AU2015302809A1 - Reforming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reforming apparatus which is capable of efficiently heating the entirety of an organic material. The reforming apparatus comprises: an inner cylinder (101) which moves low-grade coal (1) supplied therein from the base end side to the front end side thereof by means of rotation; an outer cylinder (102) which covers the outer circumference of the inner cylinder (101) and into which a heating gas (21) is supplied; and a gas supply means which directly supplies an oxygen-containing gas (13) from the front end side of the inner cylinder (101) into a low-grade coal layer (2) formed by stacking the low-grade coal (1). The low-grade coal (1) is indirectly heated by the heating gas (21), and the low grade coal (1) is directly heated through an exothermic reaction produced by bringing the oxygen-containing gas (13) supplied by the gas supply means into contact with the low-grade coal (1) which has been heated to a predetermined temperature.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: REFORMING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] T η e present i π v e n t. i on relates to a n u p g r a d i n g apparatus that upgrades a solid organic material via continuous pyrolysis by heating the organic material win. 1. e causing it to flow,

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]

An external heating kiln described, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below can be used in a case of upgrading a solid organic material via continuous pyrolysis by heating the organic material while causing at to flow. This external heating kiln described in Pate nt D o c umen t 1 r ot a t e s an i η ne r c y1i n d er w 11 h a treatment targe t { organi c ma t e r i a 1} ied int.o the iηner cylinder to thereby cause the treatment target to flow through the inner cylinder, while continuously ρ y r oris i n g t .he trea t m e n t t a r g e t. b y h eating it w i t h a n eating g a s b 1 o w n i n t o a η o u t e r c y 1 i. n der c o v e r i n g t h e outer ρeriphery of the inner cy 1.1.nder . At t he same t ime,-tne kiln feeds an oxygen-containing gas into the inner cylinder so that a flammable gas resulting from the n e a ti n g o f the treat m e n t ta rget c a n be co mbus t e d, PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT DOCUMENT [ 0003]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application

Publication No. 2004-3738

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0004]

Here, in the external heating kiln described in Patent Document 1, the oxygen-containing gas is aimed at combusting the flammable gas. The combustion of the flammable gas occurs only in the gaseous part of the inside of the inner cylinder and at the surface of a treatment target layer formed by stacking the treatment target, and the heating of the treatment target takes place mainly at a portion in contact with the inner cylinder by the heating gas in. the outer cylinder. Then, if a large amount of the treatment target were to be heated, the external heating kiln would need to be long and the entire treatment target would fail to be efficiently heated. Λ it τ ·. 0 v v·1 j

Thus, the present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide an upgrading apparatus that can efficiently heat an entire organic material. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS [ ϋ 0 0 6 j

An upgrading apparatus in a first aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is an upgrading apparatus which includes a furnace body through which a solid organic material is caused to f 1 ow; indi r ect hea 11.ng means for indirect .1 y heating the organic material in the furnace body; gas f eed means for f eeding a gas cοnt a ining oxygen into an 0 rga η χc materiai lay e r f o rme d b y stac kxng t he o rga ni c ma ce ra. a i nea.ted to a ρrao' θ t erτηi.ηed t empgrat uis by t he indi re c t h e a t. i n g ra e at n s i n t; h e f u r n a c e bo a y , a n d delivery aeans tor delivering a sol id upgraded material which is the organic material upgraded via pyrolysis by being further heated by the gas , [0007] A π ir ρ g r a d .1 n g a p p a r a t u s 1 n a s e c ο n d a s p e c t of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in the first aspect of the present invention described above, characterized in that the gas feed means in eludes a gas r eed ηo z z i e t hr ough whi ch t hs ga s i s f ed int o the organic material layer, [0008] -

An upgrading apparatus in a third aspect of the present invention for solving the afore in entioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in the second aspect of the present invention described above, cnaract eri zeo in t ha t the ga s f eed means inciudes a plurality of the gas feed nozzles, and the plurality of gas feed nozzles are disposed to feed the gas at a region where the organic material reaches 250 °C or h i g h e r » [0009]

An upgrading apparatus in at fourth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in the second or third aspect of t he ρr esent invent iοn des cr.1 bed above, charaeter i zed 1 n t n a t the gas fee d η o z z .1 e ex t. e n d s w it hi n a r a n g e of an angle of repose ± the single of repose (0° to 2 * the angle of repose) in a direction of rotation of the furnace body from a vertical line passing a center of the furnace body.

[0010]

An upgrading apparatus in a fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention described above, characterized in that a tip portion of the gas feed nozzle is bent in a horizontal direction or in a direction inclined downward from the horizontal d irection.

[ Q 011 ]

An upgrading apparatus in a sixth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in tbs first aspect of the present invention described above, characterized in that the upgrading apparatus further comprises an outer cylinder covering the furnace body, and the gas feed means includes a hole portion which is provided in the furnace body and through which a heating gas from the indirect heating means is capable of flowing, and a thermal insulation material which is disposed between the furnace body ana the outer cylinder and covers the inner cylinder except a lower side thereof.

[0012]

An upgrading apparatus in a seventh aspect of the p re s e n t i nv e n t i ο n f o r solv ing t h e a f orementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention described above, characterised in. that the upgrading apparatus comprises a single one of the furnace body, [0013]

An upgrading apparatus in a eighth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention described above, characterized in that the upgrading apparatus comprises two of the furnace bodies, at one of the furnace bodies, the organic material is heated to the predetermined temperature by the indirect heating means, and at the other furnace body, a solid upgraded material is produced which is the organic -· material upgraded via pyrolysis by being further heated by the gas fed from the gas feed means.

[ 0 0 1 i ]

An upgrading apparatus in a ninth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in the eighth aspect of the present invention described above, characterized in that the one furnace body and the other furnace body are coupled to each other, [0015]

An upgrading apparatus in a tenth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the first to ninth aspects of the present invention described above, characterized in that a flow speed at which the gas is ted into the furnace body is adjusted to 0.05 τα/sec to 3 in./ sec , [0016]

An upgrading appara bus in a eIe venth a spec tofthe present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the rirst to tenth aspects of the present invention described above, characterized in that an amount of the gas to be fed into the organic material layer is adjusted to joe not smaller than 3 (NL-Oj/min / kg - the low-grade coal) but not greater than 30 (NL-0?/min / kg - the low-grade coal) .

