Title of Invention

PROCESS FOR UPGRADING LOW RANK CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for upgrading low rank carbonaceous material having a microporous structure and containing water comprising providing a rotating roll type pelletizing mill having at least one roller and having at least two converging surfaces defining a nip therebetween, wherein at least one of said at least two surfaces is the surface of said at least one roller and is rollable in a direction toward said nip and further wherein tapered apertures are provided in one or more of said surfaces; feeding said low rank carbonaceous material to said nip where, by the rolling action of said at least one of said at least two surfaces, said low rank carbonaceous material is subjected to shearing stresses, causing attritioning of said microporous structure of said low rank carbonaceous material and the release of said water contained in said micropores; and continuing said attritioning until said low rank carbonaceous material forms into a plastic mass; extruding said attritioned low rank carbonaceous material either substantially immediately after or concurrently with said attritioning, by forcing said attritioned low rank carbonaceous material through the apertures by the rolling action of said at least one of said at least two surfaces, wherein said apertures have a decreasing diameter as said attritioned low rank carbonaceous material is pushed therethrough to thereby subject the attritioned low rank carbonaceous material to sufficiently high pressures to cause further mechanical release of water from said micropores and to promote renewed bonding between the particles of the low rank carbonaceous material; and forming said extruded low rank carbonaceous material into pellets.

Full Text

Documents:

in-pct-2002-1329-che abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che correspondence others.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che correspondence po.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che form 19.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che pct.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che petition.pdf

in-pct-2002-1329-che power of attorney.pdf