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.

A power generation system in which the combustion heat of hydrocarbon gas is used to heat the steam for power generation; at the same time, the exhaust heat thereof is used to dry and thy-distill low rank coal. The power generation system includes: a dry distillation step for dry-distilling low rank coal of high moisture content; a cooling step for cooling the fixed carbon obtained in the dry distillation step; a combustion step in which hydrocarbon gas obtained in the dry distillation step is used as the main fuel; and a power generation step in which there are provided a power generator moving a steam turbine by main steam generated in the combustion step and a condenser.

A power generation system in which the combustion heat of hydrocarbon gas is used to heat the steam for power generation; at the same time, the exhaust heat thereof is used to dry and thy-distill low rank coal. The power generation system includes: a dry distillation step for dry-distilling low rank coal of high moisture content; a cooling step for cooling the fixed carbon obtained in the dry distillation step; a combustion step in which hydrocarbon gas obtained in the dry distillation step is used as the main fuel; and a power generation step in which there are provided a power generator moving a steam turbine by main steam generated in the combustion step and a condenser.

A process for the preparation of a concentrated filter cake from an admixture of partially-decomposed organic material and a polar liquid using a filter press without the input of thermal heat or superheated steam or other pressurized gas or liquid is provided by this invention. The admixture is mixed with an additional amount of the polar liquid to produce a feed slurry of the admixture having a moisture content of about 90-99% wt. The resulting slurry admixture is then introduced into the filter press having a plurality of filter plates with porous membranes secured along their outlet. The pressure condition introduced inside the filter plate chambers is increased by a pressurized gas or liquid to force the polar liquid from the admixture slurry though apertures contained in the membrane, thereby leaving a filter cake of the partially-decomposed organic material having a moisture content that is lower than the moisture content of the initial partially-decomposed organic material feed. The process and its equipment may be used to treat a variety of partially-decomposed organic material/polar liquid slurry admixtures, including high moisture peat containing water, and reduce the moisture content of the resulting peat filter cake to as low as 60% wt.

A fixed carbon production device is provided with: a quench chamber for collecting fixed carbon; a dry distillation furnace which is erected and fixed in the quench chamber and into which raw material coal is fed; a dry distillation unit which is polygonal in horizontal cross-section and is partitioned by a separating wall which partitions the inside of the dry distillation furnace in the vertical direction; a dry distillation mini-furnace which is polygonal in horizontal cross-section and which is partitioned by a partition which partitions the inside of the dry distillation unit in the vertical direction; a pipe heating means which is arranged on the separating wall of the dry distillation unit and the partition of the dry distillation mini-furnace and which dry-distills the raw material coal; and a collection path for collecting fixed carbon collected in the quench chamber.

A fixed carbon production device is provided with: a quench chamber for collecting fixed carbon; a dry distillation furnace which is erected and fixed in the quench chamber and into which raw material coal is fed; a dry distillation unit which is polygonal in horizontal cross-section and is partitioned by a separating wall which partitions the inside of the dry distillation furnace in the vertical direction; a dry distillation mini-furnace which is polygonal in horizontal cross-section and which is partitioned by a partition which partitions the inside of the dry distillation unit in the vertical direction; a pipe heating means which is arranged on the separating wall of the dry distillation unit and the partition of the dry distillation mini-furnace and which dry-distills the raw material coal; and a collection path for collecting fixed carbon collected in the quench chamber.

A method and an apparatus for pyrolysing a solid organic feed material are disclosed. Solid organic material is moved through a reaction chamber and exposed to a temperature profile within the chamber that dries and pyrolyses the organic material and releases water vapour and a volatile products gas phase. The water vapour phase and the volatile products gas phase are moved counter-current to the solid organic material so that the water vapour phase and condensable components of the volatile products gas phase condense in cooler upstream sections of the chamber and form a liquid water product and a separate liquid oil product. The liquid water product is discharged via an outlet along the length of the chamber and a dried and pyrolysed solid product is discharged from a downstream outlet in the chamber.

A method and an apparatus for pyrolysing a solid organic feed material are disclosed. Solid organic material is moved through a reaction chamber and exposed to a temperature profile within the chamber that dries and pyrolyses the organic material and releases water vapour and a volatile products gas phase. The water vapour phase and the volatile products gas phase are moved counter-current to the solid organic material so that the water vapour phase and condensable components of the volatile products gas phase condense in cooler upstream sections of the chamber and form a liquid water product and a separate liquid oil product. The liquid water product is discharged via an outlet along the length of the chamber and a dried and pyrolysed solid product is discharged from a downstream outlet in the chamber.