The inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for the generation and application of segregated catalytic additives for the pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous fuel and/or feedstocks. The application of such segregated additives results in the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions during combustion as well as gasification processes. Specifically, pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous materials with the inventive additives results in the reduction of NOx and/or mercury emissions by least 20% and 40% respectively.

Coke products configured to be combusted in a cupola furnace are disclosed herein. The coke products can include foundry coke products having a hydraulic diameter of at least 3.5″, egg coke products having a hydraulic diameter of 1.5-3.5″, and breeze coke products having a hydraulic diameter of 0.5-1.5″. Individual foundry coke products can comprise an oblong shape including a length of at least 4″, a width of at least 1.5″, and a length:width ratio of at least 2.0. In some embodiments, the length of individual coke products can be between 6-12″ and the width can be at least 2.5″. Additionally, the foundry coke products can have a Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) of at least 40%. The coke products can be made from a blend of coal and breeze coke products in horizontal ovens, such as horizontal heat recovery or horizontal non-recovery ovens.

Coke products configured to be combusted in a cupola furnace are disclosed herein. The coke products can include foundry coke products having a hydraulic diameter of at least 3.5″, egg coke products having a hydraulic diameter of 1.5-3.5″, and breeze coke products having a hydraulic diameter of 0.5-1.5″. Individual foundry coke products can comprise an oblong shape including a length of at least 4″, a width of at least 1.5″, and a length:width ratio of at least 2.0. In some embodiments, the length of individual coke products can be between 6-12″ and the width can be at least 2.5″. Additionally, the foundry coke products can have a Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) of at least 40%. The coke products can be made from a blend of coal and breeze coke products in horizontal ovens, such as horizontal heat recovery or horizontal non-recovery ovens.

A flammable tube has a plurality of air passages formed along the length of the flammable tube. A support member is positioned in an interior of the flammable tube. The support member is spaced apart from the lower end of the flammable tube. Solid fuel is positioned on the support member. A flame is introduced to the solid fuel which is within the interior of the tube which ignites the solid fuel, such as charcoal. The charcoal burns away the flammable tube and the support member. The flammable tube may be placed within a grill of the type used to cook food or other container that is nonflammable, and which provides a receptacle for the burning solid fuel without the need of a specialized grilling apparatus.

A fuel pellet has a body made from a mixture of (a) 1-99 weight percent hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or a combination thereof and (b) 1-99 weight percent coal fines. A related method of making a fuel pellet includes the steps of: (1) mixing together (a) a hemp byproduct, a kenaf byproduct or a hemp byproduct and a kenaf byproduct and (b) coal fines to form a pelleting mixture; and (2) compressing or extruding the pelleting mixture and forming the fuel pellet in the absence of any added binder.

This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

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.

The present invention concerns a process for the treatment of a feed comprising biomass, said process comprising at least the following steps: a) a step for drying said feed at a temperature in the range 20° C. to 180° C. for a period in the range 5 to 180 minutes, b) a step for torrefaction of the dried feed obtained from step a) in order to produce at least one solid torrefied biomass effluent, and c) a step for co-grinding the solid torrefied biomass effluent obtained from step b) in the presence of a second biomass feed in order to obtain a powder.

A method and apparatus for production of cellulose based fuel pellets from wood logs includes steps of comminuting the wood logs to particulate wood material. The particulate material heat treated in a reactor and the pressure is reduced in a manner causing defibration of the particulate material. The material is pelletized using the softened lignin at least partially as a binder for the pellets. The comminution of the wood logs is effected as a single-step operation in which the wood logs are charged to a comminution station where at least one rotating drum provided with cutting teeth is arranged in a manner to fully comminute the wood logs. The particulate material may be fractioned and a selected size fraction used for the further treatment.