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Title: Stabilized suspensions of carbon or carbonaceous fuel particles in water

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5805422

This patent describes a method of preparing a fluid fuel. It comprises comminuting coal to form particles of a predetermined size range, and coating the exposed surfaces of the particles of the coal with an alcohol selected from the class consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and mixtures thereof to impart buoyancy to coal particles and form alcohol-coated coal particles such that the alcohol-coated coal particles can be admixed with water to form a stable, uniform admixture that in sufficiently high proportion coal particles forms a shear thinning suspensoid that can be pumped at a lower apparent viscosity than its at-rest viscosity and that can be transported by hydraulic transport over a long distance readily, maintaining the alcohol-coated coal particles in suspension so they do not fall out in hydraulic transport even over long distances; the amount of alcohol being employed being less than 8% by weight of the final admixture in water; and, thereafter, admixing the alcohol-coated coal particles with water to form a substantially stable, uniform admixture thereof and to form a high carbon content fuel that can be readily transported by hydraulic transport and the like to a using destination and burned with acceptable high efficiency.

Assignee:
The Keller Corp., Bonham, TX (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5045087; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-158391
OSTI ID:
5805422
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 22 Feb 1988
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English