CN1997726A

CN1997726A - Fuel product and process

Info

Publication number: CN1997726A
Application number: CNA2005800222218A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约翰·肯尼思·吉尔伯特; 约翰·塞缪尔·韦伯斯特
Original assignee: APPLIED SILICATE TECHNOLOGIES
Current assignee: SolSys Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-07-07
Filing date: 2005-07-06
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: UA91981C2; WO2006003354A1; WO2006003444A1; EA200602216A1; AU2005258956A2; AU2005258956B2; AU2005258956A1; CA2570522A1; EP1784479A1; GB2416542A; EA010323B1; GB0513780D0; GB2416542B; ZA200610697B; JP2008506000A

Abstract

A process for producing fuel pellets is described. The pellets are obtainable from a particulate carbon-based material and a binder, the process comprising the following steps: admixing the material and binder, and agglomerating the so-formed mixture by tumbling. The tumbling action, such as in a rotary drum, serves to agglomerate the particles and bind the mixture into the pellets, usually with a variable size distribution. No mechanical compression force is required, and with the binders used, the process can be carried out at ambient temperature. The process provides a simple but efficient process for using waste carbon-based materials, and forming a useable fuel product, which is easily transportable and efficiently combustible. Rotating drum or pan agglomerators are relatively low cost to build, and are capable of very high tonnage throughputs. Customised products can be produced and the process enhances the economics of ash and sulphur removal in coal upgrade plants.

Description

Fuel product and method

Technical field

The present invention relates to fuel product and manufacture method thereof.

Background technology

The problem that always exists in the production practice of the fuel of many solid-based is to handle depleted " fine powder " material.The coal dust of about 10% mine coal becomes at last fine (usually approximately less than 3mm) or ultra-fine (usually approximately less than 0.1mm).This fine coal is unsuitable for final processing usually, even its size is no problem, makes its transportation and burning become " stubbornness ", difficulty and poor efficiency but keep a large amount of water (10%～30%).

One of solution is to form moulded coal (briquet).Moulded coal can be by forming at high pressure lower compression particulate, so that physically form the secondary fuel material.Yet the with high investment and operating cost of briquetting equipment (molding device) has hindered them to use in the country except that some high consumption countries.In many places, only coal dust " is toppled over " near the colliery usually.

Another solution is to utilize the whole bag of tricks, comprises granulation and extrudes, and makes that to contain carbon fine powder agglomerating.For this reason, various binding agents (tackiness agent) material has been proposed.In US 4219519, the main raw of binding agent is lime or relevant calcium cpd.US 3377146 has listed various organic binder bonds, and US 4357145 proposes Tall oil pitch.US 4025596 has described a kind of method of making ball of utilizing the mineral solids that latex will finally separate with wilkinite or starch alternatively.

Yet all these methods include to be needed it is carried out some processing after these spherolites form, and oven dry at high temperature is so that provide the spherolite of final form usually.Therefore, all these methods all need the thermal treatment of certain form, are used in combination one or more organic binder bonds usually.More importantly, all these methods all existed more than more than 20 year, and did not knownly have a kind of method to be actually used, or successfully used.

Another problem is the weight of moisture.Feasible conveying of high moisture content in coal and efficiency of combustion are low.Comprise that the sub-bituminous coal big and a valuable part in world's coal reserves comprises " chemically combined " moisture (nearly 20%～30% moisture) in texture of coal.This " moisture " has seriously limited the application and the value of sub-bituminous coal.For example, the coal for every transportation three wagon loads must transport the water of 1 wagon load.The energy of the flame when moisture also consumes (capturing) from coal combustion (making water become water vapor).Attempt moisture to be evicted from, but be proved to be unsuccessful,, be easy to spontaneous combustion but also become because break during in drying when coal by heating.As a result, seldom there is sub-bituminous coal to conclude the business internationally.

Another uses the industry of briquetting technology is mud coal industry.In order to form the suitable material that pulverizes, mud coal dry (common twice or three times) and chopping and pulverize effectively, it has increased the total cost that forms moulded coal.

Summary of the invention

One of purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of more high efficiency fuel product and production method by reducing running cost and financing requirement.

Therefore, according to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of method of producing hard fuel spherolite, may further comprise the steps with particulate carbon-based material and binding agent:

Material and binding agent are mixed, and make the mixture of such formation agglomerating, so that form hard spherolite by lift-over;

Wherein binding agent is silicate-base (silicate-based) and comprises one or more tensio-active agents, and this method is finished at ambient temperature.

The silicate-base binding agent that use comprises one or more tensio-active agents makes method of the present invention can produce hard fuel spherolite at ambient temperature.Forming hard fuel spherolite at ambient temperature all fails to realize by the method for any prior art.

