Upgrading low-rank coal with K-Fuel technology

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:549565

Gentile, R H ^[1]; Merriam, N ^[2]; Kohn, J ^[3]

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1. KFx, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
2. Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (United States)
3. KFx, Inc., Denver, CO (United States)

The K-Fuel process is a demonstrated technology that physically and chemically transforms low rank coals and other carbonaceous feedstocks to high-energy solid fuel. K-Fuel technology can enhance low-rank coals, wood and any biomass into high-energy K-Fuel, a product comparable to bituminous coal. The transformation occurs through the use of heat and pressure in specially configured pressure vessels. Through process control, the K-Fuel technology mirrors and speeds up the natural mechanism of coalification, the transformation of biomass into coal. In nature the coalification process takes centuries to convert biomass to peat, lignite, bituminous coal and finally to anthracite. This change takes place when biomass is exposed to pressure and increased temperatures. In this natural progression, the primary chemical changes are the loss of oxygen and the loss of water. K-Fuel applies more extreme pressures and temperatures to the feedstock reducing the coalification period to minutes and bringing on the same primary chemical changes as occur in nature. KFx is currently building the first commercial K-Fuel plant, based on the Series C process, in Gillette, Wyoming to upgrade Powder River Basin subbituminous coal. The plant will produce 500,000 tons per year of high-energy, low-sulfur coal for sale to electric utilities on the Eastern coast of the US. KFx has a contract in place with the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of American Electric Power Corporation, for part of the production of the Gillette plant. This paper describes the K-Fuel Series C process and the opportunities for K-Fuel in the US and in the Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, and Turkey.

• OSTI ID: 549565
• Report Number(s): CONF-960954--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
BRIQUETTING
COAL PREPARATION
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
COALIFICATION
ECONOMICS
HEAT TREATMENTS
PRESSURIZATION
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
WOOD FUELS
WYOMING