[0017] .An upgrading apparatus in a twelfth aspect of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the i r r s t to eleventh aspects of the present invention descrioed above, characterized in that an oxygen concentration of the gas is 1 to 10%, [0018]

An upgrading apparatus in a thirteenth aspect of the present .1.nventiοn for sο 1 v.1.ng the aforem.entioned problem is the upgrading apparatus in any one of the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention d e s c rio e d a b o v e, c ha ra c t e r ized in t h at the o rg a n i c m a t e r .1. a 1 i s 1 o w - g r a d e c o a 1.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0019]

The present invention includes; the furnace body, through which a solid organic material is caused to flow; the indirect heating means for indirectly heating the organic material in the furnace body; the gas feed means for feeding a gas containing oxygen into an organic material layer formed by stacking the organic material heated to a predetermined temperature by the indirect heating means in the furnace body; and the delivery means for delivering a solid upgraded material whicft is the organic material upgraded via pyrolysis by being further heated by the gas. Thus, the organic material is indirectly heated, and the oxygen-· containing gas is brought into contact with the organic material heated to the predetermined temperature to thereby cause an exothermic reaction and directly heat the organic material. In this way, the organic material can be heated efficiently as compared a case of only indirectly heating the organic material. Consequently, the time of treatment of the organic materia 1 can be shorter and the size of the apparatus can be smaller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an upgrading apparatus according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a set of explanatory diagrams of a gas feed nozzle included in the upgrading apparatus, pa rt ( a} of Fig. 2 i11us trat ing an examp1e, part (b) of Fig. 2 illustrating another example, part (c) of Fig, 2 illustrating still another example.

[ Fig . 3 ] Fig. 3 is a schemat i c cοn f igur at iend.1 a g r arn of a second embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram o f a t h i r cl e in to o d i m e n t of c h e u p g r a o. i. n g a p p a r a t u s according to the present invention.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention, part (a) of Fig. 5 illustrating the entirety thereof, part (to) of Fig. 5 illustrating a radial cross-section of an inner cylinder included therein.

[FI. g. 6] Fig. 6 is a set of explanatory diagrams of a gas feed structure included in the upgrading apparatus, part (a) of Fig. 6 illustrating an example, part (la) of Fig. 6 illustrating another example. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [0021 ]

Embodiments of an upgrading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings . However, the present invention is not limited only to the following embodiments to be described with reference to the drawings .

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention will be described w 1.1 h refsr enee to Fig . 1 to Fig. 2 . Note t.ha t x.ne direction of the arrow indicated by reference sign A in parts (a) , {to) , and (c) or Fig. 2 represents the direction of rotation or an inner cylinder 101.

As illustrated in Fig . 1, an upgrading apparatus 100 includes the inner cylinder (furnace body) 101 supported rotatably and an outer cylinder 102 fixed and supported to and covering the outer: periphery of the inner cylinder 101. A feeder 103 that feeds low-grade coal (low-quality coal) 1 such as dried brown coal or subfc iturninou s coal, which is a solid organic material, is coupled to the base end side of the inner cylinder 101 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 101.

[0024] A feed hopper 104 into which to introduce the low-grade coal 1 is provided on the -base end side of the feeder 103. The feed hopper 104 is in comunica t ion with the tip side of a conveyance line 105 and is capable of receiving the low-grade coal 1 conveyed by the conveyance line 105. Note that a inert gas made of a nitrogen gas is sealed in the conveyance line 105, and t h 1 s inert gas is fed into the inner cylinder 101 through the feed hopper 101 and the feeder 103 together with the low-grade coal 1. : nnow!

i. ^ u ·-· -< J A chute 106 is coupled to the tip side of the inner cylinder 101 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 101, the chute 106 being delivery means for dropping and delivering, to a lower side, upgraded coal (pyrolized coal) 3 which is a solid upgraded material (pyrolized material) obtained by upgrading the low-grade coal 1 via pyrolysis, and also for delivering, to an upper side, a pyrolysis gas la resulting from the pyrolysis of the low-grade coal 1. The base end side of a discharge pipe 10 7 through which to discharge the pyrolysis gas la is coupled to the upper side of the chute 106. r η η o a ; : v w .ο, v j A plate-shaped wall 121 is provided on the inner periphery of the inner cylinder 101 near its tip. An end 121a of the wall 121 is formed to be above tips 115a of gas feed nozzles 115 to be described later in detail when situated on the lower side during rotational movement of the inner cylinder 101. In this way, on the tip side of the inner cylinder 101, the low-grade coal 1 can move further only after getting over the wail. 121 and thus its movement toward the tip end of the inner cylinder 101 with the rotation of the inner cylinder 101 is slower than that on the base end side of the inner cylinder 101. Hence, the low-grade coal 1 stays in the inner cylinder 101 and contact an oxygen-containing gas 13 fed through the gas feed nozzles 115 for an accordingly longer period of time.

[0027]

The tip side of a heating-gas feed line 108 that feeds a heating gas 21 (temperature; 900 to 12003C) into the outer cylinder 102 is coupled to the outer cylinder 102, and the base end sice of a heating-gas discharge line 109 that discharges a heating gas 2'la after heating the inner cylinder 101 is coupled to the outer cylinder 1 0 2 .

[ Ο 0.2 S ]

The above upgrading apparatus 100 further includes a gas feed device 110 that feeds the oxycjen~con.tain.ing gas 13 directly into a low-grade coal layer 2 formed by stacking the low-grade coal 1 on the tip side of the inside of the inner cylinder 101, The gas feed de v ice ,11 0 inc.1 udes a gas feed pipe 114 , the gas feed nozzles 115, and so on. The base end side of the gets feed pipe 114 is coupled to the tip side of an oxygen-containing-gas supply pipe 113, The base end si.de of the oxygen-cοn taining~gas supply pipe 113 is coupled to the tip side of an air supply pipe ill that supplies air 11 and to the tip side of an inert-gas supply pipe 112 that supplies an inert gas 12 such as a nitrogen gas. The base end side of the air supply pipe 111. is coupled to a gas ejection port in a blower 111a, The base end side of the inert-gas supply pipe 112 is coupled to an inert-gas feed source 112a such as a tank storing the inert gas 12. The air supply pipe 111 and the inert -ga s supp 1 y pipe 112 are provided wi th flow-speed adjustment valves 111b and 112b, .r:esρectiveIy . Thus ., by cοntro.1 1.1.ng t he open 1 ng degrees of the flow-speed adjustment valves 111b ana 112b and the actuation of the blower Ilia, the air 11 and the inert gas 12 are supplied and mixed into the oxygen-cοntain1ng gas (treatment gas) 13, which then flows through the oxygen-contarning-gas supply pipe 113 Into the gas feed pipe 114.

[0023]

The gas feed pipe 114 is disposed to extend in the same direction as the direction of extension of a center Cl of the iηner cv 1 inder 1 0 1, and is a 1 so clisposed such that its center coincides with the center Cl of the i η n e r c y 1 i n d e r i 0 1. ! he g a s tee ο. ρ i ρ e I4 r s faxed an its base end side to the chute 106 and supported at its tip side to a support member 117 with a fixing member 116. The support member 117 is fixed to the base end s l.de of the inner cylinder 101 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 101.