The fuel spherolite is " hard ", the meaning be exactly they be accessible, and can preserve immediately, pile up and/or transport, and without any need for independent active curing schedule.That is to say that spherolite curing need not any auxiliary or further processing, does not especially need heating and/or pressure treatment.The method of prior art need form the fuel spherolite so that use heat and/or (forced ventilation) pressure to solidify effectively in these fuel spherolite hardening with before can carrying by lift-over is agglomerating.Therefore, fuel spherolite of the present invention can be packed after formation and/or transport immediately.

The lift-over effect for example in rotary drum, is used for making particle agglomerating and make mixture be bonded to the spherolite that has variable size-grade distribution usually.Do not need mechanical pressure (it follows poor efficiency and expensive), and method of the present invention can be finished at ambient temperature.Because can finish this method at ambient temperature, do not need to be used for the optional equipment that the subordinate phase of any active handles or high temperature is provided.This has exempted naturally to the needs in order to the generation pyritous energy (for example, treating burnt fuel), and its effect is production process remarkable economical demand usually.

Binding agent of the present invention makes fuel spherolite of the present invention form in " cold junction closes " process and solidifies.That is to say that spherolite can form and solidify under the situation of external heat input.

In addition, the present invention is " single-stage (single stage; a step) " method and especially favourable owing to can be, has avoided any pre-mixing of related component or the demand of processing, and has avoided demand to the processing after any formation (post-forming treatment).On investment and economy, one-stage process reduce to need is set up the demand of the factory that is fit to provide the inventive method, and by adopting the one-stage process of moving at ambient temperature to reduce running cost.

With the use organic materials is opposite as binding agent usually in the art methods, it also is favourable that the present invention uses mineral binder bond.The use of mineral binder bond has reduced the complicacy of technology, and has reduced any pre-treatment or blended needs to binder material once more.The use of inorganic silicate based binder has two further advantages.At first, compare (it burns, thereby influences the combustion quality and the heat content value of formed material) with organic materials such as starch, this binding agent does not influence the combustion quality (because they do not burn) of carbonaceous material.This binding agent has also been eliminated all environmental problems (because they do not burn), and this forms contrast with organic binder bond again.

In case form hard fuel spherolite, they solidify so that the net shape of fuel spherolite is provided.According to the present invention, this curing can take place at ambient temperature, and need not any active and/or independent curing schedule, the heat treatment step of Shi Yonging especially in the prior art.Hard fuel spherolite will solidify under the situation without any external influence in time.Therefore, in the position that is fit to or the place they can keep firmly, for example, for some time,, be solidificated in generation after the lift-over simultaneously as 1～10 day.As concrete, curing can continue for some time, for example several days, but the invention provides the hard spherolite that after lift-over, has sufficient intensity, so they can preserve immediately simultaneously at solidified, pile up, transportation etc.

Solidified notion used herein except when spherolite forms at least the chemical process (so that preferably forming hard shell) that pellet surface takes place, comprise forming spherolite and any drying of needs.Like this, any independent drying step or the effect (relate to one or more when spherolite forms and solidify in the spherolite evaporated liquid material or material, for example water) of providing is not provided purpose of the present invention.Compare with the effect that forms with solidifying spherolite, the desiccation after any this spherolite forms all is considered to accessory or unessential.

Preferably, the spherolite that provides of this method has hard outside, crust, shell or housing.More preferably, the inside of spherolite is exsiccant, and has little, preferred small, ventilation or porous shape fully or roughly.That is to say that when spherolite formed, tensio-active agent made that with the effect that silicate bond is drawn onto pellet surface its benefit is discussed hereinafter at the inner air pockets bubble that produces of spherolite.

In a kind of embodiment of the present invention, water is the part of the mixture of material and binding agent, perhaps by adding separately as the part of material, the part of binding agent, and the arbitrary combination between perhaps above.

The consumption of the water that method of the present invention need or be expected can be depending on the characteristic of particulate material and binding agent.What for example, list below is moisture content (m/c), heat content (h/c) and the carbon content that various types of mine coal and these coals have when exploitation usually.

	m/c	h/c(mj/kg)	Carbon
	m/c	h/c(mj/kg)	Carbon	Bituminous coal	＜20％	24～35	45％～86％
Hard coal	＜15％	26～33	86％～98％	Bituminous coal	＜20％	24～35	45％～86％
Hard coal	＜15％	26～33	86％～98％	Brown coal	＜45％	10～20	25％～35％
Sub-bituminous coal	＜30％	20～21	35％～45％	Brown coal	＜45％	10～20	25％～35％

The heat content of coal is directly related with moisture content.Therefore, the heat content with high grade anthracite of 15% moisture content has the heat content of 26～33mj/kg based on the no mineral materials of humidity.At the other end of grade, brown coal, the coal of the lowest class will have nearly 45% moisture content, and having based on mineral materials humidity, no only is the heat content of 10～20mj/kg.

