US3870237A - Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom - Google Patents

Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom Download PDF

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Publication number
US3870237A
US3870237A US442559A US44255974A US3870237A US 3870237 A US3870237 A US 3870237A US 442559 A US442559 A US 442559A US 44255974 A US44255974 A US 44255974A US 3870237 A US3870237 A US 3870237A
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United States
Prior art keywords
coal
ammonia
comminution
inorganic
moist
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Expired - Lifetime
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US442559A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert G Aldrich
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Syracuse University
Syracuse University Research Corp
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Syracuse University
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Priority to US442559A priority Critical patent/US3870237A/en
Priority to GB2249674A priority patent/GB1428629A/en
Priority to CA200,591A priority patent/CA996860A/en
Priority to FR7417925A priority patent/FR2261407A1/fr
Priority to DE19742427566 priority patent/DE2427566A1/de
Priority to US510854A priority patent/US3918761A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C19/00—Other disintegrating devices or methods
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
    • C10L9/00—Treating solid fuels to improve their combustion
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/28—Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/29—Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
    • E21B43/35—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well specially adapted for separating solids

Definitions

  • the chemical comminution of coal by means of moist ammonia can be used for mining coal from sub-surface strata by injecting said moist ammonia into a subsurface stratum, following this with the injection of an inert fluid at a rate high enough to form a suspension, and carrying the suspension back to the surface where the comminuted coal is separated from the carrier.
  • a particularly valuable feature of the present invention is the fact that about 90 percent of the comminuted product is plus 32 mesh.
  • most of this fraction is not so small as to be difficult to separate same from a carrier stream. Consequently, protection against discharge of fines into the atmosphere during processing does not constitute a serious problem.
  • most of the impurities of this type can be removed by sieving as well as by flotation.
  • the process is suitable for deep-mining, strip-mining and auger-mining in that the coal after being comminuted by moist ammonia, with or without the use of mechanical aids, can then be carried to the surface or exterior with an inert gas or liquid.
  • a suitable inert gas is nitrogen and a suitable inert liquid is water.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a chemical method for the fragmentation of raw coal.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a chemical method for the fragmentation of raw coal in natural beds, seams or sub-surface strata.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a chemical method for the fragmentation of coal either as a step in mining said coal or subsequent to mining of said coal, thereby greatly reducing the energy requirement for mining coal and for fragmenting same.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a chemical method for the fragmentation of coal which produces relatively little fines difficult to separate from air.
  • An important object of the present invention is to provide a means for particle size reduction of coal without affecting the particle size of rock'or mineral impurities.
  • a significant object of the present invention is to provide a chemical means for fragmentation of coal without detriment to the calorific value of the coal.
  • a further object of the present invention is to facilitate the separation of inorganic impurities and,- in particular, the separation of inorganic sulfur compounds from coal.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an economical method of mining coal in which'the expenditure of mechanical energy is greatly reduced.
  • Yet a further object of the present invention is the size-reduction of coal without concommitant reduction of size of inorganic components, thereby making it possible to remove said inorganic components from said coal by sieving.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others thereof, which will be exemplified in the method hereinafter disclosed, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
  • FIG. 1 shows schematically the fragmentation and mining of coal in accordance with the method of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show the change in size distribution of two different types of coal after treatment with moist ammonia and the size distribution for that portion of the coal having a density less than 1.62.
  • the Illinois No. 6 seam coal has the following delivered nominal quality:
  • MOIST LIQUID AMMONIA 2 MINUTES 23.10 15.60 14.80 25.40 8.50 3.50 8.10 5 MINUTES 24.60 15.40 14.60 26.40 8.20 3.60 14.20 15 MINUTES 15.40 19.90 16.40 27.40 8.70 3.90 $4 '10 30 MINUTES 15.70 10.50 15.40 26 9.10 4 '10 17.0
  • FIG. 2 shows graphically the size distribution of raw and comminuted Pittsburgh coal. The large decrease in the +5 fraction and the small increase in the 60 X 100 fraction are particularly significant.
  • FIG. 3 shows the size distribution of that portion of the raw and comminuted coal having a specific gravity less than 1.62, in
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 give the results of similar tests on Illinois No. 6 seam coaLHere the reduction in the float portion of the +5 fraction by treatment with moist ammonia is even more striking. Also, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the degree of fragmentation by treatment with moist ammonia is greater than with the Pittsburgh seam coal.
  • the quantity of coal in the size range 9 X 32 after comminution at the expense of the plus 9 mesh coal -with the build-up of relatively few very fine particles is 'characteristic of fragmentation by moist ammonia.
  • the absence of plus 5 floating material and minus floating material in the case of Illinois Number 6 is espe cially indicative of the ability of the comminution effect to reduce the size of large pieces with little increase in the range minus 60 mesh. Further, for most of the coals tested, approximately percent of the recoverable coal is plus 32 mesh. This reduction in the amount of fines to be handled is a significant economic factor and greatly simplifies handling, transportation and storage of the cleaned coal fuel.
  • Table III summarizes the data in analyzing the float and sink portions of each of the sieve fractions of the Illinois Number 6 samples. The samples were analyzed -for ash, pyritic sulfur and thermal value.
  • the data show that the float fraction represents 98 percent of the thermal value of the composite samples with I 66 percent less ash and 71 percent less pyritic sulfur than in the original.
  • Table IV shows results with a similar analysis made from a mechanically ground sample having a similar size distribution- TABLE III Evaluation of Chemical Comminution For Removing Pyritic Sulfur and Ash From Illinois No. 6
  • coals For many coals the organic sulfur content lies between 0.4 and 0.7 percent by weight. Other coals such as Pittsburgh Redstone have from 0.7 to 1.0 percent of organic sulfur. Since virtually all of the inorganic sulfur is removable by treatment with moist ammonia, it is evident that there is a huge quantity of coal which can be treated to bring the sulfur content to 1.0 percent or lower.
  • the effect of increasing the moisture content in the ammonia is to decrease the rate at which weakening of interfacial bonds and comminution occur.
  • successive batches of bituminous coal containing up to 11 percent moisture were treated with recycled ammonia. The ratios were 1 pound of ammonia to pounds of coal. Starting with essentially anhydrous ammonia, the water content after treating each successive batch of coal was as follows:
  • the moisture content can range up to about 70 percent of the total of the water-ammonia solution. Even concentrated ammonium hydroxide having an ammonia content of 28-29 percent can be used, but the reaction rate is low. From the standpoint of the kinetics of the reaction, the preferred maximum concentration of water is 25 percent by weight.
  • the ammonia can be separated from the water by known means and reused. The quantity of ammonia lost in the process is small, so that the cost of ammonia does not represent a major factor in the economics of the process.
  • Comminution of coal with moist ammonia can be effectively utilized in the mining of coal where the coal is located either in sub-surface strata or surface strata.
  • a boring tool is first used as a means of reaching a subsurface coal seam and for providing a passage through which one or more pipes can be inserted into the seam.
  • the pipes essentially seal the passage, and the pipes can be arranged, preferably essentially concentrically, so that moist liquid ammonia and an inert carrier gluid can be brought to the seam (not necessarily simultaneously) and a suspension of comminuted coal can be brought to the surface where the contaminants can be separated from the suspension.
  • An inert gas flowing at high rate can be used and the comminuted coal can be fluidized.
  • the moist ammonia can first be injected or circulated through the coal seam using apparticularly suitable for auger and for strip-mining. The.
  • ammonia can be recovered by a suitable process for recycling.
  • the coal particles can then be classified for further size reduction in an ammonia atmosphere, for further contaminant isolation or for direct sale.
  • FIG. 1 shows schematically how such a process is carried out.
  • Moist liquid ammonia, stored in tank 1 is supplied to pipe 2 and transported therethrough to coal seam 3 lying below the surface of the earth 4.
  • An inert fluid stored in tank 6 is likewise transported through pipe 2 to coal seam 3.
  • the rate of supply of inert fluid is such that coal fragments produced by contact of the moist ammonia with the coal seam are suspended or fluidized and carried upward through pipe 7.
  • separator 8 which screens the coal fragments from rock and other impurity objects which are of larger size.
  • the fragmented coal is transferred to coal storage bin 9.
  • the ammonia recovered in separator 8 is transferred back to tank 1.
  • an inert gas is used for fluidizing the coal fragments, it is returned to storage tank 6.
  • pipes 2 and 7 are shown as being concentric, this is merely a matter of convenience since the drilling of only one hole is required with such an arrangement. Also three concentric tubes could as conveniently be used, one to carry the moist ammonia, a second to carry inert gas, and a third to lead the fluidized coal fragments to the surface.
  • Treatment of coal chunks with liquid ammonia in accordance with the present invention is also useful where the chunk coal is produced mechanically as by a borer or auger.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
US442559A 1974-02-14 1974-02-14 Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom Expired - Lifetime US3870237A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US442559A US3870237A (en) 1974-02-14 1974-02-14 Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom
GB2249674A GB1428629A (en) 1974-02-14 1974-05-20 Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulphur in inorganic form therefrom
CA200,591A CA996860A (en) 1974-02-14 1974-05-22 Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom
FR7417925A FR2261407A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1974-02-14 1974-05-22
DE19742427566 DE2427566A1 (de) 1974-02-14 1974-06-07 Chemische feinzerkleinerung von kohle und entfernung der asche einschliesslich des schwefels in anorganischer form
US510854A US3918761A (en) 1974-02-14 1974-09-30 Chemical comminution of coal and removal of ash including sulfur in inorganic form therefrom