[0030]

The gas feed pipe 114 is provided with a plurality of (eight in the illustrated example) gas feed nozzles 115. The plurality of gas feed nozzles 115 are disposed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the gas feed pipe 114 (the right-left direction in Fig. 1). The plurality of gas feed nozzles 115 extend to the in': side of the low-grade coal layer 2., which is formed by s t a c R. .1. n g t hi e i o w — g r a d e c o a .l i .

[0031]

Note that in this embodiment, components such as the outer cylinder 102 and the heating-gas feed line 108 constitute indirect heating means, and components such as the gas feed device 110 constitute gas feed mean s.

[0032]

Now, the operation of the upgrading apparatus 100 with the above configuration will be described.

[0033]

First, t ’n e he a t i n g g a s 2 1 (t e τα p e r a t u r e : 900 t o 12 0 0 ° C ) is f e d i n t o t h e o u ter c y .1 i n d e x: i 0 2 t h r o u a h t h e heatinq-gas feed line 103 to heat the inner cylinder 101 with the heating gas 21 ins ide the outer cylinder 102. Note that during the heat treatment of the low-grade coai 1, the heating gas 21 is fed into the outer cylinder 102 through the heating-gas feed line 108, and the heating gas 21a after heating the inner cylinder 101 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus through the heating "-gas discharge line 109. Inside the inner cylinder 101, an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas is fed by inert-gas feed means (not illustrated) provided to the inner cylinder 101, [0033 j

The iow-graae coal 1 is conveyed by the conveyance line 105 and introduced into the feed hopper 104. The low-grade coal 1 introduced into the feed hopper 104 is fed to the base end side of the inner cylinder 101 by the feeder 10 3. The low-grade coai 1 fed into the inner cylinder 101 flows (moves) from she base end side to the tip side of the inner cylinder 101 while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 21 arid stirred with rotation of the inner cylinder 101. At a region L12 on the tip side of the inner cylinder 101, the low-grade coal 1 reaches a predetermined temperature (e.g. 2 5 0 ° C and preferably 4 0 0 ° C) or higher as a result of being indi rectly heated by the heating gas 21. At this region L12, the oxygen- containing gas 13 is fed directly into the low-grade coal layer 2 through the gas feed nozzles 115. The oxygen-containing gas 13 flows through, the inside of the low-grade coai layer 2. Thus, the oxygen-containing gas 13 directly contacts the entire low-grade coal layer 2 and further raises the temperature of the low-grade coal 1 that has been heated to the predetermined temperature { e.g. 2 5 0 ° C) . This occurs because when the low-qrade coal 1 is heated to the predetermined temperature, its reactivity rises, so that the low-grade coal 1 reacts with the oxygen in the oxygen-centa ining gas 13 and generates heat. Thus, the low-grade coal 1 fed into the inner cylinder 101 is heated efficiently by the indirect heating with the heating gas 21, fed into the outer cylinder 10 2, and the direct heating with the exothermic reaction with the oxygen-containing gas 13, fed into the low-grade coal layer 2. In this way, the time of treatment of the low-grade coal 1 can be short and also the sire of the upgrading apparatus 100 itself can be small as compared to a case of using only the indirect heating with the heat ing gas 21 . I. v 0 a o j

Moreover, the wall 121, which is provided near the tip of the inner cylinder 101, blocks movement of the low-grade coal layer 2 toward the chute 106 until the low-grade coal layer 2 reaches a level above the wall 121. Thus, the low-grade coal 1 stays longer near the tip of the inner cylinder 101 than on the base end side of the inner cy 1 inder 1 0 1 . Tnis aliows ef f icient. contact of the oxygen-containing gas 13 with the low-grade coal layer 2.

[0036]

Upgraded coal 3 which is the low-grade coal 1 upgraded via pyrolysis by being heated to e.g. 500 ''C gets over the wall 121 and is dropped and delivered to the lower side from the chute 106.

[0037]

Thus, according to this embodiment, the low-grade coal 1 ted into the inner cylinder 101 is indirectly heated by the heating gas 21, and the oxygen-containing gas 13 is fed into the low-grade coal layer 2 formed by stacking the low-grade coal 1 that has reached the p r e d e t e r m i n e d t e m.p e r a t a re ( e , q . 2 5 0 ° C a n d p r e f e r a b .1 y 4 0 0 0 C) or higher to bring the oxygen-containing gas 13 into direct contact wi th the low-grade coal 1. As a result, the oxygen in the oxygen-cont a i n in g gas 13 reacts with the low-grade coal 1 and generates heat, thereby raising the temperature of the low-grade coal 1. In this way, the entire low-grade coal layer 2 can be efficiently heated and the efficiency of manufacturing the upgraded coal 3 can be improved. Consequent ly, the treatment time can be shorter and the a p p a r a t u s s i z e c a n b e s τα a .1. .1 e r .

[0038]

Note that the inner cylinder 101 includes a drive mechanism (not illustrated) that rotationally drives the inner cylinder 101, and the speed of rotation of the inner cylinder 101 is preferably adjusted to e.g. 1 rpm to 5 rpm, [0039] T he p r ο p o r t i ο η o £ t h e .1 o w - g r a d e coal 1 fills 0. i n the inner cylinder 101 is preferably 10% to 30%. If the proportion is less than 10%, the amount of low-grade coal 1 to be treated will be small. If the proportion is greater than 30%, it will be impossible to efficiently heat the entire low-grade coal layer 2, which is formed a re salt of stacking the low-grade coal 1. Consequently, the production efficiency might be decreased .

[ 0 01 0 3

As the gas feed nozzles 115, nozzles with various shapes are available such tor example as a straight pipe 115A as illustrated in part (a) of Fig. 2, an I,- shaped pipe II5B as illustrated in part (to) of Fig. 2, and a pipe 115C with a foent portion near its tip as illustrated in part (c) of Fig. 2. In the case of using the straight pipe 115A, an angle XI in the rotational, direction A between a direction LI of extension of the straight pipe 115A and a vertical line to2 passing the center Cl of the inner cylinder 101 is preferably an angle of repose X2 (the angle between the surface of the low-grade coal layer 2 and a tangen t i a 1 line L3) ± the angle of repose X2, i.e. 0° to twice the angle of repose X2, more preferably 1/2 the angle of repose X2 to 3/2 times the angle of repose X2 , and even more pref erably t.he ang 1 e o£ repose X2 . If the ang 1 e X1 is smaller than 0 ° or larger than twice the angle of repose X2 , minute particles of the low-grade coal I will easily enter the inside of the gas feed nozzle 115A, If the direction LI of extension of the straight pipe 115A is at the angle of repose X2, a tip portion 115Aa of the straight pipe 115A will be at the deepest point in the low-grade coal layer 2 and therefore allow efficient contact of the oxygen-containing gas 13 with the low-grade coal 1.

