Process for forming coal compacts and product thereof

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874357

Gunnink, Brett ^[1]; Kanunar, Jayanth ^[2]; Liang, Zhuoxiong ^[3]

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1. Columbia, MO
2. Arlington, MA
3. San Francisco, CA

A process for forming durable, mechanically strong compacts from coal particulates without use of a binder is disclosed. The process involves applying a compressive stress to a particulate feed comprising substantially water-saturated coal particles while the feed is heated to a final compaction temperature in excess of about 100.degree. C. The water present in the feed remains substantially in the liquid phase throughout the compact forming process. This is achieved by heating and compressing the particulate feed and cooling the formed compact at a pressure sufficient to prevent water present in the feed from boiling. The compacts produced by the process have a moisture content near their water saturation point. As a result, these compacts absorb little water and retain exceptional mechanical strength when immersed in high pressure water. The process can be used to form large, cylindrically-shaped compacts from coal particles (i.e., "coal logs") so that the coal can be transported in a hydraulic coal log pipeline.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FC22-93PC92578
• Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
• Patent Number(s): US 6375690
• OSTI ID: 874357
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
forming
coal
compacts
product
durable
mechanically
strong
particulates
binder
disclosed
involves
applying
compressive
stress
particulate
feed
comprising
substantially
water-saturated
particles
heated
final
compaction
temperature
excess
100degree
water
remains
liquid
phase
throughout
compact
achieved
heating
compressing
cooling
formed
pressure
sufficient
prevent
boiling
produced
moisture
content
near
saturation
result
absorb
retain
exceptional
mechanical
strength
immersed
form
cylindrically-shaped
logs
transported
hydraulic
log
pipeline
liquid phase
compressive stress
coal particulate
/44/