In the power house of the majority that uses coal, usually coal is worn into fine powder so that be sprayed onto in the roasting kiln.Yet, be used to pulverize have moisture content for example the energy of 25% coal be higher relatively.Therefore, in some power house, be stacked with at present the product of 500,000 tonnes " coals that can't use " every year, because it is too wet, that is, its moisture content is too high and can not burn efficiently.As mentioned above, the bituminous coal of fresh digging has moisture content can be up to 20%, and the moisture content of inferior grade coal can be up to 30%, and the moisture content of brown coal can be up to 45%.For the moisture (by converting it into water vapour) of driving away this grade before any burning of actual coal need begin with big energy like this, consequently this coal can not use fully, because this coal is not efficiently.Become this coal grinding more that " combustible " also is poor efficiency, can stop up shredder usually because be rich in the coal of moisture.

The special advantage of the present invention is to use " wetting " or " exsiccant " particulate carbon-based material of any kind, is 10%～15% although any wet stock preferably has maximum moisture content.This moisture content can realize (though the energy that needs thus is more much lower than coal grinding being become the energy of the powder shape of incendiary immediately needs as described above) by the grinding with drying effect.This material is also thought " wetting " usually in this area, especially with respect to for example briquetting technology, it requires material is theoretically dry.

In some cases, preferably has the dry granules material.In other cases, material can be from wet fuel source, for example mud coal and coal tailing (coal tailing dam), and the minimizing of any required exsiccant amount (comparing with for example briquetting technology) has reduced and has formed the total energy input that fuel product needs.

Method of the present invention can directly be used fine coal and the analogous products that are rich in moisture, because any moisture content that it can binding agent can be along with the online reduction of the moisture content in the coal, and does not influence technology.In case formed spherolite, the shell of their hardening stops fully or basically or reduces moisture significantly and invade, especially when using waterproof additive.In case completely solidified, the moisture content of spherolite can be half of the moisture content of particle parent material at least, and can be less than 5%, therefore can be dry fully so that can be immediately and easily grind the fuel product that is applicable to the power house with formation.

The reduction of moisture also makes the heat content value of burned product directly increase, and therefore, has increased its efficient and economic worth.The cost of the material of above-described with transportation " wetting " or moisture enrichment is compared, and transports such product and has this economic benefit equally.In fact, the invention provides a kind of method, wherein considered type and the consumption and the processing parameter of the binding agent of use, and a kind of incendiary material or analogue with fuel value expectation or predetermined can be provided, it is particularly suitable for the local economy condition of fuel source.Various regions and nations is exploited out dissimilar and coal grade, so they use these coals in a different manner, so that attempt and make their economic worth maximization.The invention provides a kind of method, this method is especially favourable to the rejected material of thinking at present to produce from production process.

Therefore, the present invention also makes the moisture of fuel product significantly reduce, and the fuel product of poor efficiency can be changed into fuel product efficiently.

In a kind of preferred embodiment of the present invention, with binding agent with before particulate material mixes, the amount that will be used for the moisture of this method is regulated at the binding agent composition.The moisture content of particulate material is depended in the calculating that this binding agent and moisture are regulated.

According to another kind of embodiment of the present invention, the maximum particle size of particulate material or grade are generally 3mm or littler.Coal " dust " or " fine particles " can be submicron-scale usually.Mud coal is a kind of fuel material, and it carried out drying/chopping/drying/pulverizing usually before briquetting.Some mud coal materials are still to be shredded, are suitable for particulate material of the present invention so that provide, but low many of the degree that its degree needs than briquetting.

More preferably, particulate material has granularity or rate range, preferred biased towards fine or thinner granularity.

It can be that generally accept to wet or dried being fit to carbon back particulate material of the present invention, and can provide by the maceral fuel of any kind, comprise that mud coal and brown coal are up to sub-bituminous coal, anthracite fines, refinery coke (charcoal) particulate etc., and sewage refuse, bio-waste, animal excrements and other hydrocarbon material, their sources that can act as a fuel.Particulate material also can be the combination of two or more parent materials or " composition " (those materials as mentioned above), does not need to be pre-mixed, so that " blended " fuel spherolite is provided.

The material that is fit to also comprises inferior grade or treated fuel, and up to the present all is the product of " refuse ", and its clean burning helps to reduce overall pollution level.

The present invention is not subjected to the high ash content in the particulate material or the influence of sulphur content.

