This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into highcarbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

A method for producing ferrocoke in which it is possible to use a cheap and poor-quality coal having a high ash content while suppressing the decrease of the strength in ferrocoke or formed coke and a special coal mixing is not performed with respect to the fusion frequently causing problems in the carbonization with the shaft furnace. In a method for producing ferrocoke by molding and carbonizing a mixture of coal and iron ore, the coal is a single coal or a mixture of plural coals and a non-caking or slight caking coal having a load average value of ash content of not less than 10.7% and a load average value of mean maximum reflectance of not less than 0.81% is used.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

Provided is a surface profile detection apparatus of a burden in a blast furnace having a simple apparatus configuration and capable of detecting a deposited state of the burden while a shooter is turning and enabling an operation close to a theoretical deposition profile. The surface profile detection apparatus of a burden in a blast furnace includes a rotating plate mounted immediately above an opening part of the blast furnace and configured to rotate about an opening center of the opening part as a central axis, a rotating means for rotating the rotating plate, and a transmission and reception means for transmitting a detection wave such as a microwave or a millimeter wave in a linear shape along a diametrical direction of the rotating plate and receiving the detection wave. The surface profile detection apparatus performs transmission and reception in a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of the rotating plate while rotating the rotating plate in synchronization with turning of the shooter so that transmission of the detection wave is not interrupted.

Provided is a surface profile detection apparatus of a burden in a blast furnace having a simple apparatus configuration and capable of detecting a deposited state of the burden while a shooter is turning and enabling an operation close to a theoretical deposition profile. The surface profile detection apparatus of a burden in a blast furnace includes a rotating plate mounted immediately above an opening part of the blast furnace and configured to rotate about an opening center of the opening part as a central axis, a rotating means for rotating the rotating plate, and a transmission and reception means for transmitting a detection wave such as a microwave or a millimeter wave in a linear shape along a diametrical direction of the rotating plate and receiving the detection wave. The surface profile detection apparatus performs transmission and reception in a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of the rotating plate while rotating the rotating plate in synchronization with turning of the shooter so that transmission of the detection wave is not interrupted.

Provided is a blast furnace operation method that enables lowering of the reducing agent ratio of a blast furnace. The blast furnace operation method includes injecting pulverized coal through tuyeres of a blast furnace. The method includes adjusting coal containing moisture and volatile matter to form adjusted pulverized coal having a specific surface area within a range of 2 m.sup.2/g or more and 1000 m.sup.2/g or less, a lower heating value of 27170 kJ/kg or more, and a volatile matter content within a range of 3 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less. The method further includes injecting, through the tuyeres of the blast furnace, pulverized coal in which the adjusted pulverized coal, in a mixing ratio of 10 mass % or more, is mixed.

Provided is a blast furnace operation method that enables lowering of the reducing agent ratio of a blast furnace. The blast furnace operation method includes injecting pulverized coal through tuyeres of a blast furnace. The method includes adjusting coal containing moisture and volatile matter to form adjusted pulverized coal having a specific surface area within a range of 2 m.sup.2/g or more and 1000 m.sup.2/g or less, a lower heating value of 27170 kJ/kg or more, and a volatile matter content within a range of 3 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less. The method further includes injecting, through the tuyeres of the blast furnace, pulverized coal in which the adjusted pulverized coal, in a mixing ratio of 10 mass % or more, is mixed.