TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a coal inactivation processing apparatus.
5 BACKGROUND ART
Low grade coal (low rank coal) with a high moisture content such as lignite
and subbituminous coal has a low calorific content per unit weight and therefore
such coal is dried and pyrolyzed by heating and then modified so that the surface
activity is reduced in a low oxygen atmosphere, whereby the low grade coal is
10 turned into modified coal having a high calorific content per unit weight while
preventing spontaneous combustion,
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
15 Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2007-2370 11 A
Patent Document 2: W011995113868 Pamphlet
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
20 Technical Problem
Various types of coal inactivation processing apparatus for inactivating
pyrolyzed coal obtained by drying and pyrolyzing low-grade coal as described
above have been investigated. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, in a process
in which coal is packed into a packed bed column from the top side and removed
25 from the bottom side, an apparatus is used that introduces gas with an adjusted
oxygen concentration into the packed bed from midway thereby bringing the gas
into contact with the coal and then removes the gas so that the oxygen in the gas is
adsorbed causing inactivation. An apparatus 700 of this type includes a process
column 701 through which coal 721 which is pryolized coal passes from one end or
30 the top end toward other end or the bottom end. A plurality of distal end sides of
introduction pipes 711 that introduce process gas 733 containing oxygen in low
concentration into the interior of the process column 701, and a plurality of base
end sides of discharge pipes 712 that discharge process gas 734 that has passed
through the interior of the process column 701 to the outside are each connected
35 along the vertical direction to the process column 701. The distal end side of a
supply pipe 71 3 that supplies the process gas 733 is connected to the base end sides
of the introduction pipes 71 1.
The distal end side of an air supply pipe 714 that supplies air 731 and the
distal end side of a nitrogen supply pipe 715 that supplies nitrogen gas 732 are
connected to the base end side of the supply pipe 713. The base end side of the
nitrogen supply pipe 715 is connected to a nitrogen supply source 716 such as a
5 nitrogen gas tank or the like. The base end side of the air supply pipe 714 is open
to the atmosphere. Flow rate adjustment valves 714a, 715a are provided midway
on the air supply pipe 714 and the nitrogen supply pipe 715, respectively. A blower
713a is provided midway on the supply pipe 713. A temperature and humidity
adjustment device 713b for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the process
10 gas 733 is provided between the distal end side of the supply pipe 713 and the
blower 713a. The base end side of a branch pipe 718 that discharges the process
gas 733 to outside the system is connected between the blower 713a of the supply
pipe 713 and the temperature and humidity adjustment device 713b. The base end
side of a circulation pipe 717 is connected to the distal end sides of the discharge
15 pipes 712. The distal end side of the circulation pipe 717 is connected to the base
end side of the supply pipe 71 3.
In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 700, pyrolyzed coal 721 is
supplied into the process column 701 from the top portion thereof, the air 731 and
the nitrogen gas 732 are supplied to the supply pipe 713 from the supply pipes 714,
20 715 and mixed to produce the process gas 733 by controlling the lift of the flow
rate adjustment valves 714a, 715a and the operation of the blower 713a, and the
temperature and humidity of the process gas 733 are adjusted by controlling the
operation of the temperature and humidity adjustment device 713b. The process
gas 733 whose temperature and humidity has been adjusted in this way passes
25 through the introduction pipes 71 1 and is introduced into the process column 701,
and after inactivating the surface of the coal 721 in the interior of the process
column 701, is discharged from the discharge pipes 712 into the circulation pipe
717 as used process gas 734. The used process gas 734 that is discharged into the
circulation pipe 717 is returned to the supply pipe 713, is mixed with new air 731
30 and nitrogen gas 732 from the supply pipes 714, 715, and is reused as new process
gas 733. At this time, the process gas 733 of the same quantity as the air 731 and
the nitrogen gas 732 supplied from the supply pipes 714, 715 is discharged outside
the system from the branch pipe 718. The process gas 733 passes through the
interior of the process column 701, while the coal 721 is supplied to the interior of
35 the process column 701 from above, so while the coal 721 is flowing from the top
toward the bottom of the process column 701, oxygen is adsorbed onto the coal
721, so inactivated coal 722 is discharged from the bottom of the process column
701.
In the apparatus 700, if the oxygen concentration of the process gas 733 is
increased and sudden oxygen adsorption occurs, the coal temperature within the
5 packed bed suddenly increases and the possibility of inducing spontaneous
combustion increases, so the oxygen adsorption is slowly carried out to suppress
the increase in coal temperature. In order to adsorb a predetermined amount of
oxygen onto the coal as described above, it was necessary to increase the dwell
time of the coal within the packed bed (for example, about 14 hours), and also
10 increase the length of the packing column (for example, 20 m x 2), and this had the
problems that the facility cost was increased and the process response became slow.
In light of the foregoing, the present invention has been devised to solve the
above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a coal
inactivation processing apparatus capable of producing inactivated coal in a short
15 time, while preventing spontaneous combustion.
Solution to Problem
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the first invention
for solving the above problem is a coal inactivation processing apparatus that
20 inactivates coal using process gas that contains oxygen, comprising: a kiln
assembly for passing the coal from a base end side to a distal end side in the kiln
assembly; base end side process gas supply means for supplying the process gas to
the base end side of the interior of the kiln assembly; distal end side process gas
supply means for supplying the process gas to the distal end side of the interior of
25 the kiln assembly; process gas oxygen concentration adjusting means for adjusting
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied to the interior of the kiln
assembly; and cooling means for cooling the coal in the interior of the kiln
assembly.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the second invention
30 for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to the first invention as described above, wherein the process gas oxygen
concentration adjusting means includes distal end side oxygen concentration
adjusting means fir adjusting the oxygen concentration in the process gas supplied
by the distal end side process gas supply means, and base end side oxygen
35 concentration adjusting means for adjusting the oxygen concentration in the process
gas supplied by the base end side process gas supply means to be lower than the
oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the distal end side process gas
supply means.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the third invention
5 for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to the second invention as described above, wherein the base end side
oxygen concentration adjusting means adjusts the oxygen concentration of the
process gas supplied by the base end side process gas supply means to be equal to
or less than 12'36, and the distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting means
10 adjusts the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the distal end side
process gas supply means to be equal to or less than 21%.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the fourth invention
for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to any one of the first to third inventions as described above, further
15 comprising humidification means for humidifying the process gas supplied to the
interior of the kiln assembly.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the fifth invention
for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to any one of the first to fourth inventions as described above, further
20 comprising process gas discharge means for discharging the process gas used in the
interior of the kiln assembly, and circulation means for circulating the process gas
discharged by the process gas discharge means to the base end side process gas
supply means.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the sixth invention
25 for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to the fifth invention as described above, wherein the process gas
discharge means is provided on the base end side of the kiln assembly, and includes
a discharge pipe that discharges the process gas that has been used in the interior of
the kiln assembly fi-om the distal end side of the interior of the kiln assembly.
30 The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the seventh
invention for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing
apparatus according to the fifth invention as described above, wherein the process
gas discharge means includes base end side process gas discharge means provided
on the base end side of the kiln assembly, and distal end side process gas discharge
5
means provided on the distal end side of the kiln assembly, and the circulation
means includes switching means for switching the connection between the base end
side process gas discharge means and the base end side process gas supply means,
and the connection between the distal end side process gas discharge means and the
5 base end side process gas supply means.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the eighth invention
for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to any one of the second to seventh inventions as described above,
comprising kiln assembly internal temperature measuring means for measuring the
10 temperature of the interior of the kiln assembly, process gas oxygen concentration
measuring means for measuring the oxygen concentration of the process gas
supplied to the interior of the kiln assembly, and control means for controlling the
process gas oxygen concentration adjusting means based on information from the
kiln assembly internal temperature measuring means and the process gas oxygen
15 concentration measuring means.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the ninth invention
for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
according to the eighth invention as described above, wherein the kiln assembly
internal temperature measuring means includes base end side temperature
20 measuring means for measuring the temperature of the interior of the base end side
of the kiln assembly, the process gas oxygen concentration measuring means
includes base end side oxygen concentration measuring means for measuring the
oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the base end side process gas
supply means, and the control means controls the base end side oxygen
25 concentration measuring means based on information from the base end side
temperature measuring means and the base end side oxygen concentration
measuring means.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the tenth invention
for solving the above problem is the coal inactivation processing apparatus
30 according to the ninth invention as described above, wherein the control means
controls the base end side oxygen concentration adjusting means so that the
temperature measured by the base end side temperature measuring means is equal
to or less than 90°C, and, the oxygen concentration measured by the base end side
oxygen concentration measuring means is equal to or less than 12%.
3 5
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
According to the coal inactivation processing apparatus of the present
invention, by providing the kiln assembly for passing the coal from the base end
side to tl~ed istal end side therein; the base end side process gas supply means for
5 supplying the process gas to the base end side of the interior of the kiln assembly;
the distal end side process gas supply means for supplying the process gas to the
distal end side of the interior of the kiln assembly; the process gas oxygen
concentration adjusting means for adjusting tl~e oxygen concentration of the
process gas supplied to the interior of the kiln assembly; and the cooling means for
10 cooling the coal in the interior of the kiln assembly, it is possible to reduce the
oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied to the base end side of the kiln
assembly, and increase the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied to the
distal end side of the kiln assembly compared with the oxygen concentration of the
process gas supplied to the base end side, and efficiently carry out the coal
15 inactivation process. Also, it is possible to cool the coal by the cooling means, so it
is possible to prevent spontaneous combustion of the coal even though heat is
generated in the inactivation process of the coal. Therefore, it is possible to greatly
reduce the effort, cost, and time required for the process to suppress spontaneous
combustion of the coal, and greatly increase the production efficiency. In other
20 words, it is possible to shorten the process response and produce the modified coal
in a short period of time while preventing spontaneous combustion of the coal.
Also, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus, and greatly reduce the
facility cost.
25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the configuration of the first embodiment of
the coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view at 11-11 in a rotary kiln assembly provided in
the coal inactivation processing apparatus.
3 0 FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view at 111-111 in the rotary kiln assembly
provided in the coal inactivation processing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the configuration of a second embodiment of
the coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the configuration of a third embodiment of the
35 coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the configuration of a fourth embodiment of
the coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view at VII-VII in the rotary kiln assembly
provided in the coal inactivation processing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the configuration of the fifth embodiment of
the coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the configuration of a sixth embodiment of the
coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the configuration of a conventional coal
inactivation processing apparatus.
10 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The following is a description of embodiments of the coal inactivation
processing apparatus according to the present invention based on the drawings, but
the present invention is not limited to only the following embodiments described
based on the drawings.
