Development and demonstration of a lignite-pelletizing process. Phase II report

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5315722

The current work began with scale-up of laboratory equipment to commercial size equipment. For this purpose, BCI used an existing pilot plant that had been assembled to pelletize and indurate taconite ore. BCI determined therewith that lignite pellets can be produced continuously on a pilot scale using the basic process developed in the laboratory. The resulting pellets were found to be similar to the laboratory pellets at equivalent binder compositions. Tests of product made during a 5-ton test run are reported. A 50-ton demonstration test run was made with the pilot plant. Pellet production was sustained for a two-week period. The lignite pelletizing process has, therefore, been developed to the point of demonstration in a 50-ton test. BCI has completed and cost estimated a conceptually designed 4000 TPD facility. BCI believes it has demonstrated a technically feasible process to agglomerate lignite by using an asphalt emulsion binder. Product quality is promising. Capital and operating costs appear acceptable to justify continuing support and development. The next step should focus on three areas: production development, process refinement, and cost reduction. For further development, BCI recommends consideration of a 5 to 10 ton/h pilot plant or a 20 to 40 ton/h module of a full sized plant, the lower first cost of the former being offset by the ability to incorporate the latter into a future production unit. Other specific recommendations are made for future study that could lead to process and cost improvements: Binder Formulation, disc Sizing, Drier Bed Depth, and Mixing Approach. Pellet use other than power plant fuel is considered.

• Research Organization: Babcock Contractors, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-77ET11257
• OSTI ID: 5315722
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/11257-T1; ON: DE82012071
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
BINDERS
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
DATA
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
INFORMATION
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
MOLDING
NUMERICAL DATA
PELLETIZING
PILOT PLANTS
RECOMMENDATIONS