Abstract:
A process is provided for creating feed pellets from agricultural residue material having substantially no food value, such as corn stover. The agricultural residue material is harvested and baled for transport to a storage and processing site. The baled agricultural residue material is then shredded and ground, and one or more chemical agents are added to depolymerize the fiber (lignin-carbohydrate) matrix of the agricultural residue material. Agricultural processing byproducts such as distiller's solubles and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are added to the agricultural residue material, either before or after the chemical agents are added, to form a combined material. The combined material is then pelletized into feed pellets, which may be transported and stored for later consumption by animals. The process produces a nutritionally enhanced material which is more easily digested than existing feed rations.
Abstract:
A method of continuously providing a pressurized slurry of a solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method comprises mixing particles of the solid material and particles of solid carbon dioxide in a mixing container and feeding the mixture of the solid material and the solid carbon dioxide to a pump to form a slurry of the solid material and liquified carbon dioxide. Within the pump, the solid carbon dioxide sublimates, forming a gaseous carbon dioxide which subsequently liquefies due to an increase in pressure. The liquid carbon dioxide and the solid material then mix to form the slurry of the solid material and the liquid carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the pressurized slurry may be used for pipeline transportation of the solid material. A system of producing a continuous pressurized slurry of solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is also disclosed. A method of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.
Abstract:
Coal slurry is produced for use as fuel. Starting from a raw carboniferous mineral containing various types of impurities, the method of production includes the following stages: a) grinding the raw coal to reduce it to particles of a size less than 75 μm, the ground material then being carried by air drawn in through a grinding mill and on through a filter where a selection is made of the particles; b) immersion of the particles in water to obtain a turbid mixture; c) addition of flotating agents to the turbid mixture and flotation by introduction of air to obtain the coal slurry; d) checking the concentration of coal in the slurry to ensure that it reaches between 40 and 60% by weight per kilogram of slurry, according to the type of carboniferous mineral used at the outset; e) stocking the slurry in a tank where it is kept continuously moving.
Abstract:
A device and method for charging processing plants, in particular, combustion furnaces (1), is disclosed, in which a flowing process material (3), which has solid components (6) in addition to liquid components (5), is introduced into the processing plant (1), by means of a conveyor line (2) under pressure. According to the invention, advantageous charging conditions may be achieved, by means of mixing the process material (3) before pressurization.
Abstract:
A process for disposing of sewage sludge by heating and shearing an aqueous mixture of sewage sludge in a tubular-shaped processing means containing a plurality of rotating agitators to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is mixed with solid carbonaceous fuel or an aqueous slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel is heated in a first steam jacketed rotary disc mixing-heating means. Alternately, first and second hoppers are filled with said heated aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel and cycled between a second steam jacketed rotary disc mixing-heating means; wherein while one hopper is being filled the contents in the other hopper are being dewatered. The thickened pumpable slurry is burned in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce a hot effluent gas steam. By this process, noxious sewage sludge may be disposed of without contaminating the environment. By-product synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas may be produced.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing a coal/water mixture for combustion in a fluidized bed unit. To produce a hydraulically transportable coal/water mixture, crushed raw coal is preliminarily mixed with water in a first stage. This mixture is final mixed in a second mixing stage. The fine grain-size fraction required for the hydraulic transport is generated in the first mixing stage. The viscosity of the mixture present in the second mixing stage is determined, and as a function thereof additional water is added to the mixture in the second mixing stage, and/or the mixing process in the first mixing stage is altered in order to alter the fine grain-size fraction.
Abstract:
A composition comprising a particulate fuel, typically pulverized coal, carried in water is formed such that it is readily able to be pumped without adding emulsifiers or lubricants to the composition. The composition typically includes at least 25% water and preferably 30 to 50% water. The composition is pumped to a burner 2 and is atomized therein, typically by means of a stream of oxygen supplied through a passage 6 in the nozzle 6 of the burner. This oxygen is taken from that supplied to a further passage for supporting combustion of the particulate fuel. A relatively short and intense flame can be produced at relatively low coal concentrations in the composition such that the need to use expensive emulsifiers etc. is avoided.
Abstract:
An integrated method of removing alkali metal compounds from sulfur-bearing coal is disclosed. The coal is comminuted (4) and mixed (10) with water (8) to form a slurry (12). In the preferred embodiment, the slurry (12) is comingled with an SO.sub.2 -bearing gas (16) in a transport pipeline (52) to form an acidic slurry which dissolves the alkali compounds out of the coal. The slurry is then separated (22) into a solid portion (24) and a liquid portion (26), the solid portion (24) being combusted (34) to form the SO.sub.2 -bearing gas (16).
Abstract:
A continuous process for the combustion of solid fuels in the presence of an aqueous liquid phase under conditions such that oxides of nitrogen are not formed and oxides of sulfur and particles of ash are effectively prevented from contaminating the gaseous products released to the atmosphere. Fuel is charged as a slurry in alkaline aqueous solution and contacted with combustion air so that the catalytic properties of both water and alkali operate to permit rapid and complete combustion at comparatively low temperatures. Temperatures in the adiabatic reactor are, however, permitted to exceed the critical temperature of the liquid phase. Under the conditions of the process, formation of nitrogen oxides is negligible, sulfur in the fuel goes to sulfur trioxide which dissolves completely in the alkaline liquid phase which also retains particles of ash and unburned fuel. The resulting flue gas is essentially free from objectionable pollutants. Heat is made available at a temperature high enough to generate and superheat steam.
Abstract:
A coal/water suspension, contained or prepared in a storage vessel, is heated to a temperature corresponding approximately to the boiling point of at least one component of the mixture in the firing chamber of a boiler or the like and is then delivered to this chamber through an atomizing nozzle at a higher pressure at which the suspension is non-boiling.