15 [First Embodiment]
The following is a description of the first embodiment of the coal
inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIGS.
1 to 3.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, low grade coal (low rank coal) 1 with a high water
20 content such as lignite, subbituminous coal, or the like is supplied to the inlet of a
dryer 181, which is a mesh conveyor type of drying means through which hot air
(150°C to 500°C) is passed. The outlet of the dryer 181 is communicated with the
inlet of a pyrolyzer 182, which is pyrolyzing means capable of continuously heating
the interior thereof to a high temperature (300°C to 500°C). The outlet of the
25 pyrolyzer 182 is communicated with the inlet of a cooler 183, which is cooling
means capable of cooling the interior thereof to a lower temperature (150°C to
200°C). The outlet of the cooler 183 is communicated with the inlet of a hopper
101 of a coal inactivation processing apparatus 100. The outlet of the hopper 101
is communicated with the base end side of a screw feeder 102, which is rotary
30 feeding means for feeding while rotating to the distal end side.
The distal end side of the screw feeder 102 is communicated with the base
end side of a rotary kiln assembly (rotary device assembly) 103. The base end side
of the rotary kiln assembly 103 is communicated with a base end side casing 11 1
via a seal device 108. A gas discharge outlet 11 la that discharges used process gas
35 21 is provided on the top portion of the base end side casing 111. The distal end
side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 is communicated with a distal end side casing
1 12 via seal devices 109a, 109b. A chute 1 12a that discharges the inactivated coal
(modified coal) 5 downwards is provided in the bottom of the distal end side casing
112.
5 Ring-shaped protrusions 104 are provided on the distal end side and the base
end side of the outer periphery of the rotary kiln assembly 103, and the protrusions
104 are supported by rollers 105. A gear 106 that meshes with a gear 107a of a
drive electric motor 107 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotary kiln
assembly 103. Therefore, the rotary kiln assembly 103 is rotated by the rotation of
10 the gear 107a of the drive electric motor 107.
A low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121 that introduces process gas
13 containing oxygen in low concentration (for example, 12% or less) into the
interior and a high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131 that introduces
process gas 14 containing oxygen in higher concentration compared with the
15 process gas 13 (for example, 21% or less) into the interior are provided on the
rotary kiln assembly 103.
The low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121 is coaxial with the rotary
lciln assembly 103 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 and extends to substantially
the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103 from
20 the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103. The low oxygen process gas
introduction pipe 121 is fixed to the base end side casing 111, and is fixed to the
high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131. The base end side of the low
oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121 is connected to the distal end side of a
low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123 that supplies the process gas 13. The base
25 end side of the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123 is connected to an inert gas
supply pipe 124 that supplies an inert gas 12 such as nitrogen gas or the like. The
base end side of the inert gas supply pipe 124 is connected to an inert gas supply
source 125 such as a nitrogen gas tank or the like. A flow rate adjustment valve
124a is provided midway on the inert gas supply pipe 124.
30 A plurality of jet nozzles 122 having an opening on the tip end 122a thereof
is provided on the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121, as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 3. The plurality of jet nozzles 122 is disposed adjacent to each other
from the distal end side of the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121 to near
to the protrusion 104 provided on the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103,
and disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction on the bottom
side of the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121. The tip ends 122a of the
jet nozzles 122 extend in the radial direction of the low oxygen process gas
introduction pipe 121. In this way, the process gas 13 can be blown to the coal 4
5 within the rotary kiln assembly 103, and it is possible to increase the mass transfer
of the oxygen in the process gas 13 into the coal 4 and increase the speed of oxygen
adsorption. Note that the tip end of the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe
121 is blocked.
The high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131 is disposed within the
10 low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121 from the base end side to
substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotary kiln
assembly 103, and extends within the rotary kiln assembly 103 from the base end
side to the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 coaxial with the rotary
kiln assembly 103,. The distal end side of the high oxygen process gas introduction
15 pipe 131 is fixed to the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 via a bearing
163 of a cooling device 160 that is described in detail later. The base end side of
the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131 is connected to the distal end
side of a high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 that supplies the process gas 14.
The base end side of the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 is connected to
20 the distal end side of an air supply pipe 134 that supplies air 11. A flow rate
adjustment valve 134a and a blower 135 are provided on the air supply pipe 134
midway from the distal end side thereof. The base end side of the air supply pipe
134 is open to the atmosphere. The distal end side of a connecting pipe 136 is
connected between the distal end of the air supply pipe 134 and the flow rate
25 adjustment valve 134a. The base end side of the connecting pipe 136 is connected
between the base end side of the inert gas supply pipe 124 and the flow rate
acfjustment valve 124a.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of jet nozzles 132 having an
opening on the tip end 132a thereof is provided on the high oxygen process gas
30 introduction pipe 13 1. The plurality of jet nozzles 132 is disposed adjacent to each
other from the distal end side of the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131
to near to substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotary
kiln assembly 103, and disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction on the bottom side of the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 131.
35 The tip ends 132a of the jet nozzles 132 extend in the radial direction of the high
oxygen process gas introduction pipe 13 1. In this way, the process gas 14 can be
blown to the coal 4 of the rotary kiln assembly 103, and it is possible to increase
the mass transfer of the oxygen in the process gas 14 into the coal 4 and increase
the speed of oxygen adsorption.