Any suitable silicate-base binding agent can be used for the present invention, and this binding agent can be homogeneous or heterogeneous material, for example cement and similar calcium, sodium or potassium silicate raw material (rawsilicate).

This method can comprise the composition that one or more are other individually or with tackiness agent be added in the mixture.This other composition comprises lime, mineral binder bond, cement and waterproof additive.As hereinafter described, gelatinous material can promote the initial strength (green strength) of spherolite, and may promote to form harder outside surface of spherolite or shell.

When the spherolite of such formation burnt, lime or cement helped to stop sulphur emissions.A special advantage of the present invention has been to use the calcium hydroxide (they all are known sulfur absorbing agents) with particulate carbon-based material blended lime or other type.Increase this sulfur absorbing agent and reduced mixing of sulfur-bearing carbon-based material the demand of present sulphur absorption unit as the washing tower that uses in later stage of process combustion etc.In fact, think that the present invention can realize that sulphur emissions (usually with the sulfurous gas form) reduces by 70%～90%, or may be more.In addition, this has significantly reduced the demand at generation current station, thereby has reduced cost.

In the coal fired power generation station of majority, coal is worn into the fine particles material usually, is injected into then in the Fuel Furnace so that power is provided.Sulfur absorbing agent is joined spherolite form in the technology, then grind spherolite,, thereby provide two special advantages so that be used for fuel burner subsequently.At first, as mentioned above, method of the present invention provide on the whole or substantially the ability of " exsiccant " spherolite reduced before spherolite burning it ground required energy input, second, the grinding of spherolite has increased mixing of sulfur absorbing agent and carbon-based material, thereby increased the sulphur assimilated efficiency, reduced the discharging of sulphur thus.

There is increasing legislation to reduce sulphur emissions in the world wide, especially from the sulphur emissions in the power station of coal combustion.The present invention helps to realize that these reduce, and do not need additional or other the physics and/or the sulphur absorption unit of chemistry or for example handle washing tower etc. (it also needs regular regeneration so that can work effectively, and it is another kind of energy high energy process).

Therefore, method of the present invention may further include to be ground spherolite, pulverize or the step of other refinement, preferably is available form immediately in the fuel combustion power station.

One or more other mineral additives for example zeolite or vermiculite can also be combined in any metal pollutant in the dust of spherolite helping as other composition, thereby prevent any soluble metal that discharges from dust.

Particulate material to be added and binding agent and any other independent reagent or composition can use any known method or device to mix, and comprise simple mixing.Because the next part of this method is the lift-over process, before lift-over, the complete intimate mixing of reagent or composition not necessarily, because if necessary or need, the lift-over process can promote mixing process usually.In some cases, mixing can take place in the lift-over process at least in part, makes that various process of the present invention may not be fully to separate.

In a kind of embodiment of the present invention, binding agent is coated on the particulate material.A kind of method of coating is that binding agent is sprayed onto on the material.

In another kind of embodiment of the present invention, with before binding agent mixes or during, particulate material moves, and/or material is in dispersion state.A kind of form that especially is fit to is for example at the stream curtain (falling curtain) of the particulate material that exports etc. on the transportation forwarder, in granulation drum or dish and from the stockpile unloading.

In another kind of embodiment of the present invention, particulate material and binding agent can be directly after being in contact with one another and/or are carried out lift-over immediately.

The lift-over effect makes the agglomerating of particulate material and binder mixtures have spherical or avette more and more large-sized particle usually to form.The size of the spherolite of Xing Chenging can be according to the processing condition that are used for lift-over like this, adjust as rotating speed, moisture content, surging force and the residence time.Spherolite in granulation process or can also sieve afterwards and/or recycle so that produce the spherolite of (for example narrower) size-grade distribution of expectation.

Being used to a suitable device of lift-over effect is provided is rotary drum.Rotary drum is well known in the art.Their work output can depend on the angle of bulging length, diameter, rotating speed and installation, the work output of every drum can be from per hour several tonnes per hour change to hundreds and thousands of metric ton.

Common size and size that the tablets press that rouses such as dish, rotary drum and awl rouses are known in this area, as the technique change that is used to provide formed model change.Referring to for example English Patent No 787993.

Especially compare with briquetting equipment, the investment and the running cost of rotary drum are low.They in addition can provide with the form that moves, make method of the present invention that the place of expecting or needing can be set, for example move and be positioned to present storage or " toppling over " place, rather than need significant mobile (thereby cost is arranged) to be used for transportation of materials to the fixed machining location.

Agglomerating effect can be finished with one or more stages, and these stages can link to each other, and for example changed the lift-over condition of same drum, or material is directly supplied with another tablets press.Perhaps, this effect can separate.Be used for agglomerating a kind of layout of multistage, the lift-over condition is variable for each stage or changes.This condition can in a continuous manner or act on or discrete mode changes.

