourth step in the process is the tranformation of the improved quality coal obtained in the third step above into a product consisting of uniform particles with improved strength (24), The improved guality coal is formed into either pellets or briquettes as required by using a typical e~truder, pellet mill or b:ciquetting machine. In order to achieve best reslllts in the formation of the pellets or briquettes, the temperature o the improved quality coal following the third step and during the fourth step should be malntained at no less than 400C. The binding of the particles of the improved quality coal during the pelletization or briquetting process is facilitated by the residual bridging liquid and feed oil contained in the improved quality coal. If there is an insufficient amount of residual bridging liquid and feed oil in the improved quality coal to facilitate optimum bonding of the improved quality coal par-ticles during the pelletizatio:n or briquetting process, any of the binding agents commonly used in such processes such as anthracene oil, pitch, bitumen and atactic polypropylene, may be added.
The process of the present invention results in increased calorific value and mechanical strength and decreased moisture capacity of the improved quality coal compared with the feed coal, and a decrease in J
the sulphur content of the improved quality oil compared with the feed oil.
In Figures 2, 3 and 5, test results demonstrating the effect of the temperature at which the third step of the process is conducted upon the recovery of the products of the process are shown, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50~ by weight of dry feed coal is added, and the carrier gas is steam. As may be seen from these ~igures, recovery of the improved quality oil increases as the temperature at which the third step oE the process is conducted increases, while the total recovery of combustible material decreases as the temperature at which the third step is conducted increases. Figure 4 demonstrates that the percentage o~ oil recovery during the third step increases as the percentage o~ feed oil relative to dry weight of feed coal increases from 16% to 50%, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil, and the carrier gas is stearn.
Figure 6 shows test results demonstrating the physical properties of the improved ~uality coal following the third step being conducted at different temperatures, where the feed coal is a subbituminous coal, the feed oil is Lindberg oil of which 50% by dr~r weight of coal is added, and the carrier gas is steam.
The results presented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 reveal that recovery of oil increased as the temperature at which the third step was conducted increased to 41~)C, while the highest calorific ~alue obtained for the improved quality coal occurred whe~ the third step was conducted at a temperature of
Claims (9)
1. A method for the upgrading of coal and oil, comprising the steps of;
(a) forming mioroagglomerates of fine1y divided coal;
(b) combining said microagglomerates generated from finely divided coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil;
(c) thermally treating the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350°C and 420°C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil; and (d) processing the improved quality coal thus formed to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength.
(a) forming mioroagglomerates of fine1y divided coal;
(b) combining said microagglomerates generated from finely divided coal with up to 55% by weight of dry coal of a low quality feed oil;
(c) thermally treating the microagglomerates and feed oil mixture with a carrier gas at a temperature of between 350°C and 420°C at substantially atmospheric pressure to form a solid made of improved quality coal and a liquid made of improved quality oil; and (d) processing the improved quality coal thus formed to produce substantially uniform particles with improved strength.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a calcium compound to the microagglomerates along with the feed oil.
3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a binding agent to the improved quality coal prior to processing step (d).
4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the coal which is used is a subbituminous coal.
5. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the feed oil is a heavy oil having a specific gravity in the range 10-20° API.
6. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the carrier gas used is steam.
7. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the processing of the improved quality coal takes place in an electrically driven pellet mill.
8. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the upgrading of the coal and the oil takes place simultaneously.
9. A method according to claim 3 wherein the binding agent comprises the residual quality coal.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2008470 CA2008470A1 (en) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-01-24 | Coal and oil upgrading by micro-agglomeration and thermopelletizing process ("comat" process) |
| PCT/CA1991/000020 WO1991011502A1 (en) | 1990-01-24 | 1991-01-21 | Coal and oil upgrading by microagglomeration and thermopelletizing process ('comat' process) |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2008470 CA2008470A1 (en) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-01-24 | Coal and oil upgrading by micro-agglomeration and thermopelletizing process ("comat" process) |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2008470A1 true CA2008470A1 (en) | 1991-07-24 |
Family
ID=4144113
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2008470 Abandoned CA2008470A1 (en) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-01-24 | Coal and oil upgrading by micro-agglomeration and thermopelletizing process ("comat" process) |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2008470A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991011502A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUPO429796A0 (en) * | 1996-12-18 | 1997-01-23 | Minpro Australia N.L. | Coal processing method |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4261699A (en) * | 1979-04-23 | 1981-04-14 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Process for removal of sulfur and ash from coal |
| US4234320A (en) * | 1979-04-23 | 1980-11-18 | Shell Oil Company | Process for the agglomeration of solids |
| CA1144500A (en) * | 1981-07-29 | 1983-04-12 | Richard D. Coleman | Method of separating carbonaceous components from hydrophilic, inorganic solids and water in crude petroleum and coal particles, in an interdependant manner |
| US4854940A (en) * | 1988-02-16 | 1989-08-08 | Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. | Method for providing improved solid fuels from agglomerated subbituminous coal |
| US4966608A (en) * | 1988-08-09 | 1990-10-30 | Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. | Process for removing pyritic sulfur from bituminous coals |
-
1990
- 1990-01-24 CA CA 2008470 patent/CA2008470A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1991
- 1991-01-21 WO PCT/CA1991/000020 patent/WO1991011502A1/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1991011502A1 (en) | 1991-08-08 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |