KR101489004B1 - Methods and systems for enhancing solid fuel properties - Google Patents

Abstract

The improved performance in the present invention can provide initial solid fuel sample data related to one or more characteristics of the solid fuel being treated by the solid fuel treatment facility; Provide the desired solid fuel characteristics; Determine a solid fuel composition delta by comparing the initial solid fuel sample data related to the at least one characteristic with a desired solid fuel characteristic; Determine operational processing parameters for operation of the solid fuel processing facility to purify the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta; And a solid fuel purification method capable of monitoring the pollutants discharged from the solid fuel during the treatment of the solid fuel and adjusting the operating process parameters thereof to produce a purified solid fuel.

Description

[0001] METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING SOLID FUEL PROPERTIES [0002]

Related application

This application claims priority from the following provisional applications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 788,297, filed March 31, 2006, filed on July 26, 2006 U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 820,482, filed November 3, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 867,749, filed November 29, 2006.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the treatment of solid fuels for the removal of pollutants, in particular the treatment of solid fuels using microwave energy.

The presence of varying amounts of moisture, ash, sulfur and other materials in all solid fuels generally results in inconsistencies in fuel combustion parameters and contamination caused by the combustion process. Combustion of solid fuels can lead to the generation of toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) and sulfur oxides (SO _x ). In addition, the combustion of solid fuel can lead to the formation of inorganic ash with the elements of the additive materials. A large amount of carbon dioxide generated as a result of solid fuel combustion (CO ₂₎ may contribute to global warming. Each of these by-products will be produced at various levels depending on the quality of the solid fuel used.

Various processes such as cleaning, air drying, tumble drying and heating are used in the treatment of solid fuels to remove some undesired substances present in the solid fuels. These processes may require that the solid fuel be crushed, pulverized, or otherwise processed to a size that is not optimal for the end-user. In order to further reduce the exhaust gas, an exhaust scrubber may be used in the combustion plant. There is a need to further reduce the harmful exhaust gases produced as a result of solid fuel combustion and to reduce the costs associated with the control of such exhaust gases.

summary

One aspect of the invention relates to the cleaning of solid fuel based at least in part on the initial conditions of the solid fuel. In embodiments, the solid fuel is sampled or tested to produce an initial set of data regarding the initial characteristics of the fuel. The target or final (processed) fuel properties can be known and the process can be set up, monitored and / or adjusted in relation to the initial and target characteristics. The methods and systems described herein provide initial solid fuel sample data and desired solid fuel characteristics as an input to determine the initial and finished composition delta of the product; Comparing and combining inputs relating to solid fuel treatment facility performance, for determining operational treatment parameters for producing the desired treated product; And transferring operating parameters to a monitoring facility and a controller for control of product processing in the solid fuel processing facility.

Some aspects of the present invention relate to supply information relating to returning a treated solid fuel to a solid fuel treatment facility to further regulate the process. Some of the methods and systems disclosed herein may include providing information regarding a test returning to a solid fuel test and subsequent processing facility subsequent to a refining process. The solid fuel output parameter facility is capable of obtaining the final processed solid fuel characteristics from a post treatment test facility; The characteristics may represent the final processed solid fuel produced; The solid fuel output parameter can transfer the final processed solid fuel characteristics to the monitoring facility; The monitoring facility can compare the final treated solid fuel characteristics with the desired solid fuel characteristics for the determination of the solid fuel treatment operating parameter adjustment; Adjustments made to the final treated solid fuel properties may be added to any other solid fuel operating parameter adjustment.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include a solid fuel continuous feed treatment facility controlled by operating parameters. The controller may provide solid fuel treatment operating parameters to a continuous feed treatment plant component such as a transport belt, a microwave system, a sensor, a collection system, a preheating facility, a cooling facility, and the like. Continuous feed processing facility sensors can measure the results of solid fuel processing operations, component operation, continuous feed processing facility environmental conditions, and transfer the measured information to the controller and monitoring facility. The monitoring facility can compare the measured information with the solid fuel treatment operating parameters and adjust the operating parameters. Adjusted operating parameters may be provided to the continuous feed process facility controller.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include monitoring and adjusting the processing of the solid fuel using the resulting processing parameters and sensor inputs. The method and system may include obtaining operational process parameters from a parameter generating facility for solid fuel process control in a continuous feed process facility. The method and system may include monitoring and adjusting operational process parameters based on inputs from the continuous feed process facility sensor. The method and system may include providing the controller with the adjusted operating process parameters, wherein the controller provides operating parameters to the components of the continuous feed process facility.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include sensors used to measure the operating performance of a solid fuel belt facility. Sensors in solid fuel processing belt plants can measure the products emitted from solid fuels such as moisture, sulfur, ash and so on. The sensor of the solid fuel continuous feed treatment facility can measure the operating parameters of the continuous feed treatment facility component used for the solid fuel treatment. The sensor can send the measured information to a continuous feed process facility controller, monitoring facility, and pricing transactional facility. The emitted product sensor information can be used by the monitoring facility and the controller to adjust belt unit operating parameters. The component activity sensor information can be used by the pricing transaction facility to determine operating costs.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include solid fuel processing controls using a continuous real-time operational parameter feedback loop. The method and system may include providing a continuous feed process facility controller having component parameters from a parameter generation facility. The continuous feed processing plant controller can apply the component parameters for operating the various processing components for proper solid fuel processing. Belt facility sensors can measure various operating products emitted from solid fuels and transmit measurement information to the monitoring facility. The monitoring facility can adjust the solid fuel treatment parameters by comparing the sensor measurements with the operating requirements; The monitoring facility can send the adjusted parameters to the controller. The controller / sensor / monitor coordination loop is continuous in the real-time feedback loop so that the desired final processed solid fuel can continue.

Some of the methods and systems disclosed herein may include monitoring and control of solid fuel microwave system operation. A set of microwave systems of operating parameters such as frequency, power, and duty cycle can be controlled by a belt facility controller during solid fuel processing. The microwave system output and the product released from the solid fuel can be measured by the sensor to determine the efficiency of the microwave parameters; The measurements can be sent to the monitoring facility. The monitoring facility can adjust the microwave system operating parameters based on a comparison of the measured information with the sensor to the required operating requirements (e.g., parameter generating facility). The adjusted microwave operating parameters can be transmitted to the microwave system by the continuous feed process facility controller.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include controlled removal of the product discharged from the solid fuel using a solid fuel continuous feed treatment facility. The sensor set can measure the volume or rate of release of the product discharged from the solid fuel. The sensor set can send the released product information to the controller and monitoring facility to provide removal rate information. The sensor set can transmit the released product removal rate to the pricing transaction facility; The pricing transaction facility can determine the value of the released product or the cost of disposing of the released product.

Certain aspects of the invention relate to a conveyor that operates within a continuous feed treatment facility. The conveyor can transport the solid fuel through the treatment facility while the solid fuel is being treated (eg, carrying the coal through the microwave energy field). The method and apparatus for providing the conveyor facility may include making it suitable for transporting the solid fuel through the treatment facility. The conveyor can be used for a wide range of applications including low microwave loss, high abrasion resistance, prolonged elevated temperature resistance, temperature insulation, burn-through resistance, high melting point, non- porous, and resistance to thermal run-away. The conveyor arrangement may be substantially a continuous belt. The conveyor arrangement may include a plurality of rigid portions coupled together flexibly.

Some aspects of the invention relate to solid fuel processing methods and systems. Embodiments of the present invention relate to conveyor belts suitable for transferring solid fuel (e. G. Coal) through a treatment facility. In embodiments, the solid fuel processing facility is adapted to process the solid fuel through a microwave field to process the solid fuel. In an embodiment, the conveyor system is particularly suited to provide resilient performance when used in conjunction with a solid fuel treatment process.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for transporting solid fuel through a solid fuel treatment facility. The systems and methods may include providing a conveyor facility suitable for transporting solid fuel through a solid fuel microwave processing facility. In an embodiment, the conveyor arrangement may be a non-permeable, non-porous material having low microwave loss, high abrasion resistance, long term rise temperature resistance, localized rising temperature resistance, thermal conduction, Permeability, resistance to thermal runaway, or other features that create a resilient conveyor installation, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the conveyor arrangement is a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be a substantially continuous belt. The conveyor belt may include a plurality of rigid portions flexibly coupled to one another. In another embodiment, the conveyor is another physical arrangement for transporting the solid fuel through a continuous or substantially continuous treatment process.

In embodiments, the solid fuel treatment facility may be a microwave treatment facility, and the microwave treatment facility may also process the solid fuel through other systems such as heating, washing, gasifying, burning, and steaming. Conveyor installations can be made of microwave low-loss materials. For example, the conveyor facility may be adapted to have a low loss of microwave frequency of approximately 300 MHz to approximately 1 GHz. The conveyor facility may be long term resistant to high temperatures, for example the conveyor facility may be prolonged resistant to high temperatures within the range of approximately 200 ° F or above. The conveyor facility may be resistant to localized high temperatures. For example, the conveyor facility may be resistant to localized temperatures above 600 [deg.] F. There are many other conveyor facility attributes, materials, and processes for dealing with the conveyor systems described herein.

Certain aspects of the present invention relate to an improved method and system for magnetron operation that generates microwaves, coupled with a continuous feed solid fuel treatment facility. The methods and systems disclosed herein may be used to directly control the step-down voltage step (e.g., at a substation) and the direct utility (to avoid back-up steps, e.g., for use in a magnetron) high voltage transmission supply to the magnetron. The power system may include providing a high voltage power conversion facility capable of accepting a high voltage alternating current and delivering a high voltage direct current.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein accept high pressure alternating current from a high power distribution facility; Directly generates high-voltage direct current from the high-voltage alternating current; And direct high voltage application of high pressure direct current to the magnetron connected to the continuous feed solid fuel treatment facility.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein accept high pressure alternating current from a high voltage distribution facility; Converting high-voltage alternating current into high-voltage direct current; And may include using a direct current high voltage by applying a high voltage direct current to a magnetron connected to a continuous feed solid fuel treatment facility and the high voltage power distribution facility may include a non-transforming inductor with a high speed circuit breaker, It can be protected by equipment.

Certain methods and systems disclosed herein may include transactional pricing for solid fuel processing, using processing feedback. The transactional facility can obtain solid fuel processing operational information from a solid fuel plant system, such as monitoring equipment, sensors, removal systems, solid fuel output parameter equipment, and the like. The transaction facility can use the operational information of the system to determine the operating cost of the final processed solid fuel. The cost may include the power requirement for the various solid treatment belt plant components, the product discharged from the solid fuel collected in the removal system, the inert gas used, and the like. The transaction facility can add the processing cost and the initial cost of the raw solid fuel to determine the final value of the treated solid fuel.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include cost modeling related to processing solid fuel for a particular end-use installation. The method and system may include a database containing a set of solid fuel characteristics for a plurality of solid fuel samples, a set of specifications for a solid fuel substrate used by a set of end-user facilities, The set of operating parameters used to convert the sample into a solid fuel substrate used by the end-user, and providing a set of solid fuels associated with the implementation of the set of operating parameters. The method and system may include identifying solid fuel characteristics for a selected initial solid fuel sample; Identification of specifications for solid fuel substrates used by end-user equipment; Retrieving an operating parameter set associated with converting the initial solid fuel sample from the database to a solid fuel substrate; And retrieving a set of costs associated with the set of operational parameters from the database.

Certain methods and systems disclosed herein may include transactions involving the production of solid fuels adapted to a selected end use facility. The method and system obtain a specification from a selected end use facility for a solid fuel substrate; Comparing the specification of the characteristic set for the initial solid fuel sample; Determining an operating process parameter for processing the initial solid fuel sample to convert it to a solid fuel substrate that meets specifications from a selected end use facility; Processing of initial solid fuel samples related to operating process parameters, characterization of solid fuel substrates; And a cost estimate of the solid fuel substrate.

Some of the methods and systems disclosed herein include a database for solid fuel processing; A set of solid fuel characteristics for a plurality of solid fuel samples; A set of specifications for a solid fuel substrate used by a set of end-user facilities; And a set of operating parameters used to convert the solid fuel sample into a solid fuel substrate used by the end-user facility.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include database compiling for solid fuel processing. The method and system may include aggregating solid fuel properties for a plurality of solid fuel samples; Set-up of specifications for solid fuel substrates used by a set of end-user facilities; And a set of operating parameters used to convert the solid fuel sample into a solid fuel substrate used by the end-user.

Certain methods and systems disclosed herein may include generating solid fuel processing parameters based on the desired final processed characteristics. The method and system, as inputs, provide initial solid fuel sample data and desired solid fuel characteristics for a selected end-use facility; Comparing and combining the inputs to the performance of a solid fuel processing plant to determine the operating process parameters for producing the processed solid fuel suitable for the selected end-use facility; And transmission of operating parameters to a monitoring facility and controller for controlling the treatment of the product at the solid fuel treatment facility.

Some methods and systems disclosed herein may include the production of solid fuels suitable for a selected end-use facility. The method and system include determining a first set of characteristics for a first solid fuel sample; Identify the characteristic set for the output solid fuel suitable for the selected end-use equipment; Determining an operating process parameter for converting the initial solid fuel sample into an output solid fuel suitable for the selected end-use facility; And processing the initial solid fuel sample associated with the operational processing parameters, wherein the initial solid fuel sample can be converted to an output solid fuel suitable for the selected end-use facility.

Some methods and systems include solid fuel selection for gasification; Characterization of solid fuels suitable for gasification; Determining solid fuel processing operating parameters for the solid fuel based on characteristics suitable for gasification; Treating the solid fuel using operating parameters to release the gas; And solid fuel gasification by collecting the gases released during the processing of the solid fuel. Solid fuel can be processed using microwave technology, heating technology, pressure, steam, and the like. The gas may be syngas, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or the like.

Some methods and systems include solid fuel selection for gasification; Determining solid fuel treatment operating parameters based on gasification requirements from the end-user; Treating the solid fuel using operating parameters to release the gas; And solid fuel gasification by collecting the gases released during the processing of the solid fuel. The end-user may be a power plant, a chemical plant, a fuel cell plant, or the like. Solid fuel can be processed using microwave technology, heating technology, pressure, steam, and the like. The gas may be syngas, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or the like.

Some methods and systems include solid fuel selection for gasification; Determining solid fuel processing operating parameters based on gasification requirements; Treating the solid fuel using operating parameters to release the gas; And solid fuel gasification by collecting the gases released during the processing of the solid fuel. Gasification requirements may include obtaining a preselected amount of gas. Gasification requirements may include obtaining a pre-selected gas. Solid fuel can be processed using microwave technology, heating technology, pressure, steam, and the like. The gas may be syngas, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or the like.

Some methods and systems include solid fuel selection for liquefaction; Characterization of solid fuels suitable for liquefaction; Determining solid fuel processing operating parameters for the solid fuel based on characteristics suitable for liquefaction; Treating the solid fuel using operating parameters to produce the desired liquid; And solid fuel liquefaction by collecting the desired liquid. The operating parameters may include using a Fischer-Tropsch process, a Bergius process, a direct hydrogenation process, a low temperature carbonization (LTC) process, and the like.

Some methods and systems select solid fuels for processing; Characterization of solid fuels; Determining a solid fuel processing operating parameter for the solid fuel based on the characteristic; And a solid fuel treatment using operating parameters, the operating parameters may include preheating the solid fuel, and the operating parameters may include heating the solid fuel later.

One system for integrated solid fuel processing is a solid fuel continuous supply system that removes contaminants from solid fuel to produce purified solid fuel energy sources (for example, refined coal using continuous feed microwave processing equipment) Treatment facilities; And a solid fuel utilization facility (e. G., A power station, a steel mill, etc.) located with a solid fuel treatment facility where the refined solid fuel energy source is used as an energy source in co- Is used. The solid fuel treatment facility can provide the treated solid fuel directly to the solid fuel utilization facility or the like. The solid fuel service facility may request a solid fuel treatment for the solid fuel treatment facility. Specialized solid fuel processing can produce solid fuel type energy sources for solid fuel use plants. Special solid fuel treatments can produce non-solid fuel product types for solid fuel use plants. Specialized solid fuel treatments can produce unique properties in solid fuels. The solid fuel energy source may be syngas, hydrogen, or the like. The solid fuel source can be a solid fuel optimized for solid fuel plants. The non-solid fuel product may be ash, sulfur, water, sulfur, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, syngas, hydrogen, and the like. Solid fuel facilities can be power plants, steel mills, chemical plants, landfills, water treatment plants, and so on.

The methods and systems described herein provide initial solid fuel sample data on one or more characteristics of a solid fuel to be treated by a solid fuel treatment facility; Providing desired solid fuel characteristics; Determining a solid fuel composition delta by comparing the initial solid fuel sample data associated with the at least one characteristic with a desired solid fuel characteristic; A solid fuel refining that determines operating process parameters for operation of the solid fuel processing facility and is based, at least in part, on the solid fuel composition delta; And monitoring the pollutants emitted from the solid fuel during the treatment of the solid fuel and adjusting the operating process parameters therefor to produce the purified solid fuel. The solid fuel treatment facility may be a microwave solid fuel treatment facility. The solid fuel can be coal. The solid fuel sample data may be a database.

Solid fuel properties can be percent moisture, percent ash, sulfur percent, type of solid fuel, and the like.

The operational processing parameters may be microwave power, microwave frequency, microwave application frequency, and the like.

Contaminants may include water, hydrogen, hydroxyl, sulfur, liquid sulfur, ash, and the like.

The emitted pollutants can be monitored by a solid fuel facility sensor. The sensor may provide feedback information for adjustment of the operating process parameters.

The method and system may further comprise providing the high voltage power directly from the utility-owned power transmission line to the microwave generator of the treatment facility, wherein the utility-maintained transmission line is at a high voltage (e.g., 15 kv or more).

The method and system may further comprise providing a multi-layered conveyor belt for transporting the solid fuel through the treatment facility, wherein the multi-layer conveyor belt is adapted to pass a substantial portion of the microwave energy And the belt has a top layer which may be resistant to abrasion and a second layer which may be resistant to high temperatures.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings. All documents referred to herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The detailed description of the invention and the specific embodiments of the invention that follows is to be understood in connection with the following drawings:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the overall system structure of a solid fuel treatment plant.

Figure 2 shows a specific example of the relationship between the solid fuel treatment facility and the end user of the treated solid fuel.

Figure 3 shows a concrete example of a conveyor belt having a multi-layer configuration.

Figure 4 shows a concrete example of a conveyor belt without a cover layer.

5 shows a conveyor belt in which a middle layer of high temperature resistant material is inserted and bonded.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a conveyor belt incorporating a multi-layer arrangement which may comprise a high temperature resistant material.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a magnetron that can be used as part of a microwave system of a solid fuel processing plant.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a high voltage supply facility for a magnetron.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of a transformerless high input transmission facility.

Figure 10 shows a specific example of a high voltage input transmission facility with a transformer.

Figure 11 shows a specific example of a high voltage input transmission facility with no transformer and an inductor.

12 shows a specific example of a DC-DC high-voltage input transmission facility having a transformer.

Figure 13 shows an embodiment of a high voltage input transmission facility with transformer isolation.

1 illustrates an aspect of the present invention relating to a solid fuel processing plant 132 that uses electromagnetic energy to heat a product contained in a solid fuel to remove product from the solid fuel in order to improve solid fuel properties. In one embodiment, the solid fuel processing plant 132 includes a plurality of solid fuel processing plants 132 including, but not limited to, coal, coke, charcoal, peat, wood, and briquette May be used to treat any type of solid fuel. While many embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to a coal process, it should be understood that these embodiments may also relate to other types of solid fuels such as coke, charcoal, peat, wood, briquettes, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be used as an independent facility, or may be used in conjunction with a coal mine 102, a coal storage facility 112, or others. 2, the solid fuel processing facility 132 includes a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by-product facility 212, a coal shipping facility 214, a coal storage facility 218 ), Or any other coal-using facility.

 In an embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be used to enhance the quality of coal by removing non-coal products that hinder the optimal combustion characteristics of certain types of coal. The non-coal product may include moisture, sulfur, ash, water, hydrogen, hydroxyl, volatiles, and the like. Non-coal products can reduce BTU / lb combustion characteristics of coal (e.g., water) by requiring BTU to heat and remove non-coal products before coal combustion is possible It is possible to inhibit the air flow to the structure (for example, ash). Coal may have several grades that can be evaluated by the amount of non-coal products (eg water, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl and ash) in coal. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 can process coal by performing various process steps to remove non-coal products from the coal. In one embodiment, the method of removing the non-coal product from coal may be accomplished by heating the non-coal product in the coal such that the non-coal product is released from the coal. Heating may be achieved using microwave or electromagnetic energy in the form of radio wave energy (microwave) to heat the non-coal product. In an embodiment, the coal may be treated using a transport system to move the coal past at least one microwave system 148 and / or other process steps.

Referring to FIG. 1, aspects of the solid fuel processing plant 132 are illustrated as embodiments of the solid fuel processing plant 132 coupled to other coal processing components. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may obtain coal from at least the mine 102 or the coal storage facility 112. There may be a number of databases that track and store the coal characteristics of the mined raw coal and the desired coal characteristics 122 of a particular type of coal or a particular batch of coal. The solid fuel processing facility 132 can be used to determine the operating parameters, monitor and change operating parameters, transport coal through a chamber for coal processing, remove non-coal products from the chamber, collect and dispose of non- And may have a number of systems and facilities that provide coal processing, which may be capable of producing, After the coal has been treated according to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein, the coal may be transported to the coal-using facility as shown in FIG. In addition, data generated during the testing of the treated coal and other relevant information may also be transmitted to the coal use facility, as shown in FIG.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown the use of coal after the treatment of solid fuel treatment plant 132 of coal. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 can improve the quality of coal by removing non-coal products so that various coal use facilities use coal with improved burn rate and less byproducts. Coal utilization facilities include, but are not limited to, coal combustion facilities (eg, power generation, heating, metallurgy), coal conversion facilities (eg gasification), coal by-products facilities, coal shipping facilities, By using the treated coal from the solid fuel treatment facility 132, the coal utilization facility can use lower grade coal, have less byproducts, can have less exhaust gas, Speed (e.g., BTU / lb). For example, depending on the volume of coal required by a particular coal use facility, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be directly connected to the coal use facility, or the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be remote from the coal use facility .

At a high level, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may comprise a number of components capable of providing aspects of the present invention; Portions of a component may include additional components, modules or systems. The components of the solid fuel processing plant 132 include a parameter generating facility 128, an intake facility 124, a monitoring facility 134, a gas generating facility 152, an anti-ignition facility 154, A belt facility 130, a containment facility 162, a treatment facility 160, a disposal facility 158, a cooling facility 164, an out-take facility 168, (170), and the like. The belt facility 130 may further include a preheating facility 138, a controller 144, a microwave / radio wave system 148, a parameter control facility 140, a sensor system 142, a removal system 150, have. The solid fuel processing facility 132 is capable of obtaining coal from at least the coal mine 102 or coal storage facility 112 and includes at least a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by- , Coal shipping facility 214, coal storage facility 218, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the solid fuel processing facility 132 may obtain raw coal from a number of different source coal sources, such as a coal mine 102 or a coal storage facility 112. The output of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 includes a number of different facilities such as a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by-product facility 212, a coal shipping facility 214, a treated coal storage facility 218, It can be a coal-using enterprise. The coal treatment at the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may include feeding the raw coal at the beginning of the process, performing a number of processes (heating, cooling, non-coal product collection) 168). The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be connected to a coal source (e.g., a coal mine or a storage facility), may be a stand alone facility, connected to a coal utilization facility, or the like.

In embodiments, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be located at a coal source so that the coal source provides optimal coal characteristics for the coal it produces. For example, low-grade coal with high moisture content can be mined in coal mines. In coal mines, coal can be mined and treated in the same place, thus providing the highest quality of certain grade coal. Another example is a coal mine 102 that has varying degrees of coal content where the coal mine 102 is treated with coal at a solid fuel treatment facility 132 to treat coal of varying grade to have similar properties . This allows the coal mine 102 to have a simplified storage system because it can store a single grade of coal instead of storing various grades of coal at various locations. This single-grade coal storage also allows coal mines (102) to provide customers with high-quality, single-grade coal that remains unchanged. It can also simplify the coal combustion requirements of customers by managing only the use of a single quality grade of coal. The consistency of the coal supply can improve the efficiency of coal use as shown in connection with FIG. 2 below.

In an embodiment, the solid fuel processing facility 132 is configured to receive raw coal from a plurality of individual coal mines 102 and coal storage facility 112, and a single facility capable of processing the coal into high quality coal for resale Lt; / RTI > A single solid fuel treatment facility 132 can store different raw materials and treated coal locally. For example, based on customer needs, the solid fuel treatment facility can select the durability of the raw coal and process it to a specific specification for delivering the coal to the customer. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may also process and store coal of a type and grade that a customer may request regularly.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 associated with the coal use entity may include a plurality of coal mines 102 and coal reservoirs 102 for the treatment of raw coal for its own purposes as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. The raw coal can be received from the facility 112. In this way, coal-using companies can process coal to the standards they require. The coal-using company may also have a dedicated solid fuel treatment facility 132, for example when the enterprise requires a large volume of treated coal.

As shown in FIG. 1, the raw coal can be obtained directly from the coal mine 102. The coal mine 102 may be an open-pit mine or an underground mine. The coal mine 102 may have various grades of the same type of coal or various types of coal within a single coal mine 102. [ After mining, the coal mine 102 may store different types of coal and / or store the raw coal mined in a local coal storage facility 104 capable of storing various grades of coal. After mining, the raw coal can be tested to determine the characteristic (110) of the raw coal. The coal mine 102 may use a standard coal testing facility to determine the characteristics 110 of the coal. Coal properties include moisture percentage, ash percentage, volatile matter percent, fixed-carbon percent, BTU / lb, MA Free BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, hardgrove grindability index (HGI) , Total mercury, ash fusion temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. The raw coal is classified as ASTM standard D 388 (coal classification by rank), ASTM standard D 2013 (coal sample preparation method for analysis), ASTM standard D 3180 And standard tests such as the US Geological Survey Bulletin 1823 (coal sampling and weapons analysis method), and so on.

The coal storage facility 104 may also select or resize the coal from the coal mine 102. The raw coal as it is mined may not be the size or form desired for resale to coal-using companies. If re-sizing is desired, the coal storage facility 104 may rescale the raw coal using a pulverizer, a crusher, a ball mill, a grinder, or the like. After the raw coal has been rescaled, the coal may be sorted to size for storage or stored as obtained from a resizing process. Several coal users can find several coal sizes favorable to their coal burning process; Fixed bed coal burning 220 may require a larger coal that will have a longer burn time and the pulverized coal burning 222 may require a very small coal size for fast burning.

Using the raw coal characteristics 110, the coal mine 102 storage facility 104 may store the raw coal by the raw coal classification for shipment to a coal processing facility or a coal-using enterprise. The shipment facility 108 may be coupled with the coal storage facility 104 to ship the raw coal to the customer. The shipping facility 108 may be a railroad, a ship, a barge, or the like; They can be used individually or in combination to transport coal to customers. The coal storage facility 104 may include a transport system that may include a conveyor belt 300, a cart, a rail car, a truck, a tractor, etc. to move the selected coal to the shipping facility 108 Can be used. In one embodiment, there may be at least one coal transport system for transporting the raw coal to the shipment facility 108.

The coal storage facility 112 can be a stand alone coal storage company that can obtain raw coal from a plurality of coal mines 102 for storage and resale. The raw coal obtained from the coal mine 102 may be coal as mined, size regulated coal, selected coal, and the like. The coal mine 102 may pre-test the coal for the characteristic 110 and provide coal characteristics to the coal storage facility 112. The coal storage facility 112 may be a company that purchases coal from a coal mine 102 for distribution and resale to a plurality of customers or may be combined with a coal mine 102 that may be in a remote location in the storage facility 112 .

As part of the coal storage facility 112, the raw coal can be tested to determine its characteristics. The coal storage facility 112 may use a standard coal testing facility to determine the characteristics of the coal. Coal properties include: percent moisture, percent ash, volatile matter percent, percent fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI), total mercury, ash melt temperature, , Electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. The raw coal is classified as ASTM standard D 388 (classification by coal), ASTM standard D 2013 (coal sample preparation method for analysis), ASTM standard D 3180 (to estimate coal and coke analysis to other standards from the measured state) Standard practice), US Geological Survey Bulletin 1823 (coal sampling and weapons analysis methods), and so on.

The coal storage facility 112 may also be capable of sorting or resizing the coal obtained from the coal mine 102, for example, if the coal as it is mined is not of a suitable size or shape for resale to a coal- have. The coal storage facility 112 can rescale the raw coal using a pulverizer, a coal crusher, a ball mill, a crusher, and the like. After the raw coal is rescaled, the coal may be sorted by size for storage or stored as obtained from the resizing process. Several coal users can find advantageous coal sizes. For example, in coal combustion, certain fixed bed coal combustion (220) systems may require larger coal that will have a longer burn time, while others require very small coal sizes for fast burning .

Using the raw coal characteristics, the storage facility 104 can store the raw coal by raw coal classification for shipment to a coal processing facility or a coal-using enterprise. The shipment facility 118 may be associated with a coal storage facility 114 for shipping raw coal to the customer. The shipment facility 118 may be a railway, a ship, a barge, and the like; They can be used individually or in combination to transport coal to customers. The coal storage facility 114 may use a transportation system that may include a conveyor belt 300, cart, railway vehicle, truck, tractor, etc. to move the sorted coal to the shipping facility 108. In one embodiment, there may be at least one coal transport system for transporting the raw coal to the shipment facility 118.

The coal characteristics 110 from both the coal mine 102 and the coal storage facility 112 may be stored in the coal sample data facility 120. The coal sample data facility 120 is configured to determine the coal sample data facility 120 based on the percent moisture, percent ash, percent volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, All data on a specific lot, batch, grade, type, shipment, etc., that can be characterized as parameters that can include temperature, ash analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, .

In an embodiment, the coal sample data facility 120 may be a separate computer device or set of computer devices for storing and tracking the coal characteristics 110. The computer device may be a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, a CD device, a DVD device, a hard drive system, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies. The coal sample data facility 120 may include a collection of data that can be a database, a relational database, XML, RSS, ASCII files, flat files, text files, and the like. In one embodiment, the coal sample data facility 120 may be searchable for retrieval of the data characteristics required for coal.

The coal sample data facility 120 may be located at or remotely from the coal mine 102, the coal storage facility 112, the solid fuel processing facility 132, or the like. In one embodiment, any of these facilities will be able to access coal characteristic data using a network connection. Update and modification access may be granted to any connected equipment. In one embodiment, the coal sample data facility 120 may be an independent enterprise for storage and distribution of coal characterization data.

The coal sample data facility 120 may provide baseline information to the parameter generating facility 128, the coal desired characteristics facility 122, and / or the pricing / transaction facility 178 have. In an embodiment, the reference information is not altered by these facilities, but may be used, for example, to determine operational parameters for the solid fuel processing facility 132, to store initial coal characteristics, or to estimate the cost of a coal batch . ≪ / RTI >

The desired properties for the coal can be determined at the coal hop-property facility 122. The coal hope-specific facility 122 may be a separate set of computer devices or computer devices for storing the final desired coal characteristics for the identified coal. The computer device may be a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, a CD device, a DVD device, a hard drive system, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies.

The coal hope-specific facility 122 may include a collection of data, which may be a database, a relational database, XML, RSS, ASCII files, flat files, text files, In one embodiment, the coal desired plant 122 may be searchable for retrieval of the desired data characteristics for the coal.

In one embodiment, the coal desired characteristics 122 are determined by the desired properties of the final treated coal for each type and grade of coal that the solid fuel processing facility 132, e.g., the facility, can process Can be maintained. These characteristics may be stored in the coal desired characterization facility 122 and used by the parameter generation facility 128 for information from the coal sample data facility 120 to determine operational parameters for the solid fuel processing facility 132, Can be generated.

In one embodiment, there may be multiple coal desired characteristics 122 data records; There may be a data record for each coal type and coal grade processed by the solid fuel treatment facility 132.

In one embodiment, there may be a coal desired-characteristic (122) data record for each shipment of coal obtained from the solid fuel treatment facility. Based on the quality of the coal obtained and the changes effected by the solid fuel treatment facility 132, there may be a coal desired feature 122 provided by the solid fuel treatment facility 132. For example, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may only reduce the size of the sulfur or ash to some percentage, and therefore the coal desired feature 122 may be a change that can be achieved by the solid fuel treatment facility 132 , Based on the initial sulfur and ash percentages.

In one embodiment, the coal desired characteristics 122 may be constructed based on the needs of the customer. The coal desired characteristics 122 may be configured to provide improved combustion characteristics, a reliably reduced exhaust gas, and the like.

Based on the characteristics of the coal sample and data from the desired-nature facility 122, the operating parameters may be determined to process the coal in the solid fuel processing facility 132. The operating parameters may be provided to the belt facility 130 controller 144 and the monitoring facility 134. The operating parameters include the gas environment of the belt plant 130, the coal input volume, the preheat temperature, the required sensor settings, the microwave frequency, the microwave power, the microwave duty cycle (e.g. pulse or continuous) , Cooling rate, and the like.

In an embodiment, the parameter generating facility 128 may generate base operating parameters for various facilities and systems of the solid fuel processing facility 132. The parameter generating facility 128 may be a separate set of computer devices or computer devices for storing the desired coal desired characteristics for the identified coal. The computer device may be a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies. The parameter generating facility 128 may be capable of storing underlying operating parameters such as databases, relational databases, XML, RSS, ASCII files, flat files, text files, and the like. In one embodiment, the stored base operating parameters may be searchable for retrieval of the desired data characteristics for the coal.

In order to begin the parameter generation process, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may identify any coal shipments that may be advanced and may request the parameter generation facility 128 to generate operational parameters for such coal shipments. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may further represent the final treated coal parameters required. The parameter generation facility 128 may query both the coal sample data facility 120 and the coal desired facility 122 to retrieve the data required to generate the operating parameters.

From the coal sample data facility 120, data on the raw coal characteristics 110 may be required to determine the initial characteristics of the coal. In one embodiment, there may be one or more data records for a particular coal shipment. The parameter generating facility 128 may select recent characteristics, average characteristics, initial characteristics, and the like. There may be an algorithm for determining the appropriate data to use for the initial coal characteristics from the coal sample data 120. [

From the coal desired characteristics 122, data for the final processed coal can be selected. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may have a particular coal desired characteristic 122 selected. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 is configured to determine the coal desired characteristics 122 based on the characteristics that best match the final processed coal parameters requested by the solid fuel processing facility 132. For example, You can choose to record. The parameter generation facility 128 may provide an indication of the selected coal desired characteristics 122 to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 for approval prior to continuing to generate operational parameters.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may use a computer application that can apply rules to process the raw coal to produce final treated coal. Rules can be part of an application or stored as data. The rules applied by the application may determine the operating parameters that may be required by the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to process the coal. The resultant data set may be generated, which may include the reference operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132. [

In one embodiment, there may be a set of predetermined reference operating parameters for the treatment of a particular coal. The parameter generation facility 128 may perform an optimal match between the coal sample data 120, coal desired characteristics 122, and preset parameters for determining a reference operating parameter.

The parameter generating facility 128 may also determine an operating parameter tolerance that may be maintained to process the coal to the desired final treated coal characteristics.

Once the reference operating parameters are determined, the parameter generating facility 128 may provide operating parameters to the controller 144 and the monitoring facility 134 for control of the solid fuel treatment facility 132.

As shown in Figure 1, the coal to be processed by the solid fuel processing facility 132 is fed to the feed 124, to the processing at the belt facility 130, to the processing at the cooling facility 164, It can go through a set of processes from the same raw coal to the final treated coal. Within the belt facility 130 there may be a number of coal treatment processes, such as coal preheating, coal microwave treatment, non-coal products (e.g., water, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl) In one embodiment, the coal to be treated may be processed by some or all of the possible processes, and some processes may be repeated several times, while other processes may be omitted for certain types of coal. All process steps and process parameters may be determined by the parameter generation facility 128 and provided to the monitor facility 134 for modification of operating parameters based on controller 144 and sensor 142 feedback for process control. The monitoring facility 134 may also receive a set of sensor parameters that may be used to determine whether the coal processing process will process the coal as required.

As indicated herein, solid fuel treatment facility 132 includes a conveyor belt 300 (e.g., as shown in connection with FIGS. 3-6 herein) for conveying solid fuel through belt facility 130 Elements 300A, 300B, 300C, and 300D). The processing steps within the belt facility 130 may include RF microwave heating, cleaning, gasification, combustion, steaming, recapture, and the like. These solid fuel processing steps may be performed while the solid fuel is on the conveyor belt 300. The processing step can expose the conveyor belt 300 to conditions such as RF microwave emission, high temperature, wear and the like, and can withstand these conditions in extended operating time frames. The conveyor belt 300 may be a continuous flexible structure, a hinged plate structure or other conveyor structure, and may, in embodiments, require a unique design to maintain the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130. These conveyor belts may encounter ambient conditions such as RF microwave radiation, high temperature, wear and the like. In the case of a hinged plate structure, environmental conditions such as material filling in the hinged space, microwave absorption, etc., which may be related to the structure connected by a hinge, may appear. The influence of these conditions on the conveyor belt 300 can be minimized by an appropriate choice of material and construction for the conveyor belt 300. [

The environmental conditions of the belt installation 130 are such that the conveyor belt 300 is designed to have a low mechanical strength and a high mechanical strength such that the conveyor belt 300 has a low loss of microwaves, high structural integrity, high strength, abrasion resistance, constant elevated temperature resistance, localized elevated temperature resistance, Non-permeability to heat, resistance to thermal runaway, fluid transportability, and the like.

Conveyor belt 300 may be required to have a microwave low loss. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may utilize microwaves to heat the solid fuel. Conveyor belt 300 can absorb microwave energy and be heated. If the material making up the conveyor belt 300 does not have a microwave low loss, the conveyor belt 300 can be heated and broken with use. The RF microwave frequency, which is the microwave system 148 of the belt facility 130, may be in the range of 300 MHz to 1 GHz and may indicate the RF frequency at which the conveyor may have a microwave low loss. Certain operating conditions in the belt facility 130 may make the amount of microwave energy absorbed by the conveyor belt 300 even greater. For example, when there is a dry solid fuel, or when there is a decrease in the amount of solid fuel in the conveyor belt 300, there may be little material in which microwave energy is absorbed. As a result, the conveyor belt 300 can absorb more microwave energy.

The conveyor belt 300 may be required to withstand a constant high temperature as a result of the operating temperature of the belt fixture 130. These constant temperatures can reach 150 ° F, 200 ° F, 250 ° F, and so on. The conveyor belt 300 may have to withstand these high temperatures over extended operating time frames. In addition, the conveyor belt 300 may be required to withstand the localized high temperatures exceeding the constant operating temperature of the belt facility 130. These localized high temperatures may be due to individual pieces of solid fuel generating temperatures such as 500 < 0 > F, 600 < 0 > F, 700 & These localized hot spots can burn through the conveyor belt 300, which can lead to the disruption of the operation of the solid fuel treatment facility 132.

Conveyor belt 300 may be required to withstand constant friction in the processing of solid fuel. For example, the solid fuel may fall to the conveyor belt 300 at a height of one foot, two feet, three feet, and so on. Another example may be a solid fuel which abrades the conveyor belt 300 while sliding the conveyor belt 300. Conveyor belt 300 may be required to withstand constant wear over extended operating time frames.

Conveyor belt 300 may be required to be non-permeable to particulates, moisture, and the like. When particulates of the solid fuel fall through the conveyor belt 300, the particulates may degrade the performance of the conveyor belt 300. For example, when solid fuel is constantly falling through the conveyor belt 300 to the machine portion of the belt system 130, the mechanical portion of the belt system 130 may become clogged or buried, ) Operation. In addition, the absorbed moisture entering the conveyor belt 300 can increase the amount of microwave energy that can be absorbed by the conveyor belt 300. Absorption of microwave energy can result in heating of the conveyor belt 300, resulting in reduced life of the conveyor belt 300.

The construction of the conveyor belt 300 may utilize a number of materials to meet the requirements generated by the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130. In embodiments, these materials may be used in bulk, as a mixture, as a composition, as a layer, as a foam, as a coating, as a coating, for a conveyor belt 300 to withstand the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130, As an additive, or in any other combination known in the art. The material may be selected from the group consisting of white butyl rubber, woven polyester, alumina, polyester, glass fiber, Kevlar, Nomex, silicone, polyurethane, multi- Plastics, combinations thereof, and the like. In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 300 comprises a top layer, a structural layer, an intermediate layer, a ply layer, a woven layer, a mat layer, a bottom layer, a heat resistant layer, Layer, a non-permeable layer, and the like. In other embodiments, the layer may be separable for facility replacement, repair, replenishment, and the like.

In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 300A can withstand the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130 in a multi-layer configuration as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the lower layer is a structural layer 310 made of a matrix material 302 reinforced with structural cords 304 in a ply-like structure. Such a structural layer 310 can satisfy requirements such as high structural integrity, high strength, and the like. An example of a combination of materials that can be combined to make the structural layer 310 may be a white butyl rubber matrix 302 having woven polyester as the structural cord 304. Other materials that may be used as the matrix 302 material may be natural rubber, synthetic rubber, hydrocarbon polymers, and the like. Other materials that may be used for the structural cords 304 may be Kevlar, Nomex, metal, plastic, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, and the like. In this embodiment, the top layer is a cover layer 308 that can withstand very high temperatures. The cover layer 308 may also have adiabatic properties to insulate the solid fuel from the hot underlayer. The cover layer 308 may not require strength properties, but may require wear resistance characteristics, may have a low microwave loss factor, may have thermal properties to prevent thermal runaway, or may have other And so on. Examples of the top cover layer 308 may be glass fibers, low loss ceramics such as alumina, optical fibers, corundum, organic fibers, carbon fibers, composition materials, and the like. In an embodiment, the cover layer 308 may be provided as a hard-woven product or in the form of a foam. Another example of a cover layer 308 material may be silicon. Silicon may be handleable at high temperatures, but will not be wear resistant. In this example, a top coating of silicon such as polyurethane or an additive to silicon may be added to increase abrasion resistance.

In an embodiment, the cover layer 308 may be designed to be easily detachable, which may enable replacement, repair, replenishment, etc. of the cover layer 308. [ In this case the requirements for being abrasion resistant and non-permeable can be relaxed. In one embodiment, the cover layer 308 can be applied in roll form using a feeding roller on one side of the conveyor belt 300 system and a take-up toller on the back side. have.

In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 300B, as shown in FIG. 4, would be able to withstand the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130 without the cover layer 308. FIG. This can be done by introducing a hot material component into the matrix 302 material, which will make the matrix material 302, such as white butyl rubber, more resistant to the high temperature environmental conditions of the belt fixture 130. In an embodiment, the structure layer 310 may insert an intermediate layer 502 of a temperature resistant material as shown in FIG. 5 to prevent the hot high solids fuel from allowing the conveyor belt (30 占 폚) to be released. Examples of such intermediate layer 502 may be Kevlar, Nomex, metal, ceramic, glass fiber, and the like. In this configuration, the top of the structural layer 310 may be melted, but the conveyor belt (30 占 폚) may still be usable until the top of the structural layer 310 can be repaired.

In an embodiment, the conveyor belt 300D may be repeated as described above, as shown in FIG. 6, where the combination of layers will be able to withstand the environmental conditions of the belt facility 130 in a multi-layer configuration. Additional layers may add strength to the conveyor belt 300D, further reducing the likelihood of solubility of the hot, solid fuel. There may be a top cover layer 308 that is heat resistant, abrasion resistant, detachable, and the like. There may be a structure layer 310A having an intermediate layer 502. [ This composite layer appears as an interlayer in the belt, but may in the embodiments be the top, middle, bottom, and the like. There may be a structure layer 310B. The structure layer 310B appears as the bottom layer, but may be an intermediate layer or top layer in embodiments. Other embodiments composed of multiple layers are not limited to the combination shown in Fig. For example, embodiments may include a plurality of layers in the structure layer 310A, a plurality of layers in the composition layer, or a plurality of sub-layers in the composition layer, As shown in FIG. While FIG. 6 shows a structure having multiple layers and composition layers, other multilayer structures will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will be incorporated herein by reference.

In embodiments, other methods of preventing hot solids fuel from being released may be used. An example of an alternative method may be to use a temperature recording camera to visualize the location of the hot portion of the solid fuel. After determining the location of the hot portion of the solid fuel, a cooling spray can be used to lower the temperature, or a sweeper can be used to remove it before the hot portion has time to damage the conveyor belt 300. Other examples of alternative methods may be to measure the dielectric properties of all parts of the solid fuel as they enter the belt system 130 and to remove them when they are determined to be hot. Another example of an alternative method may be to transport the solid fuel on the conveyor belt 300, which implements the fluidized bed in the construction of the conveyor belt, thereby homogenizing the temperature of all parts, Remove the hot portion of the isolated solid fuel.

In an embodiment, the controller 144 and the monitor facility 134 are connected to a controller that provides operating parameters to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 and the belt facility 130, May have a feedback loop system having a monitoring facility 134 that receives data from the belt facility 130 sensor 142 to determine if it needs adjustment. During the processing of the coal, there may be continuous application and adjustment of the operating parameters of the solid fuel treatment plant 132 and the belt plant 130.

The controller 144 may be a computer device, such as a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies. The controller 144 may be a conventional mechanical controller, or a custom designed controller 144, designed to control various devices. The controller 144 can be fully automatic, can have operational parameter overrides, can be manually controlled, can be locally controlled, remotely controlled, and so on. The controller 144 may appear as part of the belt assembly 130, but may not have the required position relative to the belt assembly 130; The controller 144 may be located anywhere at or near the beginning of the belt assembly 130. The controller 144 may be located remotely from the belt facility 130. The controller 144 may have a user interface; The user interface may be visualized at the controller 144 and remotely visible to a computer device connected to the controller 144 network.

The controller 144 may include an input 124, a preheat 138, a parameter control 140, a sensor control 142, a removal system 150, a microwave system 148, a cooling facility 164, Etc., to the belt system 130 and to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 system. There may be a controller 144 for transmitting operational parameters and a bi-directional communication system having various systems and facilities for transmitting actual operating values. The controller 144 may provide a user interface to indicate both the operating parameter and the actual operating value. Controller 144 may not be capable of providing automated adjustments to operating parameters and operating parameter adjustments may be provided by monitoring facility 134. [

Monitoring facility 134 may be a computer device, such as a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies. The monitoring facility 134 may have the same operational parameters as the controller 144 and obtain the same actual operational parameters from various facilities and systems. The monitoring facility 134 may have an algorithm to compare the actual operating values provided by the sensor 142 with the required sensor parameters provided by the parameter generating facility 128 and to determine whether a change in operating parameters is required have. For example, the monitoring facility 134 may compare the actual vapor sensor value at a particular location of the belt facility 130 with the required sensor value to determine if the microwave power needs to be increased or decreased. If a change in the operating parameter requires adjustment, the adjusted parameter may be sent to the controller 144 and applied to the appropriate device or devices. The monitoring facility 134 may continue to monitor the solid fuel treatment facility 132 and the belt facility 130 system for parameter adjustment.

As a more complex example, controller 144 may provide operating parameters to belt facility parameter control 140 for operation of various belt facility 130 systems. As a coal processing process, the monitor facility 134 may monitor the sensor 142 to determine that the treated coal meets the sensor requirements for the desired treated coal. If there is a delta between the required sensor readings and the actual sensor readings beyond acceptable limits, the monitoring facility 134 may adjust one or more operating parameters and send the new operating parameters to the controller 144. The controller 144 may obtain new operating parameters and transmit the new parameters to the parameter control 140 to control the various belt facility 130 systems.

The monitoring facility 134 may also obtain feedback information from the feedback facility 174 and the coal output parameter facility 172 at the end of the coal processing process. These two facilities are able to obtain the final properties of the processed coal and can transmit information to the monitoring facility 134. The monitoring facility 134 may compare the final treated coal characteristics to the coal desired characteristics 122 to determine if the operating parameters require adjustment. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may use an algorithm that combines the actual operating values with the final processed coal characteristics to determine the operating parameter adjustment. The adjustment may then be transmitted to the controller 144 for the calibrated operation of the solid fuel treatment plant 132 system.

The functions and interactions of the various coal treatment plant 132 systems and equipment shown in FIG. 1 can be illustrated through the example of coal treated by the solid fuel treatment plant 132.

In this example, the operation of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may select the raw coal to be processed within the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to deliver the particular treated coal to the customer. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may select the initial coal and coal desired characteristics 122 for the final treated coal. As described above, the parameter generating facility 128 may generate operational parameters for processing of the selected coal. The parameters may include the volume rate of the coal to be treated, the air environment, the belt speed, the coal temperature, the microwave output, the microwave frequency, the required inert gas, the required sensor reading, the preheat temperature, . The parameter generating facility 128 may transmit operating and sensor parameters to the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144; The controller 144 may transmit operating parameters and sensor parameters to the parameter control 140 and the sensor system 142.

Following this example, the input facility 124 may obtain the raw coal from one of the coal mine 102 or the coal storage facility 112 that can supply the coal to the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The raw coal may be supplied from a storage area located in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The input facility 124 includes an input section, a transition section, and an adapter section, which can receive coal that can enter the solid fuel treatment facility 132 and control the flow and volume of the coal. Lt; / RTI > The input facility 124 may have an input system such as a conveyor belt 300, an auger, or the like, capable of supplying raw coal to the belt facility 130.

In an exemplary embodiment, the input facility can control the volume rate of the raw coal entering the belt facility, based on the operating parameters provided by the controller 144. The input equipment may be capable of varying the speed of the input system based on parameters supplied from the controller 144. In one embodiment, the input facility 124 can supply the raw coal to the belt facility 130 at a constant rate, or the raw coal can be supplied at variable or pulsed rates, To the belt facility 130 of the batch; The coal batch may have a predefined interval between coal batches.

In this example, the belt facility 130 may receive the raw coal from the input facility 124 to transport the raw coal through the coal processing process. The coal treatment process may include a preheat 138 process, a microwave system 148 process, a cooling process 134, and the like. Belt assembly 130 may have a transport system that can be enclosed to create a chamber where the coal can be processed and the process performed.

In an embodiment, the transport system can be a conveyor belt 300, a series of individual containers, or other transport methods that can be used to move coal through a process. The transport system can be made of a material that can withstand the high temperature treated coal (e.g., metal or high temperature plastics). The transport system can cause the non-coal product to be released as gas or liquid from the coal; The discharged non-coal product may need to be collected by the belt facility 130. The transport system speed can be easily controlled by the controller 144 operating parameters. The belt facility 130 transport system may be run at the same speed as the input facility 124 to maintain a balanced coal input volume.

The air environment in the belt facility 130 chamber is maintained to help release the non-coal product, prevent premature coal ignition, provide a flow of gas to provide the non-coal product gas to the appropriate removal system 150 Lt; / RTI > The air environment may be dry air (low or no moisture) to help remove moisture from the coal, or it may be used to control any condensed moisture forming a liquid collection area on the chamber walls.

The belt facility 130 chamber may have an inert or partially inactive atmosphere; An inert atmosphere can prevent the ignition of coal at high temperatures that may be needed to remove some of the non-coal product (e.g., sulfur).

The inert gas may be supplied by an anti-fouling facility 154 capable of storing an inert gas for supplying to the belt facility 130 chamber. The inert gas may include nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Nitrogen and argon may be the most common inert gases used to provide non-combustion gas atmospheres. The anti-fouling facility 154 may have a gas supply tank capable of holding an inert gas for the chamber. The introduction of inert gas to create a suitable gaseous environment can be controlled by controller 144 operating parameters. The controller 144 may adjust the inert gas flow using feedback from sensors in the chamber that can measure the actual inert gas mixture. Based on the sensor 142, the controller 144 may increase or decrease the inert gas flow to maintain the standby operating parameters provided by the controller 144 and the parameter generating facility 128.

If the belt facility 130 chamber uses nitrogen as the inert gas, nitrogen may be generated at the gas generating facility 152 site. For example, the gas generating facility 152 may use a pressure swing absorption (PSA) process to supply the nitrogen required by the belt facility 130 chamber. The gas generating facility 152 may supply nitrogen to the fire protection facility for injection into the chamber. The flow of nitrogen into the chamber can be controlled by the controller 144 as discussed above.

Any supplied gas environment may be applied using positive pressure or negative pressure to provide atmospheric flow within the chamber. The gas may flow into the chamber at a constant pressure to flow over the belt facility 130 coal and exit into the exit area of the chamber. In a similar manner, the negative pressure can be supplied to draw the gas onto the chamber and onto the coal. Either process may be used to collect the released non-coal product gas into the removal system 150.

In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 144 may control the flow of gas in the chamber by measuring gas velocity, gas direction, input pressure, output pressure, and the like. The controller 144 may vary the fan and blower in the belt facility to provide control and regulation of the flow of gas.

Vacuum or partial vacuum within the belt facility 130 chamber can be maintained for processing of coal. The vacuum environment can provide additional help in removing non-coal products from the coal, and can also prevent the ignition of coal by eliminating favorable environments for coal ignition.

While continuing the coal processing in the belt facility 130, the coal may first enter the preheating facility 138. The preheating facility 138 is capable of heating the coal to a temperature specified by operating parameters; The operating parameters may be provided by the controller 144. Coal can be preheated to remove surface moisture and moisture that may be directly below the coal surface. This removal of excess moisture will minimize the surface moisture absorbing microwave energy, so that the microwave system 148 to be used later can be made more efficient.

The preheating facility 138 may include the same pressure as the remainder of the belt facility 130 or may maintain a different pressure.

The preheating facility 138 may use the same transport equipment as the rest of the belt facility 130, or may have its own transport facility. If the preheating installation has its own transport facility, the transport facility can be controlled by the controller 144 and the speed can be varied to ensure that proper moisture is removed during preheating. Moisture removal can be detected by the vapor sensor or it can use the weight of the coal before and after to determine the volume of moisture removed by the preheating facility 138. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 can measure coal weight with in-process scales before and after the preheating process. There may be feedback to the controller 144 for an effective amount of moisture removed from the coal and the controller 144 may adjust the transport system speed of the preheating facility 138 to compensate as needed.

The coal after the preheating facility 138 may continue with a belt facility 130 coal processing process having at least one microwave / radio wave system (microwave system) 148 used for coal processing. Microwave System 148 Electromagnetic energy can be generated by devices such as magnetrons, klystron, gyrotron, and the like. The microwave system 148 may introduce microwave energy into the coal to heat the non-coal product and release the non-coal product from the coal. Due to the heating of the non-coal product of the coal, the coal can be heated. The release of non-coal product can occur when there is a phase change of the material from solid to liquid, from liquid to gas, from solid to gas, or other phase change that causes the non-coal product to be released from the coal.

In a belt facility 130 where there may be more than one microwave system 148, the microwave system 148 may be in a parallel orientation to the transport system, a series orientation, or a combination of parallel and series.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the microwave system 148 may be in parallel, where there is one or more microwave systems 148 that are grouped together to form a single microwave system 148 processing station . This single station may allow the use of several smaller microwave systems 148 to allow multiple frequencies in a single station, multiple outputs at multiple stations, multiple duty cycles at a single station, etc. .

The microwave system 148 may also be set up in series, where there may be one or more microwave system 148 stations set up along the belt facility 130. The serial microwave system 148 may be a separate microwave system 148 or a group of parallel microwave systems 148. The serial microwave system 148 station may allow the coal to be processed differently in the multiple series microwave system 148 stations along the belt facility 130. For example, the first station microwave system 148 may attempt to remove moisture from the coal, which may require a specific output, frequency and duty cycle. At the second station, the microwave system 148 may attempt to remove the sulfur from the coal, which may require different power, frequency and duty cycle.

The use of a series microwave system may also be used for a variety of applications, such as a wait station that allows complete release of the non-coal product, a non-coal product removal system 150 station, a sensor system 142 that records non- Microwave system 148 may be acceptable.

The series microwave system 148 station may allow different non-coal products to be released and removed at different stages of the belt facility 130. This can make it easier to maintain the removed non-coal product, which is separated and collected by a suitable removal system 150. This may also allow one microwave system 148 to be placed in a set of process steps or process steps, so that the particular microwave system 148 can be used to perform a particular process step or set of process steps. Thus, for example, the microwave system 148 is activated only for processes that need to be performed. In this example, if the process steps do not need to be performed, the correlated microwave system 148 need not be activated; If the process steps do not need to be repeated, the correlated microwave system 148 can be reactivated, for example, to remove non-coal products that have not been completely removed after the first activation.

In an exemplary embodiment, control of the microwave system 148 includes a series of control steps, such as sensing, condition monitoring of the coal processing process, operating parameter adjustment, and applying the new operating parameters to the at least one microwave system 148 . As will be further discussed, a feedback process for providing control, adjustment, and operating parameters to the microwave system 148 may be substantially simultaneously applicable to one or more microwave systems.

At least one microwave system 148 may be controlled by controller 144. In an embodiment, the controller 144 may provide operating parameters that control the microwave frequency, microwave output, microwave duty cycle (e.g., pulse or continuous). The controller 144 may obtain the initial operating parameters from the parameter generating facility 128. Control of the microwave system 148 may include, for example, a sensor 142 providing operating parameters, process values applied to the microwave system 148, a monitoring facility 134 receiving and adjusting operational parameters, Feedback of the operating parameters supplied to the controller 144, and then control cycles that are repeated as necessary.

The controller 144 may apply operating parameters to the one or more microwave systems 148. The microwave system 148 may respond by applying the output, frequency, and duty cycle that the controller 144 directs, thereby enabling the controller 144 to process the coal as directed by the controller 144.

Microwave systems may require a significant amount of power to process coal. For a particular embodiment of the microwave system 148 of the solid fuel processing plant 132, the required microwave power may be at least 15 kW at a frequency of 928 MHz or less; In other embodiments, the required microwave power may be at least 75 kW at a frequency of 902 MHz. The output of the microwave system 148 may be supplied by a high voltage input trasmission facility 182. The facility 182 may raise or lower the voltage from a source that meets the requirements of the microwave system 148. In an embodiment, the microwave system 148 may have one or more microwave generators. The power-in system 180 may provide a connection for the high-voltage input transmission facility 182 for voltage requirements. When the solid fuel treatment facility 132 is located in the power generation facility 204, the incoming power 180 may be taken directly from the power supplied from the power generation facility 204. In other embodiments, the incoming power 180 may be taken from a local power grid.

As shown herein, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may utilize a magnetron 700 to produce microwaves for processing solid fuel (e.g., coal). Figure 7 shows a magnetron that can be used as part of the microwave system 148 of the solid fuel treatment plant 132. [ In an embodiment, the magnetron 700 may be a high-powered tube that produces coherent microwaves. The cavity magnetron 700 may be composed of a hot filament that acts as a cathode 714 that is held at a high negative potential by a high voltage direct current (DC) The cathode 714 is emptied, lobed, and made to be the center of a circular chamber. The lobed portion, outside the chamber, can act as an anode 710 to attract electrons emitted from the cathode. The magnetic field can be applied by a magnet or an electromagnet in a manner that causes electrons emitted from the cathode 714 to spiral out in a circular path. The lobed cavities 708 open along their length and are connected to a common cavity 712 space. As electrons pass through these entrances, they can induce a high frequency radio field in the common cavity 712, which can cause the electrons to clump together into groups. Portions of this chapter can be pulled using a short antenna 702 coupled to a wave-guide. The waveguide can direct the RF energy from the magnetron to a solid fuel, which allows the solid fuel to be heated and treated as indicated elsewhere herein. Alternatively, the energy from the magnetron can be delivered directly from the antenna to the solid fuel, without the use of a waveguide.

Figure 8 shows a high pressure feed arrangement for the magnetron 700. The high-pressure DC 802 supplied to the co-magnetron 700 through a lead 718 for the treatment of solid fuel may be at a high pressure such as 5,000 VDC, 10,000 VDC, 20,000 VDC, 50,000 VDC, In an embodiment, a typical high pressure range may be 20,000-30,000 VDC. This high voltage DC 802 is derived from an electric power utility in the form of a voltage, which can be single phase or multi-phase alternating current (AC) input power 180, 182 < / RTI > facility. The power utility that supplies the AC voltage input power 180 may be, for example, a publicly operated facility or a privately operated facility. The AC voltage input power 180 supplied by the power utility may be 120 VAC, 240 VAC, 480 VAC, 1000 VAC, 14,600 VAC, 25,000 VAC, and the like. In an embodiment, the typical voltage used in the field may be 160 kV AC and typically three-phase. Some power loss may result from the electrical inefficiency of the high voltage input transmission 182 facility since it may be necessary to convert the utility AC voltage input power 180 to the high voltage DC 802 used for the magnetron. It may be desirable to reduce this power loss associated with the high pressure input transmission 182 facility to minimize the operating cost of the facility associated with the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ A number of embodiments may be utilized in the configuration of the high pressure input transmission 182 facility.

Figure 9 shows a transformerless high voltage input transmission facility 900, which is one embodiment of a high voltage input transmission 182 facility. Transformerless high voltage input power transmission facility 900 includes a high voltage AC input power 180 which may be 14,600 VAC in embodiments and a high voltage DC 802 required by magnetron 700 which may be 20,000 VDC in embodiments. As shown in FIG. By directly converting the high pressure AC inlet power 180 to the high pressure DC 802, some intermediate steps can be omitted, which improves the power efficiency and thus the operating cost of the reduced solid fuel treatment facility 132 Can be accepted. In an embodiment, the omitted step may include transforming the utility high voltage AC input power 180 to a low voltage AC using a transformer, rectifying to generate a low pressure DC, To the high pressure DC 802A required by the magnetron. By omitting these intermediate steps within the high pressure input transmission 182 facility, both efficiency and reliability can be improved and capital costs and maintenance costs can be reduced.

The first stage of the transformerless high voltage input power transmission facility 900 includes a high speed, high-current circuit breaker (not shown), which receives the high voltage AC input power 180 and which is sometimes referred to as a breaker (902). Circuit breakers are automatically operated electrical switches designed to protect electrical circuits from damage caused by overload or short-circuit. There is one high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 for each phase of the input high voltage AC input power 180 from the utility. The high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 must be fast enough to open the circuit in the event of a short circuit condition within the transformerless high voltage input transmission facility 900 to protect the utility's electrical distribution system. The high speed, high current circuit breaker may provide electrical isolation and protection for the utility's distribution system, or it may be provided by other components, such as transformer 1002, if not. Using a high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 instead of the transformer 1002 allows for greater power efficiency because the transformer 1002 has a power loss due to inefficiency and the high speed, high current circuit breaker may not. . A high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 may also help protect the magnetron 700 in the system. A surge, or a spike in voltage, can disrupt the field of the magnetron 700. This may cause the system to lose the microwave power delivered to the solid fuel and may cause magnetron damage.

The second stage of the transformerless high voltage input power transmission facility 900 takes a high voltage AC 910 output from a high speed, high current circuit breaker and sends it through a rectifier stage 904 where it is converted to a high voltage DC 802 send. The rectifier 904 is an electrical device composed of one or more semiconductor devices such as a diode, a thyristor, an SCR, an IGBT and the like, and is prepared for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage. The output of a very simple rectifier 904 can be described as a half-AC current, which is filtered by DC. The actual rectifier 904 may be a half-wave, full-wave, single-phase bridge, three-phase three-pulse, three- And can result in various reduced amounts of residual AC ripple when combined. The resulting output high voltage DC 802 of the resulting rectifier 904 may also be adjustable, for example, by varying the firing angle of the SCR. This output high voltage DC 802 can be adjusted to the theoretical maximum of the peak value of the input AC voltage input power 180. As an example, an input AC voltage input power of 1806 at 14,600 VAC can theoretically yield a DC voltage that meets the required 20,000 VDC. If the high voltage DC 802 meets the requirements of the input high voltage DC 802A to the magnetron 700 then the final DC-DC converter 908 step, shown as a dash in Figure 9, have. DC-DC converter 908 can have efficiencies of 80%, 85%, 95%, etc., thereby eliminating the need for them and achieving even more power efficiency for solid fuel treatment plant 132. [

If necessary, the third stage of the transformer type high voltage input transmission facility 900 is the DC-DC converter 908. In this embodiment, if the output high voltage DC 802 from the rectifier is not high enough to meet the requirements of the high voltage DC (802A) input of the magnetron 700, DC -DC converter 908 may still be necessary. DC-to-DC converter 908 is a circuit that converts the source of DC from one voltage to another. Generally, a DC-DC converter performs a conversion by applying a DC voltage across an inductor or transformer for a period of time, for example, in the range of 100 kHz to 5 MHz, which causes current to flow through the DC- And stores the energy magnetically. This voltage then causes the stored energy to be transferred to the voltage output in a controlled manner and can be switched off. By adjusting the ratio of the on-off time, the output voltage can be adjusted when the finishing current demand changes. In such an embodiment, the need for a DC-DC converter may depend on the voltage level of the supplied high-voltage AC input power 180. For example, in the case of a 12,740 VAC utility distribution voltage input power 180, the rectifier 904 may provide a maximum high voltage DC (802) of 18,000 VDC or less. If the high voltage DC 802A required by the magnetron 700 is 20,000 VDC then in this case the step of DC to DC converter 908 is to apply a voltage to the higher voltage DC (802) to meet the requirements of the magnetron 700 802A. ≪ / RTI >

The inclusion of high-speed, high-current circuit breakers in the transformer-less power conversion facility 900 can also protect the electrical utility's electrical system from non-electrical faults within the solid fuel treatment facility 132. Except for an electrical short due to equipment failure, the magnetron 700 can arc-off due to the collapse of the field within the magnetron 700. [ This arc-off condition can cause a significant in-rush of current from the electrical system of the utility. In embodiments, high speed, high current circuit breakers may protect utility electrical systems from such high fault currents. An example of a condition that can cause the magnetron 700 arc-off is excessive reflected power back to the magnetron 700. Typically during operation, there may be reflected power back to the magnetron 700, and a circulator (isolator) of the magnetron 700 may be able to recover the magnetron 700 from damage caused by this reflected power . However, failure of the circulator may cause magnetron 700 arc-off. Thus, even though the system is designed to allow reflected currents, faults in the system can still cause a significant amount of current rushing associated with the magnetron 700 arc-off. This is just one example of a condition that can cause a large amount of inrush current from the utility's electrical system. At any high current condition that lasts more than two cycles of 60 Hz, the feeding distribution system feeds back through the utilities' distribution and transmission system, possibly tripping the circuit breaker tripping, which can potentially result in a failure. Even variations in the product flow within the solid fuel treatment facility 132 can also cause significant reflections to cause arc-off. Other defective conditions that can cause large amounts of inrush current will be apparent to those skilled in the art. These high current fault conditions and all other high current fault conditions can be eliminated by the presence of high speed, high current circuit breakers. The transformerless high voltage input transmission facility 900 can provide maximum power efficiency and fault protection due to the reduction or reduction of inefficiencies in the high voltage input transmission 182 facility.