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CA (1) CA996860A (enrdf_load_html_response)
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FR (1) FR2261407A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4169710A (en) * 1978-03-29 1979-10-02 Chevron Research Company Process for comminuting and reducing the sulfur and ash content of coal
US4254191A (en) * 1977-01-24 1981-03-03 Polaroid Corporation Method for manufacturing battery vents and vented batteries
US4278442A (en) * 1978-11-30 1981-07-14 Minoru Matsuda Method for reducing caking property of coal
US4400034A (en) * 1981-02-09 1983-08-23 Mobil Oil Corporation Coal comminution and recovery process using gas drying
US4522265A (en) * 1980-02-25 1985-06-11 University Of Southern California Method for fracturing of oil shale
US4546925A (en) * 1983-09-09 1985-10-15 General Electric Company Supermicronized process for coal comminution
US4695290A (en) * 1983-07-26 1987-09-22 Integrated Carbons Corporation Integrated coal cleaning process with mixed acid regeneration
US4753033A (en) * 1985-03-24 1988-06-28 Williams Technologies, Inc. Process for producing a clean hydrocarbon fuel from high calcium coal
US4787918A (en) * 1986-10-31 1988-11-29 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Process for producing deep cleaned coal
US5701963A (en) * 1996-01-31 1997-12-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Continuous injection of an inert gas through a drill rig for drilling into potentially hazardous areas
WO2010008556A1 (en) * 2008-07-16 2010-01-21 Bruso Bruce L Method and apparatus for refining coal
CN102606095A (zh) * 2012-03-27 2012-07-25 昆山中慈工控科技开发有限公司 减载启动的自循环采气排灰自适应控制系统
CN114151085A (zh) * 2021-12-09 2022-03-08 山东鲁创能源科技有限公司 一种煤矿“三下”压煤充填开采系统及方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE886433A (fr) * 1980-12-01 1981-04-01 Ledent Pierre Procede d'exploiration du charbon pour gazeification souterraine, en vue de la production d'un gaz a haute teneur en hydrogene

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3815826A (en) * 1972-02-18 1974-06-11 Univ Syracuse Res Corp Chemical comminution and mining of coal

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3815826A (en) * 1972-02-18 1974-06-11 Univ Syracuse Res Corp Chemical comminution and mining of coal

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4254191A (en) * 1977-01-24 1981-03-03 Polaroid Corporation Method for manufacturing battery vents and vented batteries
US4169710A (en) * 1978-03-29 1979-10-02 Chevron Research Company Process for comminuting and reducing the sulfur and ash content of coal
US4278442A (en) * 1978-11-30 1981-07-14 Minoru Matsuda Method for reducing caking property of coal
US4522265A (en) * 1980-02-25 1985-06-11 University Of Southern California Method for fracturing of oil shale
US4400034A (en) * 1981-02-09 1983-08-23 Mobil Oil Corporation Coal comminution and recovery process using gas drying
US4695290A (en) * 1983-07-26 1987-09-22 Integrated Carbons Corporation Integrated coal cleaning process with mixed acid regeneration
US4546925A (en) * 1983-09-09 1985-10-15 General Electric Company Supermicronized process for coal comminution
US4753033A (en) * 1985-03-24 1988-06-28 Williams Technologies, Inc. Process for producing a clean hydrocarbon fuel from high calcium coal
US4787918A (en) * 1986-10-31 1988-11-29 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Process for producing deep cleaned coal
US5701963A (en) * 1996-01-31 1997-12-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Continuous injection of an inert gas through a drill rig for drilling into potentially hazardous areas
WO2010008556A1 (en) * 2008-07-16 2010-01-21 Bruso Bruce L Method and apparatus for refining coal
US20100011658A1 (en) * 2008-07-16 2010-01-21 Bruso Bruce L Method and apparatus for refining coal
JP2011528393A (ja) * 2008-07-16 2011-11-17 ブルース・エル・ブルーソ 石炭精製のための方法及び装置
US8221510B2 (en) 2008-07-16 2012-07-17 Bruso Bruce L Method and apparatus for refining coal
EA020262B1 (ru) * 2008-07-16 2014-09-30 Брюс Л. Брусо Способ и устройство для переработки угля
AP3085A (en) * 2008-07-16 2015-01-31 Bruce L Bruso Method and apparatus for refining coal
CN102606095A (zh) * 2012-03-27 2012-07-25 昆山中慈工控科技开发有限公司 减载启动的自循环采气排灰自适应控制系统
CN114151085A (zh) * 2021-12-09 2022-03-08 山东鲁创能源科技有限公司 一种煤矿“三下”压煤充填开采系统及方法
CN114151085B (zh) * 2021-12-09 2023-09-22 山东鲁创能源科技有限公司 一种煤矿“三下”压煤充填开采系统及方法

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GB1428629A (en) 1976-03-17
DE2427566A1 (de) 1975-08-21
FR2261407A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1975-09-12
CA996860A (en) 1976-09-14

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