The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a combustible material having a lower heating value of 5.29 MWh/t or more.

According to the invention, such a method comprises continuously introducing of a predetermined volume per minute of wood fragments into a pressurised reactor; exposing the wood fragments to steam at a temperature of between 200 and 220° C. for a time of between 5 and 9 minutes, the value of said exposure time and the value of the temperature of said steam being selected so that the severity factor is between 4.05 and 4.15; continuously extracting from said reactor the same predetermined volume of wood fragments per minute, through a plurality of orifices opening into a conduit at substantially atmospheric pressure; separating said decompressed wood fragments and the residual steam extracted from said reactor, said wood fragments obtained after separation forming said combustible material.

The invention relates to a method for producing pellets which are capable of providing free flowing powder suitable for firing an industrial furnace from municipal and/or other waste, the process comprising the following steps: (i) providing waste material comprising one or more thermoplastic material(s) of more than 40%, based on the total dry weight of the waste and one or more cellulosic material(s) of more than 30%, based on the total dry weight of the waste, wherein the waste has a particle size distribution with more than 80% larger than 5 mm, more than 95% smaller than 60 mm, (ii) subjecting the waste material through a pelletiser with holes between 4-16 mm and a length ratio of more than 2, and subjecting the pellets through a second pelletiser with holes between 4 and 10 mm, and a length ratio of more than 2 to provide pellets with a diameter between 4 and 10 mm, and a length of between 3 and 50 mm. The invention also relates to pellets obtained and having advantageous properties.

A method for conditioning natural gas for downlink applications comprising pulling raw gas; cooling the gas to a temperature within a preset temperature range; removing solid contaminants and condensed liquids from the gas; reducing gas pressure to meet the requirements of the inlet side of a compressor; controlling the rotational speed of the compressor based on data input from various flow meters; delivering the preconditioned gas to the suction side of the compressor; elevating gas pressure to achieve a desired discharge pressure; using an aerial cooler to cool the pressurized gas; delivering the pressurized gas to a separator to separate the liquids from the gas; repeating the compression, cooling and separating steps until desired temperature and pressure are achieved; cooling the gas through the use of a heat sink; removing liquids from the gas through the use of a separator; and adjusting the final gas pressure and temperature.

A method for fabricating a coconut shell heat producing device. Heat is applied to coconut shells to form carbonized coconut charcoal pieces. The charcoal pieces are ground to form coconut charcoal powder. A moistened blend is created that includes the coconut charcoal powder, a binder and water. The moistened blend is placed into a press. Pressure is applied in the press to form the moistened blend into the heat providing device. The heat providing device includes at least one hole extending through the device. In a preferred embodiment the heat producing device is a coconut shell charcoal log.

A process for upgrading of a coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal composition, wherein the composition is in the form of solid particles, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% vol) of the solid particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter; and (ii) combining the purified coal composition with a solid coal feedstock, in order to create a combined solid-solid blend upgraded coal product. Further a process for preparation of a purified coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: obtaining a starting material that comprises coal; subjecting the starting material to at least one fine grinding stage so as to reduce the starting material to a particulate composition in which substantially all of the particles are no more than 500 microns (μm) in diameter; exposing the particulate composition to at least one froth flotation stage so as to separate hydrocarbonaceous material comprised within the particulate composition from mineral matter, wherein during the at least one froth flotation stage the hydrocarbonaceous material is associated with froth produced and separated from the at least one froth flotation stage; washing the froth separated from the at least one froth flotation stage with water to release the hydrocarbonaceous material; and subjecting the hydrocarbonaceous material to at least one dewatering stage so as to obtain a particulate purified coal product that has an ash content of less than 12% m, a water content of less than 25% m and wherein the particles comprised within the particulate purified coal product have a d90 of less than 00 μm. Products, such as pelletized or briquetted coal, comprising purified coal material obtainable via the described processes are also provided.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a solid biomass fuel, as well as a solid biomass fuel produced by said process. Additionally, the present invention relates to a combustion process comprising combusting said solid biomass fuel so as to produce energy.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a solid biomass fuel from rice husks either alone or in combination with other materials such as calliandra callothyrsus or wood, as well as a solid biomass fuel produced by said process. Additionally, the present invention relates to a combustion process comprising combusting said solid biomass fuel so as to produce energy.

An inventive incendiary device is provided. The incendiary device comprises a plurality of corrugated components which are substantially saturated with a waxy component. In one preferred embodiment, the plurality of corrugated components are arranged in a stacked configuration to form a firestarter log. The firestarter log can additionally include a support component longitudinally disposed therethrough. The firestarter log can further comprise an ignition component at least partially disposed thereupon. In some aspects, the firestarter log further comprises a groove, which can provide an air passageway, and in which the ignition component can be at least partially disposed.

Pellets and a process for producing pellets are disclosed. The process includes recovering spent coffee grounds from a coffee production facility. The coffee grounds are then subject to a drying process to remove moisture from the coffee grounds to form dried coffee grounds. A mixture of about 0.5-10% dried coffee grounds and wood material is then formed. The mixture is then compressed in a pellet mill to form wood pellets including about 0.5-10% coffee grounds. The coffee grounds in the wood material acts as a lubricant for the pelleting machinery and eliminate the need for other lubricants in the process.

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.