When method of the present invention relates in rotary drum the lift-over mixture, can use one or more rotary drums for agglomerating effect, preferred series connection.

Tensio-active agent is used for the silicate-base binding agent is pulled to the surface of the spherolite of formation, therefore when they in formation and when beginning to solidify, spherolite will form, and continue to make it to have the external portion harder than its inside, crust, shell or surface then.Therefore, spherolite has variable density towards core, and density from the teeth outwards is bigger.In fact, compare with the low density of " inside ", " shell " layer or part will have high density usually.

More preferably, spherolite has enough hardness, in case form, can handle, piles up and/or transport, and not have any significant breakage.

The curing of spherolite can begin or can be used as the part of agglomerating effect during agglomerating effect.

Method of the present invention can comprise one or more classification step.That is to say, with the size of the spherolite that forms like this by expectation or need classification.This can comprise selecting and be damaged or undersized those spherolites that its pellet material can turn back in the technology of the present invention in recirculation.When exploitation, cleaning and carry coal, produce a large amount of fine coal (particle is less than 5mm).The present invention can form the piece with very low-moisture about 50mm with this fine coal, and the chemical property of coal is without any variation.Then, spherolite can be used as normal lump coal and handles, transports and use.

After any initial solidification, the spherolite of formation can lie on the table for some time, can be many days as 3～7 days, finishes so that (provide) is provided or makes to solidify.As other solidifying product, spherolite continued to solidify to obtain intensity in the past for example more days or more all along with the time.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a kind of method that is used for being made by particulate carbon-based material and silicate-base binding agent (it comprises one or more tensio-active agents) at ambient temperature hard fuel spherolite, this method may further comprise the steps:

Material and binding agent are mixed, and

Agglomerating by the mixture that lift-over will form like this, so that form hard fuel spherolite.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of agglomerating hard fuel sphere granule product that forms by particulate carbon-based material and silicate-base binding agent (comprising one or more tensio-active agents) at ambient temperature.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of fuel sphere granule product that can form at any time by method described herein.

Fuel sphere granule product of the present invention is the material of storing easily.Because its transformable diameter Distribution, so also be easy to transportation.This has increased tap density, has also reduced breaking of wearing and tearing and the spherolite that causes thus.

Product of the present invention can be easily in many cases as fuel, family expenses for example as domestic burners, industrial as the power station etc.

Therefore this product has increased the efficient of current solid fuel exploitation and manufacturing by making for " waste " material at present.

This product preferably has very high burning per-cent (may be 100% burning), so that do not stay combustible fuel hardly or fully in ashes.

Description of drawings

Now, will only pass through embodiment, and describe the specific embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a kind of embodiment according to the present invention schema in the method for material processing and manufacturing stage scope in factory;

Fig. 2 is the front view that is agglomerated into the lift-over effect of spherolite according to the present invention; And

Fig. 3 is the view of a plurality of spherolites of another embodiment according to the present invention.

Embodiment

The recovery system of fine coal is a common ground of modern coal process operation, but needs cost-efficient high tonnage solution, is used to handle the wet coal dust that different ore-dressing techniques produce.

The with high investment obstruction with running cost of briquetting device makes the maximized a plurality of operations of their coal reserves.Briquetting is the under high pressure compressed method of a kind of material with some type.The compression of material causes temperature to rise, and it makes starting material discharge various viscous substances.

Cheap hydraulic pressure briquetting press is arranged, and it is designed to only operate every day several hrs.Bigger mechanical press is used for per hour producing hundreds of kilograms large-scale device, but the PMT (Per metric ton) compact materials needs the energy input (being used for drying and processing) of about 200kWh.In the very low country of coal price lattice, the cost of briquetting technology is very expensive, so that coal dust has been toppled over simply in many in the world at present countries.

Similarly, the existing method that forms the mud coal briquetting need be with initial about 55% the moisture that is dried to of the mud coal of digging, and chopping further is dried to lower moisture content, then pulverizes, subsequently the high pressure briquetting.Each mechanical step needs the lot of energy input.

Other waste materials comprises the refinery coke of underselling (charcoal), the byproduct of cracked oil.

Method of the present invention makes and adopts all these materials to have the cost efficiency method, so that useful fuel product to be provided.

Fig. 1 shows the schema that is used for the method for the present invention in the industrial plant scope.

Prepare

Preparation is used for agglomerating fuel feedstocks charging.According to its virgin state, can advantageously carry out some grindings, screening or drying.The raw material charging is tiny more, and this method is just effective more.Preferably, (but being not limited to), the moisture content of charging was at most for 10%～15% (by weight).