[004 I 3

In the case of using the pipe 115C, its tip portion 115Ca is preferably extended in a direction between the horizontal direction and the radial direction of the inner cylinder 10 1 . If the tip portion 11 5Ca is tilted in the direction k of rotation of the inner cylinder 101 f r om the horizontal direction or tilted in the direction opposite to the direction A of rotation of the inner cylinder 101, i.e. in the direct ion of reverse rotation of the inner cylinder 101, from the radial direction of the inner cylinder 101, minute particles of the low-grade coal 1 will easily enter the inside, [00-12]

The gas feed nozzles 115 extend preferably to 50% of the low-grade coal layer 2 from a surface 2a of the low-grade coal layer 2 and more preferably to 30% of the low-grade coal layer 2 , If the gas feed nozzles 115 are shorter than 50% of the low-grade coal layer 2 from the surface 2a of the low-grade coal layer 2, the low-grade coal 1 and the oxygen-containing gas 13 might fail to be in contact with each other inside the 1o w-era d e co a1 1a y e r 2, [0043]

Meanwhile, as illustrated in parts (a), (b) , and (c) of Fig, 2, a plurality of (four in the illustrated e x a m p .1 e s ) 1 i £ t e r s 101a a r e p r o v 1 d e d ο n t h e i η n e r peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 101 side by side in the radial direction.

[0044 ]

The flow speed at which the oxygen-containing gas 13 is fed into the low-grade coal layer 2 is adjusted preferably to e.g. 0.0 5 m/sec to 3 in/sec and more p r e f e r a fa 1 v t o 0 . 1 m / s e c t o 1 xn / s sc . If t h e f I o w s p e e d at which the oxygen- containing gas 13 is fed is slower than 0.05 xn/sec, dust (minute coal particles) will, easily enter the gas feed, nozzles 115. If the flow speed at which the oxygen--containing gas 13 is fed is faster than 3 m/sec, the oxygen-containing gas 13 will flow in directions toward the wall surface of the inner cylinder 101 due to the inertial force and the oxygen - cent a i n i ng gas 13 exit the low-grade coal layer 2 without thoroughly flowing therein..

[0045]

The amount of the oxygen-containing gas 13 to be fed into the low-grade coal layer 2 is preferably adjusted to be e.g. not smaller than 3 {hL-Cg/min / kg - the low-grade coal 1) but not greater than 30 (NL-O2/min/kq - the low-grade coal 1) . If the amount of the oxygen- con tai n. i.ng gas 13 to be fed into the low-grade coal layer 2 is smaller than 3 (NL~02/min / kg - the low-grade coal 1) , not enough oxygen might be fed into the low-grade coal layer 2. if the amount of the oxygen-containing gas 13 to be fed into the low-grade coal layer 2 is greater than 30 ! ML-0^/min/kg - the low-grade coal 1) , the oxygen might be so much that the reaction would proceed, to an excessive extent.

[0046]

The oxygen cοncent rat ion of the oxygen-containing gas 13 is preferably 1 to 10%. If the oxygen concentration is lower than 1 %, the temperature of the low-grade coal layer 2 will be likely to be raised insufficiently. If the oxygen concentration is higher than 10%, the oxygen might be so ranch that the reaction would proceed to an excessive extent. i. a U a / j [Second Erafoodiment] A second embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention wi.11 be described with reference to Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the upgrading apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment is formed using two upgrading-apparatus main units. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0038]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, an upgrading apparatus 2 00 includes a first upgrading-apparatus main unit 2 0 0A and a second upgrading-apparatus main unit 2 0 0 B and is configured to heat low-grade coal to a predetermined temperature at the first upgrading-apparatus main, unit 200A and upgrade the low-grade coal at the predetermined temperature via pyrolysis by farther heating it at the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 2 0 0 B .

[ 0 0 4 9 ]

The first upgrading-apparatus main unit 200Ά includes an inner cylinder 201 supported rotatably, an outer cylinder 202 fixed and supported to and covering the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 201, a feeder 203 coup 1 ed to the iηner cy 1 inder 2 01 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 201, and a feed hopper 20 4 provided on the base end side of the feeder 203, The feed hopper 204 is in communication with the tip side of a conveyance line £05 that conveys low-grade coal (low-quality coal) 31 such as dried brown coal or suhbituminous coal, which is a solid organic material, and is capable of receiving the low-grade coal 31 conveyed by the conveyance line 205.

[0050] A chute 206 is coupled to the tip side of the inner cylinder 201 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 201, the chute 206 being delivery means for dropping and delivering, to a lower side, heated coal 32 which is the low-grade coal, 31 heated to a predetermined temperature (e.q. 2 5 0°C and preferably 400*0} or higher, and also for delivering, to an upper side, a gas 31a resulting from the hea t ing of the low-grade coal. 31 . The base end side of a discharge pipe 207 through which to discharge the gas 31a is coupled to the upper side of the chute 206,

The tip side of a heating-gas feed line 203 that feeds a heating gas 11 (t erap era Pure: 90 0 to i 2 0 0 ° C } into the outer cylinder 202 is coupled to the outer cylinder 202, and the base end side of a heating-gas discharge line £09 that discharges a heating gas 41a after heating the inner cylinder 201 is coupled to the outer cylinder 202 .

[0052]

Li ics t ne above-described upqradinc? apparatus 10 0 , the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B includes an inner cylinder 101, an outer cylinder 102, a feeder i u 3 , a fee o. h o p p e r 1 0 4 , a c h u t e 106, a d i s c h a r q e p i p e i v 1 f 3 hear ing-ga s i e e d line 108, a he a t. inq - qa s discharge line 109, and a gas feed device 110. The feed topper 10 4 of the second, upgrading-apparatus main unit *'·GOB is disposed to be capable of receiving the heated coa.:. .3r drορped anct de.J. i ver6;d to t he 1 ower sid.e f r om tne chute 206 of the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 200.Ά, Meanwhile, an inert gas is sealed between the chute 206 of the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 200A. and the feed hopper 104 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B, [0053]

Note that in this embodiment, components such as the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 200h constitute one furnace body, and components such as the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B constitute the other furnace body.

[0054]

Now, the operation of the upgrading apparatus 200 with the above configuration will be described.

[0055]

Firs t, a t the fi r s t a n d sec ο n d upgrading-apparatus main units 200A and 2 0 0 B, the heating gases 41 and 21 (temperature; 900 to 1200 °C) are fed. into the outer cylinders 202 and 102 through the heating-gas feed lines 208 and 108 to heat the inner cylinders 201 and 101 with the heating gases 41 and 21 inside the outer cylinders 202 and 102, Note that during the heat treatment of the low-grade coal 31 and the heated coal 32, the heating gases 11 and 21 are fed into the outer cylinders 202 and 102 through the heating-gas feed lines 208 and 103, and the heating gases 41a and 21a. after heating the inner cylinders 201 and 101 are discharged to the outside of the apparatus through the heating-gas discharge lines 203 and 109. Inside the inner cylinders 201. and. 10 Ί , an inert gas s u c h as a nitrogen gas is fed by inert-gas feed means (not illustrated) provided to the inner cylinders 201 and 101 .

