A process control method for the on-line operation in real time of a low-rank-coal pyrolysis process producing a coal-char product, a pyrolysis gas, and a complex multi-component coal-tar-oil. The control method is based on measuring the concentration of selected compounds in the three products, a solid phase, a gas phase and a liquid phase condensed from the gas-phase, using a combination of spectrometric technology including scanning in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet and microwave spectral regions, and analyzing the data based on application of a modified Chi-Square data manipulation fitting technique developed for the specific products and process. This process control method provides a basis for accurate on-line control of the process operating parameters and allows optimization of the coal-char quality as well as the quality and yield of the extracted coal-tar-oil with unique chemical composition derived from low-rank coal in a pyrolysis process. The subject invention is based on the selection of 2-6 key compounds contained in each product to be measured and used as control point, calibration of the process operating conditions to the key compound composition and monitoring the changes in concentration on-line in real time.

The present invention pertains to the recovery, separation and the unique product mixtures obtained by recovery and separation of coal-tar oils produced from low-rank-coal by a novel mild-temperature pyrolysis [MTP] process originating at the point where the vapor phase exits the pyrolysis reactor. Mild-temperature pyrolysis [MTP] takes place below 1200 F. in contrast to the high-temperature pyrolysis [HTP] that is operated at 1600-2000 F. for coke oven processing of metallurgical coke. The yield and composition of coal-tar-oil recovered from MTP are quite different from HTP coal-tar. In order to optimize the oil recovery process, the most appropriate recovery and separation processes therefore also will be different. The MTP process produces coal-tar containing a major fraction of strongly polar compounds mixed with non-polar compounds that separates into several liquid phases and overlap in their distillation ranges. This invention addresses the distinct product fractions obtained from MTP and the integrated multi step oil recovery and product separation process, which is designed with the objective to improve and facilitate the product separation, decrease the required amount of energy for separation and equipment cost for downstream processing.

The present invention pertains to the recovery, separation and the unique product mixtures obtained by recovery and separation of coal-tar oils produced from low-rank-coal by a novel mild-temperature pyrolysis [MTP] process originating at the point where the vapor phase exits the pyrolysis reactor. Mild-temperature pyrolysis [MTP] takes place below 1200 F. in contrast to the high-temperature pyrolysis [HTP] that is operated at 1600-2000 F. for coke oven processing of metallurgical coke. The yield and composition of coal-tar-oil recovered from MTP are quite different from HTP coal-tar. In order to optimize the oil recovery process, the most appropriate recovery and separation processes therefore also will be different. The MTP process produces coal-tar containing a major fraction of strongly polar compounds mixed with non-polar compounds that separates into several liquid phases and overlap in their distillation ranges. This invention addresses the distinct product fractions obtained from MTP and the integrated multi step oil recovery and product separation process, which is designed with the objective to improve and facilitate the product separation, decrease the required amount of energy for separation and equipment cost for downstream processing.

A system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge includes a non-conductive housing having a longitudinal axis, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening, a first electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a second electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap, a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, and the electric glow discharge is created whenever the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap.

A system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge includes a non-conductive housing having a longitudinal axis, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening, a first electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a second electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap, a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, and the electric glow discharge is created whenever the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap.

A high-temperature dust removal and filtering apparatus, comprising a set of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices; a high-temperature dust removal and filtering system, comprising two or more sets of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices, and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices; a continuous dust removal and filtering method consisting of two or more sets of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices and a pre-heating apparatus and regeneration apparatus provided for the high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices. Said method is implemented with a high-temperature dust removal and filtering system capable of switching. The high-temperature dust removal and filtering system always keeps one or more sets of high-temperature dust removal and filtering devices in a normal filtering state.

A processing apparatus includes a microwave processing chamber. In addition, the processing apparatus includes a rigid, rotatable feed wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation such that a part of the feed wheel is located within the processing chamber. Further, the processing apparatus includes a feed device configured to deposit materials to be processed onto the feed wheel. Still further, the processing apparatus includes an output into which processed materials from the feed wheel can be deposited.

Systems and methods for heating material through cogeneration of thermal and electrical energy can include a heat source and an electric generator configured to produce hot exhaust gas and electricity. One or more heating conduits can carry the hot exhaust gas to one or more bodies of material. The electric generator can at least partially power one or more electric heaters configured to reheat the hot exhaust gas after a portion of heat has been transferred from the hot exhaust gas to the one or more bodies of material.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort for shale pyrolysis may include a pyrolysis zone, a combustion zone, and a cool down zone. The pyrolysis zone may include one or more pyrolysis zone heat exchangers that transfer heat from a working fluid to shale for heating and pyrolyzing the shale. The combustion zone may include one or more injectors that inject oxygen to combust coke residue in the pyrolyzed shale. The cool down zone may include one or more cool down zone heat exchangers that cool the shale by transferring heat to the working fluid. In a further embodiment, the working fluid is circulated to heat the pyrolysis zone heat exchangers.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort for shale pyrolysis may include a pyrolysis zone, a combustion zone, and a cool down zone. The pyrolysis zone may include one or more pyrolysis zone heat exchangers that transfer heat from a working fluid to shale for heating and pyrolyzing the shale. The combustion zone may include one or more injectors that inject oxygen to combust coke residue in the pyrolyzed shale. The cool down zone may include one or more cool down zone heat exchangers that cool the shale by transferring heat to the working fluid. In a further embodiment, the working fluid is circulated to heat the pyrolysis zone heat exchangers.