The moisture content and the chemical property of the charging of based on fuel raw material are adjusted to liquid feeding suitably.This will be referred to amount and the binding agent of use and the balance of tensio-active agent of moisture.

During the pretest of technology and device, can determine above parameter.Agglomerating for coal dust can be found, for the liquid-containing binder (with respect to the weight of raw material charging) of high efficiency agglomerating common hope between 20%～25%.Usually, the raw material charging is wet more, and is just few more at the water of this required interpolation of stage.

Agglomerating

Fuel-feed continues to transport, and arbitrary exsiccant reagent is joined in the charging.Its end from conveying belt falls then.Liquid-containing binder is sprayed onto on the stream curtain of fine powder formation, it falls into rotary drum jointly, and general diameter is 1～5m (for example 3m).Along with the mixture lift-over is sprayed with binding agent and water mixture simultaneously, form pellet, it is agglomerating and grow up the hard spherolite of formation desired shape and size as shown in Figure 2.

Drum can with heavy sheet rubber (the heavy duty rubber sheet) alinement of loose installation so that avoid material adhesion to arrive bulging side.Drum is installed promoting that spherolite advances along it with gradient (for example 1%～3%), and is controlled at the residence time in the drum.The spherolite of finishing leaves from a relative end of drum, moves on on another conveying belt.

Only carry out exercisable drum adjusting (rotating speed, moisture content and vertical ancient battle drums and horns degree, it is influence residence time in drum directly) and just can change spherulite size.For example in present briquetting operation, do not require and carry out expensive tool change to change the size of product.

Some form and even some curing the similar granulation drum of this drum but have than the bulging big diameter of granulation may take place in another rotary drum.It also may have than granulation rouses bigger diameter and longer.Here, what spherolite was slower advances in drum, and making has the time enough initial solidification or carry out surface treatment for spherolite, therefore allows to handle immediately and pile up.The residence time in this drum is depended on the characteristic of fuel, and its use can be determined in pre-production test.

The surface treating additive of selecting can add to increase the surface-area of spherolite crust in this stage, prevent to adhere to, and/or prevent that leak of liquid from arriving in the bag.

The initial strength of spherolite is relatively poor, can add some other binding agent or cementitious chemical preparations promptly accelerating the speed of solidification process, and provides faster and more firm initial initial strength to be beneficial to handle thus or handlability etc.Disruptive and big inadequately spherolite can use the perforate section or the vibratory screening apparatus in the drum exit that for example rouse to remove.Then, impaired and big inadequately spherolite can turn back to the granulation drum and is used for reprocessing.

Final classification (if requirement)

If desired, can further be classified into the cross section of expectation at this stage spherolite.Then, any damage and inadequately big spherolite can turn back to the granulation drum and be used for reprocessing.

Spherolite classification even can and make according to the design of the purposes that is suggested.The size of spherolite can be adjusted by changing processing condition, device structure even reagent dosage.

Then, spherolite can be stored, so that solidify.In this time, usually between 3～7 days, and depend on that envrionment temperature, spherolite reach the intensity that allows overall treatment for the coal dust spherolite.Do not need heating or high wind drying.An example that forms spherolite is shown in Figure 3.

The spherical form of spherolite will make air can freely move through grave, so that promote curing process and prevent the concurrent danger of being conigenous combustion of accumulation of heat.In this stage, pellet surface is tightly sealed, and prevents air admission in spherolite, and any Influence of spontaneous ignition or possibility have therefore also slowed down.If also there is the problem of spontaneous combustion, can in agglomerating process, adds and prevent agent.

Transportation and packing

The agglomerating effect of rolling and growing up can cause the variation range broad of final spherulite size---as natural lump coal.This has the advantage of the volume expansivity that reduces spherical product, and the result makes transportation cost lower.

Then, pack into the product that forms in the bag or pile up, make and to continue at ambient temperature to solidify, depend on local humidity set time.Usually, the moisture content of charging is high more, and spherolite is cured the time that needs under envrionment temperature and humidity long more.

Can select process velocity, but every bulging coal material per hour the production rate between 10～100 tonnes be common speed.Production rate can use a plurality of machining cells to improve in proportion, or reduces in proportion with littler equipment.

Production cost depends on the size-grade distribution of production rate, charging and the characteristic of particulate material.Yet the energy input of having measured the PMT (Per metric ton) product is approximately 0.5～2kWh, and the energy input that needs than briquetting is to when young 100 times.

Especially, method of the present invention can be revised so that handle high ash and/or doctor positive coal, because spherolite keeps stable in whole combustion processes, even make that rudimentary coal also can burn effectively.

