The lifetime of artificial lift systems, such as progressing cavity pumps (PCPs), used to transport aqueous slurries which contain fine particles, e.g. coal fines, may be prolonged by incorporation of at least one dispersant in the slurries. The dispersants act to inhibit or prevent the fine particles from agglomerating to plug the artificial lift intake and/or inhibit or prevent the agglomerated coal fines settling above the artificial lift system. The dispersant may also improve the lubricity of the slurry.

To provide a method for producing a solid fuel that can efficiently evaporate moisture contained in a slurry by enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

The method for producing a solid fuel of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a slurry by mixing powdery low-grade coal and oil; evaporating moisture contained in the slurry by heating; and separating the slurry obtained after the evaporation step into solid and liquid, wherein the evaporation step includes the steps of: preheating the slurry in a first circulation route; and heating the preheated slurry in a second circulation route that is different from the first circulation route. Preferably, in the preheating step and the heating step, a multitubular heat exchanger is used, the heating medium is supplied to the shell side, and the slurry is supplied to the tube side. Preferably, the process steam generated in the evaporation step is used as the heating medium for anyone of the preheating step and the heating step, and externally introduced steam is used as the heat medium for the other.

Gasoline fuel and method of making and using it. The fuel comprises from 5 to 20 vol.-% paraffinic hydrocarbons originating from biological oils, fats, or derivatives or combinations thereof. Further, it comprises oxygenates, such as ethanol present in a concentration of about 5 to 15 vol.-%; or iso-butanol present in a concentration of 5 to 20 vol.-%, preferably about 10 to 17 vol.-%; or ETBE present in a concentration of 7 to 25 vol.-%, preferably about 15 to 22 vol.-%. The bioenergy content of the gasoline is at least 14 Energy equivalent percentage (E.sub.eqv-%) calculated based on the heating values given in the European Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC. By means of the invention, fuels with a high bioenergy content are provided which can be used in conventional gasoline-fuelled automotive engines.

A formulation and methods for making high energy organic fuels that incorporate suspended metal particles with metal particle sized ranging from 33 nm to 5 micron. The hybrid organic fuels contain superior density and/or energy content to conventional liquid organic fuels. These hybrid organic fuels used in combination with metal particle afford fuels with 5 to 80% more net heat of combustion (based on volume). These fuels should extend the distant range for jets, liquid rocket engines, SCRAM jet engines, and improve energy content in fuel-air explosive applications such as fuel-air explosives and in the Multi-Effects Weapons System (MEWS) where the fuel is used both for propulsion and explosive effects.

A process for making biochar from a processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock is described. The processed feedstock is introduced into a substantially microwave-transparent reaction chamber. A microwave source emits microwaves which are directed through the microwave-transparent wall of the reaction chamber to impinge on the feedstock within the reaction chamber. The microwave source may be rotated relative to the reaction chamber. The feedstock is subjected to microwaves until the desired reaction occurs to produce a solid processed biochar fuel.

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 fuel additive cartridge for use with a dimethyl-ether fuel system of a vehicle includes a reservoir for storing and dispensing a liquid fuel additive into a flow of fuel in a fill conduit during refueling. The cartridge also includes a dispenser actuated by the fuel flow to selectively dispense the liquid fuel additive from the reservoir. The fuel additive cartridge is intended to attach to a dimethyl-ether fuel system at a location between a fueling inlet connector and a storage tank to facilitate a metered mixing of liquid fuel additive from the cartridge and dimethyl-ether during the re-fueling of the storage tank.

Use of a viscosity increasing component in a diesel fuel composition, for the purpose of improving the fuel economy of an engine into which the fuel composition is or is intended to be introduced, or of a vehicle powered by such an engine, wherein the viscosity increasing component is a viscosity index (VI) improving additive, wherein the VI improving additive comprises a linear block copolymer, which contains one or more monomer blocks selected from ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene, isoprene and styrene monomers and wherein the VI improving additive is used at a concentration of from 0.001% w/w to 0.05% w/w.

The invention relates to liquid hydrocarbons containing cyclic ortho esters as dehydrating dehydrating icing inhibitors and to methods of using the compounds. The liquid hydrocarbons include fuels such aviation fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids and hydrocarbon solvents.

Disclosed are processes, apparatuses, and systems that can be used in natural gas pipelines to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions of the natural gas pipelines, by capturing combusted flue gas which is normally wasted and putting it back to the pipelines, which can also be monetized (e.g., carbon credits). One example process may include producing a captured CO2 stream from a combustion gas of a gas turbine in a natural gas pipeline, compressing the captured CO2 stream, and combining the compressed CO2 stream with natural gas transported in the natural gas pipeline.