The present invention is directed towards a process for upgrading lignite comprising: prior to production pre-assess the calorific value of the coal, by selecting a relational expression between a calorific value of lignite and a degree of metamorphism, a moisture content and an ash content thereof based on a ratio of the ash content to the moisture content, pre-assess the calorific value of the coal; combining a relational expression between a production cost and the ash content and moisture content to make a cost budget; determining degrees of deashing and drying; selecting and implementing a lignite ash reduction pretreatment process; and implementing dry sorting first and then drying. The upgrading process has high sorting efficiency, high drying efficiency and low production cost, and meets the requirement for the surface moisture of the raw coal in the dry sorting operation.

The present invention is directed towards a process for upgrading lignite comprising: prior to production pre-assess the calorific value of the coal, by selecting a relational expression between a calorific value of lignite and a degree of metamorphism, a moisture content and an ash content thereof based on a ratio of the ash content to the moisture content, pre-assess the calorific value of the coal; combining a relational expression between a production cost and the ash content and moisture content to make a cost budget; determining degrees of deashing and drying; selecting and implementing a lignite ash reduction pretreatment process; and implementing dry sorting first and then drying. The upgrading process has high sorting efficiency, high drying efficiency and low production cost, and meets the requirement for the surface moisture of the raw coal in the dry sorting operation.

Provided is a device for granulating, agglomerating, pelletising, drying and/or coating, the device including a swirl chamber, a distribution chamber, wherein the swirl chamber is separated from the distribution chamber by a base and wherein a powder to be granulated or a powder mixture to be granulated is presented in the swirl chamber, the device further including at least one agitator for thoroughly mixing the powder to be granulated or the powder mixture to be granulated and at least one addition device for a liquid, wherein the base is designed in several parts and at least one base part is horizontally and/or vertically displaceable, with the result that that the base becomes a distributor plate. Also provided is a method for granulating, agglomerating, pelletising, drying and/or coating using such a device and a base suitable for use as a distributor plate in a convective drying apparatus.

Methods and devices for agitating material. In some embodiments, an agitator is positioned in a receptacle to agitate material therein. The agitator may include a shaft, an arm extending from the shaft, and at least one knife extending from the arm. In some embodiments, the agitator may further include one or more agitator elements operably connected to at least one knife.

A fluidized bed dryer may include a deck, an eccentric, and a blower. A heater may or may not be included. The deck of the fluidized bed dryer may vibrate due to motion of the eccentric. The blower may blow air through the deck of the fluidized bed dryer to dry material on the deck. As the material dries, the material moves across the deck, due to the vibration. The deck bed depth may be increased, which may allow for even process air flow distribution and control of conveyance speed and residence time. The fluidized bed dryer may include a controller configured to implement a drying process that may include one or more of temperature, moisture content, and relative humidity data to optimize product throughput while ensuring a desired degree of dryness.

A fluidized bed dryer may include a deck, an eccentric, and a blower. A heater may or may not be included. The deck of the fluidized bed dryer may vibrate due to motion of the eccentric. The blower may blow air through the deck of the fluidized bed dryer to dry material on the deck. As the material dries, the material moves across the deck, due to the vibration. The deck bed depth may be increased, which may allow for even process air flow distribution and control of conveyance speed and residence time. The fluidized bed dryer may include a controller configured to implement a drying process that may include one or more of temperature, moisture content, and relative humidity data to optimize product throughput while ensuring a desired degree of dryness.

A system for separation and drying of moist fine particle coal includes a blast blower, a surge tank, a moisture detection sensor, a control device and two pipelines, wherein the blast blower is communicated with the surge tank; one end of two pipelines which are connected in parallel is communicated with the surge tank, while the other end is communicated with a fluidized bed; a first pipeline includes a first valve, a first flowmeter, an air heater and an electric butterfly valve which are connected in series sequentially, while the second pipeline includes a second valve and a second flowmeter which are connected in series; the moisture detection sensor is arranged in the fluidized bed; and the control device is connected with the blast blower, the first valve, the first flowmeter, the air heater, the second valve, the second flowmeter and the moisture detection sensor.

A system for separation and drying of moist fine particle coal includes a blast blower, a surge tank, a moisture detection sensor, a control device and two pipelines, wherein the blast blower is communicated with the surge tank; one end of two pipelines which are connected in parallel is communicated with the surge tank, while the other end is communicated with a fluidized bed; a first pipeline includes a first valve, a first flowmeter, an air heater and an electric butterfly valve which are connected in series sequentially, while the second pipeline includes a second valve and a second flowmeter which are connected in series; the moisture detection sensor is arranged in the fluidized bed; and the control device is connected with the blast blower, the first valve, the first flowmeter, the air heater, the second valve, the second flowmeter and the moisture detection sensor.

A batch sample preparation apparatus (10) for preparing a geological sample for analysis is described and claimed. The apparatus (10) comprises a dryer (12) having a drying (chamber 52), a sample inlet (20) and at least one sample outlet (22), (24) communicating with the drying chamber (52), to a comminution device (14) in selective fluid communication via valves (26), (28) with the dryer (12) to selectively receive dried sample. The apparatus (10) has a source of fluid (74) introduced at the dryer (12) so that sample material may be transported from the dryer (12) to the comminution device (14) by fluid flow, which fluid flow also extracts the sample material from the comminution device (14) for collection and subsequent analysis.

An energy efficient a drying system and process using heated, dry air. The system includes an air inlet, a heat pump evaporator unit, a heat pump condenser unit, a drying unit, a heat exchanger unit, a fan, and air channels for transport of airflow from the air inlet through the system. The fan causes air to flow into the air inlet through the heat pump evaporator unit and to maintain an airflow through the system. The heat pump evaporator unit is configured to use a refrigerant to absorb heat from air that flows into the system through the heat pump evaporator unit. The heat pump condenser unit is configured to release the heat absorbed at the evaporator to the airflow. The heat exchanger unit is arranged to transfer heat from the airflow leaving the drying unit to the cold, dehumidified air flowing from the heat pump evaporator unit.