[0056]

The low-grade coal 31 is conveyed by the conveyance line 205 and introduced into the feed hopper 204, The low-grade coal 31 introduced into the feed hopper 2 0 4 is fed to the base end side of the inner cylinder 201 by the feeder 203. The low-grade coal 31 fed into the inner cylinder 201 flows (moves) from the base end side to the tip side of the inner cylinder 201 while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 41 and stirred with rotation of the inner cylinder 201. On the tip side of the inner cylinder 201, the low-grade coal 31 reaches the predetermined temperature (e,g. 2 5 0 ° C and preferably 4 0 0 ° C ) or higher, [ 0057]

The heated coal 32 heated to the predetermined temperature or higher is dropped and delivered to the lower side from the chute 206 of the first upgrading -appa rates main unit 200A and received by the feed hopper 104 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 2 0 0 B. The heated coal 32 received by the feed hopper 104 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 2 0 QB is fed into the inner cylinder 101 by the feeder 10 3 . The heated coal. 32 fed into the inner cylinder 101 flows (moves) to the tip side while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 21 and stirred with rotation of the inner cylinder 101, .At the region in the inner cylinder 101 where the heated coal 32 is indirectly heated by the heating gas 21, an oxygen-containing gas 13 is fed directly into a heated coal layer 33 formed by stacking the heated coal 32 , through gas feed nozzles 115, The heated coal 32 reacts with the oxygen In the oxygen-contain.1 ng gas 1 3 and generates heat. Thus , the n e a h e ci coax r 2 is h e a r e d e r t .i c i e n c .:. y b y r. n e .i n cl ire c t heating with the heating gas 21 and the direct heating with the above exothermic reaction. In this way, the time of treatment of the low-grade coal 31 can be short and also the size of the upgrading apparatus 200 itself can be small as compared to a case of using only the indirect heating with the heating gases 41 and 21. [0058) L i k e t h e a b o v e - d e s c r i b e d u ρ g r a d i n g a ρ p a r a t u s 1 0 0 , the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B includes a wall 121 provided near the tip of the inner cylinder 101, Since movement of the heated coal layer 33 toward the chute 106 is blocked until the heated coal layer 3 3 r e a c h e s a 1 e v e .1 a b o v e t h e w a. 1.1 1 2 1, the h e a t e d c o a 1 32 stays longer inside the inner cylinder 101, This allows efficient contact of the oxygen-containing gas 13 with the heated coal layer 33.

[0059]

Upgraded coal 34 which is the heated coal 32 upgraded via pyrolysis by being heated to e. g. 500 °C gets over the wail 121 and is dropped and delivered to the lower side from the chute 106.

[00601

Thus, according to this embodiment, the heated coal 32 obtained by indirectly heating the low-grade coa 1 31 fed into the inner cylinder 201 of the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 2G0.A to the predetermined temperature (e.g, 2 5 0 υ C and preferably 4 0 0 0 C) or higher with the heating gas 41. i s dropped and delivered from the chute 206 and received by the teed hopper 104 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit · 200B, and the heated coal 32 received by the feed hopper 104 is fed into the inner cylinder 101 by the feeder 103 and then moved toward the tip side while being stirred with .rotation of the inner cylinder 101 , In doing so, the temperature of the heated coal 32 is raised by the indirect heating with the heating gas 21 and the direct heating with the exothermic reaction with the directly fed oxygen-containing gas 13. In this way, the entire low-grade coal 31 (heated coal 32} can be efficiently heated and the efficiency of manufacturing the upgraded coal 34 can be improved. Consequently, the treatment time can be shorter and the apparatus size can be smaller.

[0061]

In a case where the upgrading apparatus 200 includes the first upgrading··· apparatus main unit 200Λ, then only the upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B may just be newly installed. This can suppress increase in equipment cost.

[0062]

Note that the inner cylinder 201 includes a drive mechanism (not illustrated) that rotationally drives the inner cylinder 201, and the speed of rotation of the inner cylinder 201 is preferably adjusted to e.g, 1 rpm to 5 rpm.

[0063]

The proportion of the low-grade coal 31 filled in the inner cylinder 201 is preferably 10% to 30%. If the proportion is less than 10%, the amount of low·-grade coal 31 to be treated will be small. If the proportion is greater than 30%, it will be impossible to efficiently heat the entire low-grade coal layer which is formed by stacking the low-grade coal 31, Consequently, the product! or) efficiency might be decreased.

[ 0064 ] [Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the upgrading apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment is formed using two apparatus main units. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[006b]

As illustrated in Fig. 4, an upgrading apparatus 300 includes a first upgrading-apparatus main unit 3 0 0A and a second upgrading-apparatus main, unit 3 0 0 B. An inner cylinder 301 included in the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 300A and an inner cylinder 101 included in the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B are coupled to each other and capable of rotating in synchronization with each other.

[0066]

The first upgrading-apparatus main unit 300A includes an inner cylinder 301 supported rotatably, an outer cylinder 303 fixed and supported to and covering the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 301, a feeder 3 0 3 coupled to the inner cylinder 301 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 301, and a feed hopper 304 provided on the base end side of the feeder 303. The feed hopper 304 is in communication with the tip side of a conveyance line 305 that conveys low-grade coal (low-quality coal) 51 such as dried brown coal or su'bbituminous coal, which is a solid organic material, and is capable of receiving the low-grade coal. 51 conveyed by the conveyance line 305.

[0067]

The tip side of a heat in.g~gas feed .1 ine 308 that feeds a heating gas 61 (temperature: 900 to 12 0 0 0 C} into the outer cylinder 302 is coupled to the outer cylinder 3 02 , and the base end s ide of a hea t ing-gas discharge line 309 that discharges a heating gas 61a after heating t. η β i η η β r c y 1 i η a e r 3 01 i s c o u pled t. o t h β o u t. e r c y 1 i n d e r 302 .

[0068] T η β t x ρ si d β ο Γ t;. h θ x. π π $r c y i i n d β r 3 0 1 .1 s c o u p 1 6; d a o ix π β .d a s e e n d s i d e o .t t. h e ί η π β r c y 1 ί. π d e r 10 1 o f t. h e secona upgrading-apparatus main unit 3 0 0 B , and heated coal 52 which is the low-grade coal 51 heated to a predetermined temperature (e„g. 2 5 0 0 C and preferably 4 0 0 ° C} or higher can be delivered into the inner cylinder 101 of the upgrading-apparatus main unit 3 0 OB .

