A system for processing a material includes a pre-processing module configured to receive the material, mechanically stress the received material, and output the mechanically stressed material. The system also includes a pyrolysis module communicatively coupled to the pre-processing module and downstream of the pre-processing module. The pyrolysis module is configured to receive the mechanically stressed material from the pre-processing module and to perform a pyrolysis process on the received mechanically stressed material, thereby to produce one or more pyrolysis products.

Systems and methods of dynamically charging coal in coke ovens related to the operation and output of coke plants including methods of automatically charging a coke oven using a charging ram in communication with a control system to increase the coke output and coke quality from coke plants. In some embodiments, the control system is capable of moving the charging ram in a horizontal first direction, a horizontal second direction and a vertical third direction while charging coal into the oven. In some embodiments, the coal charging system also includes a scanning system configured to scan an oven floor to generate an oven floor profile and/or oven capacity. The scanning system used in combination with the control system allows for dynamic leveling of the charging ram throughout the charging process. In some embodiments, the charging ram includes stiffener plates and support members to increase the mechanical strength of the charging ram and decrease the sag of the charging ram at a distal end.

A material transfer system for transferring material into or out of a pyrolysis system is described. The system includes a first conduit comprising a first inlet and a first outlet. a store, and a second conduit comprising a second inlet and a second outlet. The first conduit is configured to receive, at the first inlet, the material and transfer the material, through the first outlet, to the store. The store is configured to store the material. The second conduit is configured to: receive, at the second inlet, the material, transfer the material, and output the material through the second outlet.

A system for processing a material includes a pre-processing module configured to receive the material, mechanically stress the received material, and output the mechanically stressed material. The system also includes a pyrolysis module communicatively coupled to the pre-processing module and downstream of the pre-processing module. The pyrolysis module is configured to receive the mechanically stressed material from the pre-processing module and to perform a pyrolysis process on the received mechanically stressed material, thereby to produce one or more pyrolysis products.

A method for obtaining a parameter representative of a height (H) of an upper surface of a material stacked in a coke oven with respect to a reference plane (P) is provided. The method includes the following steps: providing a sensor located above the upper surface at an operation distance (D1) from the reference plane, the sensor and the material forming a capacitor having a capacitance, obtaining at least one capacitance signal representative of said capacitance, obtaining at least one distance signal (S2) using the capacitance signal, the distance signal being representative of a distance (D2) between the sensor and the upper surface along a vertical direction (Z), and obtaining said parameter representative of the height using the distance signal and the operation distance. A process for controlling a filling rate of the coke oven, a system for implementing the method, and a coke oven including the system are also provided.

Systems and methods of dynamically charging coal in coke ovens related to the operation and output of coke plants including methods of automatically charging a coke oven using a charging ram in communication with a control system to increase the coke output and coke quality from coke plants. In some embodiments, the control system is capable of moving the charging ram in a horizontal first direction, a horizontal second direction and a vertical third direction while charging coal into the oven. In some embodiments, the coal charging system also includes a scanning system configured to scan an oven floor to generate an oven floor profile and/or oven capacity. The scanning system used in combination with the control system allows for dynamic leveling of the charging ram throughout the charging process. In some embodiments, the charging ram includes stiffener plates and support members to increase the mechanical strength of the charging ram and decrease the sag of the charging ram at a distal end.

Systems and methods for particle leak detection generally include a separation or collection device configured to filter particulate from a stream and a detection device downstream of the separation or collection device. The detection device can be positioned to detect particulate that passes the separation or collection device and can include a probe configured to detect the solid particles. The particle leak detection systems can be configured to be disposed on moveable systems, such as moveable systems in coke oven operations.

A method for obtaining a parameter representative of a height (H) of an upper surface of a material stacked in a coke oven with respect to a reference plane (P) is provided. The method includes the following steps: providing a sensor located above the upper surface at an operation distance (D1) from the reference plane, the sensor and the material forming a capacitor having a capacitance, obtaining at least one capacitance signal representative of said capacitance, obtaining at least one distance signal (S2) using the capacitance signal, the distance signal being representative of a distance (D2) between the sensor and the upper surface along a vertical direction (Z), and obtaining said parameter representative of the height using the distance signal and the operation distance. A process for controlling a filling rate of the coke oven, a system for implementing the method, and a coke oven including the system are also provided.

Systems and methods of dynamically charging coal in coke ovens related to the operation and output of coke plants including methods of automatically charging a coke oven using a charging ram in communication with a control system to increase the coke output and coke quality from coke plants. In some embodiments, the control system is capable of moving the charging ram in a horizontal first direction, a horizontal second direction and a vertical third direction while charging coal into the oven. In some embodiments, the coal charging system also includes a scanning system configured to scan an oven floor to generate an oven floor profile and/or oven capacity. The scanning system used in combination with the control system allows for dynamic leveling of the charging ram throughout the charging process. In some embodiments, the charging ram includes stiffener plates and support members to increase the mechanical strength of the charging ram and decrease the sag of the charging ram at a distal end.

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.