Figure 10 shows a high voltage input power transmission facility 1000 with a transformer, which is one embodiment of a high voltage input power transmission 182 facility. This power conversion configuration for transferring high-voltage DC to the magnetron is performed in three steps. In the first step, high voltage AC input power 180 is converted to low voltage AC 910 using transformer 1002. The transformer 1002 may be an electrical device that transfers energy from one electrical circuit to another by magnetic coupling. Transformer 1002 includes two or more coupled windings and may also have a magnetic core for gathering magnetic flux. 10, the input AC voltage input power 180 applied to one winding, which is called the primary, generates a time-varying magnetic flux in the core, which causes the AC voltage 910 in the other winding, . Transformer 1002 is used to convert between voltages, to change the impedance, and to provide electrical isolation between the circuits. For example, the high voltage AC input power 180 input in FIG. 10 may be 14,600 VAC and the low voltage AC 910 output may be 480 VAC. In addition to these AC voltages being different, they may also be electrically isolated from one another. The transformer 1002 can be a single phase transformer, multiple single phase transformers, a banked set of transformers, a polyphase transformer, and the like. Moreover, the transformer may be provided by a power utility. The transformer may have power inefficiencies associated with converting from one voltage to another, and this inefficiency may be related to the voltage and current of the input and output of the transformer 1002.

In the second stage of high voltage input transmission facility configuration 1000 having a transformer, low voltage AC 204A passes through a rectifier 904 stage to produce a corresponding low voltage DC 802. As an example, an input AC voltage 910 of 480 VAC can yield an output DC voltage 802 that is theoretically as high as 677 VDC. The voltage of 677 VDC may not be sufficient to supply the high voltage DC 104 required by the magnetron. In this event, a third DC to DC converter 908 step may be required where the low voltage DC 802 from the rectifier 904 is coupled to the high voltage DCs 802A, That is, it is boosted to 20,000 VDC.

The high voltage input transmission facility (1000) embodiment having a transformer may utilize a transformer device available in standard three-phase, low voltage, utility. One example of such a device is a 3-phase, 4-wire, 480/277 V transformer that typically powers large buildings and commercial centers. 480 V is used for motor operation, while 277 V is used for fluorescent lamp operation of the facility. For 120 V indoor receptacles, separate transformers may be required, which may be powered from a 480 V line. Other examples of standard three-phase voltages may utilize 575-600 V rather than 480 V, which may reduce the need for a third DC-DC converter 908 step. These examples are not intended to be limiting, and other configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The use of a standard utility transformer can eliminate the need for special equipment from the utility and therefore reduce the initial cost of this embodiment. However, the operating power loss associated with the conversion of transforming the AC voltage down and then boosting the DC voltage again may be undesirable because it can increase the operating cost of the solid fuel processing facility.

11 shows a transformerless high voltage input transmission facility 1100 having an inductor, which is a variation of the transformerless power conversion facility 900 discussed above and is an example of a high voltage input transmission 182 facility. This embodiment is similar to the transformerless high voltage input transmission facility 900 in that it does not have a transformer 1002, but rather than feeding the high voltage AC input power 180 through a high speed, high current circuit breaker for protection, The AC input power 180 is fed directly to the rectifier 904. The rectifier 904 output high voltage DC 802 may be sufficient and thus the DC to DC converter 908 may not be required, as is the case in the transformerless power conversion facility 900. The purpose of the high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 in the transformer type high voltage input transmission facility 900 was to provide protection to the utility's distribution system when a short circuit within the solid fuel processing facility 132 occurs. The high speed, high current circuit breaker 902 may provide a faster response than the power utility typically provides. This high speed may be necessary due to the absence of transformer insulation. The transformerless high voltage input power transmission facility 1100 with an inductor provides an alternative short circuit protection component, a high current inductor 1102 in series with the magnetron 700. Inductor 1102 responds to standard utility low speed utility circuit breakers, opens up and slows down the short response time, providing sufficient time to protect the utility's power distribution system. Under DC conditions, the inductor does not affect the circuit and acts as a virtual short in the line. However, if a short circuit condition occurs within the solid fuel processing facility 132, the inductor will respond to delay the current response, delaying the effect of the short-circuit. This delay allows sufficient time so that a standard utility circuit breaker can be used, which can eliminate the need for a high speed, circuit breaker 902.

Figure 12 shows a high voltage input transmission installation 1200 with a direct DC transformer, which is one embodiment of a high voltage input transmission 182 installation. This power conversion configuration for delivering high voltage DC 802 to the magnetron is performed in two steps. In the first step, the high voltage AC input power 180 can be boosted or lowered as required using the transformer 1002. The input to output voltage ratio of the converter can be determined by the available input high voltage AC input power 180 and the required output high voltage DC 802 used by the magnetron 700. In the second step, the high voltage AC 910 at the output of the transformer 1002 is routed through the rectifier 904 step. The rectifier 904 converts the input high voltage AC 910 to the high voltage DC 802 required by the magnetron 700. The voltage ratio of the transformer 1002 and the output adjustment of the rectifier 904 can both be selected based on the requirements for the input high voltage AC input power 180 and the output high voltage DC 802 to the magnetron 700. For example, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be located in a geographic region where a utility-supplied high voltage AC input power 180 distribution voltage of 80,000 VAC is available. If the magnetron 700 requires a high voltage DC 802 of 20,000 VDC then the high voltage DC 910 input to the rectifier 904 will produce the minimum output voltage ripple or maximum conversion efficiency for the rectifier 904 In voltage level. This selected input high voltage DC 910 may be, for example, 16,000 VDC. In this case, the voltage ratio to the transformer may be 5: 1, which represents the ratio of the primary to secondary windings of the transformer 1002. The 80,000 VAC high voltage AC input power (180) input will then be forced down to a high voltage AC (910) of 16,000 VAC. The 16,000 VAC high voltage AC 910 will then be converted to high voltage DC 802 by a rectifier 904 and will be supplied to the magnetron 700 of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. This embodiment may allow for higher efficiencies associated with high voltage input transmission 182 equipment that maintains a high voltage as a whole while maintaining fault isolation provided by transformer 1002. There are several exemplary embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may perceive variations, and such variations are intended to be covered by the present invention.

Figure 13 shows a high voltage input transmission facility with transformer isolation, which is one embodiment of the high voltage input transmission 182 facility. This power conversion arrangement for transferring the high voltage DC 802A to the magnetron 700 utilizes the transformer 1002 to electrically isolate the high voltage input transmission 182 facility from the utility's high voltage AC input power 180 power distribution system. do. In this configuration, the transformer 1002 may only operate as an electrical isolator and not perform a change in the voltage function. The input high voltage AC input power 180 to the transformer 1002 may be the same voltage as the output high voltage AC 1002A output from the transformer. The change function of the voltage level up to the high voltage DC 802A required by the magnetron 700 with the unchanged high voltage AC 910 as a result of the transformer 1002 is mainly achieved by the DC to DC converter 908 . High voltage AC 910 at the output of the transformer is routed through rectifier 904 where high voltage AC 910 is converted to high voltage DC 802. As a result of rectification, the voltage level of high voltage DC 802 may be somewhat higher than high voltage AC 910 at the input of the rectifier, but may be limited to a small percentage increase. DC-DC converter 908 is capable of providing the most voltage change function when high voltage DC 802 does not meet the high voltage DC 802A required by magnetron 700. In the high voltage input transmission 182 facility, Can act as a component. In an embodiment, this arrangement may provide a means for a high voltage input transmission 182 facility that provides high voltage DC 802A to a magnetron 700 having electrical isolation against the utility's high voltage AC input power 180 . The reduction of the power inefficiency due to the transformer can be realized with this configuration.

In an embodiment, the required power for the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be high and may require a high voltage line, for example a 160 kV transmission line. The required power may be high enough to justify the design and construction of the substation with the solid fuel treatment facility 132 in the field. These substations may be specially designed for the solid fuel treatment facility 132 and as such may allow selection of a high voltage level that best suits the voltage requirements of the magnetron. In this case, the requirement for the DC-DC converter 908 can be eliminated.

As the microwave system 148 applies power, frequency and duty cycle to a particular coal processing station, the non-coal product can be released from the coal. The sensor system can be used to determine the rate of non-coal product removal, complete non-coal product removal, configuration, actual microwave system 148 output, and the like. The sensor system 142 may include sensors for water vapor, ash, sulfur, volatiles, or other materials emitted from coal. In addition, the sensor system 142 may include sensors for microwave output, microwave frequency, gas environment, coal temperature, chamber temperature, belt speed, inert gas, and the like. The sensors can be grouped together or along the belt facility 130 as needed to accurately sense the coal processing process. There can be multiple sensors for the same measurement value. For example, a moisture sensor may be located at the microwave system 148 station and another moisture sensor may be located after the microwave system 148 station. In this example, the sensor arrangement may allow detection of the amount of water vapor removed from the microwave station 148 itself and the amount of residual water vapor that is removed as the coal leaves the microwave system station 148. In such a setup, a first sensor can be used to determine if the proper power level, frequency and duty cycle is used, and a second sensor can be used to determine if the extra microwave system 148 process properly removes water from the coal To be executed. A similar method may be used for any other sensor of the sensor system 142.

The sensor reading may be obtained by a parameter control facility 140 that may have a sensor interface for each type of sensor used by the sensor system 142. The parameter control facility 140 can read both digital and analog sensor readings. The parameter control facility 140 may use an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert any analog reading into a digital format. After obtaining the sensor data, the parameter control facility 140 may send sensor readings to both the controller 144 and the monitoring facility 134. The controller 144 may be configured to display actual coal process data on a user interface of the controller that may enable the user to view data-to-actual settings and perform manual overrides for operating parameters as appropriate You can use sensor reading to indicate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 can obtain actual coal process data and compare it to the required coal process parameters to determine if the coal processing process is generating the coal desired feature 122. The monitoring facility 134 is capable of maintaining at least two sets of coal processing parameters, target parameters that may be provided by the parameter generating facility 128, and actual coal process data provided by the parameter control 140 have. The monitoring facility 134 may compare the actual parameters with the required parameters to determine if the coal processing operational parameters are generating coal desired characteristics 122. [ The parameter generating facility 128 may also be provided with a monitoring facility 134 having a set of tolerances that must be maintained by the coal processing process to produce the coal desired characteristics 122. [ The monitoring facility 134 may use a set of algorithms to determine if any operational parameter adjustments need to be made. The algorithm may compare the actual sensor 142 data with the baseline operating parameter and operating parameter tolerance in determining any adjustments to the operating parameters.

In addition, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain final processed coal data from the feedback facility 174, which may include coal output parameters 172 and data from the test facility 170. The monitoring facility 134 algorithm may use the data received at the feedback facility 174 with in-process data obtained from the sensor system 142 to adjust the coal processing operating parameters.

The monitoring facility 134 may be capable of adjusting one or all operational parameters of the belt facility 130 in real time.

After the monitoring facility 134 adjusts the operating parameters, the monitoring facility 134 may store the adjusted operating parameters as new operating parameters and then send the new operating parameters to the controller 144.

The controller 144 may determine at least one new operating parameter obtained at the monitoring facility 134 and may transmit the new operating parameters to the various belt facility 130 devices that may include the microwave system 148.

Using the process described above for providing operating parameters, sensing actual process values, interpreting actual process values, adjusting operating parameters as required, and transferring the adjusted operating parameters to the belt facility 130, Embodiments can provide a real-time feedback system that can be continuously adjusted for changing conditions within a coal processing process.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the feedback system may be applied to any system and facility of the belt facility 130.

In a typical coal treatment process, the non-coal product may be released from coal in the form of a gas or a liquid. Removal system 150 may be responsible for removing non-coal product from belt facility 130; Removal system 150 may remove non-coal products such as moisture, ash, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl volatiles, and the like. Removal system 150 and controller 144 may obtain center information from sensor system 142 regarding the volume of non-coal product that may be emitted in the coal processing process.

There may be one or more removal systems 150 in the belt facility 130 to remove gases and / or liquids. For example, in order to collect the residual water vapor that can be continuously released after the microwave system 148 station, there is a steam removal system 150 in the microwave system 148 station, and after the microwave system 148 station another removal system 150). As another example, another removal system 150 may remove ash, sulfur, or other material while one removal system 150 removes water vapor.

The controller 144 may provide operating parameters to the removal system 150 to control fan speed, pump speed, and the like. Removal system 150 may utilize a feedback system similar to the microwave system 148 feedback system described above. In this feedback system, the sensor may provide information to the parameter control 140 and monitoring facility 134 to provide real-time feedback to the removal system 150 for efficient removal of non-coal products.

The removal system 150 may collect the gas and liquid discharged from the coal treatment from the belt facility 130 and transport the collected non-coal product to the containment facility 162. The containment facility 162 may collect non-coal products from the belt facility 130 in at least one containment tank or containment vessel. The monitoring facility 134 may monitor the containment facility 162 to determine the level of non-coal product and provide this information to the user interface visualized by the computer device accessing the solid fuel treatment facility 132 have. The monitoring facility 134 may also determine that the contents of the tank or vessel should be transported to the treatment facility 160 when the containment facility 162 is sufficiently full.

The treatment facility 160 may be responsible for the separation of various collected non-coal products that may coexist within the containment facility 162 tanks and vessels. In one embodiment, the at least one non-coal product may be collected in a containment facility tank or vessel during the coal treatment process. For example, the ash can be released with water and sulfur during one of the microwave system 148 processes, and thus the collected product will include ash mixed with water and / or sulfur.

The treatment facility 160 may receive non-coal product from the containment facility 162 to separate into a single product. The treatment facility 160 can be used to perform a variety of treatment processes including, but not limited to, sedimentation, flocculation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, chromatography, electrophoresis, extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, precipitation, fractional freezing, a number of filtration and separation processes may be used, including sieving, winnowing, and the like.

The monitoring facility 134 may monitor the process facility 160 process for proper operation and separation. The treatment facility 160 may have a sensor that sends data to the monitoring facility 134 or may use the sensor system 142 to monitor the treatment process.

When the treatment facility 160 separates the non-coal products into separate products, they are transported to the disposal facility 158 for removal from the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The monitoring facility 132 may monitor the product level of the disposal facility 158 to determine when the product should be disposed of. The monitoring facility 134 may provide information from the disposal facility to the user interface within the solid fuel treatment facility 132. Disposal from the disposal facility 158 may include the release of non-toxic products (e.g., water and water vapor), transport to a landfill (e.g., ash), sale of the product, or commercial toll disposal. In one embodiment, the non-coal product collected at the disposal facility 158 may be useful to other companies (e.g., sulfur).

After the coal is finished being treated in the belt facility 130, the coal can be directed to the cooling facility 164 where coal cooling from the treatment temperature to ambient temperature can be controlled. Similar to the belt facility 130, the cooling facility 164 can control cooling of coal using atmospheric, transport systems, sensors, and the like. Cooling of the coal can be adjusted, for example, to prevent re-absorption of moisture and / or other chemical reactions that may occur during the cooling process. The controller 144 may be used to maintain cooling system 164 systems and equipment, such as transport speed, air, cooling rate, airflow, and the like. The cooling facility 164 may control the operating parameters using the real-time feedback system described above, which is used by the belt facility 130.

The discharge facility 168 may obtain the final treated coal from the cooling facility 164 and the belt facility 130. The exhaust facility 168 may have an input portion, a transition portion, and an adapter portion that can receive and control the flow and volume of coal that may be present in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The final treated coal is discharged from the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to the coal combustion facility 200, the coal conversion facility 210, the coal by-product facility 212, the shipping facility 214, and the coal storage facility 218 . The discharge facility 168 may have an input system such as a conveyor belt 300, an auger, etc., which can supply the final processed coal to an external location of the solid fuel treatment facility 132.

Based on the operating parameters provided by the controller 144, the discharge facility 168 may control the volume rate of the final processed coal output from the belt facility 130. The discharge facility 168 may be capable of varying the speed of the discharge facility based on the parameters supplied at the controller 144.

In addition, the discharge facility 168 may provide test fountains to a test facility 170 for testing the final treated coal. The selection of coal samples can be selected automatically or manually; The coal selection may be made at a predetermined time, randomly selected, statistically selected, or the like.

The coal testing facility 170 may test the final treated coal characteristics to compare with the coal desired characteristics 122 as a final quality test of the treated coal. The test facility may be located in close proximity to the solid fuel treatment facility 132, located remotely, or may be a standard private coal testing laboratory. In Figure 1 the test facility appears to be close to the solid fuel treatment facility. The final treated coal test was based on the percent moisture, percent ash, percentage volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, sulfur form, grindability (HGI), total mercury, Temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. The final treated coal is ASTM Standard D 388 (Coal Classification by Classification), ASTM Standard D 2013 (Coal Sample Preparation Method for Analysis), ASTM Standard D 3180 (Coal and Coke Analysis Standard Tests to Estimate), US Geological Survey Bulletin 1823 (Coal Sampling and Inorganic Analysis Methods), and so on.

Once the final treated coal characteristics are determined by the test facility 170, the characteristics can be transferred to the coal output parameter facility 172 and / or supplied with the final processed coal output. Supplying test characteristics along with shipment allows the coal service facility to know the coal characteristics and can adjust the coal usage characteristics to meet the final treated coal characteristics.

Similar to the coal desired plant 122, the coal output parameter plant 172 may store coal characteristics data, in this case the final processed coal characteristics. The coal output parameter facility 172 may be a separate computer device or set of computer devices for storing the desired coal desired characteristics for the identified coal. The computer device may be a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, a CD device, a DVD device, a hard drive system, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies.

The coal output parameter facility 172 may include a collection of data that can be a database, a relational database, XML, RSS, ASCII files, flat files, text files, and the like. In one embodiment, the coal output parameter facility 172 may be searchable for retrieval of the desired data characteristics for the coal.

There may be a number of coal output parameter records stored in the coal output parameter facility 172, based on the number of test samples supplied by the discharge facility 168 and the test facility 170.

Using all of the coal characterization data records obtained from the test facility 170, the coal output parameter facility 172 may store the acquired data and / or send the coal characterization data record to the feedback facility 174. [ The coal output parameter facility 172 may be used to record only new acquired coal characteristics data records, all data records for identified coal (e.g., multiple test results), an average of all data records for identified coal, Statistical data, and the like. The coal output parameter facility 172 may send any combination of data records to the feedback facility 174. [

The feedback facility 174 may obtain coal output parameter data from the coal output parameter facility 172. Feedback facility 174 may be a separate set of computer devices or computer devices for storing the desired coal desired characteristics for the identified coal. The computer device may be a desktop computer, a server, a web server, a laptop computer, a CD device, a DVD device, a hard drive system, and the like. The computer devices may all be local to each other or a plurality of computer devices may be distributed at remote locations. Computer devices may be connected by LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, P2P, or other types of networks using wired or wireless technologies.

The feedback facility 174 may query the coal output parameter facility 172 for data of the identified coal being processed in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. In an embodiment, the feedback facility 174 is configured to provide the coal output parameter facility 172 at a set time period, such as when the coal output parameter facility 172 sends a new record, when data is requested by the monitoring facility 134, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 172 < / RTI >

The feedback facility 174 may be used only to record new acquired coal characterization data, record all data for identified coals (e.g., multiple test results), average of all data records for identified coals, Can be obtained. The feedback facility 174 may have an algorithm for collecting the final processed coal characteristics obtained as a feed forward to the monitoring facility 134. The feedback facility 174 may be configured to record the last coal characteristic data record, all data records for identified coal (e.g., multiple test results), an average of all data records for identified coal, statistical data of identified coal, To the monitoring facility 134.

The coal output parameter facility 172 may send the coal characteristics to the pricing transaction facility 178. The pricing transaction facility 178 can determine the cost and cost of the coal processing from raw coal as it is obtained to final treated coal. The pricing transaction facility 178 can retrieve the coal data as it is obtained from the coal sample data facility 120; This facility can store the cost of the searched coal (for example, the cost / tonnage of coal). The pricing transaction facility 178 may retrieve data from the coal output parameter facility 172, which may include data related to the cost of processing the coal. The pricing transaction facility 178 may have application software that can determine the final price of the processed coal based on the cost data retrieved and derived from the coal sample data facility 120 and the coal output parameter facility 172.

As shown in FIG. 2, certain aspects of coal use are consistent with the treatment of coal in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. As discussed above, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 can improve coal quality and provide coal that is more suitable for a variety of applications. In an embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may include an exhaust facility 168 through which coal treated in accordance with the systems and methods described herein may be transported to a utility facility such as that shown in FIG. 2 . In an embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may include a test facility 170 as described in more detail above. As described above, the results of the coal tested in the test facility 170 may be transferred to the use facility as shown in FIG. 2, so that the facilities used may be the same as that of the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein Can be utilized more effectively.

FIG. 2 shows a representative facility in which coal treated with the systems and methods described herein may be used, including coal combustion facility 200 and coal storage facility 202 for combustible coal, coal conversion facility 210, But are not limited to, coal by-product facility 212, coal shipping facility 214 for coal in transit, and coal storage facility 218. In an embodiment, the coal is delivered or transported from the discharge facility 168 to a facility for coal use. It is known that the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be in the vicinity of the coal-using facility, or both facilities may be remote from each other.

Referring to FIG. 2, the combustion of coal processed by the systems and methods described herein may occur at the coal combustion facility 200. The coal combustion 200 includes the presence of oxygen and the combustion of coal at high temperatures to generate light and heat. Coal must be heated to its ignition temperature before combustion occurs. The ignition temperature of coal is the ignition temperature of the fixed carbon contained in coal. The ignition temperature of the volatile components of coal is higher than the ignition temperature of the fixed carbon. Thus, the gaseous products are distilled out during combustion. When combustion starts, the heat generated by the oxidation of the combustible carbon can maintain a temperature high enough to maintain combustion under suitable conditions. The coal to be used in the coal combustion (200) facility can be transported directly to the facility for use or stored in the storage facility (202) associated with the coal combustion (200) facility.

As shown in FIG. 2, the coal combustion 200 may be provided to the power generator 204. The system for power generation includes a fixed bed combustion system 220, a pulverized coal combustion system 222, a fluidized bed combustion system 224, and a combined combustion system 228 that uses a renewable energy source for combustion in combination with coal.

In an embodiment, the fixed bed 220 system may be used for coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein. The fixed bed 220 system may use a lump coal feed having a particle size in the range of about 1-5 cm. In the fixed bed (220) system, the coal is heated as it enters the furnace, thus exiting the moisture and volatiles. As the coal moves into the area where the coal is to be ignited, the temperature in the coal layer rises. A number of different types of fixation layers 220 including a static grate, an underfeed stoker, a chain grate, a traveling grate, and a spreader stoker system, System exists. Chain type and movable grate furnace have similar characteristics. While the air passes through the layers of grate and coal, a lump of coal is fed to the moving grate or chain. In a spreader stalker, coal is thrown into the furnace on a grate moving the high-speed rotor to distribute the fuel more evenly. The stoker furnace is typically characterized by a flame temperature of 1200-1300 ° C and a considerably longer residence time.

The combustion in the fixed bed 220 system is relatively irregular, so there may be intermittent exhaustion of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides ("NOx") and volatiles during the combustion process. The combustion chemistry and temperature can vary substantially across the combustion grate. The exhaust of SO ₂ will depend on the sulfur content of the feed coal. Residual ash will have a high carbon content (4-5%) due to relatively inefficient combustion and limited contact of carbon and oxygen contained in the coal. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously burned in the fixed bed 220 system. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for combustion in the fixed bed 220 system.

 In an embodiment, pulverized coal combustion ("PCC") 222 can be used as a combustion 200 method for power generation 204. As shown in FIG. 2, the PCC 222 may be used for coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein, and for PCC coal may be pulverized (finely pulverized) into fine powder. The pulverized coal is blown into the boiler through a series of burner nozzles as part of the air for combustion. Secondary or tertiary air can also be added. The unit operates at near atmospheric pressure. Combustion occurs at temperatures of 1300-1700 ° C, depending on the coal grade. For bituminous coal, the combustion temperature is fixed at 1500-1700 ° C. For lower grade coal, the range is 1300-1600 ℃. The particle size of the coal used in the pulverized coal process is in the range of about 10-100 microns. The particle residence time is typically 1-5 seconds, and the particles should be sized to be completely burned during this time. For the power generation 204, steam is generated by a process that can run the steam generator and the turbine.

The pulverized coal combustor 222 may be supplied with a wall-fired or tangentially burned burner. The wall-fired burner is installed on the wall of the combustor, while the tangential burner is installed at the edge with the flame pointing towards the center of the boiler, giving a swirling motion to the gas during combustion, Are more effectively mixed. The boiler can be referred to as wet-bottom or dry-bottom depending on whether the ash falls as a molten slag on the floor or as a dry solid. Advantageously, the PCC 222 produces minute fly ash. In general, the PCC 222 may cause ash residue to be 65% -85% fly ash, in the form of a bottom ash (in a dry boiler) or a boiler slag (wet boiler).

In an embodiment, the PCC 222 boiler using anthracite coal as fuel may use a downshot burner device, where the coal-air mixture is sent to the boiler base cone. These devices allow longer residence times to ensure more complete carbon burning. Another device, called a cell burner, includes two or three circular burners combined into a single vertical assembly that generates a dense, strong flame. However, high temperature flames from these burners can cause more NOx formation, making this device less advantageous.

In an embodiment, a cyclone-fired boiler may be used for coal having a low batch melt temperature, otherwise PCC 222 would be difficult to use. A cyclone furnace has a combustion chamber installed on the outer surface of a gradually tapering main boiler. While the primary combustion air transports the coal particles into the furnace, the secondary air is injected in a tangential direction into the cyclone, creating a strong swirl that thrusts larger coal particles toward the furnace wall. The tertiary air directly enters the central vortex of the cyclone to control the center vacuum and the location of the combustion zone in the furnace. The large coal particles are entrained in the molten bed covering the inner surface of the cyclone and then recirculated for more complete combustion. Small coal particles enter the center of the vortex for combustion. Such a system causes strong heat generation in the furnace, and therefore the coal burns at extreme high temperatures. Combustion gases, residual char and fly ash enter the boiler chamber for more complete combustion. The molten ash flows to the bottom of the furnace by gravity for removal.

In a cyclone boiler, 80-90% of the ash leaves the bottom of the boiler as molten slag, and thus less fly ash flows through the heat exchange section of the boiler. These boilers operate at high temperatures (above 1650 to 2000 ° C) and use near-atmospheric pressure. High temperatures cause a large amount of NOx production, which is a major disadvantage of these boiler types. Cyclone-fired boilers are characterized by specific core characteristics, such as volatile substances (based on dry weight) of 15% or more, ash content of 6-25% for bituminous coal or 4-25% for bituminous coal, less than 20% Coal having a moisture content of 30% with respect to bituminous coal can be used. The ash must have a characteristic slag viscous property; The ash slag behavior is particularly important for the functioning of these boiler types. Fuel of high moisture can be burned in this type of boiler, but a modification of the design is needed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that peculiar characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously burned in the PCC 222 system. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for combustion in the PCC 222 system.

PCC can be used in combination with subcritical or supercritical steam cycling. The supercritical steam cycle operates at a critical temperature of water (374 ° F) and a critical pressure (22.1 mPa), where no gaseous and liquid phases of water are present. Subcritical systems typically achieve thermal efficiencies of 33-34%. Supercritical systems can achieve thermal efficiencies three to five percent higher than subcritical systems.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that increasing the thermal efficiency of the coal combustion 200 requires less fuel and therefore results in lower costs for the power generation 204. Increased thermal efficiency also reduces other exhaust gases generated during combustion, such as SO ₂ and NO x emissions. Older, smaller units that burn low grade coal have a thermal efficiency that can be as low as 30%. For large scale plants with sub-critical steam boilers burning high quality coal, the thermal efficiency may be in the range of 35-36%. Facilities using supercritical steam can achieve total thermal efficiency in the range of 43-45%. The maximum efficiency achievable using low grade coal and low grade coal may be less than the maximum efficiency achievable with high grade and high grade coal. For example, the maximum efficiency expected in a new atom-burning plant (found in Europe, for example) may be about 42%, while the equivalent new bituminous plant achieves a maximum thermal efficiency of about 45% can do. Supercritical steam plants using bituminous coal and other optimal building materials can achieve a net thermal efficiency of 45-47%. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein can be advantageously designed to optimize thermal efficiency.

In an embodiment, a fluid bed combustion ("FBC") 224 system may be used with the treated coal according to the systems and methods described herein. The FBC 224 system operates under the conditions given by fluid-like behavior in which solid material flows freely, the essence of fluidization. As the gas passes over the layer of solid particles, the flow of gas creates a force that tends to separate the particles from each other. In the FBC 224 system, coal is combusted in a layer of hot, incombustible particles suspended by the upward flow of fluidizing gas. The coal of the coal FBC 224 system is mixed with absorbent such as limestone, fluidized mixture which allows complete combustion and removal of sulfur gas during the combustion process. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously burned in the FBC 224 system. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for combustion in the FBC 224 system. Representative embodiments of the FBC 224 system are described in further detail below.

For power generation 204, the FBC 224 system is used primarily with subcritical steam turbines. The atmospheric pressure FBC 224 system may be bubbling or circulating. The pressurized FBC 224 system can produce power in a cycle that is primarily a bubbling bed and has a gas turbine and a steam turbine, in the early stages of current development. Relatively rough coarse particles of about 3 mm in size can be used. FBC 224 at atmospheric pressure may be useful for high-ash coal and / or variable-strength coal. The combustion takes place at a temperature of 800-900 ° C, which is substantially below the threshold for NO x formation, and thus this system causes lower NO x emissions in the PCC 222 system.

The bubble layer has a low fluidization rate, so that the coal particles are held in a bed about 1 mm deep with an identifiable surface. As the coal particles disappear and become smaller, the coal particles are ultimately carried along with the coal gas and removed as fly ash. The circulating bed uses a high fluidization rate, so that the coal particles float in the flue gas and pass through the main combustion chamber to the cyclone. The large coal particles are extracted from the gas and recycled to the combustion chamber. Individual particles can be recirculated 10 to 50 times, depending on their combustion characteristics. The combustion conditions are relatively uniform throughout the combustor, and there is considerable particle mixing. Although the coal solids are distributed throughout the unit, a dense bed may be required in the lower furnace to mix the fuel during combustion. For the layer that burns bituminous coal, the carbon content of the layer is about 1% and the remainder is ash and other minerals.

The circulating FBC 224 system may be designed for a particular type of coal. In particular embodiments, such a system is particularly useful for low grade, high ash coal, which can be finely pulverized and have variable combustion characteristics. In an embodiment, this system is also useful for co-firing coal in a combined combustion 228 system with other fuels such as biomass or waste. Once the FBC 224 unit is built, the unit designed for that fuel can be most efficiently operated using this fuel. A variety of designs can be used. The thermal efficiency for the circular FBC 224 is generally somewhat lower than for the corresponding PCC system. The use of low grade coal with variable properties can further reduce thermal efficiency.