[ 0 0 6 9]

Lite the above-described upgrading apparatus 100, the upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B includes the x.ηne r cylinder 101, an outer cylinder 102 , a chute I 0 6 , a discharge pipe 107, a heating-gas feed line 108, a h e a t i n g - g a s d x. s c h a r g e line i 0 9 , a n d a. g a s fee a d e v 1 c e 110 , [0070] dote that in this embodiment, components such as the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 3 00 A. constitute one furnace body, and components such as the second upgrading-apparatu s main unit 3 0 0 B constitute the other furnace body, ί. ϋ U / .·. j

Now, the operation of the upgrading apparatus 300 with the above configuration will be described, [0072]

First, at the first and second upgrading-apparatus main units 300Ά and 3 0 OB, the neating gases 61 and 21 (temperature: 900 to 1200 °C) are feci into the outer cylinders 302 and 102 through the heating-gas feed 1 ines 308 and 108 to heat the 1 ηner cylinders 301 and 101 with the heating gases 61 and 21 inside the outer cylinders 302 and 102. Note that during u n e hear treat men t o r cπβ r o w — g ra ae cos l b i an d. t h e heated coal 52, the heating gases 61 and 21 are fed into the outer cylinders 302 and 102 through the heating-gas teed lines 308 and 103, and the heating gases 61a and 21a after heating the inner cylinders 301- and 101 are discharged to the outside of the apparatus through the heating-gas discharge lines 309 and 109. Inside the inner cylinders 301 and 101, an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas is fed by inert-gas teed means (not illustrated) provided, to the inner cylinders 301 and 101 .

[0073]

The low-grade coal. 51 is conveyed by the conveyance line 305 and introduced into the feed hopper 304, The low-grade coal 51 in trodu c e d into the feed hopper 304 is fed to the base end side of the inner cylinder 301 by the feeder 303. The Iow-grade coal 51 fed into the inner cylinder 301 flows (moves) from the base end side to the tip side of the inner cylinder 301 while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 61 and stirred with rotation of the inner cylinder 301, On the tip side of the inner cylinder 301, the low-grade coal 51 reaches the predetermined temperature (e.g, 250°C and preferably 400cC) or higher.

[0074 ]

The heated coal 52 heated to the predetermined temperature or higher is supplied from the tip of the inner cylinder 301 into the inner cylinder 101 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B. The heated coal 52 supplied into the inner cylinder 101 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 30QB flows (moves) to the tip side while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 21 and stirred with rotation of the inner cylinder 101. At the region in the inner cylinder 101 where the heated coal 52 is indirectly heated by the heating gas 21, an oxygen-containing gas 13 is fed directly into a heated coal layer 53 formed by stacking the heated coal 5 2, through gas feed nozsi.es 115. The heated coal 52 reacts with the oxygen in the oxygen-containing gas 13 and generates heat. Thus, the heated coal 52 is heated efficiently by the indirect heating with the heating gas 21 and the direct heating with the above exothermic react!on. In this way, the time of treatment of the low-grade coal 51 can be short and also the site of the upgrading apparatus 300 itself can be small as compared to a case of using only the indirect heating with the heating gases 61 and 21.

[ 0 0 / 5 1

Like the above-described upgrading apparatus 100, the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B includes a wall 121 provided near the tip of the inner cylinder 101. Since movement of the heated coal layer 53 toward the chute 106 is blocked until the heated coal layer 53 reaches a level above the wail 121, the heated coal 52 stays longer inside the inner cylinder 101, This allows efficient contact of the oxygen-containing gas 13 with the heated coal layer 53. COO? 6j

Upgraded coal 54 which is the heated coal 52 upgraded via pyrolysis by being heated to e.g . 500 °C gets over the wall 121 and is dropped and delivered to the lower side from the chute 106, [0077]

Thus, according to this embodiment, the heated coal 52 obtained by indirectly heating the low-grade coal 51 fed into the inner cylinder 301 of the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 30 0A to the predetermined temperature (e.g. 250°C and preferably 4 0 0 ° C } or higher with the heating gas 61 is directly fed into the inner cylinder 101 of the second upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B, and moved toward the tip side while being stirred wi th rotation of the inner cylinder 101. In doing so, the heated coal. 52 i s indirectly heated by the heating gas 21 and di rectlv heated by the exothermic reaction with the directly fed oxygen- c ο n t a .1 n 1 n. g; g a s 13 , I n t h i s w a y, t h e e n 11 r e low-grade coal 51 (heated coal 52} can be efficiently heated and the efficiency of manufacturing the upgraded coal 54 can be improved. Consequently, the treatment time can be shorter and tine apparatus size can be smaller .

[ 0 0 7 S ]

In a case where the upgrading apparatus 300 includes the first upgrading-apparatus main unit 300A, then only the upgrading-apparatus main unit 300B may just be newly installed. This can suppress increase in ecuipment cost.

[0079]

Note that the inner cylinder 301 and 101 include drive mechanisms (not illustrated) that rotateο n a 11 y drive the inner cylinders 301 and 101, and the speeds of rotation of the inner cylinders 301 ana 101 are preferably adjusted to e.g. 1 rpm to 5 rpm.

[0080]

The proportion of the low-grade coal 51 filled in trie inner cylinder 301 is preferably 10% to 3 0%. If the proportion is less than 10%f the amount of low-grade coal 51 to be treated will be small. If the proportion is greater than 30%, it will be impossible to efficiently heat the entire low-grade coal layer which is formed by stacking the low-grade coal 51. Consequently, the production efficiency might be decreased.

[0081] [Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment of the upgrading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the gas feed device included in the upgrading apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment is changed. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals . Γ η ο ρ a

As illustrated in parts (a) and (b) of Fig, 5, an upgrading apparatus 400 includes an inner cylinder 401 provided rotatably with its outer side covered by an outer cylinder 102, and a thermal insulation material 418 disposed and fixedly supported between the inner cylinder 401 and the outer cylinder 102 on the tip side of the inner cylinder 401. A plate-shaped wall 121 is provided on the inner periphery of the inner cylinder 401 near its tip. The thermal insulation material 418 is provided in such a way as to cover the inner cylinder iOi except a predetermined region thereof (a part where a later-described guide mechanism 115A or 415B is provided), Note that a common material with no reactivity with a heating gas 21 can be used as the thermal insulation material 418.

[0083] A feeder 103 that feeds iow-q rade coal, i iow-qualr ty coal.) 71 such as dried brown coa 1 or subbituminous coal, which is a solid organic material, is coupled to the base end side of the inner cylinder 4 01 in such a way as to a11ow rotation of the inner cy1 inde r 4 0 1 .

[ 008 4 ] A chute 106 is coupled to the tip side of the inner cylinder 401 in such a way as to allow rotation of the inner cylinder 401, the chute 106 being delivery means for dropping and delivering, to a lower side, upgraded coal (pyroll zed coal) 7 3 which is a solid upgraded material (pyrolized material; obtained by upgrading the low-grade coal 71 via pyrolysis, and also for delivering, to an upper side, a pyrolysis gas 71a resulting from the pyrolysis of the low-grade coal 71.