In other words, at the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, it is
5 possible to blow process gas 13 containing oxygen in low concentration (for
example, 12% or less) to the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 from the jet
nozzles 122 of the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121, and at the distal
end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 it is possible to blow process gas 14
containing oxygen in high concentration (for example, 21% or less) from the jet
10 nozzles 132 of the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 13 1.
The gas discharge outlet 1 1 la of the base end side casing I 1 1 is connected to
the base end side of a circulation pipe 14 1. A cyclone 14 la, a blower 141 b, and a
temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 are provided midway on the
circulation pipe 141 in that order from the base end side thereof. The base end side
15 of an air discharge pipe 144 is connected between the blower 141b and the
temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 on the circulation pipe 141.
The temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 includes a process
column 1 5 1 filled with packing material 152. A water storage tank 153 that stores
water 51 for adjustment of temperature and humidity is disposed below the process
20 column 151. The base end side of a water supply pipe 154 is connected to the
water storage tank 153. The distal end side of the water supply pipe 154 is located
below the packing material 152 within the process column 15 1. A blower 154a and
a diffuser 154b are provided midway on the water supply pipe 154, to enable water
51 whose temperature has been adjusted to be injected from the distal end side of
25 the water supply pipe 154. In this way, the process gas 21 becomes temperature
and humidity-adjusted process gas 22 whose temperature and humidity have been
adjusted by heating and humidifying (for example, saturated at 50°C), so that even
at, for example 90°C, the relative humidity is 35% or higher.
The distal end side of the circulation pipe 141 is connected to the base end
30 side of branch circulation pipes 142, 143. Flow rate adjustment valves 142a, 143a
are provided midway on the branch circulation pipes 142, 143 respectively. The
distal end side of the branch circulation pipe 142 is connected to the base end side
of the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123. The distal end side of the branch
circulation pipe 143 is connected to the base end side of the high oxygen process
gas supply pipe 133.
The cooling device 160 is fixed to a side wall portion 103b of the distal end
side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 via the bearing 163. The cooling device 160 is
5 provided on the bearing 163 and includes a cooling water supply header 161 that
supplies cooling water 61 from outside the system. A plurality of supply pipes 162
that supply the cooling water 61 are connected to the cooling water supply header
161. The supply pipes 162 are arranged penetrating the side wall portion 103b of
the rotary ltiln assembly 103. In this way, the plurality of supply pipes 162 rotates
10 together with the rotation of the rotary kiln assembly 103. As illustrated in FIGS. 1
to 3, the plurality of supply pipes 162 is disposed within the rotary kiln assembly
103 adjacent in the peripheral direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103. The
plurality of supply pipes 162 extend within the rotary kiln assembly 103 parallel to
the axial center of the rotary kiln assembly 103, and extend from the distal end side
15 of the rotary kiln assembly 103 toward the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly
103 further than the jet nozzles 122 provided on the base end side of the low
oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121. In this way, in the region where the
activation process is carried out on the coal 4 by the process gas 13, 14 injected
from the jet nozzles 122, 132, the coal 4 is adjusted to a temperature at which
20 spontaneous combustion does not occur by the cooling water 61 passing through
the supply pipes 162. The cooling device 160 includes a cooling water discharge
header 164 that discharges to outside the system the used cooling water 62 that has
passed through the supply pipes 162.
A temperature sensor 103a that measures the temperature of the coal 4 in the
25 interior is provided within a range substantially in the center portion in the
longitudinal direction from the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103. An
oxygen sensor 133a that measures the oxygen concentration of the process gas 14
passing through the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 is provided midway
on the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133. An oxygen sensor 141c that
30 measures the oxygen concentration of the used process gas 21 that passes through
the circulation pipe 141 is provided between the base end side of the circulation
pipe 141 and the cyclone 141a.
In the present embodiment as described above, base end side oxygen
concentration adjusting means is configured from the flow rate adjustment valve
35 124a, the flow rate adjustment valve 142a, the blower 141 b, and the like. Distal
end side oxygen concentration adjusting means is configured from the flow rate
adjustment valve 134a, the blower 135, a flow rate adjustment valve 136a, the flow
rate adjustment valve 143a, the blower 141b, and the like. The process gas oxygen
concentration adjusting means is configured from the base end side oxygen
5 concentration adjusting means, the distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting
means, and the like. Humidification means is configured from the temperature and
humidity adjustment device 150 and the like. Circulation means is configured from
the circulation pipe 141, the cyclone 141a, the blower 141b, the humidification
means, the branch circulation pipe 142, the flow rate adjustment valve 142a, the
10 branch circulation pipe 143, the fiow rate adjustment valve 143a, the air discharge
pipe 144, and the like. The base end side process gas supply means is configured
from the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121, the jet nozzles 122, the low
oxygen process gas supply pipe 1123, the inert gas supply pipe 124, the inert gas
supply source 125, the circulation means, the base end side oxygen concentration
15 adjusting means, and the like. The distal end side process gas supply means is
configured from the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 13 1, the jet nozzles
132, the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133, the air supply pipe 134, the
connecting pipe 1 36, the inert gas supply pipe 124, the inert gas supply source 125,
the circulation means, the distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting means,
20 and the like. Cooling means is configured from the cooling device 160 and the
like. Rotating means is configured from the protrusions 104, the rollers 105, the
gear 106, the drive electric motor 107, the gear 107a, and the like. Coal supply
means is configured from the hopper 101, the screw feeder 102, and the like. Coal
discharge means is configured from the distal end side casing 112, the chute 112a,
25 and the like. Process gas discharge means and base end side process gas discharge
means are configured from the base end side casing 11 11, the gas discharge outlet
I1 la, and the like. Kiln assembly internal temperature measuring means and base
end side temperature measuring means are configured from the temperature sensor
103a and the like. Process gas oxygen concentration measuring means and base
30 end side oxygen concentration measuring means are configured from the oxygen
sensor 141c and the like. The coal inactivation processing apparatus 100 is
configured from each of the means, the rotary ltiln assembly 103, the seal devices
108, 109a, 109b, and the like.