Method of the present invention also is suitable for the fuel product that in order to sell needs reduce ash and sulphur, method of the present invention make can fine grainding with by gravity or flotation process removal pollutent, produce higher-quality fuel source far away.This method also provides the purified enriched material is formed available, the stable and mode value product shape again.

Even the discharging of sulphur from the coal of non-constant quality, can be adjusted pelletizing additives and all or roughly eliminates by simple, significantly reduces or even may eliminate any sulfur dioxide pollution that causes acid rain.Granulation process has also reduced flying dust by the cohesive action of residual dust inherent, silicification and the stabilization that is caused by the reagent that uses simultaneously.In addition, high product temperature of combustion is easy to generate, and this is because not only between spherolite, and between the particle of spherolite inside high gas transmission speed, and can obtain the burning rapider and/or more controlled than conventional fuel.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel that comprises in spherolite burns very completely, and this is to finish the integrally-built maintenance of spherolite because of high gas transmission speed with up to burning.Keep the shell, crust of hardening etc., make the heat of spherolite inside significantly increase or strengthen, cause very high-caliber burning, cause the finishing of all default chemical reactions of spherolite content.Because content is dry and the porous form, reservation " thin " characteristic still usually, and be preheating immediately, rapidly, so content perfect combustion.Spherolite even under white heat, also keep their shape, and present highly stable combustioncharacteristics.

Especially, method of the present invention can relate to the optional drying of spherolite, because the effect of any tensio-active agent that uses is optimized at ambient temperature.And when making water, tensio-active agent makes the moisture that contains binding agent move to the surface of spherolite apace by capillary action, because the final thick and heavy surface concn of binding agent produces " eggshell effect " than crust and softer inside.Produce the crust intensity that significantly improves like this, obtain spherolite very firm and low moisture content (about 5%), this has also prevented from absorption of air moisture.

Another application of the inventive method is the charging moisture that reduces pulverized coal fuel in generating and heating station, there with coal dust or the granulation of coal mine tailing and in stove, pulverize and burn before make completely solidified and drying.Topple over average moisture content in the thing usually in the scope 12%～35% at present coal dust, make them be very difficult to use or mix with other charging.

As can recognizing from above, method of the present invention overcomes or has solved many funds and problem operation.

In a single day " eggshell " effect is completed into after curing, even spherolite also will keep its intensity during glowing combustion.This makes and in spherolite inside pyroreaction can take place, and causes fuel that the burning of higher degree far away takes place, and contained sulphur is carried out the efficient oxidation and chelating, and the degree of the carbon that does not fire in the residual ashes can be ignored.Shell effect makes spherolite keep its structure in combustion processes, causes in the fuel gas particle emission still less.

The eggshell granulation process can also be used on sulfide enriched material and the iron ore, so that make and can make the charging of premelt stove, it can form the smelting furnace technology of " no emissions ".This can use in existing operation effectively with high industrial tonnage output, cost.

Compared with prior art, the present invention has remarkable advantage, comprising:

● the dryly granulation or directly from filter of＜3mm coal/brown coal powder.

● the tonnage output of every granulation production line can be from 10 tonnes/hour (common sizes) to 100 tonnes/hour.

● in granulation process, can adopt high-caliber automatic control to be used for accurately control and reagent dosage.

● when adopting chemistry " curing ", spherolite only needs air-dry getting final product.

● the spherolite after the curing can transport by bulk-handling equipment, perhaps replacedly " green compact ball " pack transportation.

● in case of necessity, spherulite size can be customized to from 5mm to 150mm, and it depends on coal characteristic and technological parameter.

● can add specific heavy duty detergent reagent (heavy load reagent) in order to obtain the water proofing property of higher intensity, rapidly curing, elevated temperature strength and increase.

● because various binding agents are in conjunction with eliminating SO₂, because gas transport is to form CaSO in spherolite₄, can reduce or eliminate pyrite sediment (removal).

● because good combustion characteristics, the dirty coal powder will be lighted and expeditiously burning.

● lasting burning, the carbon burning of high percentage composition.

● can with less than the coal pulverizer of 20mm and with the coal dust granulation in order to obtain the high value spherolite.

● the coal through polluting or discontinued product such as sawdust, rice husk, rubbish, animal excrements, petroleum coke (charcoal) or waste oil can be included in these spherolites.

● residual ashes has insignificant unburned fuel (for example coal) residue and is fabulous for other commercial Application.

● residual ashes can also with similar binding agent granulation, be used for the concrete feed, assemble mixture and highly porous filler.

● brown coal can mix with identical technical finesse or with other fuels sources with mud coal in order to generate the characteristic mixing spherolite fuel of smokeless combustion for example that has in advance design.