[0085j

The a b o ve upgrad i πg appara t us 4 0 0 f urther isciudes gas feed means for feedieg the heating gas 21 as an oxygen-containing gas directly into a low-grade coal layer 72 formed by stacking the low-grade coal 71 in the inner cylinder 401. As the gas feed means, the g u x d e ro e c n. a n j. sir 415 A c a n b e u s e a w h i c h 1- η ο 1 u des t In e thermal insulation material 418 and, as illustrated in e.g. part (a) of Fig. 6, a plurality of holes 415Aa provided in a part of the inne r cylinder 401 and L-shaped plates 415Ab and straight plates 415Ac provided at the edges of the holes 415Aa, and through which the heating gas 21 meander into the inner cylinder 40i. Alternatively, as the gas feed means, the guide mechanism 4158 can be used which includes the thermal insulation material 418 and, as illustrated in e.g. part (b) of Fig. 6, a plurality of holes 415Ba provided in a part of the inner cylinder 401 and U-shaped plates 4 1 5 B b a n d s t. r a i σ h t ρ 1 a t e s 4 1 5 3 c p r o v i d e d a t t h e e d cj e s of the hol.es 4 15Ba , ana through which the heating gas 21 meander into the inner cylinder 401.

[0036]

Note that in this embodiment, components such as the guide mechanism 415A or 415B, including the holes 415Aa or 415Ba, which is provided in the inner cylinder 401 and through which the heating gas 21 can flow, and the thermal insulation material 418, which is disposed between the inner cylinder 401 and the outer cylinder 102 and covers the inner cylinder 401 except its .1 ower side, constitute the gas feed means.

[ 0087 ]

Now, the operation of the upgrading apparatus 400 with the above configuration will be described, l 0 0 8 8 ]

First, the heating gas 2 1 (temperature: 900 to 1200 VC} is fed into the outer cylinder 102 through a heating- gas feed line 108 to heat the inner cylinder 401 with the heating gas 21 inside the outer cylinder lOz, Note that during the heat treatment of the i <'· w g r a d e c o a r / i , t h e h e a t i n g g a s .2 1 i s f e cl 1. n t. o the outer cylinder 102 through the heat i nq-gas feed line 10 8, and a heating gas 21a after heating the inner cvi i rider 4 01 i s discharged to the outside of the apparatus through a heating-gas discharge line 109, Inside the inner cylinder 401, an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas is fed by inert-gas feed means (not illustrated) provided to the inner cylinder 401.

[0089]

The low-grade coal 71 is conveyed by a conveyance line 105 and introduced into a feed hopper 104. The low-grade coal 71 introduced into the feed hopper 104 is fed to the base end side of the inner cylinder 401 by the feeder 103. The low-grade coal 71. fed into the inner cylinder 101 flows (moves} from the base end side to the tip side of the inner cylinder 401 while being indirectly heated by the heating gas 21 and stirred with rotation or the inner cylinder 401, At a region L12 on the tip side of tire inner cylinder 401, the low-grade coa 1 7 1 reaches a preclet ermί ned teraperature ( e . g , 250 °C and prerera.01 y 400 °C) or hίgher as a result of beina indi rectiy heated by the heating gas 2 1 . At this region L12, the heating gas 21 is fed as an oxygen·-- cent a i ning gas directly into the low-grade coal layer 72, formed by stacking the low-grade coal 71, through the gas feed means . The heating gas 21 flows through the inside of the low-grade coal layer 72. Thus, the heating gas 21 directly contacts the entire low-grade coal layer 72 and further raises the temperature of the low-grade coal 7 1 that has been heated to the predetermined temperature (e.g. 2 5 0 0 C) - This occurs because when the low-grade coal 71 is heated to the predetermined temperature, its reactivity rises, so that the low-grade coal 71 reacts with the oxygen in the heating gas 21 and generates heat. Thus, the low-grade coal. 71 fed into the inner cvlinder 401 is heated e f f i c1e n 11y by the indirect heating with the heating gas 21, fed into the outer cylinder 102, and the direct heating with the exothermic reaction with the heating gas 21, fed into the low-grade coal layer 72. In this way, the time of treatment of the low-grade coal 71 can be short and also the size of the upgrading apparatus 100 itself can be small as compared to a case of using only the indirect heating with the heating gas 21, [0090]

Moreover, the wail 121, which is provided near the tip of the inner cylinder 401, blocks movement of the low-grade coal layer 72 toward the chute 106 until the low-grade coal layer 72 reaches a level above the wall 121. Thus, the low-grade coal 71 stays longer near the tip of the inner cylinder 401 than on the base end side of the inner cylinder 401. This allows efficient contact of the heating gas 21 with the low-grade coal 1 a y e r 7 2 .

The upgraded coal 73, which is the low-grade coal 71 upgraded v i a pyrolysis by being heated to e.g. 5 0 0 ° C , gets over the wail 121 and is dropped and delivered to the lover side from the chute 106.

[0092]

Thus, according to this embodiment, the low-grade coal 71 fed into the inner cylinder 401 is indirectly heated by the heating gas 21, and the heating gas 21 is fed as an oxygen-containing gas into the low-grade coal layer 72 formed by stacking the low-grade coal 1 that has reached, the predetermined temperature (e.g. 2 5 0 ° C and preferably 4 0 00 C} or higher to bring the heating gas 21 into direct contact with the low-grade coal. 71. As a result, the oxygen in the heating gas 21 reacts with the low-grade coa 1 71 and generates heat, thereby raising the temperature of the low-grade coal 71. In this way, the entire low-grade coal layer 72 can be efficient], y heated and the efficiency of manufacturίng the upgraded coal 7 3 can be improved. Consequently, the treatment time can be shorter and the appa ra. t u s size can be sma 11 e r .

[0093]

Note that the inner cylinder 401 includes a drive mechanism {not illustrated) that rotationally drives t h e i η n e r c y Under 4 0 1, a n d t h e s p e e d o f r o t a t i ο η o f the inner cylinder 401 is preferably adjusted to e.g. 1 r ο m t ο 5 r ο ττι „ [0094]

The proportion of the low-grade coal 71 fii 1 ed in the inner cylinder 401 is preferably 10% to 30%, If the proportion is less than 10%, the amount of low-grade coal 71 to be treated will be small. If the proportion is greater than 30%, it will be impossible to efficiently heat the entire low-grade coal layer 72, which is formed by stacking the low-grade coal 71. Consequently, the product ion efficiency might be d e c reased, r o ft o ί l G G .s 3 j

The flow speed at which the heating gas 21 is fed into the low-grade coal layer 72 is ad j us ted preferably to e.g. 0.05 m/sec to 3 m/sec and more preferably to 0.1 m/sec to 1 τα/sec. If the flow speed at which the heating gas 21 is fed is slower than 0.05 m/sec, dust (minute coal particles} will easily enter the guide mechanism 4 1 5A or 4 1 5B . If the flow speed at which the heating gas 21 is fed is faster than 3 m/sec, the heating gas 21 will flow to a center Cl of the inner cylinder 101 due to the inertial force ana the heating gas 21 exit the low-grade coal, layer 72 without thoroughly flowing therein , [0096]