The following is a description of a coal inactivation processing method for
35 inactivating low rank coal 1 using the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100
according to the present embodiment configured in this way.
When the low rank coal 1 is supplied to the dryer 181, the low rank coal 1 is
dried by the hot air (150°C to 500°C), and virtually all the water content is removed
to produce dried coal 2 (water content about 0%). The dried coal 2 is supplied to
the pyrolyzer 182, and is pyrolyzed by heating (300°C to 500°C), so the volatile
5 components are separated and removed in the form of gas, and the oily component
is separated and removed as tar, to produce pyrolyzed coal 3. The pyrolyzed coal 3
is supplied to the cooler 183, and cooled (150°C to 200°C), to become cooled coal
4. The coal 4 is supplied to the hopper 101, and fed to the rotary kiln assembly 103
by the screw feeder 102,
10 By controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 124a, the inert gas
12 within the inert gas supply source 125 is supplied to the low oxygen process gas
supply pipe 123 via the inert gas supply pipe 124, and by controlling the lift of the
flow rate adjustment valve 142a and the operation of the blower 14 1 b, process gas
22 is supplied to the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123 via the circulation
15 pipe 141 and the branch circulation pipe 142. In this way, the inert gas 12 and the
process gas 22 are mixed to produce the process gas 13 containing oxygen in low
concentration. The process gas 13 is introduced into the rotary kiln assembly 103
via the low oxygen process gas introduction pipe 121, and injected to the coal 4
within the rotary kiln assembly 103 from the jet nozzles 122 from the base end side
20 of the rotary kiln assembly 103 to substantially the center portion in the
longitudinal direction thereof.
On the other hand, by controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve
134a and the operation of the blower 135, air is supplied to the high oxygen process
gas supply pipe 133 via the air supply pipe 134, and by controlling the lift of the
25 flow rate ad~ustmentv alve 136a, the inert gas 12 within the inert gas supply source
125 is supplied to the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 via the inert gas
supply pipe 124, the connecting pipe 136, and the air supply pipe 134, and by
controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 143a and the operation of the
blower 141b, the process gas 22 is supplied to the high oxygen process gas supply
30 pipe 133 via the circulation pipe 141 and the branch circulation pipe 143. In this
way, the air 11, the inert gas 12, and the process gas 22 are mixed to produce the
process gas 14 containing oxygen in high concentration. The process gas 14 is
introduced into the rotary kiln assembly 103 via the high oxygen process gas
introduction pipe 131, and is injected to the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly
35 103 by the jet nozzles 132 from substantially the center portion in the longitudinal
direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103 to the distal end side thereof.
The gear 107a of the drive electric motor 107 is rotated, and the rotary kiln
assembly 103 is rotated by this rotation transmitted via the gear 106. As the rotary
kiln assembly 103 is rotated, the coal 4 fed into the rotary kiln assembly 103 moves
from the base end side to the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 while
5 being agitated. The coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 adsorbs the oxygen
of the process gas 13 injected from the jet nozzles 122 from the base end side to
substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotary kiln
assembly 103, thereby causing a hydration reaction. The coal 4 within the rotary
kiln assembly 103 adsorbs the oxygen of the process gas 14 injected from the jet
10 nozzles 132 from substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction to the
distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, thereby causing a hydration
reaction. The inactivation process by the oxygen adsorption and hydration reaction
in this way produces modified coal 5, which is transported outside the system via
the chute 112a. Although heat is generated by the oxygen adsorption and the
15 hydration reaction of the process gas 13, 14 on the coal 4 within the rotary kiln
assembly 103, the coal 4 is adjusted to a temperature at which spontaneous
combustion does not occur by the cooling water 51 passing through the supply
pipes 1162.
The used process gas 21 that was used in the process of inactivating the coal
20 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 is passed in a direction opposite to the
transport direction of the coal 4, and flows into the circulation pipe 141 from the
gas discharge outlet 11 la of the base end side casing 11 1 provided at the base end
side of the rotary kiln assembly 103. The process gas 14 injected from the jet
nozzles 132 flows to the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103 after it has
25 been used for oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction of the coal 4, and is
also used for oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction of the coal 4 from the
base end side to substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the
rotary kiln assembly 103, so rapid inactivation is carried out.
Pulverized coal 6 contained in process gas 21 that has flowed to the
30 circulation pipe 141 is removed from the process gas 21 by the cyclone 141a, a
portion of the process gas 21 is discharged to outside the system via the air
discharge pipe 144, and the remainder is adjusted for temperature and humidity by
a temperature and humidity processing device 150 to produce the temperature and
humidity adjusted process gas 22. By controlling the lift of the flow rate
35 adjustment valve 142a, the process gas 22 is supplied to the low oxygen process gas
supply pipe 123 via the branch circulation pipe 142 and circulated, and by
15
controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 143a, is supplied to the high
oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 via the branch circulation pipe 143 and
circulated.