The FBC 224 in a pressurized system may be useful for low grade coal and coal having variable combustion characteristics. In a pressurized system with coal and sorbent fed to the system across the pressure boundary and ash that is removed across the pressure boundary, both the combustor and the gas cyclone are surrounded by a pressure vessel. When hard coal is used, coal and limestone can be mixed with 25% water and supplied to the system as a paste. The system can operate at a pressure of 1-1.5 MPa and a combustion temperature of 800-900 ° C. Combustion can be used to heat steam, such as a commercial boiler, and also to produce hot gas to drive the gas turbine. The pressurizing unit is designed to have a thermal efficiency of 40% or more, together with a low exhaust gas. Next-generation pressurized FBC systems can include improvements that can yield more than 50% thermal efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 2, coal burning 200 may be used for metallurgical purposes 208, such as smelting of iron and steel. In some embodiments, bituminous coal having certain characteristics may be suitable for smelting without prior coking. By way of example, coal having properties such as fusibility and a combination of other factors including high fixed carbon content, low ash (< 5%), low sulfur, and low calcite (CaCO ₃ ) Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; 208 &lt; / RTI &gt; Coal having characteristics suitable for metallurgical purpose 208 may be 15-50% more valuable than coal used for power generation 204. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously burned in the metallurgy 208 system. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for combustion in the metallurgy 208 system.

Referring to FIG. 2, the coal treated in the systems and methods described herein may be used in the coal conversion facility 210. As shown in Figure 2, the coal conversion facility 210 may be used for the gasification 230, syngas production and conversion 234, coke and refined carbon formation 238, and hydrocarbon formation 240, for example. Using the system, the complex hydrocarbons of coal can be converted into other products. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the coal conversion facility 210. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use in the coal conversion facility 210.

In embodiments, the coal treated in the systems and methods described herein may be used for gasification 230. Gasification 230 includes converting coal to combustible gases, volatiles, char and mineral residues (ash / slag). The gasification (230) system generally converts heat from pressurization, in the presence of steam, to hydrocarbon fuel materials, such as coal, into gaseous components. The apparatus for carrying out this process is called a gasifier. Gasification 230 differs from combustion in that there is limited air or oxygen available. Therefore, only some of the fuel is completely combusted. The burning fuel provides heat for the remainder of the gasification (230) process.

During gasification 230, most of the hydrocarbon feedstock (e.g., coal) is chemically decomposed into various other materials, collectively referred to as "syngas. &Quot; Synthetic gases are mainly hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gaseous compounds. However, the composition of the syngas varies based on the type of feedstock used and on the gasification conditions used. The minerals remaining in the feedstock are not gasified as carbonaceous material, so they can be separated and removed. Sulfur impurities of coal can form hydrogen sulphide, from which sulfur or sulfuric acid can be produced. Since gasification takes place under reducing conditions, NOx is typically not formed and instead ammonia is formed. When oxygen is used instead of air during gasification 230, carbon dioxide is produced in a concentrated gas stream that can be isolated and prevented from entering the atmosphere as a contaminant.

The gasification 230 may use coal that is difficult to use in a combustion (200) facility, such as coal having a high sulfur content or a high ash content. The ash content of the coal used in the gasifier affects the efficiency of the process because it affects the formation of the slag and affects the deposition of solids in the syngas cooler or heat exchanger. At low temperatures, tar formation such as those found in fixed bed and fluidized gasification systems can cause problems. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the gasification (230) plant. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use in a gasification (230) plant.

In an embodiment, three types of gasifier system are available: a fixed bed, a fluidized bed, and an entrained flow. Fixed layer units, which are generally not used for power generation, use lump coal. The fluidized bed uses coal of 3-6 mm size. The classification layer unit uses pulverized coal. The fractionation layer unit operates at a higher operating temperature (about 1600 ° C) than the fluid bed system (about 900 ° C).

In an embodiment, the gasifier may be operated or pressurized at atmospheric pressure. With pressurized gasification, feedstock coal can be loaded across a pressure barrier. Bulky and expensive lock hopper systems can be used to load coal, or coal can be supplied as a water-based slurry. The byproduct steam is then depressurized and removed across the pressure barrier. Internally, the gas-purifying unit for the heat exchanger and syngas is also pressurized.

Although it is known that the gasification 230 facility may not include combustion, the gasification 230 nevertheless may be used for power generation in some embodiments. For example, a gasification (230) facility in which power is produced may use an integrated gasification combined cycle ("IGCC") (232) system. In the IGCC system 232, the syngas produced during gasification can be purified to remove impurities (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, particulate matter, etc.) and burned to operate the gas turbine. Exhaust gas from the gasification is heat exchanged with water to produce superheated steam which drives the steam turbine. Because the IGCC system 232 uses two turbines in combination (a gas combustion turbine and a steam turbine), such a system is referred to as a "combined cycle ". Generally, most of the power (60-70%) comes from the gas turbines of this system. The IGCC system 232 produces power at a greater thermal efficiency than the coal combustion system. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in an IGCC (232) installation. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use in an IGCC (232) facility.

In embodiments, the coal treated in the systems and methods described herein may be used for the production of syngas 234 or for conversion to various other products. For example, the components of the synthesis gas, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen, can be used to produce a wide range of liquid or gaseous fuels, or chemicals, using processes familiar to those skilled in the art. As another example, hydrogen produced during gasification may be used as a fuel for a fuel cell or potentially for a hydrogen turbine or a hybrid fuel cell-turbine system. Hydrogen separated from the gas stream can also be used as a feedstock for refineries that use hydrogen to produce high quality petroleum products.

Syngas 234 can also be converted to various hydrocarbons that can be used for fuel or further processing. Synthetic gas 234 can be condensed into light hydrocarbons, for example, using a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. The light hydrocarbons can then be further converted to gasoline or diesel fuel. Syngas 234 can also be converted to a building block for methanol, fuel additives, or gasoline products that can be used as fuel. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique properties allow the coal to be advantageously used in syngas production or conversion facilities. Thus, the treated coal according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use in a syngas production or conversion 234 facility.

In embodiments, the coal treated with the systems and apparatus described herein may be converted (238) to coke or purified carbon. Coke 238 is a solid carbonaceous residue derived from coal exiting volatile components in the oven baking at high temperatures (about 1000 ° C). At this temperature, the fixed carbon and the residual ash melt together. Feedstocks for coke formation are typically low-ash, low-sulfur coals. Coke can be used as a fuel, for example during iron smelting in a furnace. Coke is also useful as a reducing agent during this process. Converting coal to coke can produce by-products such as coal tar, ammonia, light oil and coal gas. Because the volatile components of coal escape during the coking process 238, the coke is the preferred fuel for the furnace which is not suitable for burning the coal itself. For example, coke may be burned with little or no soot under combustion conditions that can cause a large amount of exhaust gas when bituminous coal itself is used.

Before coal can be used as caulking coal, it must suitably meet certain stringent criteria regarding moisture content, ash content, sulfur content, volatile matter content, tar and plasticity. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the coke production facility 238. Thus, the treated coal according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use for the manufacture of coke 238.

In an embodiment, the amorphous pure carbon 238 can be obtained by heating the coal to a temperature of about 650-980 ° C in a limited-air environment so that complete combustion does not occur. Amorphous carbon (238) is a form of carbon isotopic graphite composed of microscopic carbon crystals. The amorphous carbon 238 thus obtained has many industrial uses. For example, graphite can be used as an electrochemical component, activated carbon can be used for purification of water and air, and carbon black can be used for tire reinforcement. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the refined carbon production facility 238. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein can be more specifically designed for use for producing purified carbon 238.

In an embodiment, the base process of coke production 238 can be used for producing a hydrocarbon-containing (240) gas mixture that can be used as fuel ("city gas"). The city gas may comprise, for example, about 51% hydrogen, 15% carbon monoxide, 21% methane, 10% carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and about 3% other alkanes. In other processes, for example the Lurgi process and Sabatier synthesis, methane is produced using low quality coal.

In an embodiment, the coal treated in the systems and methods described herein may be converted to hydrocarbon product 240. For example, liquefaction converts coal to a liquid hydrocarbon 240 product that can be used as fuel. Coal can be liquefied using direct or indirect processes. Any process that converts coal to hydrocarbon (240) fuel should add hydrogen to the hydrocarbon containing coal. Four types of liquefaction methods are available: (1) pyrolysis and hydrocarbonization, where the coal is heated in the absence of air or in the presence of hydrogen; (2) solvent extraction, where coal hydrocarbons are selectively dissolved from the coal mass and hydrogen is added; (3) catalyst liquefaction, wherein the catalyst affects the hydrogenation of coal hydrocarbons; And (4) indirect liquefaction, wherein carbon monoxide and hydrogen are combined in the presence of a catalyst. As an example, the Fischer-Tropsch process is a catalyzed chemical reaction in which carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted to various forms of liquid hydrocarbon (240). The material produced by this process may contain synthetic petroleum substitutes that can be used as lubricants or fuels.

As another example, low temperature carbonation can be used to produce liquid hydrocarbon 240 from coal. In this process, the coal is coked at a temperature of 450 to 700 ° C (238) (compared to 800 to 1000 ° C for metallurgical coke). These temperatures optimize the production of coal tar rich in light hydrocarbons (240) than ordinary coal tar. The coal tar is then further processed into fuel.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the formation (240) of the hydrocarbon product. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use for hydrocarbon production 240. [

Referring to FIG. 2, the coal treated in the systems and methods described herein may be used in the coal by-product facility 212. As shown in FIG. 2, the coal by-product facility 212 may convert coal to coal combustion by-products 242 and coal distillation by-products 244.

In an embodiment, various coal combustion by-products 242 can be obtained. By way of example, coal combustion by-products 242 may include volatile hydrocarbons, ash, sulfur, carbon dioxide, water, and the like. Further processing of these by-products can be carried out with economic benefit. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to advantageously produce combustion by-products that are economically beneficial. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein can be more specifically designed for use in the production of useful combustion by-products.

By way of example, the volatile material is a coal combustion by-product 242. Volatile materials include products that escape into gas or vapor during heating, except for moisture. For coal, the percentage of volatiles is determined by first heating the coal to 105 ° C to drain water, and then heating the coal to 950 ° C to measure weight loss. Volatile materials may include other gases, including sulfur, in addition to mixtures of short branches and long branch hydrocarbons. The volatile material may thus consist of a mixture of gases, a low-boiling organic compound that can condense as an oil upon cooling, and tar. The volatiles of coal increase as the rank decreases. In addition, volatile high amounts of coal are highly reactive and easily ignite during combustion.

As another example, the coal ash is a coal combustion by-product 242. The coal ash consists of fly ash (waste removed from the chimney) and bottom ash (from the boiler and combustion chamber). The coarse particles (bottom ash and / or boiler slag) sink to the bottom of the combustion chamber, and fine parts (ash ash) escape through the flue and are regenerated and recycled. Coal ash can include concentrates of many trace elements and heavy metals including Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V and Zn. The ash recovered after coal combustion may be useful as an additive for cement products, fillers for excavation or civil engineering, soil ameliorization agents, and other components of paints, plastics, coatings, adhesives, have.

As another example, sulfur is a coal combustion by-product 242. Sulfur of coal may be released during combustion as sulfur oxides or may remain in the coal ash by reaction with a basic oxide contained in the mineral impurities (a process known as sulfur self-retention). The most important basic oxides for sulfur self-preservation are CaO formed as a result of CaCO ₃ decomposition and combustion of calcium-containing organic compounds. Coal burning occurs in two successive stages: devolatilization and char combustion. During devolatilization, flammable sulfur is converted to SO ₂ . During char combustion, a process of SO ₂ formation, sulfation and CaSO ₄ decomposition occurs simultaneously.

In an embodiment, a variety of coal distillation products 244 can be obtained. The destructive distillation (244) of coal produces coal tar and coal gas in addition to metallurgical coke. The use for metallurgical coke and coal gas as a product of coal conversion has been discussed above. The third by-product, coal tar, has a variety of other commercial uses. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow the coal to be advantageously used in the production of the distillation byproduct 244 which is economically advantageous. Thus, the coal treated according to the systems and methods described herein may be more specifically designed for use in the production of useful distillation by-products 244.

Coal tar is an example of a coal distillation by-product 244. Coal tar is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon materials. The main component of coal tar is aromatic hydrocarbons of varying composition and volatility, from the simplest and most volatile (benzene) to the higher molecular weight multi-cyclic, non-volatile materials. The hydrocarbons of coal tar are mostly benzene-based, naphthalene-based, or anthracene- or phenanthrene-based. There may also be varying amounts of aliphatic hydrocarbons, paraffins and olefins. In addition, coal tar contains a small amount of simple phenols such as carbolic acid and cumarone. Sulfur compounds and nitrogenated organic compounds can also be found. Most nitrogen compounds in coal tar are basic in nature and belong to the pyridine and quinoline series, for example aniline.

In embodiments, the coal tar further undergoes fractional distillation to yield a number of useful organic chemicals including benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, anthracene, and phenanthrene. These materials can be named crude (crude) products. They can form a major component for the synthesis of various products such as dyes, drugs, seasonings, perfumes, synthetic resins, paints, preservatives, and explosives. After fractional distillation of crude tar crude product, the residue of pitch is left behind. This material may be used for purposes such as roofing, road paving, insulation, and waterproofing.

In embodiments, the coal tar can also be used in its natural state without fractional distillation. For example, coal tar can be heated to some extent to remove its volatile constituents before it is used. Natural coal tar can be used as a protection against paint, waterproofing or corrosion. Coal tar is also used as roofing material. Coal tar can burn as fuel, although it produces toxic gases during combustion. Burning tar produces a large amount of soot called lampblack. When soot is collected, it can be used to make carbon for electrochemistry, printing, dyes, and so on.

Referring to FIG. 2, the coal processed by the systems and methods described herein may be transported to shipping facility 214 or stored in storage facility 218. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics allow coal to be safely and efficiently transported and stored. Thus, the coal treated in accordance with the systems and methods described herein can be advantageously designed for coal shipping and storage facilities.

In an embodiment, the coal can be transported to where it is used in the mining area. Coal transport can be done at shipping facility 214. Before the coal is transported, the coal can be purified, classified and / or crushed to a certain size. In certain cases, the power plant may be located at or near the mine where coal is supplied to the power plant. For these facilities, coal can be transported by a conveyor or the like. However, in most cases power plants and other facilities that use coal are located remotely. The main method of transportation to facilities far from the mines is the railway. Barges and other ocean vessels may also be used. Highway transport of trucks is feasible, but not cost-effective, especially for driving over 50 miles. The coal slurry pipeline transports powder coal suspended in water. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the unique handling characteristics facilitate coal transport in the shipping facility 214. Thus, the treated coal according to the systems and methods described herein can be more specifically designed to facilitate transportation.

In an embodiment, the coal may be stored in the storage facility 218 at a location where the coal will be used or at a remote location, where the coal is transported from a remote location to a point of use. In embodiments such as the coal combustion facility 200 and other coal utilization plants, the coal may be stored on site. As an example, for the power station 204, 10% or more of the annual coal demand can be stored. However, overconsumption of stored coal may cause problems related to spontaneous combustion, loss of volatiles and loss of calorific value. Anthracite has less risk than other coal grades. For example, anthracite coal may not spontaneously ignite, and therefore may be stored in an unlimited amount per coal pile. On the other hand, bituminous coal can ignite spontaneously when placed in a sufficiently large pile and suffer disintegration.

Two types of changes can occur in stored coal. An inorganic material such as pyrite can be oxidized, and the organic matter of the coal itself can be oxidized. When the inorganic material is oxidized, the volume and / or weight of the coal may increase and the inorganic material may be decomposed. When the coal material itself is oxidized, the change may not be detected immediately. Oxidation of organic matter in coal involves oxidation of carbon and hydrogen in the coal and absorption of oxygen by unsaturated hydrocarbons and causes a change which may lead to a decrease in calorific value. These changes can also cause spontaneous combustion. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the unique characteristics of the coal will minimize harmful changes that may occur in the coal stored in the storage facility 218. Thus, the coal treated in accordance with the systems and methods described herein will be more specifically designed to allow safe storage of coal at the storage facility 218.

Now more detailed techniques exist for the individual components of a solid fuel treatment plant, its inputs, outputs and related methods and systems.

Coal is formed from plant material that is degraded without contact with air under the influence of moisture. There are two stages of coal formation. The first step is biological, where cellulose turns into peat. The second step is physico-chemical, where the peat turns into coal. The geological process that forms the coal is called coalification. As coalification progresses, the chemical composition of coal gradually changes to compounds of high carbon content and low hydrogen content, which can be found as aromatic ring structures.

The type or coal grade of the coal represents the degree of coalification that has occurred. Coal grades range from top to bottom, including anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and brown coal / lignite. With increasing coalification, the percentage of volatiles decreases and the calorific value increases. Thus, higher grade coal has less volatiles and higher calorific value. Generally, also with increasing grade, coal has less moisture, less oxygen and more fixed carbon, more sulfur and more ash. The term "dignity " distinguishes two coal types with regard to ash and sulfur content.

All coal contains minerals. These minerals are inorganic substances found in coal. An integrated mineral component of the coal material itself is called an included mineral. Mineral components separated from the coal matrix are called excluded minerals. Dislocated minerals may be dispersed among coal particles or unintentionally due to mining techniques that draw from adjacent mineral strata. Inorganic materials of coal are ash after coal combustion or coal deformation.

The unconjugated carbon of the coal is called the fixed carbon content. Certain amounts of total carbon combine with hydrogen to burn as hydrocarbons. This forms volatiles in the coal together with other gases that form when the coal is heated. Fixed carbon and volatile materials form combustible. Oxygen and nitrogen contained in the volatiles are included as part of the combustible, and the combustible is known as the amount of moisture and ashless coal. In addition to combustibles, coal includes a variety of minerals that form moisture and ash. The ash content of US coal may vary from approximately 3% to 30%. Moisture can vary from 0.75% to 45% of the total weight of the coal.

The large ash content in coal is undesirable because the ash reduces the calorific value of coal and blocks the furnace airway to prevent combustion. When coal has a high sulfur content, sulfur can combine with ash to form a fusible slag that can further interfere with effective combustion in the furnace. Moisture in the coal evaporates and absorbs heat and therefore reduces the furnace temperature, which can cause difficulties during combustion.

Although the techniques discussed herein have been applied for the illustrative purpose of using coal as a single fuel, the techniques may also include using coal in combination with other fuels, such as biomass or waste, techniques familiar to those skilled in the art It is also considered that it can be applied to use.

There are two basic methods of coal mining (102): surface mining and underground mining. Open-pit mining methods can include open-pit mining, contour mining, and open pit mining.

The open-pit coal mine can be covered with non-coal material called topsoil, and the topsoil can be removed before coal mining. Open-pit mining can be found in the plains, slope mining can take place in a cola seam along a hill or a mountain, and cascade mining can be at a depth of hundreds of feet and thick coal seams. Equipment used in open pit mining may include a dragline, a shovel, a bulldozer, a front-end loader, a bucket wheel excavator and a truck.

Methods for collecting coal from an underground coal mine 102 include three basic methods: room-and-pillar, long wall, and standard blasting and removal of coal . The main method of mining can consist of continuous demolition of the coal by the mining machine and regular transport of the coal by belt for removal. Behind the specified distance, the ceiling is supported and the process is repeated. Barrier mining can consist of a mining machine moving across a long continuous wall of coal while the coal is removed by a belt system. The ceiling can be supported by a steel beam, which is part of a barrier type mining machine. Standard blasting and removal mining methods can blast coal with explosives and then remove coal using standard equipment (eg belt systems, railways, tractors).

The coal mine 102 may be comprised of one or more coal layers, and the coal bed may be a continuous line of coal. The coal mine 102 may include a number of different coal types having a characteristic 110 within the coal mine and / or coal bed. Some of the defined coal types may include peat, lignite, athan, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite. The coal mine 102 can test the characteristics 110 of the coal in the light coal and / or coal bed. The characteristic (110) test may be by sampling, periodic, continuous or the like. The coal mine can test the coal in situ to determine coal characteristics (110), or send a sample of coal to an external test facility. The mining operations can classify the type of coal contained in the mine and examine the mine to determine where there is any type of coal within the mine. Several coal types can have a standard classification 110 by moisture content, minerals, and materials such as sulfur, ash, and metals. The percentage of moisture and other materials in the type of coal may affect the combustion characteristics and heating capability (BTU / lb) of the coal. Coal Mines (102) Operators are required to maintain a certain type of coal for supply to customers, to mine more acceptable types of coal on the market, to provide the most common coal to the market or customer, etc. , Coal can be selectively mined in coal mines. In one embodiment, coal with little moisture, such as bituminous and anthracite, can provide better combustion and heating characteristics.

In one embodiment, the coal mining facility 102 may include coal sizing, storage 104 and shipment 108 facilities for handling mined coal.

The coal size control facility can be used to make mined raw coal into more desirable forms and sizes of coal. The coal can be sized in the facility of the surface of the mine by means of a pulverizer, a coal crusher, a ball mill, a crusher and the like. Coal can be provided to the coal size control facility by belt systems, trucks, etc. from mines. Coal sizing may be on a continuous feed process to size the coal, or use a batch process.

The storage facility 104 may be used to temporarily store the raw material or rescale the coal from the coal sizing facility prior to shipping the coal to the customer. The storage facility 104 may include additional sorting equipment in which the raw or resized coal is further classified according to coal size. Storage facility 104 may be a building, a shed, a railroad vehicle, an open area, and the like.

The storage facility 104 may be connected to the shipping facility 108 adjacent to the coal transportation means. The shipment facility 108 may use railroad, truck, etc. to move coal from the coal mine 102 to the customer. The shipping facility 108 may use the conveyor belt 300, the truck, the loader, etc. separately or in combination to move the coal to the coal transport means. Depending on the size of the coal mine, the shipment facility 108 may consecutively load or ship coal on-demand.

The coal storage facility 112 may be a coal reseller for at least one remotely located coal source and may purchase and store various types of coal to resell to various customers. The source of coal to coal storage facility 112 may be coal mine 102 or other coal storage facility 112. The coal storage facility 112 can obtain and store multiple coal types at multiple remote sources of coal. In one embodiment, the coal storage facility 112 may store coal according to the coal type. Coal types include, but are not limited to, peat, lignite, athan, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite. The coal storage facility may include storage facility 114, shipping facility 118, or other facility for handling, storing and shipping coal. In one embodiment, the coal storage facility 112 may speculatively purchase coal from a mine located remotely for subsequent resale.

The coal storage facility 112 is capable of obtaining coal at a remotely located coal source; The coal type and characteristics 110 may be provided by a coal source. The storage facility 112 may also perform additional coal testing to verify the characteristics of the coal obtained or to further classify the coal; The coal storage facility 112 may store a sub-coal type for multiple coal customers. The sub-coal type may be a further classification of coal by coal characteristics (110). Storage facility 112 may have a coal testing facility on site or may use a standard coal testing laboratory.

The storage facility 114 may be used to store coal from a remotely located coal source prior to shipping the coal to the customer. The storage facility 114 may include additional sorting facilities in which the coal can be further classified by coal size or coal characteristics 110. Additional classification plants can be further sized using pulverizers, coal crushers, ball mills, mills, and the like. The storage facility 104 may be a building, a shed, a railroad car, an open area, and the like.

The storage facility 104 may be connected to the shipping facility 108 adjacent to the coal transportation means. The shipping facility 118 may use railways, trucks, etc. to move the coal from the storage facility 114 to the customer. The shipping facility 108 may use the conveyor belt 300, the truck, the loader, etc. separately or in combination to move the coal to the coal transport means. Depending on the size of the storage facility 112, the shipment facility 118 may either consecutively load or ship coal in an off-the-shelf process.

The coal sample data 120 may be a repository for the coal 110 classification data. The coal sample data 120 may be a database, a relational database, a table, a text file, an XML file, RSS, a flat file, etc., capable of storing the characteristics 110 of coal. The data may be stored in a computer device, which may include a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the coal characteristics (110) data may be shipped in paper hardcopy, electronic format, database, etc., along with coal shipment. When the coal characteristics are shipped to hardcopy paper, the characteristic data can be input into the appropriate coal sample data format of the computer device. In one embodiment, the coal characteristics 110 data may be sent by e-mail, FTP, Internet connection, WAN, LAN, P2P, etc. from the coal mine 102, coal storage facility 112, The coal sample data 120 may be maintained by a coal mine 102, a coal storage facility 112, an intake facility, or the like. The coal sample data 120 may be accessible on a network that may include the Internet.

The coal sample data 120 may include the name of the coal mine, the name of the storage facility, the end use of the coal, the desired properties, the possible final properties, the coal characteristics (e.g., moisture), the coal test facility used, Or in a dry state, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, proof of test equipment, proof of test date, and the like. In one embodiment, there may be at least one coal property test data and test date per coal sample.

In one embodiment, the coal characteristics stored in the coal sample data 120 may be provided by standard laboratories such as Standard Laboratories, South Charleston, West Virginia, USA. Standard laboratories have analyzed the percent ash, percent ash, percentage volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI), total mercury, ash melt temperature, , Electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. In one embodiment, standard laboratories can test as-is or dry coal. In one embodiment, the as-obtained test may be as the raw coal is obtained without any treatment. In one embodiment, the drying test can be post-processing coal to remove residual moisture. Standard laboratories have developed ASTM standard D 388 (Classification of Coal Classification), ASTM Standard D 2013 (Coal sample preparation method for analysis), ASTM Standard D 3180 (to estimate coal and coke Standard practice), and US Geological Survey Bulletin 1823 (sampling and analysis of coal).

In one embodiment, there may be at least one data record stored in the coal sample data for each coal shipment. There may be more than one data record if coal shipments are subjected to random or periodic checks during the mining, storage, or shipment process. In one embodiment, each test performed in coal shipments may have coal characteristics stored in coal sample data 120. The coal characteristic test can be performed according to the requirements of the coal mine 102, the storage facility 112, the intake facility, and the like.

The coal desired characteristics 122 may be a database of the treated coal combustion characteristics required by a particular coal use facility. The coal desired characteristics 122 may be a database, a relational database, a table, a text file, an XML file, an RSS, a flat file, etc., capable of storing desired combustion characteristics of coal for a specific coal using facility. The coal desired characteristics 122 data may be stored in a computer device, which may include a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like.

 In one embodiment, there may be at least one coal desired characteristic 122 data for a particular coal use facility. There may be coal desired characteristics 122 data for each type of coal obtained or stored by the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may obtain or store a variety of coal types that may include peat, lignite, athan, bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite. Each type of coal may have several desired properties 122 for the coal use facility and the desired property 122 may be based on the ability to change the acquired or stored coal characteristics 110. [ In one embodiment, the acquired or stored coal characteristics can be stored in the coal sample data 120.

The desired coal characteristics 122 include system capacity, coal size, type of process chamber, conveyor system size, conveyor system flow rate, electromagnetic frequency, electromagnetic power level, electromagnetic output power, The penetration depth, and the like. These parameter types and values may vary depending on the input coal characteristics. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 can know which coal type can be used by the coal-using facility, and an appropriate parameter is selected in the coal desired characterization 122 to determine the coal- Can be produced.

In one embodiment, to meet efficiency or environmental requirements, coal-using plants may require certain coal operating parameters such as BTU / lb, sulfur percent, percent ash, percent metal, and the like. The coal desired characteristics 122 may be based on these parameters; Maintaining these parameters may allow the coal utilization facility to meet the coal combustion exhaust gas requirements.

In one embodiment, the coal desired characteristics 122 may target specific coal combustion characteristics such as BTU / lb, moisture, sulfur, ash, and the like. In one embodiment, the specific coal combustion characteristics can be limited only by coal processing facility capabilities that measure coal treatment characteristics. For example, if the solid fuel treatment facility 132 is only capable of measuring moisture and sulfur emissions, the specific coal combustion characteristics of the target may include only the moisture and sulfur targets.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 (facility) can be used to change the quality of coal by removing non-coal products such as moisture, sulfur, ash, water, hydrogen, hydroxyl, etc., which may be part of the coal. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may use other means to remove microwave energy and / or non-coal products from the coal. The solid fuel processing facility 132 may include a plurality of devices, modules, facilities, computer devices, etc. for handling, moving, and processing coal. The solid fuel processing facility 132 may be modular, scalable, portable, fixed, or the like.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel processing plant 132 is a device, module, facility, computer, or other device designed to complete an individual unit that can be coupled to each other in a predetermined or non- Device or the like.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be expandable for both continuous flow and batch processes. For continuous flow, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may extend the input, processing chamber, output, etc. to meet the volume required for a particular installation. For example, the power plant may require a larger volume of treated coal than the metallurgical facility, and thus the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be expanded to process the desired volume of coal. Continuous flow processing of coal may include a chamber having a belt for transferring coal through a particular process. The chamber and belt system may be expanded to provide the required volume per hour for the facility.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel processing facility 132 may use a batch process and the batch processing chamber, input, output, etc. may be expanded for the volume of coal required to be processed. The batch processing of the coal may include a enclosed chamber capable of treating a certain degree of coal in each cycle.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be portable, with the ability to move between multiple facilities or to multiple locations within the facility. For example, a single entity may have multiple facilities that may require treated coal and may have a single solid fuel treatment facility 132 for treating the coal. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may consume a certain amount of time at each enterprise facility to provide stockpiles of treated coal prior to moving to the next enterprise facility. In another example, the storage facility 112 may have a single solid fuel processing facility 132 that is moved between various locations within the storage facility 112 for processing a plurality of coal types that may be stored in the storage facility 112 . In one embodiment, by being portable, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may also be modular allowing the facility 132 to be easily relocated.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be a fixed structure that remains in place at a particular facility. In one embodiment, the facility may require a volume of treated coal that requires a solid fuel treatment facility 132 to produce a continuous stream of treated coal. For example, a power plant may require a continuous volume of treated coal that may require a particular purpose solid fuel treatment facility 132. [

In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be in-line or off-line to the facility. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be in-line with a facility that provides a continuous flow of treated coal to the process within the coal-using facility. For example, the power plant may have a solid fuel treatment facility 132 that supplies steam directly to the boiler producing steam. The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be off-line from the facility by a coal treatment having an output to at least one storage location. For example, the power plant may have a solid fuel treatment facility 132 that reserves several types of coal as the coal is treated. The treated coal can then be fed to the conveyor belt 300 system to the power plant as needed.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 includes a plurality of devices, modules, facilities, computer devices and parameter generating facilities 128, input facilities 124, monitoring facilities 134, gas generating facilities 152, 154, the disposal facility 158, the treatment facility 160, the containment facility 162, the belt facility 130, the cooling facility 164, the discharge facility 168, the test facility 170, and the like have.

The parameter generation facility 128 may be a computer device such as a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. The parameter generation facility 128 may generate operational parameters and provide them to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 for the treatment of the acquired or stored coal. The parameter generation facility 128 may be able to estimate and store operating parameters for the facility. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may generate operational parameters using data from both the coal sample data 120 and the coal desired characteristics 122. [ In one embodiment, the coal sample data 120 and the coal desired characteristics 122 information may be available by LAN, WAN, P2P, CD, DVD, flash memory, and the like.

In one embodiment, the coal to be treated by the facility 132 may be identified by the operator of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. In one embodiment, the coal can be identified by type, batch number, test number, identification number, and the like. The parameter generating facility 128 may access the coal test information stored in the coal sample data 120 and the coal desired characteristics 122 data for the identified coal. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may retrieve test data for coal obtained or stored from the coal sample data 120. In one embodiment, the parameter generating facility 128 may retrieve the desired treated coal characteristics from the coal desired feature 122. [ In one embodiment, there may be a set of at least one desired treated coal characteristic for each acquired or stored coal test data. Where there may be a set of one or more data available for coal test data and coal desired characteristics, the parameter generating facility may average the data, use recent data, use initial data, use statistical values of the data , And so on.

In one embodiment, based on the coal test information and the desired treated coal characteristics, the parameter generating facility may determine initial operating parameters for the facility. The operating parameters may be used to set various devices and facilities of the solid fuel treatment plant 132 to produce coal desired characteristics. The parameters determined in the parameter generation facility 128 include the following parameters: belt speed, coal volume per hour, microwave frequency, microwave power, coal surface temperature, sensor reading, airflow rate, inert gas usage, feed rate, Preheating time, cooling rate, and the like. In one embodiment, all parameters that may be required by the installation to process the desired coal may be determined by the parameter generating facility.

In one embodiment, the microwave frequency parameter may be a single frequency, a phased frequency (e.g., transition from one frequency to another), a frequency for multiple microwaves, a continuous frequency, a pulsed frequency, Pulsing frequency duty cycle, and so on.