The amount of the heating gas 21 to be fed into the low-grade coal layer 72 is preferably adjusted to be e.g. not smaller than 3 (NL-Oz/min/kg - the low-grade coal 71} but not greater than 30 (NL-O^/min/kg - the low-grade coal 71}. If the amount of the heating gas 21 to be fed into the low- grade coal layer 72 is smaller than 3 (NL-Os/roin/ kg - the low-grade coal 71} , not enough oxygen might be fed into the low-grade coal layer 72. If the amount of the heating gas 21 to be fed into the low-grade coal layer 72 is greater than 30 {NL~02/min/kg - the low-grade coal 71} ,, the oxygen might be so much that the reaction would proceed to an excessive extent, [0037]

The oxygen concentration of the heating gas 21 is preferably 1 to 10%. If the oxygen concentration is lower than 1%,- the low-grade coal layer 72 w i 11 be likely to be heated ins u f f i c i e n 11y. If the oxygen concentration is higher than 10%. the oxygen might be so much that the reaction would proceed to an excessive e x t e n t. .

[00981 [Other Embodiments]

Meanwhile, the above description has been presented using the upgrading apparatuses in which the oxygen-conta ining-gas supply pipe 113 is connected to the base end of the gas feed pipe 114, However f it is possible to employ an upgrading apparatus in which its gas feed pipe 111 and gas feed nozzles are each formed as a double pipe with one pipe connected to the inert-gas feed source 112a and the inert-gas supply pipe 112 and the other pipe connected to the air supply pipe 111 and the blower ilia. In this case too, advantageous effects similar to those by the above-described upgrading apparatuses can be achieved.

[0099]

The above description has been given of the cases of upgrading the dried low-grade coals 1, 31, 51, and 71 via pyrolysis by heating them. However, the present invention is not limited to these cases. The present invention can be applied as in the above-described embodiments to cases of upgrading solid organic materials via pyrolysis by heating them, and advantageous effects similar to those by the above-described embodiments can be achieved. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [01001

The upgrading apparatus according to the present invention can efficiently heat an entire organic material. and can therefore be significantly beneficially utilized in. the poser generating industry and the like. EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS [0101] 1 low-grade coal (low-quality coal) .1 a p y r o 1 y s i s g a s 2 low-grade coal layer 3 upgraded coal (pyrolized coal) 11 a i r 12 inert gas (nitrogen gas) 13 o>:y gen-containing gas 21 heating gas 31 low-grade coal (low-quality coal) 31a pyrolysis gas 32 heated coal 33 heated coal layer 34 upgraded coal (pyrolized coal) 41 heating gas 51 low-grade coa. 1 (low-quality coal) 51a pyrolysis gas 52 heated coa). o h e a t e o c o a .1 1. a y e r 54 upgraded coal (pyrolized coal) 61 heating gas 100 upgrading apparatus 101 inner cylinder 102 outer cylinder Ί 0 3 f Λ ;n. φ 0 V' 101 feed hopper 105 conveyance line 106 chute 107 discharge pipe 108 heating-gas feed 1ine 109 heating-gas discharge line 110 gas feed device 111 air supply pipe Ilia blower 111b flow-speed adjustment valve 112 inert-gas supply pipe 112a inert-gas feed source 112b flow-speed adjustment valve 113 oxygen-containing-gas supply pipe 114 gas feed pipe 115 e as feed η o z z 1. e 116 fixing raernfoer 117 support member 200 upgrading apparatus 200A. first upgrading-apparatus main unit 200B second upgrading-apparatus main unit 300 upgrading apparatus 300A first upgrading-apparatus main unit 3 0 0 5 second upgrading-apparatus main unit 400 upgrading apparatus 4 01 inner cy 1 i.nder 415ft., 415B guide mechanism 418 thermal insulation material A di rection of rotation of inner cylinder

Cl center axis of inner cylinder LI supplemental line for direction of extension of gas feed nozzle L2 vertical line passing center of inner cylinder L 3 tanaential line (s u p p 1 e m e n. t. a .1 i. .1 n e 5 to 1 η n e r cylinter L11 region heated by heating gas L12 region heated by oxygen-containing gas (heating gas )

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS [Claim 1] An upgrading apparatus characterized in that the upgrading apparatus comprises: a: furnace body through which a solid organic material is caused to flow; indirect heating means for indirectly heating the organic material in the furnace body; gas feed means for feeding a gas containing oxygen into an organic material layer formed by stacking the organic material heated to a predetermined temperature by the indirect heating means in the furnace body; and delivery means for delivering a solid upgraded material which is the organic material upgraded via pyrolysis by being further heated by the gas. [Clair:
2. 2 ] The upgrading apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas feed means includes a gas feed nozzle through which the gas is fed into the organic material layer. The upgrading apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas feed means includes a plurality of the gas feed nozzles, and the plurality of gas feed nozzles are disposed to feed the gas at a region where the organic material reaches 2 5 0 0 C or higher . [Claim 4] The upgrading apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 s characterized in that the gas feed nozzle extends wi thin a range of an angle of repose ± the angle of repose (0° to 2 x the angle of repose) in a direction of rotation of the furnace body from a vertical line passing a center of the furnace body. [Claim 5] The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to A, characterized in that a t ip portion of the gas feed nozzle is bent in a horizontal direction or in a direction inclined downward from the horizontal direction . [Claim 6] The upgrading apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the upgrading apparatus further comprises an outer cylinder covering the furnace body; and the gas feed means includes a hole portion which is provided in the furnace body and through which a heating gas from the indirect heating means is capable of flowing, and a thermal insulation material which is disposed between the furnace body and the outer cylinder and covers the inner cylinder except a lower s ide thereof . [ C1 a i ra 7 ] The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upgrading apparatus comprises a single one of the furnace body. [Claim 81 The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upgrading apparatus comprises two of the farnaee bodies, at one of the furnace bodies, the organic material is heated to the predetermined temperature by the indirect heating means, and at the other furnace body, a solid upgraded material is produced which is the organic material upgraded via pyrolysis by being further heated by the gas fed from the gas feed means. [Claim 9] The upgrading apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the one furnace body and the other furnace body are coupled to each other. The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, character!zed in that a flow speed at which the gas is fed into the furnace body is adjusted to 0.05 m/ sec to 3 τη/sec. [ C1 a i m 11 ] The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an amount of the gas to be fed into the organic material layer is adjusted to be not smaller than
3. 3 (NL-02/min/kg - the low-grade coal) but not greater than 30 ( ML-Cm/min / kg - the low-grade coal). [Claim 12] T n e u p g r a d i n g a p ρ a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o a n y ο n e o f claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an oxygen concentration of the gas is 1 to 10%. [C1a i m 13] The upgrading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the organic material is low-grade coal.