In other words, in the present embodiment, coal 4 that has been dried,
5 pyrolyzed, and cooled is transported within the rotary kiln assembly 103. The
temperature of the coal 4 is adjusted by the cooling water 61 flowing within the
supply pipes 162 from the distal end side to the base end side of the rotary kiln
assembly 103, while being agitated by the rotary kiln assembly 103, in the range
from the base end side to substantially the center portion in the longitudinal
10 direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103, in other words, in the upstream side of
the rotary kiln assembly 103, oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction occurs
with the process gas 13 containing oxygen in low concentration, Next, in the
region from substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction to the
distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, in other words, in the downstream
15 side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction
occurs with the process gas 14 containing oxygen in high concentration.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve rapid
oxidation reaction (adsorption of oxygen by the coal 4), while preventing
spontaneous combustion.
20 Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to greatly
reduce the time and cost required for the process to suppress spontaneous
combustion of the coal 4 (approximately I hour), and greatly improve the
production efficiency. In other words, it is possible to shorten the process response
and produce modified coal 5 in a short period of time, while preventing
25 spontaneous combustion of the coal 4. Also, it is possible to reduce the size of the
apparatus (for example, about 5 m), and greatly reduce the cost of the apparatus.
Aiso, the used process gas 21 that was used for oxygen adsorption and the
hydration reaction of the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 is circulated to
the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123 and the high oxygen process gas
30 supply pipe 133 via the circulation pipe 141 and the branch circulation pipes 1142,
143, so it is possible to effectively use the process gas 21. Also, by adjusting the
quantity of the used process gas 21 circulated to the process gas 13, it is possible to
adjust the oxygen concentration of the process gas 13.
In addition, the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 is adjusted to a
temperature at which spontaneous combustion does not occur by the cooling water
61 flowing within the supply pipes 162, and the temperature and humidity adjusted
process gas 22 is produced by adjusting the temperature and humidity of the
5 process gas 21 by the temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 provided on
the circulation pipe 141. The process gas 22 is circulated to the low oxygen
process gas supply pipe 123 and the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 via
tl~ec irculation pipe 141 and the branch circulation pipes 142, 143, so it is possible
to simultaneously perform the inactivation process by oxygen adsorption and the
10 hydration process, while preventing spontaneous combustion of the coal 4
transported within the rotary kiln assembly 103. In this way, conventionally the
hydration process was performed on the coal by a hydration processing apparatus
that was provided separately from the coal inactivation processing apparatus, but
this hydration processing apparatus becomes unnecessary, so it is possible to reduce
15 the processing time and reduce the processing cost. In other words, the process gas
13, 14 whose oxygen concentration and humidity has been adjusted is supplied
within the rotary kiln assembly I03 having the supply pipes 162, and the hydration
reaction by adsorption of water vapor is carried out simultaneously with the
inactivation of the coal 4 by oxygen adsorption, and the heat of reaction generated
20 by the inactivation and the hydration reaction is simultaneously removed, so it is
possible to rapidly carry out the inactivation process and the hydration process
while controlling the temperature of the coal 4 and reliably suppressing the
spontaneous combustion.
[Second Embodiment]
25 The following is a description of a second embodiment of the coal
inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIG.
4.
The present embodiment is configured by adding a connecting pipe that
supplies air to the low oxygen process gas supply pipe provided in the first
30 embodiment as described above and illustrated in FIG. 1. The rest of the
configuration is generally the same as that described above and illustrated in FIG.
1, so the same equipment is given the same reference numeral and duplicated
descriptions are omitted as appropriate,
As illustrated in FIG. 4, a coal inactivation processing apparatus 200
according to the present embodiment includes a connecting pipe 226 connected at
the distal end side thereof between the distal end side of the inert gas supply pipe
124 and the flow rate adjustment valve 124a. The base end side of the connecting
5 pipe 226 is connected between the flow rate adjustment valve 134a and the blower
135 on the air supply pipe 134. A flow rate adjustment valve 226a is provided
midway on the connecting pipe 226. An oxygen sensor 123a that measures the
oxygen concentration of the process gas 13 flowing in the low oxygen process gas
supply pipe 123 is provided midway on the low oxygen process gas supply pipe
10 123.
In the present embodiment, the base end side oxygen concentration adjusting
means is configured from similar equipment as the first embodiment as described
above, the flow rate adjustment valve 226a, the blower 135, and the like. The
process gas oxygen concentration adjusting means and the coal inactivation
15 processing apparatus 200 are configured from similar equipment as the first
embodiment as described above, the base end side oxygen concentration adjusting
means, and the like. Process gas oxygen concentration measuring means and base
end side oxygen concentration measuring means are configured from the oxygen
sensor 123a and the like. The other means are configured from similar equipment
20 as the first embodiment described above.
In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 200 according to the present
embodiment that includes the connecting pipe 226 and the flow rate adjustment
valve 226a, it is possible to produce the modified coal 5 from the low rank coal 1
by causing the same central operation as for the coal inactivation processing
25 apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment as described previously.