In one embodiment, the microwave output parameters include a plurality of microwave output parameters, which may include continuous power, pulsed output, phaseed output (e.g., transition from one output to another), output to multiple microwaves, You can have settings.

In one embodiment, depending on the coal type and the non-coal product removed from the coal, the coal surface temperature can be monitored. The parameter generation facility 128 may determine the coal surface temperature to be monitored during coal processing. In one embodiment, various coal surface temperatures may be required several times in a coal treatment process to remove non-coal products. For example, while some temperatures may be required to remove moisture from the coal, other temperatures may be required to remove sulfur from the coal. Therefore, the parameter generating facility can determine a large number of coal surface temperatures to be monitored during the coal processing process. In one embodiment, a variety of coal surface temperature parameters can be provided in the sensor facility, and the sensed temperature can range from ambient temperature to 250 &lt; 0 &gt; C. In one embodiment, the coal can be heated to a specific internal temperature and surface temperature due to the heating of the non-coal product by the microwave energy of the microwave system 148.

The input facility 124 may receive coal from the coal mine 102 or coal storage facility 112 to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 and the coal storage facility 112 may receive coal from the same location as the solid fuel treatment facility 132 Or may be at a remote location in the coal storage facility 112. The input facility 124 may include a dust collection facility, a sizing and sorting facility, an input portion, a transition portion, an adapter portion, and the like. In one embodiment, the input facility is capable of controlling the volume of coal entering the belt 130 for processing, for example the input facility may limit or open the entryway, through the input facility, It is possible to control the volume of coal.

The coal may be provided to the input facility 124 by means of a conveyor belt system 300, a truck, a front loader, a back loader, and the like.

In one embodiment, the act of injecting coal into the input facility 124 may produce an unacceptable amount of coal dust, and thus a dust collection facility may be provided. In one embodiment, the coal dust can be collected into a vessel and removed from the input facility.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 can more efficiently process the coal when uniformly sized coal is fed to the belt 130; Constant coal size can optimize microwave heating of coal. The input facility 124 can select or size coal that comes in various sizes. In one embodiment, there may be multiple belts for treating coal of various sizes. In order to bypass the coal to other belts, the coal can be sorted using sorting grate, different heights of entry, and the like.

In one embodiment, the input facility 124 may move coal from the input source to the belt 130 using a number of portions that may include an input portion, a transition portion, an adapter portion, and the like. In one embodiment, the input portion can receive the raw coal with input equipment; This portion may be large enough to provide a buffer of coal to prevent coal overflow or depletion of coal. In one embodiment, the transition portion can be a channel or duct that moves the coal from the input portion to the adapter portion; This portion can be tapered to suitably fit the different sizes of the input portion and the adapter portion. In one embodiment, the adapter portion is capable of transferring coal from the transfer portion to the processing belt 130; The outlet of this section may be the same size as the belt.

In one embodiment, if there is coal sorting or scaling, there may be more than one input portion, transition portion, and adapter portion.

The monitoring facility 134 may monitor a variety of equipment, systems, and sensors of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The monitoring facility 134 may obtain the information and provide it to sensors, controllers, processing facilities, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility can make in-process adjustments to the coal treatment process based on input from various sensors and equipment, for example, monitors can monitor moisture levels to determine if an appropriate amount of moisture is removed from the coal Information from sensors and weight sensors is available; The operating parameters may be adjusted based on the information.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may change plant operating parameters to adjust the treatment of the coal in the solid fuel treatment plant 132. In one embodiment, a change in operating parameters may be applied to other equipment that may include the belt controller 144, the processing facility 160, the containment facility 162, the feedback facility 174, the fire prevention facility 154, Can be provided.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may include a computing device such as a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 can communicate with various facilities and sensors using LAN, WAN, P2P, CD, DVD, flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility may use an algorithm to determine a change in the operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132.

The anti-fouling facility 154 may be a source of gas to prevent the ignition of coal during the coal treatment process. Due to the heating of the non-coal product, the coal treatment process can heat the coal to a temperature close to the coal ignition temperature to remove the non-coal product. In order to prevent the early ignition of coal during the coal treatment process, an inert gas may be used to supply an inert gas atmosphere to the coal treatment chamber. The inert gas may include nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Nitrogen and argon may be the most common inert gases used to provide non-combustion gas atmospheres.

The inert gas may be supplied to the ignition prevention equipment 154 by means of a transport pipe, a truck / tanker, a gas production in the field, and the like. In one embodiment, when a truck / tanker supply system is used, the gas supply may be provided by the truck / tanker to the on-site gas storage tank, or the truck may leave the tanker trailer used as a temporary gas storage tank have.

In one embodiment, the inert gas from the anti-fouling facility 154 may be used with an air atmosphere, or it may be the entire atmosphere in a coal processing chamber.

In order to supply nitrogen to the fire protection facility 154, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may use an on-site nitrogen production facility 152 to produce the required nitrogen for the coal processing chamber. In one embodiment, nitrogen can be produced using a commercially available pressure-cycled adsorption (PSA) process. The gas generating facility can be suitably sized to produce the required volume of nitrogen for the solid fuel processing facility 132.

The incoming power 180 may be a power connection to a power grid used to power the solid fuel treatment plant 132; The required power for the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may include a microwave system 148. The incoming power may be from a power grid outside the facility, or from the grid inside the facility if the facility is a generation facility.

The high pressure input power transmission facility 182 may provide adequate power stepping to supply the appropriate power level required by the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The high pressure input transmission facility can receive the incoming power 180 at a very high pressure that needs to be depressed to be used in the facility 182. [ In one embodiment, the high voltage input power supply arrangement 182 may include the required components and equipment to step the supplied power to the appropriate power level for the solid fuel treatment plant 132. The high pressure input transmission facility may provide a transmission line to the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to connect the solid fuel treatment facility 132 with the incoming power 180.

The belt facility 130 is capable of transporting coal through a coal treatment process for the removal of non-coal products; Transport of coal can be continuous supply. The belt facility 130 is capable of receiving coal at the input facility 124 and transporting the coal through at least one coal processing process and delivering the treated coal to the cooling facility 164. In one embodiment, the belt facility 130 may include a conveyor, a plurality of individual coal holding buckets, or other transport equipment such as other holding devices for moving coal through at least one coal treatment process . The transport facility can be made of materials designed for the temperature of the treated coal, such as metal, high temperature plastics, and the like.

The belt facility 130 may include a preheating facility 138, a parameter control system 140, a sensor system 142, a removal system 150, a controller 144, a microwave / radio wave system 148, May include a plurality of facilities and systems. All individual equipment and systems may be coordinated to process the coal during the treatment process, using the operating parameters of the parameter generating facility 128 and / or the monitoring facility 134. The belt facility 130 may be capable of operating parameter adjustment during the coal processing process; Adjustment of the operating parameters can be done manually by the operator monitoring the process, or automatically in real time by the controller 144.

In one embodiment, the belt facility 130 may be an enclosure around the transportation facility; The enclosure may be considered as a chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber may include a coal treatment process, a chamber gas environment, a sensor, a non-coal product removal system 150, dust suppression, and the like. The chamber can support all input and output of the coal processing process such as gas environment input, non-coal product output, coal dust output, coal input, and coal output.

In one embodiment, the transport facility may be capable of varying speeds in response to operational parameters. For example, the transport facility can be operated at low speeds when large volumes of coal are processed immediately or when the coal is a less type of coal (e.g., peat) containing a large percentage of non-coal products . The transport facility can be operated more slowly to allow a longer time in the microwave generator. The transport equipment can move at a constant speed, or the speed can vary at various locations in the process. For example, transport equipment moves slowly in a microwave generator, but can move quickly between microwave generators. Coal can be placed in a transport facility so that there is space between the coals, which allows the transport facility to move the coal through the coal processing process in coordinated stages. For example, coal can be placed at equal intervals, such as a microwave generator, which allows the coal to be staged in each microwave generator during the process.

In one embodiment, the transportation facility operation and speed can be matched to the operation of the microwave generator. Transport equipment can speed up or down depending on the operation of the microwave generator.

In one embodiment, the transportation facility operation can be controlled by the operating parameters determined by the parameter generating facility 128 and the monitored or calibrated operating parameters of the monitoring facility 134.

The controller 144 may be a computer device capable of applying operating parameters from the parameter generating facility 128 and the monitoring facility 134 to the coal processing process. In one embodiment, controller 144 may include a computer device such as a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the controller 144 is capable of communicating with various facilities and sensors using LAN, WAN, P2P, CD, DVD, flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the position of the controller 144 with respect to the coal processing chamber may not be critical; The controller 144 may be located anywhere along the input, output, or coal processing chambers. When the controller 144 is to be supervised and controlled by the operator, the controller may be placed in a position that allows the operator to view a crucial portion of the coal processing process or the coal processing process sensor.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may apply the operating parameters at least to a transport facility, airflow control, inert gas, microwave frequency, microwave output, preheat temperature, and the like.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may control the frequency of the at least one microwave system 148. The microwave system 148 may be controlled to provide a single frequency or pulsed frequency. When at least one microwave system 148 is in the belt facility 130, the controller 144 may provide operating parameters to the one or more microwave facilities 148; One or more microwave installations can operate at multiple frequencies.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may control the output of the at least one microwave system 148. The microwave system 148 may be controlled to provide a single output or a pulsed output. When one or more microwave systems 148 are in the belt facility 130, the controller 144 may provide operating parameters to the one or more microwave facilities 148; One or more microwave installations can operate at multiple outputs.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may control the belt facility 130 processing environment, which may include airflow, inert gas flow, hydrogen flow, static pressure, negative pressure, vacuum level, and the like. The airflow at the facility 130 may include providing dry air, inert gas, hydrogen, and pressure changes to control the gas released from the coal. In one embodiment, dry air can be used to promote moisture reduction of the coal in the belt plant. In one embodiment, the inert gas may be used to inhibit coal ignition during high coal temperatures; An inert gas may also be used to prevent other oxidation processes. In one embodiment, hydrogen may be used during the sulfur reduction process. In one embodiment, the pressure at the belt facility 130 may be used to remove them as the non-coal product is released from the coal to the gas.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may be a commercially available mechanical controller, or it may be a custom designed controller for the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, the controller is able to obtain operational status feedback in the systems and equipment of the belt facility 130. The feedback can be the current setting, the actual operating parameter, the percentage of performance, etc.; Feedback can be visualized in any computer device connected to the controller 144 or the controller 144.

In one embodiment, the controller may have an override control that allows the operator to manually change operating parameters of the at least one coal processing process. A manual change of operating parameters can be regarded as an override or a complete manual control of the coal processing process.

In the embodiment, the processing time (over the course of the coal passing through the microwave) is typically 5 seconds, depending on the size and configuration of the belt installation 130, the available microwave system 148 output, and the volume of coal to be treated To 45 minutes. Small volumes may require short processing times.

The preheating facility 138 may heat the coal prior to reaching the microwave system 148. Preheating can be heating the coal to remove external moisture from the coal. Excessive external moisture removal removes moisture that absorbs the microwave energy, making it easier for the microwave system 148 to remove internal non-coal products.

In one embodiment, the coal may be preheated using thermal radiation, infrared radiation, etc., which may be powered by electricity, gas, oil, or the like.

In one embodiment, the preheating facility 138 may be internal to the belt facility 130, or may be external and in front of the belt facility 130.

In one embodiment, the preheating facility may use an air environment, such as dry air, that may aid in the removal of moisture. The air environment can flow through the preheating facility to help dry the coal.

In one embodiment, the preheating facility 138 may be a collection facility for collecting the removed moisture.

A microwave / radio wave system (microwave system) 148 may provide electromagnetic energy to the coal of the belt facility 130 for removal of non-coal products. The non-coal product may be water, sulfur, ash, metal, water, hydrogen, hydroxyl, and the like. The non-coal product can be removed from the coal by heating the non-coal product to a temperature that releases the non-coal product from the coal using microwave energy. The release can occur when there is a phase change of the material from solid to liquid, from liquid to gas, from solid to gas, or any other phase change that can allow non-coal products to be released from the coal.

In one embodiment, various non-coal products can be released from coal at various temperatures; The surface temperature of the coal may range from 70 to 250 ° C. In one embodiment, the water can be released at the lower end of this scale, whereas sulfur can be released at 130 to 240 캜; The ash can be released between the temperature of water and sulfur, and can be released with water and / or sulfur. In one embodiment, the coal can be heated to a specific internal temperature and surface temperature due to heating of the non-coal product by the microwave energy of the microwave system 148.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 electromagnetic energy may be generated by an apparatus such as a magnetron, klystron, gyrotron, or the like. In one embodiment, there may be at least one microwave system 148 in the belt facility 130. In embodiments, there may be at least one microwave system 148 in the belt facility 130.

In the belt assembly 130 with one or more microwave systems 148, the microwave system 148 may be in a parallel orientation to the transport system, a series orientation, or a combination of a series of forces and forces.

The parallel microwave system 148 orientation may have one or more microwave system 148 set up on one or both of the belt fixtures 130. In one embodiment, one or more of the microwave systems 148 can be set up on both sides of the belt assembly 130 in groups. For example, there may be N microwave systems 148 on either side of the N / 2 belt facility 130 at certain locations along the belt facility 130. Such a configuration may allow more microwave power to be applied to a particular location in the belt facility, allow multiple levels of microwave power to be applied within a particular location, and use one or more small microwave systems to achieve the desired output , Allow for an increase or decrease in microwave power at a particular location, permit a pulsed microwave output, permit a continuous microwave output, allow a combination of pulse and continuous microwave output , And so on. In one embodiment, the one or more parallel microwave systems 148 can be controlled independently or as a single unit.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the parallel microwave system 148 may be controlled to provide microwave energy at various output, frequency, power combination, or frequency combinations that meet the processing requirements of the coal.

The orientation of the series microwave system 148 may have one or more microwave system 148 setup along the length of the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, each individual microwave system 148 setup can be viewed as a station or processing element of the overall coal processing process. In one embodiment, there may be one or more single or grouped microwave systems 148 at one or more locations along the length of the belt facility 130. Between the series microwave systems 148, there may be intervals that allow other processes to be performed between the series microwave systems 148. The serial microwave system 148 may allow different microwave frequencies to be applied to different locations, different microwave outputs to different locations, different microwave duty cycles (pulses or continuous) being applied to different locations, and so on.

In one embodiment, the spacing between the microwave systems 148 is selected for location to complete non-coal product removal, coal cooling, non-coal product release process, coal treatment, coal metering, And the like can be pre-performed.

In one embodiment, one or more of the series microwave systems 148 may have an extra single or group of microwave systems that can repeat the specific treatment process, if desired. For example, one microwave station can apply microwave power to remove moisture from coal, followed by a coal metering station to determine the amount of moisture removed. Depending on the coal weight, it can be determined that still moisture remains in the coal, and the extra microwave system 148 can be in the next position where the micromanage output can be reapplied to remove residual moisture. In one embodiment, the extra microwave system 148 may or may not be used to further process the coal. In one embodiment, the extra microwave system 148 may repeat the same process as the prior microwave system 148, or may be used for other processes after the prior microwave system 148.

In another example, the moisture sensor can determine whether moisture is still being released from the coal, and a second extra microwave process can be applied to the coal. In one embodiment, the controller can determine whether the microwave process is repeated.

In one embodiment, the output of the microwave system 148 may be pulsed or continuous. In order to control the microwave energy applied to the coal, the microwave energy output can be pulsed at regular time intervals at a constant frequency. In one embodiment, the microwave power per source may be at least 15 kW at frequencies below 928 MHz, and in other embodiments at least 75 kW at frequencies above 902 MHz.

In one embodiment, the lower frequency of the microwave energy can penetrate deeper into the coal than the higher frequency. The microwave system 148 may generate a frequency output of 100 MHz to 20 GHz. Other frequencies of wave energy may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

As discussed above, the microwave system 148 may be set up as coordinated steps. For example, the coal in the belt facility 130 may be laid out at equal intervals, such as the microwave system 148, which may allow the coal to be stepped in each microwave generator during the coal treatment process. In one embodiment, there may be advantages of coal processing in changing the speed of the belt at each microwave system 148 station for processing of coal. In one embodiment, this may be a method of batch processing in the continuous belt facility 130.

In the embodiment, the processing time (over the course of the coal passing through the microwave) is typically 5 seconds (depending on the size and configuration of the belt facility 130, the available microwave system 148 output, and the volume of coal to be treated) To 45 minutes. Small volumes may require short processing times.

In one embodiment, with 100% efficiency, 1 kW of electromagnetic energy can vaporize 3.05 lbs of water per hour at ambient temperature. For a well-designed electromagnetic-radiation system, 98% of energy can be absorbed and converted to heat. For example, the applied 1 kW of electromagnetic energy requires approximately 1.15 kW of electricity and evaporates 2.989 lb of water; This may require 61.6 kW of electricity per 160 pounds of water to be removed.

The parameter control facility 140 may receive the sensor information and provide sensor information to the controller 144 as feedback. In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 may include a computing device such as a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 is capable of communicating with various facilities and sensors using a LAN, WAN, P2P, CD, DVD, flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 may include an interface for receiving signals from various solid fuel processing facility 132 sensors. The interface may be either analog or digital from the sensor. For analog data, the parameter control facility 140 interface may use an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert analog signals to digital data for data storage.

In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 includes sensors that may include belt equipment 130 airflow, belt speed, temperature, microwave power, microwave frequency, inert gas level, moisture level, ash level, You can interface. The measured temperature may be both the coal temperature or the chamber temperature during processing; The chamber temperature may be an indicator of whether a fire occurs in the chamber.

In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 may include internal memory, such as RAM, CD, DVD, flash memory, etc., which may store sensor readings. The parameter control facility 140 may store the sensor information and provide real time feedback to the controller 144 or other storage / feedback means. In one embodiment, the parameter control facility 140 may collect sensor readings and provide stored data feedback to the controller 144. The collected sensor readings can be used to provide the controller 144 with a historical average sensor readout, a time period sensor readout, a histogram of sensor readout over time, a real time sensor readout, have.

In one embodiment, the sensor data collected by the parameter control facility 140 may be visualized at any computer device connected to the parameter control facility 140 or the parameter control facility 144.

The belt facility 130 sensor 142 may provide coal processing process data to the parameter control facility 140 and the controller 144. The data for the coal treatment process from the sensor may include water vapor, ash, sulfur, microwave power, microwave frequency, coal surface temperature, coal weight, microwave emission, air flow measurement, In one embodiment, the sensor may be an analog or digital measurement device.

In one embodiment, the water vapor in the belt facility 130 can be measured by a moisture analyzer. The moisture analyzer may be placed relative to the microwave system 148 to measure water vapor emitted from the process coal. In one embodiment, the coal processing can continue until the level of measured water vapor reaches a predetermined level. Water vapor levels can be measured as percent of water, parts per million, parts per billion, or other vapor measurement scales.

In one embodiment, both ash and sulfur can be measured by a chemical signature level analyzer. There may be separate chemical signal level analyzers for ash and sulfur. In one embodiment, the coal processing can continue until the measured ash and sulfur levels reach a predetermined level.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 output and frequency output can be compared to a set level and measured as an actual level.

In one embodiment, the coal surface temperature can be measured by a sensor such as an infrared temperature sensor or a thermometer. The temperature sensor can be placed in relation to the coal treatment process to measure the coal surface temperature during and after the coal treatment: the coal treatment process can be heating or cooling. In one embodiment, the coal processing may continue until the measured coal surface temperature reaches a predetermined level. In one embodiment, the coal can be heated to specific interior and surface temperatures due to heating of the non-coal product by the microwave energy of the microwave system 148.

In one embodiment, the coal weight can be measured using commercially available scales. The coal weight can be used to determine the removal of non-coal product from the coal. In one embodiment, the coal can be measured before and after the treatment station to determine the reduced weight of the coal. The coal weight delta may be an indicator of the percentage of non-coal product released from the coal. In one embodiment, the weight can be determined in real time as the coal passes the weight scale.

In one embodiment, the microwave emission from the belt facility 130 can be measured as a safety mark. The microwave emission sensor may be a standard commercially available sensor. In one embodiment, there may be safety or environmental reasons to ensure that microwave emissions beyond a predetermined level are not measured outside the belt facility 130.

In one embodiment, the actual belt facility 130 airflow can be measured for comparison with the required airflow. Air flow can be measured as velocity, direction, inlet pressure, outlet pressure, and so on.

In one embodiment, the belt facility 130 chamber temperature can be measured using a standard temperature sensor. The chamber temperature can be measured as a safety feature for detecting a chamber file.

The removal system 150 may remove non-coal products from the belt facility 130 when the non-coal product is discharged from the treated coal. The non-coal product may be released as a gas or liquid in coal. Removal system 150 can remove gas towards a collection duct that can be collected and processed by air movement. The removal system 150 may use a positive or negative pressure of air to remove gas from the belt facility 130. The static pressure system can draw gas into the collection area while the negative pressure system can pull the gas into the collection area. The removal system 150 may collect liquid in the collection area at the bottom of the belt facility 130.

In one embodiment, some of the non-coal product may be collected as both gas and liquid (e.g., water). In one embodiment, as steam is released from the coal, some of the steam can be captured by the degassing system. Depending on the amount and rate of water vapor removal from the coal, the water vapor can condense into liquid water on the wall of the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, the condensed water can be forced to flow down the wall and into the liquid collection zone with the flow of air.

In one embodiment, depending on the coal temperature, the sulfur may behave like water as it is released as a gas or liquid.

In one embodiment, ash can be removed with moisture or sulfur.

In one embodiment, the gas collection can collect a single type of gas or a variety of gases that are released from the treated coal. Depending on the location in the belt plant and the temperature of the coal, at least one gas may be released from the coal. Depending on the coal temperature, the gas released at a particular location in the belt plant may be a specific type of gas. For example, at a location where the coal has a temperature of 70 to 100 캜, the gas may be substantially water vapor, and at a location where the coal temperature is 160 to 240 캜, the gas may be substantially sulfur vapor.

In one embodiment, the liquid collection can collect a single type of liquid, which is released from the treated coal, or can collect a variety of liquids. Depending on the location in the belt plant and the process temperature of the coal, at least one liquid may be released from the coal.

The containment facility 162 may obtain gas and liquid non-coal products from the belt facility 130 removal system 150. The removed non-coal product may include water, sulfur, coal dust, ash, hydrogen, hydroxyl, and the like.

In one embodiment, the containment facility 162 may have a liquid containment tank for receiving liquid removed from the belt facility 130; There may be multiple liquid containment tanks. In one embodiment, the liquid containment tank may include one or more liquids depending on where the liquid is removed from the belt facility. In one embodiment, there may be several liquid containment tanks located at various locations in the belt facility 130 for collection of liquids.

In one embodiment, the containment facility 162 may have a gas containment tank for receiving gas to be removed from the belt facility 130; There can be multiple gas containment tanks. In one embodiment, the gas containment tanks may include one or more gases depending on where the gas is removed from the belt installation. In one embodiment, there may be several gas containment tanks located at various locations in the belt facility 130 for gas collection.

In one embodiment, the containment facility may also include a shield for retaining microwave energy in the belt facility 130.

The treatment facility 160 can receive gas and liquid from the containment facility 162 and separate the gas and liquid into separate gases and liquids for disposal.

In one embodiment, the non-coal product is subjected to a process that may include sedimentation, flocculation, centrifugation, filtration, distillation, chromatography, electrophoresis, extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, precipitation, fractional freezing, sieving, Can be used.

In one embodiment, after the gas and liquid are separated, the gas and liquid may be stored in separate containers or tanks.

The disposal facility 158 may obtain the customized gas and liquid from the treatment facility 160 for disposal. In one embodiment, the disposal of gas and liquid may include disposal at landfills, sale of gas and liquids to other businesses, and release of non-toxic gases (such as water vapor). In one embodiment, the other company may be a company that uses personalized gas or liquid directly, or may be a company that further refines gas or liquid for resale.

The disposal facility 158 may be connected to the shipment facility by rail, truck, or pipeline for individualized gas and liquid removal.

The disposal facility 158 may include a temporary storage tank that may allow temporary storage of gas and liquid to a commercial economical volume for shipment. In one embodiment, the temporary storage tank may be located near or at a remote location.

The cooling facility 164 may be located after the belt facility 130 and may provide a controlled atmosphere for controlled cooling of the treated coal. In one embodiment, the cooling facility may be integrated into the belt facility 130, or it may be a separate facility at the exit of the belt facility; Figure 1 shows a cooling facility as a separate facility.

In one embodiment, the cooling facility 164 can control the cooling rate of the coal and control the atmosphere to prevent re-absorption of water as the coal is cooled from the treatment process. In one embodiment, the cooling facility 164 may have a transport system, which may be comprised of a conveyor belt 300 enclosed by an enclosure, a plurality of individual containers, or the like, capable of creating a cooling chamber.

In one embodiment, the controlled cooling process may include progressive air cooling to ambient temperature, natural cooling in a controlled atmosphere, forced cooling with dry air, forced cooling with inert gas, and the like. In one embodiment, the transport system may be varied to maintain an appropriate cooling rate. In one embodiment, there may be a sensor system for monitoring gas, coal temperature, belt speed, and the like. The sensor data may be obtained from the cooling facility 164 controller or may use the belt 130 controller 144; The controller may provide operational parameters of the cooling facility 164.

In one embodiment, the controlled atmosphere may be dry air or an inert gas.

The discharge facility 168 may move the final cooled treated coal to a location away from the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, the discharge facility 168 may include a transport system, a dust collection facility, an input portion, a transition portion, and an adapter portion. In one embodiment, the discharge facility may provide completed coal to a bin, rail vehicle, storage location, provide it directly to the processing facility, and so on.

In one embodiment, the input portion can receive processed coal from the cooling facility, the inlet end can be scaled to fit the incoming cooling system 164 transport system, and the outlet end is fitted to the transition portion Can be resized.

In one embodiment, the transition portion can be a channel that directs the treated coal to the adapter; The transition portion may include a transport system.

In one embodiment, the adapter portion may be sized to fit the transition portion and may be required in the form of an output position (e.g., railroad car, storage, facility).

In one embodiment, the discharge facility 168 can output to at least one location. In one embodiment, there may be more than one discharge facility 168 per belt facility 130 that supplies at least one output location.

The test facility 170 may take a sample of the final treated coal and perform a standard test on the coal sample to determine if the final treated coal characteristics match the coal desired characteristics 122. [ In one embodiment, the test facility may be short-range or long-range at facility 132.

In one embodiment, the standard tests include ASTM Standard D 388 (Classification by Coal Classification), ASTM Standard D 2013 (Coal Sample Preparation Method for Analysis), ASTM Standard D 3180 (from the measured state to other standards coal and coke Standard practice to estimate the analysis), US Geological Survey Bulletin 1823 (coal sampling and weapons analysis method), and the like. Standard tests include analysis of percent ash, percentage of ash, percent volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI), total mercury, ash melt temperature, , Electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like.

In one embodiment, there may be a periodic sample taken from the final treated coal, there may be an initial sample and a final sample, there may be one sample, or the like. In one embodiment, all selected samples may not be tested and the statistical sample rate may be used for all samples from the final treated coal, using additional testing based on the results of the statistical sample. Those who are knowledgeable in statistical sampling can understand the number of samples to be tested according to the test results and the various parameters of back tracking to other samples.

In one embodiment, the final treated coal may not be used until the coal sample test indicates the characteristics of the final treated coal acceptable.

The coal output parameter 172 may be a storage location for classification (110) information for the final treated coal. The coal output parameter 172 may be a database, a relational database, a table, a text file, an XML file, an RSS, a flat file, etc., which can store the final processed coal characteristics. The data may be stored in a computer device, which may include a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the final processed coal characterization data may be sent in a coal output parameter 172 to a paper hardcopy, electronic media form, database, or the like. If the final processed coal characteristics are shipped to paper hardcopy, the characteristic data may be entered in the appropriate coal output parameter 172 format of the computer device. In one embodiment, the final processed coal characterization data can be sent from the test facility 170 via email, FTP, Internet connection, WAN, LAN, P2P, and the like. The coal output parameters 172 may be accessible on a network that may include the Internet.

The test facility 170 is configured to measure the percent of the total amount of mercury in the test facility 170 in terms of percent moisture, percent ash, percent volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, Coal characteristics that can include ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like.

In one embodiment, there may be at least one data record stored in the coal output parameter 172 for each final processed coal. If the final treated coal has undergone a random or periodic check during the treatment process, there may be more than one data record. In one embodiment, each test performed on the final treated coal may have coal characteristics stored in a coal output parameter 172.

The feedback facility 174 may compare the final treated coal characteristics to the coal desired characteristics 122 to determine if the final treated coal is within the tolerance of the desired characteristics. The feedback facility may be a computer device that may include a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like.

In one embodiment, the feedback facility 174 can maintain the tolerance of coal characteristics that can be considered as acceptable final treated coal. Tolerances can be stored in databases, relational databases, tables, text files, XML files, RSS, flat files, etc., which can store the properties of the final processed coal. In one embodiment, the feedback facility 174 may be coupled to a network that may include an Internet connection, a WAN, a LAN, a P2P, and the like. In one embodiment, the feedback facility 174 may compare the final treated coal characteristics to the coal desired characteristics 122 to determine the final processed coal's acceptability.

In one embodiment, a change in operating parameters may occur by the monitoring facility 134 if the final treated coal is outside an acceptable tolerance.

In one embodiment, a report may be generated if the final treated coal is outside an acceptable tolerance; The report may be available for any computer device connected to the feedback facility network.

The pricing / transaction facility (transaction facility) 178 may determine the final price of the final processed coal. The transaction facility 178 may be a computer device that may include a server, a web server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a microcomputer, a PDA, a flash memory, and the like. In one embodiment, the transaction facility 178 may be connected to a network that may include an Internet connection, a WAN, a LAN, a P2P, and the like.

In one embodiment, the transaction facility is able to obtain raw coal costs and operating costs of the plant 132 to determine the final cost of the processed coal. The operating cost of the plant 132 may be collected during processing of the treated coal; Coal can be identified by type, batch number, test number, identification number, and so on. In one embodiment, the operating cost of the facility 132 may be recorded for all operations of coal identification. Operating costs may include the cost of electricity, inert gas used, coal used, disposal fees, test costs, and so on.

In one embodiment, a transaction report may be available for any computer device connected to the feedback facility network.

The coal combustion 200 includes the presence of oxygen and the combustion of coal at high temperatures to generate light and heat. Coal must be heated to its ignition temperature before combustion occurs. The ignition temperature of coal is the ignition temperature of the fixed carbon contained in coal. The ignition temperature of the volatile components of coal is higher than the ignition temperature of the fixed carbon. Thus, the gaseous products are distilled out during combustion. When combustion begins, the heat generated by the oxidation of the combustible carbon can maintain a temperature high enough to sustain combustion under suitable conditions. Direct coal combustion can be performed, for example, using a fixed bed 220 or a stoker combustor, a pulverized coal combustor 222, a fluidized bed combustor 224, and the like.

The fixed bed (220) system has been used in small coal fired boilers over a century. Fixed bed systems can use a lump coal feed with particle sizes ranging from about 1-5 cm. The coal is heated as it enters the furnace, and moisture and volatiles escape. As the coal moves into the area where the coal is to be ignited, the temperature in the coal layer rises. There are a number of different types including static grate, underfeed stoker, chain grate, traveling grate, and spreader stoker system. Chain type and movable grate furnace have similar characteristics. While the air passes through the layers of grate and coal, the coal is fed to a moving grate or chain. In a spreader, the coal is thrown into the furnace on a grate with a high speed rotor to distribute the fuel more evenly. The stoker furnace is typically characterized by a flame temperature of 1200-1300 ° C and a considerably longer residence time.

The combustion in the fixed bed 220 system is relatively irregular, so there may be intermittent exhaustion of CO, NOx and volatiles during the combustion process. The combustion chemistry and temperature can vary substantially across the combustion grate. The exhaust of SO ₂ will depend on the sulfur content of the feed coal. Residual ash will have a high carbon content (4-5%) due to relatively inefficient combustion and limited contact of carbon and oxygen contained in the coal.

A pulverized coal combustion ("PCC") 222 is the most commonly used combustion method for a coal fired power plant 204. Before use, coal may be pulverized (finely pulverized) into fine powder. The pulverized coal is blown into the boiler through a series of burner nozzles as part of the air for combustion. Secondary or tertiary air can also be added. The unit operates at near atmospheric pressure. Combustion occurs at temperatures of 1300-1700 ° C, depending on the coal grade. For bituminous coal, the combustion temperature is fixed at 1500-1700 ° C. For lower grade coal, the range is 1300-1600 ℃. The particle size of the coal used in the pulverized coal process is in the range of about 10-100 microns. The particle residence time is typically 1-5 seconds, and the particles should be sized to be completely burned during this time. For the power generation 204, steam is generated by a process that can run the steam generator and the turbine.