The present invention is available for all types of coal dusts, and coal dust has moisture and the sulfur content of different amounts. Usually, form the diameter of spherolite in the scope of 5～50mm, the spherolite after the classification is easy to handle, can store, transportable, then still combustible, and, in case of necessity, optimum shape and size for being used for grinding before burning.

The invention provides a kind ofly for using waste carbon-based materials and forming the simply but efficient method of available fuel product, this fuel product is easy to transportation and can burns efficiently. Rotary drum or rotating disc type comminutor have relatively low construction cost, and can have very high tonnage output. Can produce ash disposal in the product of customization and the update device that the present invention has improved coal and the economic benefit of sulphur removal.

Almost do not having the low technology application in the country that efficient coal treating apparatus is invested can easily utilize the present invention yet, therefore, can obtain the effective treating apparatus of high efficient, environmental friendliness and cost for use in making and operation. In these places, any non-directly available material usually all is taken as discarded object and just is piled into increasing useless heap, has increased its environmental hazard.

Claims

1. method of producing hard fuel spherolite by particulate carbon-based material and binding agent may further comprise the steps:

Described material and described binding agent are mixed, and make the mixture of such formation agglomerating so that form spherolite by lift-over,

Wherein, described binding agent be silicate-base and comprise and when described method is carried out at ambient temperature, can form hard fuel spherolite by one or more tensio-active agents.

2. method according to claim 1, described method can be used as one-stage process and implement.

3. method according to claim 1 and 2, wherein, implementing described method does not need independent active curing schedule.

4. according to each described method in the claim 1 to 3, wherein, the hard spherolite of Xing Chenging solidifies after lift-over at ambient temperature like this.

5. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described spherolite forms hard shell.

6. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, described method is suitable for providing the spherolite of variable size-grade distribution.

7. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described particulate material and/or binder mixtures comprise water.

8. method according to claim 8, wherein, described binding agent with comprise water before described particulate material mixes.

9. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, overall dimension that described particulate material is common or grade are about 3mm or littler.

10. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described particulate material is coal dust or coal dust.

11. according to each described method in the claim 1 to 10, wherein, described particulate material is to be mud coal partly, mainly or fully.

12. method according to claim 11, wherein, described mud coal and coal dust combination.

13. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described particulate material is two or more raw-material compositions.

14. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described binding agent is partly, fully or mainly to be water glass or potassium silicate.

15. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described method comprises one or more other compositions of adding.

16. according to claim 15 described methods, wherein, described other composition or every kind of other composition are selected from the group that comprises lime, mineral binder bond, cement and waterproof additive.

17., wherein, described particulate material and binding agent are mixed by stirring at least in part according to the described method of aforementioned each claim.

18., wherein, described binding agent is sprayed onto on the described particulate material according to the described method of aforementioned each claim.

19. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described particulate material with before described binding agent mixes and/or during move.

20. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described spherolite is spherical or avette.

21., wherein, described spherolite is screened after lift-over according to the described method of aforementioned each claim.

22. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described lift-over is carried out in rotary drum.

23. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, wherein, described method does not need any pre-treatment to described particulate carbon-based material.

24. according to the described method of aforementioned each claim, this method is used to reduce the moisture in the described carbon-based material, compares with the moisture weight in the particle carbon back parent material, preferably is reduced to less than 5%.

25., wherein, mix described particulate material and binding agent by lift-over according to the described method of aforementioned each claim.

26., also comprise the step of grinding the spherolite that forms according to the described method of aforementioned each claim.

27. a hard fuel sphere granule product, described fuel sphere granule product can be at ambient temperature by making particulate carbon-based material and the silicate-base binding agent is agglomerating forms, described silicate-base binding agent comprises one or more tensio-active agents.

28. a fuel sphere granule product, it forms by each described method in the claim 1～27.

29. according to claim 27 or 28 described fuel sphere granule products, it can be used for burning immediately.

30. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 29, wherein, described pellet product comprises one or more sulfur absorbing agents.

31. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 26 to 30, it is spherical, preferably is used for fuel combustion immediately.

32. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 31, it has hard shell.

33. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 32, it has the density of variation towards its core direction.

34. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 33, it has exsiccant inside.

35. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 34, it has enough hardness so that handle, pile up and/or transport and does not take place and anyly breaks significantly after lift-over.

36. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 35, it can burn fully or fully, so that almost or does not fully stay combustible fuel in ashes.

37. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 36, it is made by coal dust or coal dust.

38. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 37, it does not have sulphur emissions substantially in combustion processes, preferred sulphur emissions reduces by 70%～90% or more.

39. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 38, wherein, the moisture in described spherolite is little a lot of compared with the moisture in the beginning particulate material.

40. according to each described fuel spherolite in the claim 27 to 39, wherein, the moisture content of described spherolite is less than 5%.