Also, by controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 124a and
controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 226a and the operation of the
blower 135, the process gas 13 formed by mixing the inert gas 12 within the inert
gas supply source 125 and the air 1 1 can be supplied to the low oxygen process gas
30 supply pipe 123, even when starting operation. In other words, even when starting
operation, it is possible for the process gas 13 to include oxygen.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to adjust the
oxygen concentration of the process gas 13 injected into the upstream side of the
rotary kiln assembly 103 from the start of operation, so it is possible to rapidly
carry out the inactivation process on the coal 4 and reduce the processing time
compared with the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100 according to the first
embodiment as described above that does not include the connecting pipe 226 and
the flow rate adjustment valve 226a that delivers the air 11 flowing in the air supply
5 pipe 134 to the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 124.
[Third embodiment]
The following is a description of a third embodiment of the coal inactivation
processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIG. 5.
The present embodiment is configured by modifying the gas discharge outlet
10 and the circulation pipe provided in the first embodiment as described above and
illustrated in FIG. 1. The rest of the configuration is generally the same as that
described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, so the same equipment is given the same
reference numeral and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, a coal inactivation processing apparatus 300
15 according to the present embodiment includes a distal end side casing 112, disposed
on the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, on which a gas discharge
outlet 112b, which discharges used process gas 3 1 that was used in the inactivation
process of the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103, is provided. The gas
discharge outlet 112b is connected to the base end side of a circulation pipe 341
20 that circulates process gas 31. The distal end side of the circulation pipe 341 is
connected to the base end side of the branch circulation pipes 142, 1143.
A cyclone 341a, a blower 341b, and the temperature and humidity
adjustment device 150 are provided on the circulation pipe 341 from the base end
side. The base end side of an air discharge pipe 344 is connected between the
25 blower 341b and the temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 on the
circulation pipe 341. Note that an oxygen sensor 341c that measures the oxygen
concentration of the process gas 31 flowing within the circulation pipe 341 is
provided between the base end side of the circulation pipe 341 and the cyclone
341a.
30 In the present embodiment, the process gas discharge means and the distal
end side process gas discharge means are configured from the distal end side casing
112, the gas discharge outlet 112b, and the like. The base end side oxygen
concentration adjusting means is configured from similar equipment as the first
embodiment as described above except that the blower 341b is provided instead of
the blower 141b included in the first embodiment. The distal end side oxygen
concentration adjusting means is configured from similar equipment as the first
embodiment as described above except that the blower 341b is provided instead of
5 tlie blower 141b included in the first embodiment. The process gas oxygen
concentration adjusting means is configured from the base end side oxygen
concentration adjusting means, the distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting
means, and the like. The circulation means is configured from similar equipment as
in the first embodiment as described above except that the circulation pipe 341, the
10 cyclone 341 a, and the blower 34 1 b are provided instead of the circulation pipe 141,
the cyclone 141a, and the blower 141b provided in the first embodiment as
described above, and the like. The base end side process gas supply means is
configured from the circulation means, the base end side oxygen concentration
adjusting means, and otherwise similar equipment as the first embodiment as
15 described above, and the like. The distal end side process gas supply means is
configured from the circulation means, the distal end side oxygen concentration
adjusting means, and otherwise similar equipment as the first embodiment as
described above, and the like. The coal inactivation processing apparatus 300 is
configured from the process gas discharge means, the process gas oxygen
20 concentration adjusting means, the circulation means, the base end side process gas
supply means, the distal end side process gas supply means, and otherwise similar
equipment as the first embodiment as described above, and the like. The other
means are configured from similar equipment as the first embodiment described
above.
25 In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 300 according to the present
embodiment that includes the gas discharge outlet 112b, the circulation pipe 341,
the cyclone 341a, and the blower 341b, it is possible to produce the modified coal 5
from the low rank coal 1 by causing the same central operation as for the coal
inactivation processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment as
30 described above.
The process gas 13 injected from the jet nozzles 122 and the process gas 14
injected from the jet nozzles 132 are used in the inactivation process of the coal 4
within tlie rotary kiln assembly 103 and becomes the used process gas 31. The
process gas 31 flows in the same direction as the direction of transport of the coal
35 4, and flows into tlie circulation pipe 341 from the gas discharge outlet 112b of the
distal end side casing 112 provided on the distal end side of the rotary kiln
20
assembly 103. After being used in the oxygen adsorption and hydration reaction of
the coal 4, the process gas 13 injected from the jet nozzles 122 flows toward the
distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, but it contains oxygen in lower
concentration than the quantity necessary for oxygen adsorption of the coal 4 from
5 the center portion in the longitudinal direction to the distal end side of the rotary
kiln assembly 103. Therefore, the inactivation process of the coal 4 is not
promoted by the used process gas 3 1, so the inactivation process progresses gently,
so it is possible to stably carry out the inactivation process of the coal 4.
Pulverized coal 7 contained in process gas 31 that has flowed to the
10 circulation pipe 341 is removed from the process gas 31 by the cyclone 341a, a
portion of the process gas 31 is discharged to outside the system via the air
discharge pipe 344, and the remainder is adjusted for temperature and humidity by
the temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 to produce temperature and
humidity adjusted process gas 32. By controlling the lift of the flow rate
15 adjustment valve 142a, the process gas 32 is supplied to the low oxygen process gas
supply pipe 123 via the branch circulation pipe 142 and circulated. On the other
hand by controlling the lift of the flow rate adjustment valve 143a, the process gas
32 is supplied to the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133 via the branch
circulation pipe 143 and circulated.