The pulverized coal combustor 222 may be supplied with a wall-fired or tangentially burned burner. The wall-fired burner is installed on the wall of the combustor, while the tangential burner is installed at the edge with the flame pointing towards the center of the boiler, giving a swirling motion to the gas during combustion, Are more effectively mixed. The boiler can be referred to as wet-bottom or dry-bottom depending on whether the ash falls as a molten slag on the floor or as a dry solid. The primary advantage of the pulverized coal combustion 222 is that the produced fly ash is finer. Generally, PCC 222 causes 65% -85% fly ash with, along with residues that are coarse bottom ash (in a dry boiler) or boiler slag (wet boiler).

Boilers that use anthracite coal as fuel can use a downshot burner unit, where the coal-air mixture is sent to the boiler base cone. These devices allow longer residence times to ensure more complete carbon burning. Another device, called a cell burner, includes two or three circular burners combined into a single vertical assembly producing a dense, strong flame. However, the high temperature flames from this burner can cause more NOx formation, making this device less advantageous.

Cyclone-fired boilers may be used for coal having a low batch melt temperature, otherwise PCC 222 would be difficult to use. A cyclone furnace has a combustion chamber installed on the outer surface of a gradually tapering main boiler. While the primary combustion air transports the coal particles into the furnace, the secondary air is injected in a tangential direction into the cyclone, creating a strong swirl that thrusts larger coal particles toward the furnace wall. The tertiary air directly enters the central vortex of the cyclone to control the center vacuum and the location of the combustion zone in the furnace. The large coal particles are entrained in the molten bed covering the inner surface of the cyclone and then recirculated for more complete combustion. Small coal particles enter the center of the vortex for combustion. Such a system causes strong heat generation in the furnace, and therefore the coal burns at extreme high temperatures. Combustion gases, residual char and fly ash enter the boiler chamber for more complete combustion. The molten ash flows to the bottom of the furnace by gravity for removal.

In a cyclone boiler, 80-90% of the ash leaves the bottom of the boiler as molten slag, and thus less fly ash flows through the heat exchange section of the boiler. These boilers operate at high temperatures (above 1650 to 2000 ° C) and use near-atmospheric pressure. High temperatures cause a large amount of NOx production, which is a major disadvantage of these boiler types. Cyclone-fired boilers are characterized by specific core characteristics, such as volatile substances (based on dry weight) of 15% or more, ash content of 6-25% for bituminous coal or 4-25% for bituminous coal, less than 20% Coal having a moisture content of 30% with respect to bituminous coal can be used. The ash must have a characteristic slag viscous property; The ash slag behavior is particularly important for the functioning of these boiler types. High water fuels can be burned in this type of boiler, but a modification of the design is needed.

The pulverized coal boiler 222 in the United States uses subcritical or supercritical steam cycling. The supercritical steam cycle operates at a critical temperature of water (374 ° F) and a critical pressure (22.1 mPa), where no gaseous and liquid phases of water are present. Subcritical systems typically achieve thermal efficiencies of 33-34%. Supercritical systems can achieve thermal efficiencies three to five percent higher than subcritical systems.

Increasing the thermal efficiency of coal combustion requires less fuel and therefore lower costs for power generation 204. Increased thermal efficiency also reduces other exhaust gases generated during combustion, such as SO ₂ and NO x emissions. Older, smaller units burning lower grade coal have a thermal efficiency that can be as low as 30%. For larger scale plants with sub-critical steam boilers burning higher quality coal, the thermal efficiency may range from 35-36%. Facilities using supercritical steam can achieve total thermal efficiency in the range of 43-45%. The maximum achievable efficiency using lower grade coal and lower grade coal may be less than the maximum efficiency achieved using higher grade and higher grade coal. For example, the maximum efficiency expected in a new AAT-fire plant (found in Europe, for example) may be about 42%, while a new equivalent bituminous plant equivalent achieves a maximum thermal efficiency of about 45% can do. Supercritical steam plants using bituminous coal and other optimal building materials can achieve a net thermal efficiency of 45-47%.

A fluid bed combustion ("FBC") 224 mixes coal with an absorbent such as limestone and fluidizes the mixture to allow complete combustion and removal of sulfur gas during the combustion process. "Fluidization" refers to a condition given by a fluid-like behavior in which a solid material flows freely. As the gas passes over the layer of solid particles, the flow of gas creates a force that separates the particles from each other. In fluidized bed combustion, coal is combusted in a layer of hot, incombustible particles suspended by the upward flow of fluidizing gas.

The FBC 224 system is primarily used with sub-critical steam turbines. The atmospheric pressure FBC 224 system may be bubbling or circulating. The pressurized FBC 224 system can produce power in a combined cycle, mainly using a bubbling bed and having a gas turbine and a steam turbine, at an early stage of current firing. FBC 224 at atmospheric pressure may be useful for high-ash coal and / or variable-strength coal. Relatively rough coarse particles of about 3 mm in size can be used. Combustion occurs at 800-900 ° C, which is substantially below the threshold for NO x formation, and thus this system causes lower NO x emissions in the PCC 222 system.

The bubble layer has a low fluidization rate, so that the coal particles are held in a bed about 1 mm deep with an identifiable surface. As the coal particles disappear and become smaller, the coal particles are ultimately carried along with the coal gas and removed as fly ash. The circulating layer uses a high fluidization rate, so that the coal particles float in the flue gas and pass through the main combustion chamber to the cyclone. The large coal particles are extracted from the gas and recycled to the combustion chamber. Individual particles can be recirculated 10 to 50 times, depending on their combustion characteristics. The combustion conditions are relatively uniform throughout the combustor, and there is considerable particle mixing. Although the coal solids are distributed throughout the unit, a dense bed may be required in the lower furnace to mix the fuel during combustion. For the layer that burns bituminous coal, the carbon content of the layer is about 1% and the remainder is ash and other minerals.

The circulating FBC 224 system may be designed for a particular type of coal. Such a system is particularly useful for low grade, high ash coal, which can be finely pulverized and have variable combustion characteristics. This system is also useful for co-firing coal with other fuels such as biomass or waste. Once a unit is built, a unit designed for that fuel can be most efficiently operated using this fuel. A variety of designs can be used. The thermal efficiency is generally somewhat lower than the corresponding PCC system. The use of low grade coal with variable properties can further reduce thermal efficiency.

The FBC 224 in the pressurized system may be useful for low grade coal and coal with variable properties. In a pressurized system with coal and sorbent fed to the system across the pressure boundary and ash that is removed across the pressure boundary, both the combustor and the gas cyclone are surrounded by a pressure vessel. When hard coal is used, coal and limestone can be mixed with 25% water and supplied to the system as a paste. The system operates at a pressure of 1-1.5 MPa and a combustion temperature of 800-900 ° C. Combustion can produce hot gases, such as commercial boilers, to heat the steam and to drive the gas turbine. The pressurizing unit is designed to have a thermal efficiency of 40% or more, together with a low exhaust gas. Next-generation pressurized FBC systems may include improvements that can yield thermal efficiencies of more than 50%.

Some coals are themselves suitable for iron and steel smelting without pre-caulking. Suitability for this purpose is a combination of other factors including specific properties of coal including fusibility and high fixed carbon content, low ash (<5%), low sulfur, and low calcite (CaCO ₃ ) content Lt; / RTI &gt; Metallurgical coal may be 15-5% more valuable than thermal coal.

Gasification 230 includes converting coal to combustible gases, volatiles, char and mineral residues (ash / slag). The gasification (230) system generally converts heat from pressurization, in the presence of steam, to hydrocarbon fuel materials, such as coal, into gaseous components. The apparatus for carrying out this process is called a gasifier. Gasification 230 differs from combustion in that there is limited air or oxygen available. Therefore, only some of the fuel is completely combusted. The burning fuel provides heat for the remainder of the gasification (230) process. Instead of combustion, most hydrocarbon feedstocks (for example, coal) are chemically decomposed into various other materials collectively referred to as "syngas". Synthetic gases are mainly hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gaseous compounds. However, the composition of the syngas varies based on the type of feedstock used and on the gasification conditions used.

Minerals remaining in the feedstock are not gasified like carbonaceous materials. Minerals remaining in the feedstock can be separated and removed. Sulfur impurities of coal can form hydrogen sulphide, from which sulfur or sulfuric acid can be produced. Since gasification takes place under reducing conditions, NOx is typically not formed and instead ammonia is formed. When oxygen is used instead of air during gasification 230, carbon dioxide is produced in a concentrated gas stream that can be isolated and prevented from entering the atmosphere as a contaminant. The gasification 230 may use coal that is difficult to use in a combustion facility, such as coal having a high sulfur content or a high ash content. The ash content of the coal used in the gasifier affects the efficiency of the process because it affects the formation of the slag and affects the deposition of solids in the syngas cooler or heat exchanger. At low temperatures, tar formation such as those found in fixed bed and fluidized gasification systems can cause problems.

Three types of gasifier systems are available: fixed bed, fluid bed, and entrained flow. Fixed layer units, which are generally not used for power generation, use lump coal. The fluidized bed uses coal of 3-6 mm size. The classification layer unit uses pulverized coal. The fractionation layer unit operates at a higher operating temperature (about 1600 ° C) than the fluid bed system (about 900 ° C).

The gasifier may be operated or pressurized at atmospheric pressure. Along with pressurized gasification, feedstock coal must be loaded across the pressure barrier. Bulky and expensive lock hopper systems can be used to load coal, or coal can be supplied as a water-based slurry. The by-product steam must be depressurized and removed across the pressure barrier. Internally, the gas-purifying unit for heat exchanger and syngas must also be pressurized.

The coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) (232) system allows the gasification process to be used for power generation. In the IGCC system 232, the syngas produced during gasification is refined of impurities (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, particulate matter, etc.) and burned to operate the gas turbine. Exhaust gas from the gasification is heat exchanged with water to produce superheated steam which drives the steam turbine. Because the two turbines are used in combination (gas-fired turbines and steam turbines), the system is called a "combined cycle". Generally, most of the power (60-70%) comes from the gas turbines of the system. The IGCC system 232 produces power at a greater thermal efficiency than the coal combustion system.

Syngas 234 may be converted to a wide variety of other products. For example, components of synthesis gas such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen can be used in the production of a wide range of liquid or gaseous fuels, or chemicals, using processes familiar in the art. As another example, hydrogen produced during gasification may be used as a fuel for a fuel cell or potentially for a hydrogen turbine or a hybrid fuel cell-turbine system. Hydrogen separated from the gas stream can also be used as a feedstock for refineries that use hydrogen to produce high quality petroleum products.

Syngas 234 can also be converted to various hydrocarbons that can be used for fuel or further processing. Synthetic gas 234 can be condensed into light hydrocarbons, for example, using a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. The light hydrocarbons can then be further converted to gasoline or diesel fuel. Synthetic gas 234 can also be converted to building blocks for methanol, fuel additives, or gasoline products that can be used as fuel.

Coke 238 is a solid carbonaceous residue derived from coal exiting volatile components in the oven baking at high temperatures (about 1000 ° C). At this temperature, the fixed carbon and residual ash are melted together, and the feedstock for coke formation is typically low-ash, low-sulfur coals. Coke can be used as a fuel, for example during iron smelting in a furnace. Coke is also useful as a reducing agent during this process. As a by-product of conversion of coal to coke, coal tar, ammonia, light oil and coal gas can be formed. Because the volatile components of coal escape during the coking process 238, the coke is the preferred fuel for the furnace, which is not suitable for burning the coal itself. For example, coke may be burned with little or no soot under combustion conditions that can cause a large amount of exhaust gas when bituminous coal itself is used. Before coal can be used as caulking coal, it must suitably meet certain rigorous criteria in terms of moisture content, ash content, sulfur content, volatile matter content, tar and plasticity.

Amorphous pure carbon 238 can be obtained by heating the coal to a temperature of about 650-980 ° C in a limited-air environment so that complete combustion does not occur. Amorphous carbon (238) is a form of carbon isotopic graphite composed of microscopic carbon crystals. The amorphous carbon 238 thus obtained has many industrial uses. For example, graphite can be used as an electrochemical component, activated carbon can be used for purification of water and air, and carbon black can be used for tire reinforcement.

In an embodiment, the base process of coke production 238 can be used for producing a hydrocarbon-containing (240) gas mixture that can be used as fuel ("city gas"). The city gas may comprise, for example, about 51% hydrogen, 15% carbon monoxide, 21% methane, 10% carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and about 3% other alkanes. In other processes, for example the Lurgi process and Sabatier synthesis, methane is produced using low quality coal.

Liquefaction converts the coal to a liquid hydrocarbon 240 product that can be used as fuel. Coal can be liquefied using direct or indirect processes. Any process that converts coal to hydrocarbon (240) fuel must add hydrogen to the hydrocarbon containing coal. Four types of liquefaction methods are available: (1) pyrolysis and hydrocarbonization, where the coal is heated in the absence of air or in the presence of hydrogen; (2) solvent extraction, where coal hydrocarbons are selectively dissolved from the coal mass and hydrogen is added; (3) catalyst liquefaction, wherein the catalyst affects the hydrogenation of coal hydrocarbons; And (4) indirect liquefaction, wherein carbon monoxide and hydrogen are combined in the presence of a catalyst. As an example, the Fischer-Tropsch process is a catalyzed chemical reaction in which carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted to various forms of liquid hydrocarbon (240). The material produced by this process may contain synthetic petroleum substitutes that can be used as lubricants or fuels.

As another example, low temperature carbonation can be used to produce liquid hydrocarbon 240 from coal. In this process, the coal is coked at a temperature of 450 to 700 ° C (238) (compared to 800 to 1000 ° C for metallurgical coke). These temperatures optimize the production of coal tar rich in light hydrocarbons (240) than ordinary coal tar. The coal tar is then further processed into fuel.

Coal burning yields various by-products 242 including volatile hydrocarbons, ash, sulfur, carbon dioxide and water. Further processing of these by-products can be carried out with economic benefit.

Volatile materials include products that escape into gas or vapor during heating, except for moisture. For coal, the percentage of volatiles is determined by first heating the coal to 105 ° C to drain water, and then heating the coal to 950 ° C to measure weight loss. These materials may include other gases, including sulfur, in addition to mixtures of short branches and long branch hydrocarbons. The volatile material may thus consist of a mixture of gases, a low-boiling organic compound that can condense as an oil upon cooling, and tar. The volatiles of coal increase as the grade decreases. In addition, volatile high amounts of coal are highly reactive during burning and easily ignite.

Coal ash, which is a waste of coal combustion, consists of fly ash (waste removed from the chimney) and bottom ash (from the boiler and combustion chamber). The coarse particles (bottom ash and / or boiler slag) sink to the bottom of the combustion chamber and the fine portion (fly ash) escapes through the flue, is regenerated and recycled. Coal ash includes concentrates of many trace elements and heavy metals including Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V and Zn. The ash recovered after coal combustion may be useful as an additive for cement products, fillers for excavation or civil engineering, soil remediation, and other components of other products, including paints, plastics, coatings, adhesives.

As another example, sulfur is a coal combustion by-product 242. Sulfur of coal may be released during combustion as sulfur oxides or may remain in the coal ash by reaction with a basic oxide contained in the mineral impurities (a process known as sulfur self-retention). The most important basic oxides for sulfur self-preservation are CaO formed as a result of CaCO ₃ decomposition and combustion of calcium-containing organic compounds. Coal burning occurs in two successive stages: devolatilization and char combustion. During devolatilization, flammable sulfur is converted to SO ₂ . During char combustion, a process of SO ₂ formation, sulfation and CaSO ₄ decomposition occurs simultaneously.

Decomposition distillation (244) of coal produces coal tar and coal gas in addition to metallurgical coke. The use for metallurgical coke and coal gas as a product of coal conversion has been discussed above. The third by-product, coal tar, has a variety of other commercial uses.

Coal tar is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon materials. The main component of coal tar is aromatic hydrocarbons of varying composition and volatility, from the simplest and most volatile (benzene) to the higher molecular weight, multi-cyclic, non-volatile materials. The hydrocarbons of coal tar are mostly benzene-based, naphthalene-based, or anthracene- or phenanthrene-based. There may also be varying amounts of aliphatic hydrocarbons, paraffins and olefins. In addition, coal tar contains a small amount of simple phenols such as carbolic acid and cumarone. Sulfur compounds and nitrogenated organic compounds can also be found. Most nitrogen compounds in coal tar are basic in nature and belong to the pyridine and quinoline series, for example aniline.

In embodiments, the coal tar further undergoes fractional distillation to yield a number of useful organic chemicals including benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, anthracene, and phenanthrene. These materials can be named crude (crude) products. They can form a major component for the synthesis of various products such as dyes, drugs, seasonings, perfumes, synthetic resins, paints, preservatives, and explosives. After fractional distillation of crude tar crude product, the residue of pitch is left behind. This material may be used for purposes such as roofing, road paving, insulation, and waterproofing.

Coal tar can also be used in its natural state without distillation (244). Before using a coal tar, the coal tar can be heated to some extent to remove its volatile constituents. Coal tar is also used as a protection against paint, waterproofing or corrosion. Coal tar is also used as roofing material. Coal tar can burn as fuel, although it produces toxic gases during combustion. Burning tar produces a large amount of soot called lampblack. If soot is collected, it can be used to make carbon for electrochemistry, printing, dyes, etc.

It is common to store coal on site for the coal combustion facility 200 and other coal-using plants. For the power station 204, 10% or more of the annual coal demand can be stored. However, overconsumption of stored coal may cause problems related to spontaneous combustion, loss of volatiles and loss of calorific value. Anthracite coal generally has fewer risks than other coal grades. Anthracite, for example, is not spontaneously ignited and can therefore be stored in an unlimited amount of coal. On the other hand, bituminous coal will spontaneously ignite when placed in a sufficiently large pile, and may experience collapse.

Two types of changes can occur in stored coal. An inorganic material such as pyrite can be oxidized, and the organic matter of the coal itself can be oxidized. When the inorganic material is oxidized, the volume and / or weight of the coal may increase and the inorganic material may be decomposed. If the coal material itself is oxidized, the change may not be immediately detectable. Oxidation of organic matter in coal involves oxidation of carbon and hydrogen in the coal and absorption of oxygen by unsaturated hydrocarbons and causes a change which may lead to a decrease in calorific value. These changes can also cause spontaneous combustion.

Coal must be transported from where it is mined to where it will be used. Before the coal is transported, the coal can be purified, screened and / or crushed to a certain size. In certain cases, the power plant may be located at or near the mine where coal is supplied to the power plant. For these facilities, coal can be transported by a conveyor or the like. However, in most cases power plants and other facilities that use coal are located remotely. The main method of transportation to facilities far from the mines is the railway. Barges and other ocean vessels may also be used. Highway transport of trucks is feasible, but not cost-effective, especially for driving over 50 miles. The coal slurry pipeline transports powder coal suspended in water.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel process parameters for a solid fuel sequencing process, batch process, or other process are determined by the parameter generation facility 128 based on the solid fuel desired characteristics and the solid fuel treatment facility 132 process performance Lt; / RTI &gt; As input to the parameter generation facility 128, the coal sample data 120 may provide initial characteristics of the solid fuel and the coal desired characteristics 122 may provide the desired final characteristics of the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the first step in determining the solid fuel processing parameters may be to determine the characteristic delta between the actual raw solid fuel characteristics and the desired final processed characteristic.

As previously described, the solid fuel information stored in the coal sample data 120 may include moisture percent, percent ash, volatile matter percent, percent fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, (HGI), total mercury, ash melting temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. The solid fuel characteristics can be supplied by solid fuel supply such as coal mine 102, solid fuel storage facility 112, solid fuel processing facility, and the like. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may test and determine the solid fuel characteristics for storage in the coal sample data 120.

In one embodiment, as discussed above, the coal desired feature 122 may store the final desired solid fuel characteristics for transport to a customer, use at a location of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, and the like. For example, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be part of a larger facility and produce final treated solid fuel for larger facilities. In one embodiment, the coal desired characteristics 132 may be a desired characteristic of the solid fuel requested by the customer, a solid fuel that can be produced from the available available solid fuel, a solid that may have been produced using the previously obtained solid fuel Fuel characteristics, and the like.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel processing parameters may be generated by the parameter generating facility 128 based on the desired final processed solid fuel characteristics. The desired final processed solid fuel properties may relate to the customer's need for combustion, further processing, storage and resale.

In one embodiment, the solid fuel processing parameters may be generated based on the desired final solid fuel characteristics and the processing performance of the solid fuel processing plant 132. In one embodiment, based on the desired demand for the final solid fuel, the parameter generation facility 128 may find and retrieve the solid fuel characteristics at the coal desired characteristics 122 for the desired final treated solid fuel . In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may estimate the desired characteristics for the solid fuel obtained, which is required for the desired final processed solid fuel production. After the estimation, the parameter generating facility 128 searches the coal sample data 120 to identify the raw solid fuel that can be processed by the solid fuel processing facility 132 to produce the desired final processed solid fuel can do.

In one embodiment, the estimation performed by the parameter generating facility 128 may be related to the performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ Depending on the configuration of the solid fuel treatment plant 132, the solid fuel treatment plant 132 may have specific capabilities for treating the solid fuel. For example, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may be capable of removing some percent of moisture from the solid fuel during a single course of solid fuel treatment. In determining the appropriate raw solid fuel to be selected in the coal sample data 120, the parameter generating facility 128 may determine the desired amount of final treated solid fuel moisture and the raw solid solids solids An estimated amount of water that can be removed from the fuel can be taken into account. For example, if the desired final moisture percentage is 5% moisture content and the solid fuel treatment facility 132 is capable of removing 80% moisture from the raw solid fuel during a single process run, the first selected solid fuel is 25 % Moisture content of the raw solid fuel. Alternatively, the parameter generating facility 128 may select a raw solid fuel having a higher moisture percentage, and may determine that the multiple processes of treatment represent the most efficient or cost-effective treatment plan. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the processing performance of the solid fuel processing plant 132 may vary depending on various types of solid fuel and may also vary depending upon other characteristics of the solid fuel,

In one embodiment, the estimations performed by the parameter generating facility 128 may be performed for each characteristic of the desired solid fuel. In one embodiment, an estimate performed on a desired set of final solid fuel properties may yield a set of raw solid fuel properties. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may attempt to match a set of raw solid fuel characteristics with a raw solid fuel, wherein data for the raw solid fuel is stored in the coal sample data 120 have. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may attempt to match a set of parameters using an exact match criterion, an optimal match criterion, a match based on some characteristic with a high match priority, a combination of match criteria, a statistical match criterion, can do.

In one embodiment, as a result of the match process, the parameter generation facility 128 may find one or more raw solid fuels meeting the match criteria. For example, the retrieval of coal sample data 120 may yield one or more raw solid fuels, if an optimal match criterion is used. In one embodiment, an optimal match criterion may require identification of the raw solid fuel to meet at least a portion of the desired solid fuel parameter; The optimal match can be a raw solid fuel that matches most parameters. In one embodiment, the set of results from the parameter matching process may include a ranked list of raw solid fuel matches; Solid fuel with the highest grade can be at the top, and the lowest grade can be at the bottom of the list. In one embodiment, the ranked list may be selected as desired by the user.

In one embodiment, the list of matched raw solid fuels is submitted to the operator of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 for final selection of the solid fuel for use to produce the desired final treated solid fuel . In one embodiment, the operator can submit a match list of raw solid fuel; The list may include a rating indicating the raw solid fuel that is considered the best match. In one embodiment where the match is performed on multiple properties, the parameter generation facility 128 may set a prioritization schedule that reflects the importance of the peculiar parameter matches. In one embodiment where the match is performed on multiple properties, the parameter generation facility 128 may estimate an aggregate match index that indicates the degree of match between all the attributes. In one embodiment, the prioritization schedule may be used to further assign importance to a particular match for an estimation purpose of the aggregate match index. In an embodiment, the parameters for evaluating the match closeness may be selected by the user, and thus prioritization, aggregation or other match measures may be used in combination with the user &apos; s specifications.

In one embodiment, after the feedstock solid fuel is selected, the parameter generation facility 128 may generate a set of parameters for processing the selected feedstock solid fuel.

In other embodiments, the parameter generation facility 128 may estimate the solid fuel processing parameters based on available solid fuel and the performance of the solid fuel processing facility 132. In one embodiment, there may be at least one available solid fuel available for the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 can select one of the available raw solid fuels, determine the characteristics of the raw solid fuel from the coal sample data 120, The final processed solid fuel that can be produced based on the treatment performance can be determined. The parameter generating facility 128 may also model the changes that will occur in the raw solid fuel during one cycle of the process and during multiple cycles of the process. In consideration of the performance of the solid fuel processing plant, the parameter generating facility 128 can model the results of processing the raw solid fuel using a number of different processing parameters, and thus the most efficient and cost- .

In one embodiment, it may be possible for a single source solid fuel to produce one or more types of final processed solid fuel. For example, the selected feedstock solid fuel may have a moisture content of 30 percent and the solid fuel treatment plant 132 may have a third of a third to two third of the water removal capability at each process run. Thus, a solid fuel treatment facility may be capable of producing a final solid product having a water content of 10 percent to 20 percent during one run. If the second run also removes one-third to two-thirds of the moisture, a final solid product having a water content of 3.3% to 13.3% can be obtained. The second operation and the subsequent operation can not produce the same treatment efficiency as the initial operation and thus these operations may not remove the same percentage of moisture as the initial operation. In addition, processing in a single operation may be more efficient and / or cost-effective than processing using multiple operations, or vice versa. Using a single operation, the solid fuel treatment plant 132 may thereafter be capable of producing a final solid fuel containing 10 percent to 20 percent moisture. Using multiple operations, a solid fuel treatment facility can be capable of producing a final solid fuel containing 3 percent to 13 percent moisture. The final solid fuel desired by the user containing 10 percent moisture is based on the economics of process operations using at least partly several parameters and multiple schedules to achieve these results using different types of processing protocols It can be calculated.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may determine the final solid fuel characteristics for all selected raw material solid fuel properties, based on the performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ It will be understood by those skilled in the art that optimizing the specific characteristics of the final solid fuel will involve process parameters that will not be ideal for optimizing other characteristics. It is therefore expected that multiple processing operations with each different parameter can be selected, and thus the multiplicity of the final solid fuel characteristics can be optimized.

In one embodiment, when generating the operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132, the parameter generating facility 128 may be configured to generate the final desired (or desired) solid fuel, the requested solid fuel, the historically produced solid fuel, The solid fuel characteristics can be considered.

In one embodiment, the operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132 may be determined from the desired final desired solid fuel.

In another embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may estimate the operating parameters for the solid fuel processing facility 132 based on the previous solid fuel processed in the solid fuel processing facility 132. [ In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may store the progressive information about the final processed solid fuel produced from the pre-acquired raw solid fuel and the received raw material solid fuel. Using this process, the parameter generating facility 128 can determine the processed solid fuel characteristics that can be generated using the raw solid fuel, when a certain raw solid fuel is obtained. May match the final treated solid fuel determined for the estimation of the operating parameters of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 with the desired final treated solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may maintain the elapsed operating parameter data for the treatment of the previously obtained raw solid fuel; Instead of a new parameter estimate, an elapsed operating parameter can be used.

In one embodiment, the operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132 may be estimated for a continuous process, batch process, or other solid fuel processing process.

In one embodiment, after the parameter generating facility 128 determines the operating parameters for processing of the solid fuel, the operating parameters may be sent to the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, the parameter control 140, and so on.

In one embodiment, treatment of the solid fuel using a continuous treatment process, a batch process, a combination of a continuous process and a batch process, etc. may be performed by a feedback loop between the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, the process sensor 142, &Lt; / RTI &gt;

As discussed above, the parameter generation facility 128 may estimate the solid fuel processing parameters used by the various components of the solid fuel processing facility 132 to process the solid fuel meeting certain specifications. Specific specifications may be based on customer needs, solid fuel treatment facility 132 performance, available raw solid fuel, and the like.

In one embodiment, during solid fuel processing at the solid fuel processing facility 132, the monitor facility 134 may obtain processing information from the process sensor 142 to monitor the processing process. In one embodiment, controller 144 may provide operational instructions to various components (e. G., Microwave system 148) for processing solid fuel. In one embodiment, the process sensor 142 may measure the operation of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. The sensor 142 may measure the input and output of the components of the various belt plant 130, the non-solid fuel product discharged from the solid fuel during processing, non-component measurements (e.g., moisture level), and the like.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain solid fuel processing parameters from the parameter generating facility 128. In the solid fuel treatment monitoring, the monitoring facility 134 may apply a tolerance zone to the provided parameters. In one embodiment, the tolerance zone may be based on the performance of the component, the performance of the sensor, the minimum and maximum parameters required for a particular solid fuel treatment, the prior solid fuel treatment, and the like.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may determine a tolerance zone that may be applied to the solid fuel treatment parameters.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 is able to obtain solid fuel parameters without an allowance zone. The controller can provide operating instructions based on solid fuel parameters without an allowance zone.

In one embodiment, the process monitoring and feedback loop includes monitoring facility 134, controller 144, and sensor 142 for continuous monitoring and updating of process parameters such as continuous solid fuel treatment, batch solid fuel treatment, . &Lt; / RTI &gt;

In one embodiment, the feedback loop may be initiated in a parameter generation facility 128 that provides operating parameters to the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may apply the parameter tolerance to the operating parameters; The parameter tolerance can be used to compare sensor 142 readings to acceptable processing results. In one embodiment, the operating parameters may include parameters for controlling the solid fuel processing facility 132 components, non-component processing measurements (e.g., water removal rate), and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may use sensor 142 information for non-component measurements to change parameters for the component parameters.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 sends operating parameters to components of the belt facility 130, such as a microwave system 148, a transport system, a pre-heating 138, a parameter control 140, a removal system 150, The solid fuel treatment can be started. In one embodiment, the controller 144 may transmit operating parameters to an unallowed solid fuel processing component. Once the operating parameters are obtained, the solid fuel processing component can initiate solid fuel treatment using a continuous process, batch process, and the like.

In one embodiment, once treatment of the solid fuel begins, the sensor 142 may begin to measure the output from operation of the various solid fuel processing components. In one embodiment, the process output may include measurements such as microwave power, microwave frequency, belt speed, temperature, airflow, inert gas level, and the like. In one embodiment, the process output may include measurement of non-component outputs such as moisture removal, ash removal, sulfur removal, solid fuel surface temperature, air temperature, and the like. As discussed above, the sensor 142 may be placed at various locations along the belt facility 130 to measure various solid fuel treatment outputs.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may provide sensor measurements of the solid fuel treatment output to the monitoring facility 134. The monitoring facility 134 may obtain sensor 142 measurements in real time during the processing of the solid fuel. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may compare the sensor 142 measurements to the tolerance zone of the operating parameters.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may include a variety of algorithms to change operating parameters based on the received sensor 142 measurements. The algorithm may determine the magnitude of the change to the operating parameter sensor 142 if the measurement is outside the tolerance zone. For example, the sensor 142 measurement may be within, above, or below the tolerance zone.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may make operational parameter changes based on real-time sensor 142 measurements, sample sensor 142 measurements, average sensor 142 measurements, statistical sensor 142 measurements, and the like.

In one embodiment, the operating parameter changes may be based on non-component sensor 142 measurements such as moisture removal, ash removal, sulfur removal, solid fuel surface temperature, solid fuel weight, and the like. In one embodiment, the alteration facility 134 algorithm may adjust non-component sensor 142 readings by associating certain non-component sensor 142 measurements with the solid fuel processor 132 component parameters. For example, a non-component measurement of moisture level in a belt plant environment may include a microwave system 148 to increase or decrease parameters such as microwave system output, microwave frequency, microwave duty cycle, number of active microwave systems, You may need it. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 algorithm may combine the reading of the component sensor 142 with the reading of the associated sensor 142 to determine whether a change to the component parameter is required. For example, the reading of the sensor 142 relative to the output level of the microwave system 148 may be combined with the moisture level in the region of the microwave system 148. The result may be a microwave system 148 parameter change that describes the current power level setting of the microwave system 148 and the amount of moisture in the environment. In this example, the microwave system 148 output setting may have a higher measurement compared to the desired parameter setting, but the moisture reading may be lower compared to the desired moisture level. In this case, the output setting parameter may be increased to remove more moisture from the solid fuel, although the output setting of the microwave system is above the desired setting already.

