A meter for controlling the flow of feedstock from an in-feed hopper to a distillation unit, including a cylindrical roller having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter, the roller defining a recess that extends helically substantially from the first end to the second end, a sleeve circumscribing a portion of the outer diameter of the cylindrical roller, the sleeve having an open first side that allows the passage of feedstock into the recess of the roller, and an open second side that allows the passage of feedstock out of the recess of the roller as the roller rotates relative to the sleeve, and a housing fixedly attached to the sleeve and capable of attachment to the in-feed hopper and the distillation unit such that feedstock must pass through the housing to get from the in-feed hopper to the distillation unit.

Processes for the production of coke, and one or more volatile products comprise the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal product (PCP), wherein the PCP is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% v of the particles are no greater than about 100 μm in diameter; wherein the PCP has an ash content of less than about 10% m and a water content of less than around 5% m; (ii) combining the PCP with a liquid residue oil to create a combined solid-liquid blend, wherein the solid-liquid blend comprises at least around 0.1% m and at most around 30% m PCP; (iii) subjecting the solid-liquid blend to a temperature in excess of 375° C. for a time period sufficient to induce cracking of at least 1% of the PCP particles to generate the one or more volatile products, and (iv) producing coke from the product of step (iii).

Processes for the production of coke, and one or more volatile products comprise the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal product (PCP), wherein the PCP is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% v of the particles are no greater than about 100 μm in diameter; wherein the PCP has an ash content of less than about 10% m and a water content of less than around 5% m; (ii) combining the PCP with a liquid residue oil to create a combined solid-liquid blend, wherein the solid-liquid blend comprises at least around 0.1% m and at most around 30% m PCP; (iii) subjecting the solid-liquid blend to a temperature in excess of 375° C. for a time period sufficient to induce cracking of at least 1% of the PCP particles to generate the one or more volatile products, and (iv) producing coke from the product of step (iii).

A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

An optimization method for a directional preparation technique and efficient use of semi-coke for blast furnace injection. Firstly, the volatile and the ash content of target semi-coke are preset, and then the volatile and the ash removal percentages of a raw coal are calculated; after ash removal, several sets of dry distillation carbonization temperatures and carbonization times are obtained according to the volatile removal percentage, and the relationships between a combustion rate, abrasiveness, explosiveness and jet flow property and the carbonization temperature are respectively established to obtain the optimal actual carbonization temperature; and semi-coke for blast furnace injection is obtained at an actual carbonization temperature. The directional preparation is suitable for the semi-coke for blast furnace injection, and an optimal coal-compounding scheme is obtained, thus achieving the efficient and safe injection of blast furnace iron-making fuels, and energy conservation and emission reduction.

An optimization method for a directional preparation technique and efficient use of semi-coke for blast furnace injection. Firstly, the volatile and the ash content of target semi-coke are preset, and then the volatile and the ash removal percentages of a raw coal are calculated; after ash removal, several sets of dry distillation carbonization temperatures and carbonization times are obtained according to the volatile removal percentage, and the relationships between a combustion rate, abrasiveness, explosiveness and jet flow property and the carbonization temperature are respectively established to obtain the optimal actual carbonization temperature; and semi-coke for blast furnace injection is obtained at an actual carbonization temperature. The directional preparation is suitable for the semi-coke for blast furnace injection, and an optimal coal-compounding scheme is obtained, thus achieving the efficient and safe injection of blast furnace iron-making fuels, and energy conservation and emission reduction.

A method is disclosed, for producing coke in which at least a first and second source of carbonaceous materials are introduced as feedstock into a mixer. The materials are mixed into a single feedstock, and the single feedstock is analyzed to determine its coking feasibility. The single feedstock is pyrolyzed in a pyrolyzer to produce at least a coke material and a gaseous by-product. At least a portion of the gaseous by-product is used outside of the pyrolyzer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A method is disclosed, for producing coke in which at least a first and second source of carbonaceous materials are introduced as feedstock into a mixer. The materials are mixed into a single feedstock, and the single feedstock is analyzed to determine its coking feasibility. The single feedstock is pyrolyzed in a pyrolyzer to produce at least a coke material and a gaseous by-product. At least a portion of the gaseous by-product is used outside of the pyrolyzer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include extracting a coal sample from a location, performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample, determining one or more desired advanced carbon materials based at least in part on spectral analysis, extracting an amount of coal from the location, beneficiating the amount of coal, and processing the beneficiated amount of coal to produce the one or more desired advanced carbon materials from at least some of the amount of coal.