Methods, apparatuses, and systems to collect fine particle coal are provided herein. For example, these methods, apparatuses, and systems may be incorporated into a coal processing plant to collect a portion of the fine particle coal that is normally lost in the system. A fine particle coal also is provided. The fine particle coal may have a particle size of 1000 μm or smaller and a water content of from about 5% to about 20%, by weight.

A method of converting cellulosic feedstock to bio coal. The cellulosic feedstock in a carrier of process fluid is introduced within a conduit having substantially linear portions connected by curved portions creating a serpentine structure. The substantially linear portions are surrounded by tubular sleeves creating annular spaces between the tubular sleeves and substantially linear portions for carrying a high temperature fluid for transferring thermal energy to the cellulosic feedstock and process fluid. The cellulosic feedstock is maintained in an oxygen-free environment. The method is continuous as the cellulosic feedstock in process fluid is subjected to a plurality of mixing elements characterized as having no edges perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of substantially linear segments and which are sized and positioned within the plurality of substantially linear segments such no mixing elements are in contact with one another resulting in an open region of travel for fluids passing from the conduit inlet to conduit outlet.

Methods for reducing potential pollutants in carbonaceous materials such as coal, lignites and the like prior to utilization such as by combustion, the invention in preferred embodiments processes such materials by resonance disintegration including inter alia subjection to rapid pressure increases and decreases to reduce the materials to particle sizes of a preferable mean value of approximately fifty microns or less. Pollutants such as sulfur, mercury and other heavy metals bound in a mineral fraction and micronized by such processing can then removed by classification techniques based on physical differences between a micronized carbonaceous fraction and the mineral fraction. Combustion of the micronized carbonaceous fraction substantially free of the mineral fraction results in emissions having reduced levels of sulfur, mercury and other toxic substances. The methods of the invention further include removal of water from carbonaceous materials such as coal, lignites and the like by subjection of such materials to resonance disintegration.

Methods for reducing potential pollutants in carbonaceous materials such as coal, lignites and the like prior to utilization such as by combustion, the invention in preferred embodiments processes such materials by resonance disintegration including inter alia subjection to rapid pressure increases and decreases to reduce the materials to particle sizes of a preferable mean value of approximately fifty microns or less. Pollutants such as sulfur, mercury and other heavy metals bound in a mineral fraction and micronized by such processing can then removed by classification techniques based on physical differences between a micronized carbonaceous fraction and the mineral fraction. Combustion of the micronized carbonaceous fraction substantially free of the mineral fraction results in emissions having reduced levels of sulfur, mercury and other toxic substances. The methods of the invention further include removal of water from carbonaceous materials such as coal, lignites and the like by subjection of such materials to resonance disintegration.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems to collect fine particle coal are provided herein. For example, these methods, apparatuses, and systems may be incorporated into a coal processing plant to collect a portion of the fine particle coal that is normally lost in the system. A fine particle coal also is provided. The fine particle coal may have a particle size of 1000 m or smaller and a water content of from about 5% to about 20%, by weight.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems to collect fine particle coal are provided herein. For example, these methods, apparatuses, and systems may be incorporated into a coal processing plant to collect a portion of the fine particle coal that is normally lost in the system. A fine particle coal also is provided. The fine particle coal may have a particle size of 1000 m or smaller and a water content of from about 5% to about 20%, by weight.

Coal fines are processed by flotation separation to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles. Coal fines are mixed water under high shear mixing conditions to form an aqueous slurry of coal fines containing between 15 wt. % and 55 wt. % coal fines. The aqueous slurry is introduced into a coal flotation cell to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles by flotation separation, wherein the coal fines have a particle size less than 100 m, and more preferably less than 50 m. Bubbles are generated in the coal flotation cell having a bubble size and bubble quantity selected to float the coal particles and to form a coal-froth containing at least 15 wt. % solid particles. The solid particles include coal particles and ash-forming mineral content particles. The coal-froth is collected for further processing.

Coal fines are processed by flotation separation to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles. Coal fines are mixed water under high shear mixing conditions to form an aqueous slurry of coal fines containing between 15 wt. % and 55 wt. % coal fines. The aqueous slurry is introduced into a coal flotation cell to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles by flotation separation, wherein the coal fines have a particle size less than 100 m, and more preferably less than 50 m. Bubbles are generated in the coal flotation cell having a bubble size and bubble quantity selected to float the coal particles and to form a coal-froth containing at least 15 wt. % solid particles. The solid particles include coal particles and ash-forming mineral content particles. The coal-froth is collected for further processing.

A process of making a fuel product from a non-combustible high protein organic material such as a waste material. The high protein organic material is pulverized to a particle size whose particle size less than 2 mm. The moisture content of the high protein organic material is mechanically reduced and dried to reduce the moisture content to less than ten percent (10%). The high protein organic waste material is fed into a combustion chamber and separated during combustion such as by spraying of the high protein organic waste material within the combustion chamber. Temperature and combustion reactions within the combustion chamber may be controlled by injection of steam within the combustion chamber.

A process of making a fuel product from a non-combustible high protein organic material such as a waste material. The high protein organic material is pulverized to a particle size whose particle size less than 2 mm. The moisture content of the high protein organic material is mechanically reduced and dried to reduce the moisture content to less than ten percent (10%). The high protein organic waste material is fed into a combustion chamber and separated during combustion such as by spraying of the high protein organic waste material within the combustion chamber. Temperature and combustion reactions within the combustion chamber may be controlled by injection of steam within the combustion chamber.