In one embodiment, the non-component sensor 142 measurements may be associated with one or more solid fuel processing facility 132 components. In one embodiment, there may be a number of non-component sensor 142 measurements associated with the component. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 algorithm may determine the best way to change the component operating parameters to compensate for the non-component sensor 142 measurements out of the parameter tolerance zone. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may have predetermined sensor 142 adjustments, may have a knowledge base of parameter adjustments, and may use a neural net to adjust parameters based on preconditioning Can be adjusted, can be by human intervention, and so on. In one embodiment, the security settings for component operating parameters can be entered into a system that can not be overridden, or a system that requires administrator intervention to override.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may maintain a history of operating parameter adjustments made during the processing of the solid fuel. The monitoring facility 134 may refer to the parameter adjustment history in determining the size of the following parameter adjustments. For example, the output of the microwave system 148 may be pre-adjusted to increase the amount of moisture released from the solid fuel. When determining the magnitude of the microwave system 148 power adjustment based on the reading of the new sensor 142, the monitoring facility 132 may refer to previous parameter adjustments in sizing the following parameter adjustments. For example, the parameter adjustment history may show that the last microwave system 148 adjustment of 5 percent increased the water release by 2 percent. This information can be used to determine the microwave system 148 power adjustment to obtain the desired change in moisture released from the solid fuel. In an embodiment, the calibration curve may be derived from a sequence of measurements in the parameter adjustment history, so that the adjustment of the parameters may be more accurate in response to a particular sensor 142 reading to achieve the desired result have.

In one embodiment, when the monitoring facility 134 makes adjustments to the solid fuel operating parameters, the adjusted parameters may be sent to the controller 144 for transmission to various solid state processing facility 132 components. In one embodiment, the adjusted parameters may be transmitted in real time, at constant time intervals, in succession, and so on.

In one embodiment, when the controller 144 obtains the adjusted parameters, the controller can transmit the adjusted parameters to the various components in real time, at regular time intervals, in succession, and so on.

In this manner, the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, and the sensor 142 feedback loop can continuously apply the operating parameters to the solid fuel processing facility 132 components, And non-component information, send measurements to monitoring facility 134, adjust operating parameters, transmit adjusted operating parameters to controller, and so on.

In one embodiment, the continuous feedback loop may be applied to operating parameters for continuous processes, batch processes, etc., for the treatment of solid fuels.

In one embodiment, the components of the solid fuel belt facility 130 may be controlled by operating parameters generated by the parameter generating facility 128 and modified by the monitoring facility 134. As discussed above, the operating parameters may be monitored and adjusted by the monitoring facility 134, and the controller 144 may transmit operating parameters to the solid fuel belt facility 130 component.

In an embodiment, the solid fuel belt facility 130 may include components such as a transport belt, a microwave system, a sensor, a collection system, a preheating facility, a cooling facility, and the like. In one embodiment, the solid fuel belt facility 130 may be a continuous treatment facility, a batch facility, and the like.

In one embodiment, the treatment of the solid fuel to produce the final treated solid fuel that meets the desired set of properties may be accomplished using the operating parameters selected to produce the desired solid fuel characteristics, Component. &Lt; / RTI &gt; It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the desired properties of the final treated solid fuel can be calculated by adjusting the control of one or more belt facility 130 components. For example, the moisture released from the solid fuel during the treatment process can be controlled by the microwave system 148 output, the microwave system 148 frequency, the microwave system 148 duty cycle, the preheat temperature, the belt speed, Or an inert gas) or the like can be controlled individually or in combination. The belt plant 130 component parameters can be influenced by other requirements such as solid fuel processed per hour, initial raw fuel characteristics, final processed fuel properties, and the like.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may store operational parameters for the belt assembly 130 component and transfer the parameters to the belt assembly 130 component. In one embodiment, the controller 144 may convert the operating parameters to machine commands understood and executed by the belt facility 130 component.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may be used to measure the operation of the belt facility 130 component and obtain information related to the solid fuel treatment. In an embodiment, the sensor 142 measures information in an environmental condition that can be caused either directly in the belt assembly 130 component, such as the microwave system 148, or in the treatment of solid fuel, such as moisture released from the solid fuel . In embodiments, the environmental conditions may include moisture levels, ash levels, sulfur levels, air temperatures, solid fuel surface temperatures, inert gas levels, cooling rates, and the like. In one embodiment, there may be a number of sensors 142 that measure the same environmental conditions in the belt facility 130, in order to provide redundancy or to make measurements at various locations following the progress of the process. There may be a number of sensors 142 for measuring the moisture released from the solid fuel, for example, as the moisture sensor 142 located in the microwave system 148 and following the microwave system 148 station . In addition, there may be a water sensor that measures the volume of liquid water collected at the water collection station of the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, there may be multiple sensors for each type of measurement made in the belt facility 130.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may record various component and non-component information and transmit the information to the monitoring facility 134. As discussed above, the monitoring facility may use available sensor 142 information to make adjustments to the solid fuel treatment parameters. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may send the adjusted solid fuel treatment parameters to the controller to modify the treatment of the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the treatment of the solid fuel can be continuously measured to ensure that the final treated solid fuel properties have been achieved. In this way, the solid fuel treatment process can be continuously adjusted in response to any change in the raw solid fuel properties. For example, raw solid fuel properties such as moisture content can vary over time as raw solid fuel is processed. In this example, the moisture content starts at a level at the beginning of the processing operation and may increase or decrease during the processing process. In one embodiment, any measurable solid fuel characteristic can vary within a supply of solid fuel. Using the sensor 142 in the belt facility 130 while the solid fuel is being processed, the operating parameters can be adjusted to produce a set of certain characteristics during the entire solid fuel treatment time. In one embodiment, the belt plant 130 operating parameters may be adjusted to obtain a set of certain characteristics in the final treated solid fuel.

In embodiments, parameters that can be adjusted when the solid fuel is being treated may include microwave energy, air temperature, inert gas level, airflow rate, belt speed, and the like. In one embodiment, the belt facility 130 operating parameters can be monitored and adjusted individually, in groups, as a group associated (e.g., belt speed and microwave output), and the like.

In one embodiment, a method of monitoring and adjusting operating parameters may be applied to a continuous treatment process, a batch treatment process, or other solid treatment methods. In the batch process, incoming raw material solid fuel characteristics may vary from batch to batch and may require different operating parameters to produce a constant treated solid fuel at the end of the process.

In one embodiment, the solid-fuel-belt facility 130 sensor 142 can measure the product discharged from the solid fuel as a result of the solid-fuel treatment and can measure the operating parameters of the solid- And so on. The sensor 142 may then send measurement information to the controller 144 and may transmit measurement information to the monitoring facility 134 and may transmit measurement information to the pricing / Control 140, and so on. In one embodiment, the solid fuel belt facility 130 may process the solid fuel in a continuous process, batch process, and the like, and the sensor 142 may record solid fuel process information from these processes.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 is configured to measure the belt speed, the output of the microwave system 148, the frequency of the microwave system 148, the duty cycle of the microwave system 148, the air temperature, the inert gas flow, , The height of the discharged product storage tank, the heating rate, the cooling rate, and the like. In addition, the sensor 142 may also include other components such as, but not limited to, discharged water vapor, sulfur vapor released, collected water volume, collected sulfur volume, collected ash volume, solid fuel weight, solid fuel surface temperature, preheat temperature, Non-operational or environmental parameter information. In one embodiment, there may be at least one sensor 142 for each component of the belt installation. For example, the microwave system 148 may have one or more sensors 142 for measuring power consumption, frequency, power output, and the like. In one embodiment, there may be one or more sensors 142 for measuring non-component parameters. For example, there may be one or more moisture level sensors 142 for measuring moisture release across the solid fuel belt facility 130. The moisture sensor 142 may be located in the microwave system 148 station, immediately after the microwave system 148 station, and so on. There may also be one or more microwave system 148 stations that may have one or more moisture sensors 142.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may be capable of measuring the consumption of resources by the solid fuel treatment facility 132, such as the power consumed, the inert gas used, the gas used, the oil used, and the like. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may be capable of measuring the product produced by the solid fuel treatment facility 132, such as water, sulfur, ash, or other product released from the solid fuel during processing.

In one embodiment, sensor 142 may send measurement information to controller 144, monitoring facility 134, pricing / transaction facility 178, and the like. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may selectively transmit, for example, not transferring all the solid fuel treatment facility 132 information to all information-acquisition facilities.

In one embodiment, the controller 144 may obtain sensor 142 information from various belt facility 130 components. The controller may be responsible for maintaining the operating parameter status of the various belt facility 130 components. For example, the controller may be responsible for maintaining the belt speed in a continuous solid fuel process. The sensor 142 may provide belt speed information to the controller 144, which may allow the controller to maintain the parameter-requested speed. For example, as the amount of solid fuel is added to or removed from the belt assembly 130, different power levels may be required to maintain a uniform belt speed, and the controller 144 maintains a uniform belt speed And can be adjusted to the output required below.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain sensor 142 information that allows control of the operating parameters required for processing of the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 includes a component sensor 142 that may include a microwave system 148 frequency, a microwave system 148 output, a microwave system 148 duty cycle, belt speed, Information is available. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain non-component sensor 142 information that may include emitted moisture, emitted sulfur, released ash, solid fuel surface temperature, air temperature, and the like.

As discussed above, the monitoring facility 134 may use algorithms to process and / or maintain operating parameters required to process the algorithmic solid fuel to produce the desired final processed solid fuel, The sensor 142 information obtained for both components can be combined. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain a set of base operating parameters from the parameter generating facility 128. The monitoring facility 134 may adjust the base operating parameters based on the received sensor 142 information. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may send the adjusted operating parameters to the controller 144 for control of the solid fuel belt facility 130.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may obtain sensor 142 information, e.g., related to the cost / profit of the final processed solid fuel. In one embodiment, the cost / profit related information is used to calculate the final processed solid fuel, the consumable such as inert gas, the volume of collected non-solid fuel product, the volume of final treated solid fuel, Include or allow estimates of costs.

In one embodiment, the cost related sensor information may include the power used, the inert gas used, the solid fuel input, and the like. In one embodiment, there may be a sensor 142 that can measure the power consumed by each solid fuel treatment facility 132 component. In one embodiment, the power consumed may include electricity, gas, oil, and the like. In one embodiment, the consumable used may include an inert gas volume, water, and the like.

In one embodiment, the profit-related sensor information may include the volume of collected water, the volume of collected sulfur, the volume of collected ash, the volume of final processed solid fuel, and the like.

In one embodiment, pricing / transaction facility 178 may obtain sensor 142 information in real time, in time increments, on demand, and the like. In one embodiment, the information in accordance with the request may be from a request of the pricing / transaction facility 178, the sensor 142, and the like.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 is configured to determine the initial raw solid fuel cost per volume, the cost of the solid fuel processing facility 132 per volume, the cost of the solid fuel processing facility 132, To determine the value of the final processed solid fuel using information that may include, for example, the amount of solid fuel processing equipment (e.g., ash), the volume of solid fuel processing facility 132 consumptions, and the like.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 is configured to measure the energy required to heat the solid fuel, the energy required for preheating, the energy required for the belt, the inert gas volume, the energy required for the microwave system 148, Cost / profit information, which may include the volume of fuel discharge, the collected water, the collected sulfur, the collected ash, and the like.

In one embodiment, pricing / transaction facility 178 can access costs per unit of electricity, gas, oil, solid fuel, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may have access to the market value of the released product, such as water, sulfur, ash, solid fuel, and the like.

In one embodiment, using the unit cost, cost information, and product market value, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may be able to determine the value of the final finished solid fuel, released product, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 increments the final processed solid fuel value in real time, as an average, as a mean value, at the end of the solid fuel operation, And so on.

For example, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may obtain initial raw material solid fuel cost information from the coal sample data 120. The input facility 124 sensor may provide a volume rate of solid fuel entering the solid fuel belt facility 130 for processing. The sensor of the solid fuel belt facility 130 is configured to measure the energy required for solid fuel preheating, the energy required for solid fuel transport, the velocity of the inert gas entering the belt facility 130, the energy required for the microwave system 148, The energy required for the solid fuel treatment system 164, the volume of the completed processed solid fuel removed from the solid fuel treatment facility 132, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may combine these sensor measurements with the unit cost for each cost type to develop a cost model for the solid fuel being processed. In one embodiment, the cost model may include incrementally adding the individual component costs to process the solid fuel to the initial raw solid fuel cost to estimate the final processed solid fuel cost.

In one embodiment, the estimated value of the final treated solid fuel can be compared to the market value of the solid fuel to create an efficiency model for the solid fuel processing plant 132.

In addition, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can include a non-solid fuel product 132 that may have market value such as water, sulfur, ash, other products released from the solid fuel, etc., collected by the solid fuel treatment facility 132 Information about the volume of the container. This information can be used to estimate the unit market value of various solid fuel release products and to provide a profit model for the products released from the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may estimate a cost model, a profit model, an efficiency model, and other financial models for the operation of the solid fuel processing facility 132.

In an embodiment, the belt facility 130 microwave system 148 may be one of a number of solid fuel processing plant 132 processing components that act on the solid fuel to remove undesired products from the solid fuel. The microwave system 148 can be used alone, in combination with multiple microwave systems 148, in combination with other processes for undesired product removal, and the like.

In one embodiment, the microwave generated by the microwave system 148 can be used to heat undesirable solid fuel products to a temperature that may cause undesired solid fuel products to be released from the solid fuel. In one embodiment, the undesirable solid fuel can be water, sulfur, ash, and the like. In one embodiment, as the microwave energy is applied to the solid fuel, the undesired product is heated to a temperature that may cause the undesired product to be released from the solid fuel as gas, liquid, Can be heated. For example, water can be released as a gas when the water contained in the solid fuel reaches a temperature at which water is converted to steam. However, depending on the sulfur temperature, sulfur may be released as gas or liquid. In one embodiment, as the sulfur is heated, the sulfur may first be released as a liquid and then released as a gas. In one embodiment, in releasing the undesired product at the two stages of release, there may be an advantage in promoting the complete release of the undesired product in the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, there may be one or more belt facility 130 microwave systems 148 for removal of undesired solid fuel products. In one embodiment, there may be more than one microwave system 148 in the belt facility 130. One or more of the microwave systems 148 may apply various control parameters, such as frequency, power, duty cycle, etc., to the solid fuel. In one embodiment, the various microwave systems 148 that control the parameters may be aimed at removing certain undesirable products from the solid fuel. In addition, the microwave system 148 may include a particular method of removing undesirable products, such as applying energy to convert undesirable products to gas, applying energy to convert undesirable products to liquids, and the like You can aim at.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 may include one or more microwave devices, each of which may be operated independently, as a group, or the like.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 can operate independently; There can therefore be a set of operating parameters for each independent microwave device. For example, the microwave system 148 may have one or more independent microwave devices, and each independent microwave device may have control parameters such as output, frequency, duty cycle, and the like. In one embodiment, controller 144 and monitoring facility 134 can control each independent microwave device.

In one embodiment, the independent controlled microwave apparatus can perform various functions to influence undesired solid fuel product removal. For example, the first microwave apparatus may operate at a specific frequency with a constant output setting, while the second microwave apparatus may operate at multiple frequencies during a duty cycle such that the output setting may vary over time. The combined operation of these two microwave devices may aim to eliminate certain undesirable products using a phase of a particular material (e.g., gas or liquid).

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 may include a plurality of microwave devices operating as a group; Thus, there may be a set of operating parameters for the entire microwave group, regardless of the number of micromachining devices that may belong to the microwave system 148 group. For example, dividing a plurality of microwave devices into groups and providing all microwave devices with the same frequency and power settings provides a high microwave output to the solid fuel using multiple small microwave devices instead of one large microwave device Lt; / RTI &gt; The use of multiple miniature microwave devices may allow the configuration of microwave devices to provide effective undesirable product removal.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 can be changed from operating as a discrete set of microwave apparatus to operating as a microwave apparatus group, by a transfer method for operating parameters. For example, when independent parameters are transmitted for each microwave apparatus, the microwave system 148 may operate as an independent microwave apparatus, but when a group of operating parameters is transmitted to the microwave apparatus, 148 may operate as a group. In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 can operate as an independent microwave device, a group of microwave devices, and the like.

In one embodiment, the microwave system 148 may be located along the belt facility 130 providing a microwave system 148 processing combination capable of producing the desired final processed solid fuel. For example, one or more of the microwave systems 148 may be positioned along the belt facility 130 to target the removal of moisture from the solid fuel. The first microwave system 148 can be instructed to remove a certain amount of moisture from the solid fuel; The second microwave system 148 may be located away from the first microwave system 148 to remove additional moisture from the solid fuel. An additional microwave system 148 may be positioned along the belt facility 130 to continue the reduction of moisture as the solid fuel moves along the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, the undesirable solid fuel product can be removed in an incremental manner that is processed by a plurality of microwave systems 148 along the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, there may be a gap between the microwave systems 148 to allow for the release of undesirable products; The interval may provide a time period between processing steps. In one embodiment, the microwave system can be positioned adjacent to one another. It will be appreciated that this process can be applied to the removal of other undesirable solid fuel products, either independently or in combination with other undesirable solid fuel products.

In one embodiment, the energy from the microwave system 148 is supplied to a separate belt facility 130 having a first belt facility 130 for treating solid fuel and at least one belt facility 130 for further processing solid fuel. Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; 130 &lt; / RTI &gt; In one embodiment, each belt facility 130 processes the solid fuel and then supplies its product to the additional belt facility 130 until the final treated coal properties are reached.

In one embodiment, the batch processing facility can provide for the gradual removal of undesirable solid fuel products. In one embodiment, the batch processing facility may have at least one microwave facility 148 that can be controlled with alternating operating parameters. For example, the microwave system 148 may operate as a first output, frequency, and duty cycle during the first processing step, and different outputs, frequencies, and duty cycles may be applied during the second processing step. In one embodiment, there may be a time interval between steps, to allow the undesired product to be completely released as a result of the treatment step before another treatment step is performed. In one embodiment, there may be no time period between treatment steps, and a continuous treatment may be applied to the solid fuel of the batch. In one embodiment, the batch processing facility can process the solid fuel with as many processing steps as needed to produce the final treated solid fuel.

In one embodiment, as discussed above, the microwave system 148 may be controlled by a feedback loop, which may include a sensor 142, a monitoring facility 134, a controller 144, and the like. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may be located within the batch facility or along the belt facility 130 to measure the efficiency of the microwave system 148 in the removal of undesirable solid fuel products . The sensor can be located in the microwave system 148 or after the microwave system 148, for example, to measure undesired products that have been released into the gas, measure undesired products that have been released into the liquid, and the like.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may send a solid fuel treatment reading from the various sensor locations to the monitoring facility 134. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may have a target readout for each sensor 142 of the processing process. As the sensor 142 reading is received at the sensor 142, the monitoring facility 134 determines whether the solid fuel processing process is processing the solid fuel as required, It can be compared with reading. In one embodiment, based on the retrieved sensor 142, the monitoring facility 134 may transmit the adjusted operating parameters to the components of the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 can associate each sensor 142 in the belt facility with the operation of the components of the belt facility 130. In one embodiment, each sensor 142 reading may have a weight as it can be applied to the control of the component. For example, the first sensor 142 located in the same location as the sensor of the microwave system 148 may be given more weight than the second sensor located some distance down from the microwave system 148. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may maintain a sensor specificity table that specifies the specific weight that should be given to the sensor 142 readings.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 is configured to allow the monitoring facility 134 to track instantaneous sensor readings, average sensor reads, statistical sensor reads, sensor read trends, sensor read change rates, and the like , And store the previous sensor 142 readings. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may use any of the sensor tracking methods to determine if the component parameters need adjustment.

In one embodiment, multiple sensor readings 142 may be used to adjust various parameters of the belt assembly 130 component. For example, the first sensor 142 may be used to monitor and adjust the frequency of the microwave system 148, and the second sensor 142 may be used to monitor and adjust the output of the microwave system 148. In one embodiment, a plurality of sensors 142, which may be coupled to the microwave system 148, may be used to tune individual microwave devices within the microwave system 148. For example, when there are four microwave devices in one microwave system 148, multiple sensors connected to the microwave system 148 may be used to individually adjust the four microwave devices. In addition, any microwave system 148 along the belt facility 130 can be controlled similarly, individually or in groups.

It will be appreciated that any belt component can be controlled in the same manner.

In one embodiment, the belt facility 130 component is able to obtain the adjusted parameters of the monitoring facility 134 based on the final processed solid fuel characteristics. In one embodiment, after the solid fuel is completely treated in the solid fuel treatment facility 132, the test facility 170 may test a sample of the final treated solid fuel for determination of the final solid fuel characteristics . In one embodiment, the test facility 170 may be part of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, may be a test facility external to the solid fuel treatment facility 132, and so on.

In one embodiment, the test facility 170 is configured to measure the percent of BTU / lb, sulfur, grindability (HGI), total mercury , Ash melting temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. In one embodiment, this final solid fuel characteristic may be stored in a coal output parameter 172, which may be available in coal desired characteristics 122, feedback facility 174, monitoring facility 134, and the like.

In one embodiment, the final solid fuel properties can be determined while the same solid fuel operation is being processed in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ In one embodiment, a subset of the final solid fuel properties may be available while the solid fuel is still being processed. A subset of the characteristics may be determined in the field test facility 170, which may allow feedback to be provided to the monitoring facility 134 in real time.

In one embodiment, the coal output parameter 172 may send test information to the monitoring facility 134, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain test information from the coal output parameter 172, and so on.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may use the acquired solid fuel test information as an additional input that is considered in adjusting the operating parameters of the solid fuel processing facility 132. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may access the test information stored in the coal output parameter 172 via the coal desired feature 122, and thus may use the aggressive test information in the generation of the initial operating parameters . In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may send the progressive test information to the monitoring facility 134. In one embodiment, the transmitted progressive test information may be an information summary, statistical information, sample information, trend information, test information versus prior operating parameters, and the like.

In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 receives the progressive test information from the parameter generating facility 128 from the coal output parameter 172 to determine how new test information may be relevant to the elapsed information. It can be compared with new test information. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may store new test information as the test is completed. In one embodiment, the new test information may be stored in the monitoring facility 134 for a period of time during which a specific operation of the raw solid fuel is processed by the solid fuel processing facility 132. In one embodiment, the stored test information may be historical information on current raw solid fuel treatment operations. In one embodiment, the stored information may provide trend information, statistical information, sample information, etc., of solid fuel processing operations. In one embodiment, the stored information may be stored along with operational parameters as the test information is acquired. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility can analyze the relationship of operational parameters to the time at which the test information is obtained for the parameter trend versus the final test information.

In one embodiment, as new test information is obtained by the monitoring facility 134, the information can be compared with the progressive test information, compared with the stored test information, and so on. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may use a test information comparison as an argument in operating parameter adjustments of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. In one embodiment, the test information can be used as a direct parameter for parameter adjustment, an indirect factor for parameter adjustment (e.g., multiplier), a combination of direct and indirect factors, and the like.

In one embodiment, when the operating parameters used to process the solid fuel are producing the desired final processed solid fuel, the test information will affect the adjustment of the operating parameters by indicating to the monitoring facility 134 . For example, the belt facility 130 sensor 142 may indicate that an adequate amount of moisture is being removed from the solid fuel during processing, but the test information may be estimated using data from the belt facility 130 sensor 142, It may provide characteristic data to indicate different percentages of moisture remaining in the solid fuel. In one embodiment, the test information can be used to adjust the operating parameters and calibrate the treatment of the solid fuel to affect changes in the final test information characteristics.

In one embodiment, the test information may include an adjustment to the parameter weight table, an adjustment of the factor in the algorithm used to adjust the operating parameters, an additional belt facility component requirement (e.g., more active microwave system 148) , To determine if additional operation of the solid fuel (e. G., Multiple treatment paths) may be required through the treatment process, or the like.

In one embodiment, the non-fuel products that are removed from the solid fuel during processing may be collected by the solid fuel treatment facility 132. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 is capable of measuring the release of product as a gas, liquid, etc. in a solid fuel. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144 may interface with the sensor 142 to control the release of the released product. In one embodiment, the sensor 142, the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, etc. may provide the released product information to the pricing / transaction facility 178. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 information obtained at the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144 may allow estimation of the instantaneous removal rate, the average removal rate, the total released product, the type of product released, and the like .

In one embodiment, when the non-fuel product is released from the solid fuel during processing, the non-fuel product may be capable of removing the released gas, the discharged liquid, the released gas that may condense into the liquid, Removal system 150 as described above. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may have one or more removal systems 150. In one embodiment, the released gas may be collected in a vent, pipe, or vessel to transport the gas to containment facility 162, treatment facility 160, disposal facility 158, and the like. In one embodiment, the discharged liquid and the gas that is condensed into the liquid may be introduced into a liquid reservoir, pipe, or vessel to transport the liquid to containment facility 162, treatment facility 160, disposal facility 158, Can be collected.

In one embodiment, there may be a sensor 142 for measuring the amount of released non-fuel product and for transferring measurements to monitoring facility 134, controller 144, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may determine the amount of product released, the rate of product release, the amount of product released collected in the reservoir, the rate of removal of the released gas, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may determine whether the removal rate for non-fuel products need to be increased, decreased, or otherwise altered to match the release rate of the solid fuel product. For example, the monitoring facility 134 may obtain sensor 142 information that the discharged liquid product is formed more than the solid fuel treatment facility 132 removes it by the liquid collection reservoir. In response to this information, the monitoring facility 134 may instruct the controller 144 to increase the liquid removal rate. In one embodiment, this may include increasing the pump speed to change the removal rate, starting another pump to change the removal rate, and the like. In a similar manner, the gas sensor 142 may transmit to the monitoring facility 134 that the characteristics of the gas release atmosphere (pressure, temperature, gas concentration, etc.) indicate that the released gas is not removed at an appropriate rate. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may instruct the controller 144 to change the gas removal rate by adjusting the fan speed, another fan start, a fan stop, a pressure change in the gas containment chamber, and the like. In one embodiment, the removal system 150 of the solid fuel processing plant 132 may be controlled individually or as part of a group.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may be placed at various locations along the belt facility 130 to measure the results of various solid fuel treatments. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may make adjustments to the operation of the discharge system 150, for example, based on the reading of the sensor 142 indicating the rate or amount of the released product. Monitoring facility 134 may estimate the non-fuel product release rate based on sensor 142 readings and may adjust the removal rate of removal system 150 based on product release rate, product level, have. In one embodiment, there may be a sensor 142 that measures the effluent product, such as water, sulfur, ash, etc., for the treatment location of the solid fuel treatment 132. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may be capable of adjusting the treatment position so that the removal system 150 maintains a suitable removal rate for non-fuel products.

In one embodiment, the collected release non-fuel product may be processed by containment facility 162, treatment facility 160, disposal facility 158, etc., as discussed above. In one embodiment, there may be a sensor 142 that provides information to the monitoring facility 134 about the state of such facilities. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, the removal system 150, etc. can control the rate at which the emitted non-fuel products collected are collected, separated, disposed, have. In one embodiment, the collection of the released non-fuel products to be removed is continued until a limit is collected, at which time the operator of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 determines that the released product needs to be removed from the collection facility . In one embodiment, the effluent products, such as water, may be discharged in the solid fuel treatment facility 132 without being otherwise collected or collected.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142, the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, etc. may send the released product information to the pricing / transaction facility 178. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may have market-related information, such as market value or disposal cost, available for each removed non-fuel product. In one embodiment, the decisions related to the disposal of the emitted non-fuel product being removed may be based on their market value, their disposal cost, and the like. Market-related information may include information relating to the regulatory aspects of a particular product, for example environmental taxes or fines applicable to the generation or disposal of a particular substance. In one embodiment, based on information transmitted by sensor 142, monitoring facility 134, controller 144, etc., pricing / transaction facility 178 may determine the value of the emitted non-fuel product, It is possible to estimate the cost of the product. For example, collected liquid sulfur may have market value for use in industry, while collected ash may not have market value and may be costly to dispose of at landfills.

 It is known that market-related information can be applied to many different markets. For example, the collected ash may have a market value in a range from a negative value (due to disposal costs) to a set of positive values according to the demand for it in various industrial applications. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can estimate the non-fuel product value emitted per unit time, the average value per unit of solid fuel, the instantaneous value based on the removal rate, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can estimate the value of the processed solid fuel, including the value or cost of the emitted non-fuel product, which is collected from the solid fuel operation. For example, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may obtain the released product information for a particular operation of the treated solid fuel. The pricing / transaction facility 178 can estimate the cost of treating the solid fuel and the cost / value of the total emitted non-fuel product to estimate the total cost of the solid fuel treatment and the value of the result.

 In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 estimates the final processed solid fuel production cost, the value of the final processed solid fuel, the disposal cost of the discharged product material, the value of the released product material, Lt; / RTI &gt; algorithm. In one embodiment, the algorithm obtains the raw solid fuel value in the coal sample data 120, the final processed solid fuel cost in the coal output parameter 172, the in-process cost in the solid fuel processing facility 132, and the like &Lt; / RTI &gt;

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can collect cost information, value information, and the like for any portion of a complete solid fuel processing operation or a solid fuel processing operation. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may collect costs and information periodically, at the end of the operation, and so on, depending on the needs of a portion of the operation.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may collect the value information of the raw solid fuel from the coal sample data 120. In one embodiment, the value of the raw solid fuel may be the value per unit, the total value of the total available raw solid fuel, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 determines the total amount of solid fuel processed during a portion of operation or operation and uses the value per unit of raw solid fuel to determine the value of the raw solid fuel used during processing The total value of the raw solid fuel can be estimated. In one embodiment, the value of the raw solid fuel used can be entered into the solid fuel value algorithm.

 As discussed above, in one embodiment, the operating parameters may be provided as feedback to the pricing / transaction facility 178 throughout the operation of the solid fuel treatment. In one embodiment, the operating parameters may include costs associated with solid fuel treatment, such as electricity used, gas used, oil used, inert gas used, and the like. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can collect all operating costs from the solid fuel processing operations. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store cost per unit information for all operating parameters. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may estimate the operating parameter cost for the solid fuel processing operations using the cost per each individual unit and the amount of operating unit used. In one embodiment, the operating solid fuel processing cost may be entered into a solid fuel value algorithm.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may collect the market value of the product released from the solid fuel, the disposal cost of the product discharged from the solid fuel, and the like. In one embodiment, pricing / transaction facility 178 may store per-unit cost information for products released from all solid fuels, market value information per unit, and the like. In one embodiment, the collected released product cost and market value can be entered into a solid fuel value algorithm.

 In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store operational profit information. In one embodiment, the operating profit information may relate to the type of solid fuel being treated, the marketability of the treated solid fuel, the amount of treated solid fuel required, and the like. In one embodiment, the operating margin can be a percentage of the solid fuel treatment cost, a fixed profit per unit of treated solid fuel, a fixed profit per unit of solid fuel delivered to the customer, and the like. In one embodiment, the operating profit can be entered into a solid fuel value algorithm.

 In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 is used to determine the final market value of the processed solid fuel, including the value of the raw solid fuel used, the operating cost, the cost / market value of the discharged solid fuel product, Cost, and so on. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store the final market value, report the final market value for the solid fuel treatment facility, report the final market value to the customer, And so on. In one embodiment, the stored solid fuel market value may be available for further analysis and estimation, including progressive aggregation, querying, data trends, and the like.

 In one embodiment, the feedstock solid fuel may be treated for a particular end-use installation. In an embodiment, the end-use facility may be one of a number of end-use customers, a dedicated customer, a final-use facility directly connected to the solid fuel treatment facility 132, and the like. In an embodiment, the end-use facility may be a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by-product facility 212, and the like.

In one embodiment, the coal combustion facility 200 may include a power generation facility 204, a metallurgical facility 208, and the like. The power generation facility 204 may include a fixed bed coal combustion plant 220, a pulverized coal combustion plant 222, a fluidized bed combustion plant 224, a combined combustion plant 228 using a renewable energy source, and the like.

In one embodiment, the coal conversion facility includes a gasification facility 230, a coal gasification combined cycle facility 232, a syngas production facility 234, a coke forming facility 238, a refined carbon forming facility 238, Equipment 240, and the like.

In one embodiment, the coal by-product facility 212 may include a coal combustion by-product facility 242, a coal distillation by-product facility 244, and the like.

In one embodiment, the end-use facility may place a solid fuel treatment requirement in a coal output parameter 172 to deliver a request for the treated solid fuel. This requirement can provide the desired properties of the end-use installation solid fuel. In one embodiment, the desired properties of the solid fuel are: moisture percent, percent ash, percent volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI) , Ash melting temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like.

