There is provided a method for blending coals for coke production, in which the strength of coke produced from a coal blend serving as a raw material is estimated using a physical property that has not been taken into consideration in the past as an index, so that the method is capable of suppressing an increase in the raw material cost of the coal blend and increasing the strength of coal. Two or more coal brands are blended together to provide a coal blend for coke production. When the two or more coal brands are blended together, the coal brands and the blending ratio of the coal brands are determined using the surface tension of each of the coal brands subjected to heat treatment, the surface tension serving as a control index.

Provided is a technique by which the compatibility between coals for cokemaking can be quantitatively determined to estimate the coke strength taking into account the compatibility and to select and blend coals based on the coke strength estimated taking into account the compatibility, thereby allowing the production of a coke with the desired strength. A method for blending coals for cokemaking includes predicting the strength of a coke to be produced from a blend of a plurality of coals based on a difference between the surface tensions of the plurality of coals after heat treatment and determining the types and proportions of the coals to be blended.

Provided is a technique by which the compatibility between coals for cokemaking can be quantitatively determined to estimate the coke strength taking into account the compatibility and to select and blend coals based on the coke strength estimated taking into account the compatibility, thereby allowing the production of a coke with the desired strength. A method for blending coals for cokemaking includes predicting the strength of a coke to be produced from a blend of a plurality of coals based on a difference between the surface tensions of the plurality of coals after heat treatment and determining the types and proportions of the coals to be blended.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The present technology is generally directed to providing beds of coking material to charge a coking oven. In various embodiments, a quantity of first particulate material, having a first particulate size and bulk density, is combined with a second particulate material, having a second particulate size and bulk density, to define a multi-modal bed of coking material. The multi-modal bed of coking material exhibits an optimized bulk density that is greater than an ideal bulk density predicted by a linear combination of the bulk densities of the individual materials.

The present technology is generally directed to providing beds of coking material to charge a coking oven. In various embodiments, a quantity of first particulate material, having a first particulate size and bulk density, is combined with a second particulate material, having a second particulate size and bulk density, to define a multi-modal bed of coking material. The multi-modal bed of coking material exhibits an optimized bulk density that is greater than an ideal bulk density predicted by a linear combination of the bulk densities of the individual materials.