A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of processing coal includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is heated by conduction. A pressure in the vessel is reduced to below atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. The reduced coal is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of processing coal includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is heated by conduction. A pressure in the vessel is reduced to below atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. The reduced coal is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of processing coal includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is heated by conduction. A pressure in the vessel is reduced to below atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. The reduced coal is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

The invention relates to a dryer system for drying lignite coal used in a power plant. The system comprises a dryer and a closed loop heat pump circuit that is configured and arranged to provide heat energy to the dryer. The closed loop heat pump circuit includes a working fluid, a dryer heat exchanger, an expansion device fluidly connected and downstream of the dryer heat exchanger, arranged to enable heat energy transfer from the vapor of the second outlet line to the first working fluid and a compressor for compressing the working fluid.

The invention relates to a dryer system for drying lignite coal used in a power plant. The system comprises a dryer and a closed loop heat pump circuit that is configured and arranged to provide heat energy to the dryer. The closed loop heat pump circuit includes a working fluid, a dryer heat exchanger, an expansion device fluidly connected and downstream of the dryer heat exchanger, arranged to enable heat energy transfer from the vapor of the second outlet line to the first working fluid and a compressor for compressing the working fluid.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a biofuel from a vegetable-based biomaterial by performing the manufacture in an integrated manner, in such a way that the biomaterial is made finer and dried with the aid of heat brought from a heat-releasing process, when the drying is finally performed after the finer making stage, optionally in such a way that drying is started already in connection with finer making. The invention also relates to a biofuel manufactured in this manner and the use of the fuel in question.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a biofuel from a vegetable-based biomaterial by performing the manufacture in an integrated manner, in such a way that the biomaterial is made finer and dried with the aid of heat brought from a heat-releasing process, when the drying is finally performed after the finer making stage, optionally in such a way that drying is started already in connection with finer making. The invention also relates to a biofuel manufactured in this manner and the use of the fuel in question.