In one embodiment, the end-user facility may embody a particular source solid fuel for processing and may allow the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to select the optimal source solid fuel for processing, Lt; / RTI &gt;

In one embodiment, if the solid fuel treatment requirement is input as the coal output parameter 172, the solid fuel treatment facility can determine whether the solid fuel should be treated by a continuous treatment process, a batch process, or other processing method. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 is based on factors including the volume of the final-user solid fuel required, the desired end-user equipment solid fuel characteristics, the available raw solid fuel, So that the processing method can be determined. For example, a batch process may be useful for small quantities of treated solid fuel that are required, while a continuous process may yield a large quantity advantageously. For a treated solid fuel having a narrow band of process specifications, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 maintains better control over the output on a characteristic-by-characteristic basis The batch process can be selected. Those skilled in the art will understand other reasons for choosing one of the batch or continuous treatment processes to process the requested solid fuel from the end-user.

In one embodiment, the end-user facility can request a specific solid fuel for use, request a raw solid fuel having specific characteristics, request a range of raw solid fuel as input, or the like. In one embodiment, the end-user facility may have information about a number of specific raw solid fuels available for processing at the solid fuel treatment facility 132, and the end-user facility may have a single raw solid You can choose fuel. In an embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may provide a list of available raw solid fuels to the end-user facility, or the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may provide a list of treated solid fuels that may be produced - Can be provided to user equipment. Other methods for allowing the end-user to determine the raw solid fuel input will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may make the final determination regarding the raw solid fuel input. In one embodiment, the determination of the feedstock solid fuel selection may be based on the performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, the progressive treatment of the particular feedstock solid fuel, the characteristics of the feedstock solid fuel, and the like.

In one embodiment, when the solid fuel treatment facility 132 obtains the end-user facility requirements, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may determine the optimal match solid solids You can choose fuel. In one embodiment, the coal sample data 120 may be retrieved by the parameter generation facility 128 to determine an optimal match raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the optimal matched solid fuel is based on criteria such as the characteristics of the final processed solid fuel requested from the end-user, the performance of the continuous treatment facility, the performance of the batch facility, the tolerance of the end- Can be selected accordingly.

In one embodiment, when the feedstock solid fuel is selected, the parameter generation facility 128 may determine the parameters that may be used to process the feedstock solid fuel to achieve the properties required by the end-user. As described above, the parameter generation facility 128 may obtain the final processed solid fuel characteristics at the coal desired characteristics 122, where the coal desired characteristics 122 may be defined by the end-user. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may use an algorithm to estimate the operating parameters for processing the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the algorithm can take into account such variables as the performance of the solid fuel treatment plant 132, the difference between the selected raw solid fuel and the solid fuel required in the end-user facility, the progressive results in similar raw solid fuel treatment, have. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 is configured to determine the operating parameters of the belt facility 130 components (e.g., microwave system 148), the number of times the raw solid fuel can be treated, the heating rate, the cooling rate, The atmospheric conditions that can be used during the removal of the product released from the raw solid fuel, and the like. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may send operational parameters to the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144 to control the processing of the raw solid fuel.

The parameter generation facility 128 may use the various methods that will be apparent to those skilled in the art to select the raw solid fuel for use for the requested solid fuel production in the end-use facility. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may retrieve the end-use equipment solid fuel characteristics from the coal desired characteristics 122. [ In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may use key characteristics from the end-use equipment solid fuel characteristics to select the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the core characteristics of the desired end product may be provided by the end-use equipment, determined by the parameter generation facility 128, determined by the performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, have.

Core characteristics can be used to determine the treatment process for the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the core properties can be graded by importance to the end-use equipment solid fuel properties. Alternatively, ranking may be provided by the end-use facility, the parameter generating facility 128, or any other suitable facility. In one embodiment, the rankings can be aligned according to the end use of the solid fuel. For example, the end-use equipment may indicate that certain moisture levels are required in the final treated solid fuel, while other properties are less important. Since the moisture level will have the highest ranking of the desired treated fuel properties, the settings necessary to maintain the desired moisture level will override other settings.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may use key characteristics to select the raw solid fuel from the available raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the parameter generating facility 128 may use key characteristics to determine operational parameters for raw solid fuel treatment to produce end-use plant solid fuel. In one embodiment, the parameter generating facility 128 may set operating parameters based solely on the key characteristics, or the parameter generating facility 128 may use key characteristics with other characteristics for operating parameter determination.

In one embodiment, the determined operating parameters may be transmitted to monitoring facility 134, controller 144, and the like. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may monitor and adjust operational parameters during the solid fuel treatment process using the belt facility 130 sensor 142. In one embodiment, as the solid fuel is processed, the sensor 142 may measure the operating parameters for the core characteristic and may transmit the sensor 142 readings to the monitoring facility 134. If the monitoring facility determines that the operating parameters require adjustment to obtain the solid fuel core characteristics, the monitoring facility 134 may send the adjusted operating parameters to the controller 144. In one embodiment, the controller 144 may provide control to the operating parameters of the belt facility 130 components for processing solid fuel.

In one embodiment, using the process feedback loop of the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, and the sensor 142, the solid fuel processing facility 132 may convert the raw solid fuel from the end- . In one embodiment, the solid fuel can be processed using a combination of a continuous treatment process, a batch process, a continuous process, and a batch process.

In one embodiment, at the end of the treatment process, the final treated solid fuel may be tested in the test facility 170 to determine the characteristics of the final treated solid fuel. In one embodiment, the properties of the tested solid fuel can be compared to the original end-use equipment solid fuel properties. In one embodiment, the compared characteristics may be core characteristics, all solid fuel characteristics, or a combination or subset thereof. In one embodiment, the test facility 170 can determine if the final treated solid fuel is within the required properties of the required solid fuel from the end-use facility. In one embodiment, when the solid fuel is being treated, the tested characteristics may be transferred to the monitoring facility 134. In one embodiment, the monitoring facility 134 may adjust operational parameters based on the characteristics provided by the test facility 170.

In one embodiment, if the final treated solid fuel is determined not to meet the requirements of the end-use facility, then the final treated solid fuel may be further processed in the solid fuel treatment facility 132. In one embodiment, when the solid fuel is treated, the final treated solid fuel may be stored in a temporary storage location until it is determined that it meets the requirements of the end-use facility. If the final solid fuel is determined to meet the end-use facility requirements, the final solid fuel may be transported to the end-use facility.

In one embodiment, the tested characteristic of the final treated solid fuel may be stored along with the coal output parameter 172. In one embodiment, the stored final treated solid fuel test characteristics may be stored as a solid fuel desired for future use by the end-use facility, for the purpose of elucidating it, such as those contemplated by those skilled in the art, May be used for the final demonstration of the finished treatment to the solid fuel required in the end-use plant, or for other uses.

In one embodiment, a transaction may be performed for raw solid fuel treatment for a particular end-use facility. In one embodiment, the transaction may be an estimate of the raw solid fuel treatment cost for the end-use plant. In one embodiment, the cost of the raw solid fuel treatment is the cost of the electricity, gas, oil, inert gas, disposal of the discharged solid fuel product, transportation of the raw solid fuel, transportation of the final processed solid fuel to the end- . In one embodiment, the transaction may include revenue from the treatment of the solid fuel, including benefits from the sale of the discharged solid fuel product or the final treated solid fuel.

In one embodiment, each end-use facility request for the treated solid fuel can be processed as a transaction. In one embodiment, when the end-use facility communicates with the desired final processed solid fuel characteristics, the pricing / transaction facility 178 determines the financial indicators of the raw solid fuel treatment to achieve the desired characteristics metrics can be started. For example, a pricing / transaction facility may include a cost file, a ledger, a database, a spreadsheet (eg, a spreadsheet) to collect financial indicators (eg, ), And so on.

In one embodiment, the raw material solid fuel identification can be communicated to the pricing / transaction facility 178 when the parameter generation facility 128 selects the raw solid fuel. Using the raw solid fuel identification, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can retrieve the raw solid fuel cost information from the coal sample data 120. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store raw solid fuel cost information in a cost file for specific processing operations. Cost information may include cost per unit (e.g., cost / tonnes), cost of total raw solid fuel, total number of available units, and the like. Based on the amount of processed solid fuel required by the end-use facility, the pricing / transaction facility 178 determines the cost of the raw solid fuel required to produce the solid fuel as requested by the end-use facility, and It is possible to estimate the cost ratio.

As described above, the parameter generating facility 128 may generate operational parameters for processing the raw solid fuel and may transmit operating parameters to the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, and the like. The monitoring facility 134, the controller 144 and the like can control the processing of the raw solid fuel by providing operational information to components such as a heater, a belt, a microwave system 148, a vent, a pump, a removal system 150, . During the processing of the raw solid fuel, energy costs can be spent to operate various components that can consume electricity, gas, oil, and the like. In one embodiment, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 may have a sensor 142 that can measure the operation of various components. In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may also measure the energy consumed by each component during the processing of the raw solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the sensor may transmit the energy usage of each component to the pricing / transaction facility 178 during processing of the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store costs per unit for various energy types and may be able to convert the energy use of the solid fuel treatment plant 132 to a cost value. For example, the sensor may send data on the number of kilowatt hours used by the microwave system 148 to the pricing / transaction facility 178, which accesses information on the cost per kilowatt. Using these usage data and this pricing information, the pricing transaction facility 178 can estimate the operating cost of the microwave system 148 to process a given number of raw solid fuels. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may collect the cost of processing the raw solid fuel during processing operations and store the collected cost in a cost file for the end-use equipment solid fuel processing . In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can collect costs associated with multiple processing operations for further estimation and analysis.

In one embodiment, the additional cost and profit / loss may be related to the non-fuel product collected during processing of the raw solid fuel. In one embodiment, during the treatment of the raw solid fuel, non-fuel products such as water, sulfur, ash, etc. may be obtained. Some of these imported non-fuel products may have market value and may therefore be sold (e. G. Sulfur). There may be no market for certain other non-fuel products, and therefore they require costly disposal.

In one embodiment, the sensor 142 may measure the amount of emitted non-fuel product collected in the containment facility 162, the treatment facility 160, the disposal facility 158, and the like. These sensors 142 may then send data on the amount of such product to the pricing / transaction facility 178. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store information relating to such things as market value, disposal costs, and various non-fuel products, and may include costs associated with each profit or cost of each released product, Profit / loss can be estimated. For example, the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, the sensor 142, etc. may indicate to the pricing / transaction facility 178 how much sulfur (non-fuel product) is available to be collected and sold have. The pricing / transaction facility 178 can prepare for the sale of the collected sulfur and subsequent transportation to the enterprise using its sulfur. Thereafter, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may estimate the cost of producing sulfur in the coal treatment plant 132, estimate the revenue from the sulfur sales as a function of the production cost, Other financial assumptions can be made.

Estimates of costs, profits / losses, expected returns, etc. may also be used to estimate the cost of a particular non-fuel product during the coal processing as the non-fuel product is collected, And thus a set of expected production costs, revenue, profit / loss, etc., can be obtained. The actual values obtained after the sale and / or transportation of the non-fuel product can be compared to an estimate, or the estimate can be compared with an actual number that is elapsed. Other uses for financial information and the combination of real-time, anticipated, and ongoing financial information will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store financial information about non-fuel products (including production costs, revenue, etc.) in the cost file for the end-use equipment solid fuel treatment.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 is configured to transfer the processed fuel to a final-use facility, such as a final-used facility location, a final amount of treated solid fuel, a transportation method for transporting the solid fuel, The transportation cost for transportation can be estimated. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may use data on transportation costs to estimate the total cost for the end-use installation solid fuel. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store the transportation costs in a cost file for the end-use equipment solid fuel treatment.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can determine the operating profit / loss for processing the raw solid fuel with the requested end-use installation solid fuel. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a number of algorithms are available for this operational profit / loss determination. For example, operating profit / loss may be determined as a percentage of the total cost for the raw solid fuel treatment or as a profit / loss set per unit of treated solid fuel. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may store operating profits in a cost file for the end-use equipment solid fuel treatment.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 receives an indication from the monitoring facility 134, the controller 144, the sensor 142, etc., that the processing of the raw solid fuel for the end- Can be obtained. In one embodiment, at the indication that the raw solid fuel treatment is complete, the pricing / transaction facility 178 can collect all solid fuel treatment costs and the profit / loss for the final, final-used equipment solid fuel value. In one embodiment, the collection of costs and profits can use standard accounting practices. In one embodiment, the final end-use solid fuel value can be transferred to the end-use facility. Alternatively, as described above, the pricing / transaction facility may provide estimates of costs, profit / loss, expected returns, etc. throughout the process of the process, allowing the end-use facility to make economic decisions during processing itself .

In one embodiment, the solid fuel information can be stored in at least one storage facility as a database. In one embodiment, at least one storage facility can be a hard drive, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a flash drive, a zip drive, a tape drive, and the like. In one embodiment, the at least one storage facility may be a single storage facility, a plurality of local storage facilities, a plurality of distributed storage facilities, a combination of proximity and wide area storage facilities, and the like. In one embodiment, the database may be a database, a relational database, an SQL database, a table, a file, a flat file, an ASCII file, a document, an XML file,

In one embodiment, the solid fuel information may be information related to the raw solid fuel obtained, the end-use equipment desired solid fuel characteristics, the solid fuel treatment facility 132 operational parameters, the final processed solid fuel test information, and the like. The solid fuel information may be stored in equipment such as coal sample data 120, coal desired characteristics 122, coal output parameters 172, parameter generating facility 128, monitoring facility 134, controller 144, .

In one embodiment, the coal sample data 120 is a database for facility access, such as a parameter generation facility 128, a coal desired feature 122, a pricing / transaction facility 178, and the like, Properties can be saved. In one embodiment, the coal characteristics are selected from the group consisting of percent moisture, percent ash, percent volatile, percent carbon percent, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI) Temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. These solid fuel characteristics may be provided by the mine 102, the storage facility 112, the test facility 170, and the like. In one embodiment, the properties in the database can describe the initial conditions of the solid fuel prior to treatment with the end-use equipment solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the coal sample data 120 database may be searchable to permit retrieval of raw solid fuel information. In one embodiment, the feedstock solid fuel information can be retrieved by the parameter generation facility 128 to select the feedstock solid fuel for use in the process of conversion to a final-use installation solid fuel. In one embodiment, the stored feedstock solid fuel information database may comprise a single record for each feedstock solid fuel or multiple recordings for each feedstock solid fuel. In one embodiment, there may be multiple recordings as a result of periodic samples of raw solid fuel, statistical samples, random samples, and the like. In one embodiment, when the coal sample data 120 is retrieved, one or more matching records may be returned for each raw solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the coal desired characteristics 122 may include parameters such as the end-user solid fuel characteristics, the treated solid fuel characteristics based on the available raw solid fuel, the elapsed, the treated solid fuel characteristics, Sample data 120, coal output parameters 172, and the like. In one embodiment, the coal characteristics include percent moisture, percent ash, percent volatile, percent of fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, grindability (HGI) Melting temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. These solid fuel characteristics may be provided by equipment such as parameter generation facility 128, coal output parameters 172, end-use facility, and the like. In one embodiment, the properties in the database may describe the final conditions of the treated solid fuel after the raw solid fuel treatment.

In one embodiment, the coal desired character 122 database may be searchable to permit retrieval of the final processed solid fuel information. In one embodiment, the final processed solid fuel information can be retrieved by the parameter generating facility 128 to select the final-used equipment solid fuel characteristics for the generation of the solid fuel processing facility 132 operating parameters . In one embodiment, the stored final processed solid fuel information database may comprise a single record for each solid fuel or multiple records for each solid fuel. In one embodiment, there may be multiple records as a result of periodic samples, statistical samples, random samples, and the like. In one embodiment, when the coal desired character 122 is retrieved, one or more matching records may be returned for each raw solid fuel.

In one embodiment, using the coal sample data 120 and the coal desired characteristics 122, the parameter generation facility 128 may generate the solid fuel processing facility 132 operational parameters. The operating parameters may be data sets for the control of the various components of the solid fuel treatment plant 132 for treating the feedstock solid fuel as a final-use plant solid fuel. The operational parameters may be stored in a database at any associated facility, including the parameter generation facility 128, the monitoring facility 134, or the controller 144, and the like. In addition to the operational parameters, the parameter generation facility 128 may generate a set of tolerances for each functionality, which may be stored in the same database as the operational parameters or stored in a separate database. In one embodiment, the combined data set of operating parameters and tolerances can provide substantially all of the requirements for control of the solid fuel treatment.

In one embodiment, the treatment process can be controlled by operating parameters having sensor 142 measurements used to determine if a particular solid fuel treatment facility 132 component functions within a predetermined tolerance. Based on the measurement of the sensor 142, the operation of the distinctive component can be adjusted to be included in the tolerance limit. In addition, the operating parameters can be adjusted such that the function of the distinctive component is included in the preset limit. For example, the operating parameters for the microwave system 148 may be adjusted from the original operating parameters if the sensor 142 measurements exceed either the lower or upper limit of the tolerance for the microwave system 148. In one embodiment, the operational parameter database may be modified to match an adjustment to operational parameters transmitted to the component.

In one embodiment, after the final treatment of the solid fuel is completed, the monitoring facility 134 may send a final modified operating parameter database to the parameter generating facility 128, where the changed operating parameters may be stored . In one embodiment, the stored modified operating parameters may be combined with the stored characteristics of the raw solid fuel processed using the modified operating parameters. According to this embodiment, when a similar subsequent raw solid fuel is to be treated, the parameter generating facility 128 may search the stored change behavior database to retrieve a data set for use as an initial operating parameter. In an embodiment, a single operating parameter record can be retrieved, a range of modified operating parameters can be retrieved, or a set of modified operating parameters can be retrieved, so that initial operating parameters for processing new raw solid fuel The average of changed operating parameters, a single operating parameter record, a statistical collection of changed operating files, and so on.

As described above, after the solid fuel is treated in the solid fuel treatment facility 132, the treated solid fuel may be tested in the test facility 170 to determine the final treated solid fuel treatment characteristics. In one embodiment, the final treatment characteristics are determined in terms of percent moisture, percent ash, percent volatile, percent fixed carbon, BTU / lb, BTU / lb in the absence of moisture and ash, form of sulfur, Ash melting temperature, ash mineral analysis, electromagnetic absorption / reflection, dielectric properties, and the like. In one embodiment, the final solid fuel characteristics may be stored in the coal output parameter 172. In one embodiment, the characterization data can be used to provide feedback to the monitoring facility 134 for control of the solid fuel processing process and can be combined with the coal desired characterization 122 to provide data to the pricing / (178), and so on.

In one embodiment, during a solid fuel process run, a set of at least one final processed solid fuel process characteristic data may be stored in the coal output parameter 172. As discussed above, the final processed solid fuel treatment characteristics include the monitoring facility 134 as an additional set of data for the monitoring facility 134 to consider when adjusting the operating parameters of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, Lt; / RTI &gt; In one embodiment, the final treated solid fuel treatment characteristics may be combined with the coal desired characteristics 122 to determine operating parameters for a particular raw solid fuel.

For example, the parameter generating facility 128 may be requested for determining operational parameters for processing a particular raw solid fuel. The parameter generation facility 128 may retrieve the coal desired characteristics 122 for the final treated solid fuel resulting from the pretreatment of the selected source solid fuel. The parameter generating facility 128 may also retrieve the final tested characteristics from the solid fuel operation that may have the final processed solid fuel produced. The parameter generating facility 128 may take all of this information into account when determining the raw solid fuel operating parameters.

In an embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may collect a set of solid fuel characteristics for a plurality of solid fuel samples and may aggregate a set of specifications for the solid fuel substrate used by the set of end- And can collect a set of operating parameters that are used to convert the raw solid fuel to the solid fuel used by the end-use equipment, and so on. In one embodiment, the aggregation of the databases may result in the generation of a plurality of predetermined solid fuel processing facility 132 operating parameters. A plurality of predetermined operational parameters may be used for further selection by the solid fuel treatment facility 132 for the treatment of the raw solid fuel for the end-use plant. In one embodiment, the database may be a database, a relational database, an SQL database, a table, a file, a flat file, an ASCII file, a document, an XML file, 1 and 2, the end-use facility may be a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by-product facility 212, or the like.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may collect a set of raw solid fuel characteristics for a plurality of solid fuel samples from the coal sample data 120. In one embodiment, the coal sample data 120 may include information about the raw solid fuel available for the solid fuel processing facility 132 and may include information about the raw material solids used by the solid fuel processing facility 132 May include information about the fuel, and so on. There may be one or more data records for each raw solid fuel in the coal sample data 120, originating from the same raw solid fuel with multiple sample test results. In one embodiment, the parameter generating facility 128 is configured to generate a set of raw solid fuel based on the available raw solid fuel, a set of raw solid fuel properties based on the recently treated raw solid fuel, a set of raw solid fuel selected by the solid fuel processing facility 132, Can be collected.

In one embodiment, the collected database of raw solid fuel properties may include a plurality of replicated records containing information from the same raw solid fuel; A plurality of replicated records may be the result of multiple samples taken from the same source solid fuel. In one embodiment, the collection of the database of raw solid fuel characteristics may have several steps. The first step may include aggregating the sample solid fuel data into a collection of raw solid fuel databases. In a second step, the parameter generation facility 128 may use an algorithm to classify the record, handle the copied record, store the completed raw solid fuel database in a storage device, and the like. In embodiments, the copied record may be deleted from the raw solid fuel database, the copied record may be averaged, the copied record may be statistically selected, and so on. In one embodiment, the finished feedstock solid fuel database may include all of the records for the feedstock solid fuel that can be converted to a final-use plant solid fuel.

In a similar manner, the end-use equipment solid fuel information can be combined into a final processed solid fuel database. In one embodiment, the end-use equipment solid fuel information may be stored in the coal desired characteristics 122 database. In one embodiment, the coal desired characterization database 122 may include characterization information on the final processed solid fuel requested by the end-use facility, historical characterization information of the final, final processed solid fuel, and the like . In one embodiment, the collected final processed solid fuel database may comprise a plurality of records including a control cell associated with the final processed solid fuel; The multiple radiated recordings may be the result of multiple samples taken from the same final treated solid fuel obtained during the treatment of the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the collection of the final processed solid fuel database may take several steps. The first step may include aggregating the sample solid fuel data into a final processed solid fuel database. In a second step, the parameter generating facility 128 may use an algorithm to classify the record, handle the copied record, store the completed raw solid fuel database in a storage device, and so on. In one embodiment, the copied record may be deleted from the final processed solid fuel database, the copied record may be averaged, the copied record may be statistically selected, and so on. In one embodiment, the finished final processed solid fuel database may include all of the records of the final processed solid fuel that can be processed by the solid fuel processing facility 132.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 converts the raw solid fuel to the final treated solid fuel used by the end-use facility, using the collected raw solid fuel database and the collected final processed database Can be obtained.

In one embodiment, the operating parameters are selected by selecting a solid fuel character record in the collected raw solid fuel database and matching it with each final processed solid fuel collected database record to estimate the operating parameters for each matched record , Which may be determined by the parameter generation facility 128. In one embodiment, as the operating parameters are determined for the matched record, the operating parameters can be stored in the collected operating parameter database. For example, if there are 50 raw solid fuels in the raw solid fuel collection database, and there are 100 final processed solid fuels in the final solid fuel collection database, each of the 50 raw solid fuels is the raw solid fuel To the desired solid fuel in order to determine the operating parameters that may be required to convert the final solid fuel into the desired solid fuel. As a result, 5,000 collected operating parameter records can be generated.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 can determine that no raw solid fuel can be converted to the final treated solid fuel and thus can not determine operating parameters for a particular combination of solid fuel.

In another embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may select the raw solid fuel characterization record from the aggregated raw solid fuel database and determine the final processed solid fuel that can be converted by the solid fuel processing facility 132 have. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may determine operational parameters for each raw solid fuel characterization record in the collected raw solid fuel database. In one embodiment, the operating parameters can be determined by the operating performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132. [ In one embodiment, the operating parameters for each raw solid fuel characterization record can be stored in the collected operating parameter database.

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 operates by using the solid fuel processing facility 132 performance to match the raw solid fuel characteristics with the final processed characteristics and to determine the operating characteristics from the raw solid fuel characteristics Parameters can be determined. In one embodiment, the operating parameter determination methods may be used individually or in combination.

In one embodiment, the collected operating parameters may be stored to be selected at a later time to process the raw solid fuel as a final-use installation solid fuel. In one embodiment, the collected operating parameter database may also store raw solid fuel and final processed solid fuel information used in operating parameter generation. The collected operating parameter database may thus include operating parameters, raw solid fuel characteristics, final processed solid fuel characteristics, and the like. The raw solid fuel properties and the final treated solid fuel properties may include the identification of the solid fuel.

In one embodiment, when the end-use facility requests some final solid fuel from the solid fuel treatment facility 132, the parameter generating facility 128 may provide the requested final solid fuel characteristics to one of the final treated solid fuel , The characteristics of the final treated solid fuel are stored in an appropriate database. In one embodiment, matching the solids fuel requested from the end-use equipment to the final treated solid fuel collected may be due to an optimal match, a core property, a ranking of the most important solid fuel properties, and so on.

In one embodiment, after finding a match for the requested solid fuel from the end-use facility, the parameter generating facility 128 may select all possible raw solid fuel that can be used in the final- Select all possible operating parameters that can be used for final-use solid fuel production, and so on. In one embodiment, using all of the possible feedstock solid fuels that can be used in the end-use installation solid fuel production, the parameter generation facility 128 determines whether the available coal fired solid fuel is available, Data 120 can be determined. In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 may select the raw solid fuel in the coal sample data 120 that is within a certain tolerance of the required raw solid fuel. If at least one raw solid fuel is available for the solid fuel processing facility 132, the parameter generating facility 128 may select stored operating parameters that match the selected raw solid fuel and the end-use installation solid fuel. The selected operating parameters may be sent to the monitoring facility 134 and the controller 144 to treat the selected raw solid fuel as a final-use installation solid fuel.

In one embodiment, a method for modeling the cost associated with processing a solid fuel for a particular end-use facility includes a set of solid fuel characteristics for a plurality of solid fuel samples, a set of solid fuel used for a set of end- A set of specifications for the substrate, a set of operating parameters used by the end-user to convert the solid fuel sample to a solid fuel substrate, a set of costs associated with the implementation of the set of operating parameters, . In one embodiment, the cost modeling includes an invoice evaluation to the end-use facility for solid fuel treatment, an internal cost assessment relative to the actual treatment cost, cost / value estimates, efficiency of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 Can be used to provide a variety of cost reports. In one embodiment, the database may be a database, a relational database, an SQL database, a table, a file, a flat file, an ASCII file, a document, an XML file,

In an embodiment, the end-use facility may be a coal combustion facility 200, a coal conversion facility 210, a coal by-product facility 212, and the like.

The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may utilize a method of value modeling of the treated solid fuel for a particular end-use facility. In one embodiment, the end-use facility may require that the solid fuel treatment facility treat the raw solid fuel as the final solid fuel with unique characteristics. The end-use equipment may not represent the original feedstock solid fuel for use; The solid fuel treatment facility 132 may select a suitable raw solid fuel based on the end-use equipment solid fuel characteristics.

In one embodiment, the end-use plant characteristics may be transferred and stored in coal desired characteristics 122. [ The pricing / transaction facility may obtain a notification that the property has been transferred to the coal desired property 122.

In one embodiment, if there is a notification that the solid fuel characteristics have been obtained, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may request that the parameter generating facility 128 identify the raw solid fuel for conversion to the end- have. As described above, the parameter generation facility 128 may be configured to know the required characteristics and the performance of the solid fuel treatment facility 132, to search the solid fuel treatment history to determine the initial raw solid fuel, By querying a database of fuel and operating parameters, etc., a suitable raw solid fuel can be determined.

In one embodiment, if the parameter generating facility 128 selects an available raw solid fuel suitable for conversion to the end-use equipment solid fuel, then the parameter generating facility 128 may determine the coal sample data Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; 120 &lt; / RTI &gt;

In one embodiment, the parameter generation facility 128 includes identification and characterization information for the raw solid fuel, identification and characterization information for the end-user facility solid fuel, operation for converting the source solid fuel to the end- Parameters and the like to the pricing / transaction facility 178. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may have a database that associates operating costs with operating parameters for a particular set of solid fuels. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 uses the operating parameters from the parameter generation facility 128 to provide a virtual treatment of the raw solid fuel with the end-use solid fuel, 132 may be modeled. Using the operating parameters, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may be able to determine the volume of solid fuel processed per hour, the amount of energy used, the amount of inert gas used, the amount of solid fuel product emitted, and the like. For example, the model may be able to determine the solid fuel tones produced per hour using given operational parameters for belt speed or size of the batch facility. In another example, the model may be able to estimate the amount of electricity required by the microwave system 148 based on operating parameter settings.

In one embodiment, using the operating parameters, the pricing / transaction facility 178 model calculates a value for the completed conversion from the raw solid fuel to the final-used equipment solid fuel, any time during the solid fuel conversion , The incremental value added by any of the various solid fuel processing plant 132 components, and so on.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may model the solid fuel processing facility 132 on the user interface of the computer device. In one embodiment, the user interface allows the user to run the model, stop the model, pause the model, resume the model, reverse the model, play the model at a slower rate , A tool that allows you to play the model at a fast pace, focus in on a particular component, and so on. In one embodiment, focus on a particular component may provide the user with additional information, e.g., a drill down of information about a particular component. In one embodiment, the information derived from the modeling may appear in a graphical form or any other output format that will be requested by the user.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 is configured to determine the value of the completed conversion from the raw solid fuel to the end-use equipment solid fuel, the instantaneous value at any time during the solid fuel conversion, May be capable of reporting information from the model, such as the incremental value added by the fuel processing facility 132 components. In one embodiment, the report may be a printed report, a viewed report, a document report, a database, a spreadsheet, a file, and the like. Reports can show summaries, time-specific details, component-specific details, and more.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may have at least one database, which may include a cost assumption associated with the cost assumption solid fuel processing model. For example, the database may include electrical rates for the microwave system 148, cost per cubic foot of inert gas, human resource costs for monitoring the solid fuel treatment facility 132, The cost / value of the emitted solid fuel product, the cost / value of the spent solid fuel used, and the like. These costs can represent the assumptions used in modeling. In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may apply cost assumptions to the model for determining the cost / value of the processed end-use installation solid fuel.

In one embodiment, the pricing / transaction facility 178 may use a model of the solid fuel treatment facility 132 to provide a final-use facility assessment of the pricing value of the requested processed solid fuel. The evaluation may be based on a model using operating parameters, costs for operating parameters, pricing values, and the like. In one embodiment, the evaluated pricing value may be for a solid fuel that is required in a particular end-use facility, using a particular feedstock solid fuel.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in detail and with reference to the preferred embodiments described above, various modifications and improvements thereto will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the foregoing examples, but should be understood in a legal broad sense.

All documents referred to herein are incorporated herein by reference.

The improved performance in the present invention can provide initial solid fuel sample data related to one or more characteristics of the solid fuel being treated by the solid fuel treatment facility; Provide the desired solid fuel characteristics; Determine a solid fuel composition delta by comparing the initial solid fuel sample data related to the at least one characteristic with a desired solid fuel characteristic; Determine operational processing parameters for operation of the solid fuel processing facility to purify the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta; And a solid fuel purification method capable of monitoring the pollutants discharged from the solid fuel during the treatment of the solid fuel and adjusting the operating process parameters thereof to produce a purified solid fuel.

Claims (42)

The following steps: Providing solid fuel sample data related to at least one characteristic of the solid fuel; Providing the desired solid fuel characteristics; Comparing the solid fuel sample data related to the at least one characteristic with the desired solid fuel characteristics to determine a solid fuel composition delta; Determining operational processing parameters for operation of the solid fuel processing facility to purify the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta; Providing a conveyor belt suitable for passing a substantial portion of the microwave energy to convey the solid fuel through the treatment facility; And Monitoring contaminants exiting the solid fuel after treatment of the solid fuel, and adjusting the operating process parameters thereto to produce a processed solid fuel Wherein the conveyor belt is a multi-layered conveyor belt having a top layer resistant to abrasion and a second layer resistant to high temperature, the method comprising: Further comprising: The method of claim 1, wherein the solid fuel treatment facility is an electromagnetic energy solid fuel treatment facility. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solid fuel is coal. delete A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid fuel characteristic comprises a percentage of moisture. delete 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solid fuel characteristic comprises sulfur percent. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid fuel characteristic comprises a type of solid fuel. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operational processing parameter comprises a microwave power. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the operational processing parameter is a frequency of electromagnetic energy. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuation process parameter comprises an electromagnetic energy duty cycle. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contaminant comprises water. delete delete 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contaminant comprises sulfur. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contaminant comprises mercury. delete 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reduction of the pollutants is monitored by a sensor. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor provides feedback information for adjustment of operational processing parameters. delete delete delete delete delete 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor belt comprises a reinforced matrix material with a structural cord. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the high temperature is localized and the localized high temperature is greater than 500 ° F (260 ° C). A solid fuel processed by the method according to any one of the preceding claims. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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