20 Therefore, according to the present embodiment, after the process gas 13, 14
injected from the jet nozzles 122, 132 is used fbr oxygen adsorption of the coal 4, it
flows in the same direction as the direction of transport of the coal 4, so the
inactivation process proceeds gently, and it is possible to stably carry out the
inactivation process of the coal 4.
25 [Fourth embodiment]
The following is a description of a fourth embodiment of the coal
inactivation processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIGS.
6 and 7.
The present embodiment is configured by adding a discharge pipe to the
30 base end side of the circulation pipe provided in the first embodiment as described
above and illustrated in FIG. 1. The rest of the configuration is generally the same
as that described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, so the same equipment is given the
same reference numeral and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and '7, a coal inactivation processing apparatus 400
according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of discharge pipes 445
connected to the base end side of the circulation pipe 141 and extending along the
base end side casing 111 and the rotary kiln assembly 103. The plurality of
5 discharge pipes 445 extend in the vertical direction and at the bottom end side
thereof extend in the horizontal direction within the base end side casing 11 1. The
plurality of discharge pipes 445 is disposed within the rotary kiln assembly 103
adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103,
and is disposed between the supply pipes 162 and the low oxygen process gas
10 introduction pipe 121. The distal ends of the discharge pipes 445 are open, and
positioned in a location opposite in the radial direction to the jet nozzles 132 of the
base end side of the high oxygen process gas introduction pipe 13 1.
In the present embodiment, the process gas discharge means and the base
end side process gas discharge means are configured from the equipment included
15 in the first embodiment as described above, the discharge pipes 445, and the like.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus 400 is configured from the process gas
discharge means, and otherwise similar equipment as the first embodiment as
described above, and the like. The other means are configured from similar
equipment as the first embodiment described above.
20 In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 400 according to the present
embodiment that includes the discharge pipes 445, it is possible to produce the
modified coal 5 from the low rank coal 1 by causing the same central operation as
for the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100 according to the first
embodiment as described previously.
25 Also, the process gas 14 injected from the jet nozzles 132 flows to the
discharge pipes 445 and the circulation pipe 141 after it has been used for the
oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction of the coal 4. In this way, the process
gas 14 is not used for oxygen adsorption and the hydration reaction of the coal 4
from the base end side to substantially the center portion in the longitudinal
30 direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103, so the inactivation process proceeds
gently, and it is possible to stably carry out the inactivation process of the coal 4.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the discharge pipes 445 are
provided within the rotary kiln assembly 103, and the distal ends of the discharge
pipes 445 are located substantially in the center portion in the longitudinal direction
of the rotary kiln assembly 103. On the other hand, by connecting the base end side
to the base end side of the circulation pipe 141, it is possible for the process gas 14
injected from the jet nozzles 132 to flow through the discharge pipes 445 to the
circulation pipe 141 after being used in the inactivation process of the coal 4, so the
5 inactivation process proceeds gently, and it is possible to stably carry out
inactivation of the coal 4.
[Fifth embodiment]
Tl~efo llowing is a description of a fifth embodiment of the coal inactivation
processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIG. 8.
10 The present embodiment is configured by adding a control device that
controls the flow rate adjustment valve provided in the second embodiment as
described above and illustrated in FIG. 4. The rest of the configuration is generally
the same as that described above and illustrated in FIG. 4, so the same equipment is
given the same reference and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
15 As illustrated in FIG. 8, a coal inactivation processing apparatus 500
according to the present embodiment includes a control device 571 connected to the
output side of the temperature sensor 103a, the oxygen sensors 123a, 133a, as well
as to the input side of the flow rate adjustment valves 124a, 134a, 136a, 226a. The
control device 571 is also connected to the output side of the oxygen sensor 141c9
20 the input side of the blowers 135, 141 b, 154a, the input side of the diffuser 154b,
and the input side of the flow rate adjustment valves 142a, 14Ja.
The control device 571 controls the lift of the flow rate control valves 124a,
142a, 226a and the operation of the blowers 135, 141 b, 154a so that the temperature
T measured by the temperature sensor 103a is equal to or less than a predetermined
25 temperature Y, for example, 90°C. Also, the control device 571 controls the lift of
the flow rate adjustment valves 124a9 226a, 142a and the operation of the blowers
135, 141b so that the oxygen concentration measured by the oxygen sensor 123a is
equal to or less than a predetermined value X%, for example, 12%,
In the present embodiment, control means is configured from the control
30 device 571. The coal inactivation processing apparatus 500 is configured from the
control means, similar equipment as the second embodiment described above, and
the lilte. The other means are configured from similar equipment as the second
embodiment described above.
In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 500 according to the present
embodiment that includes the control device 571, it is possible to produce the
modified coal 5 from the low rank coal P by causing the same central operation as
the coal inactivation processing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment
5 as described previously.
Also, the control device 571 controls the lift of the flow rate control valves
124a, 142a, 226a and the operation of the blowers 135, 141b, 154a so that the
temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 103a is equal to or less than a
predetermined temperature Y, for example, 90°C. Also, the control device 571
10 controls the lift of the flow rate adjustment valves 124a, 226a, 142a and the
operation of the blowers 135, 141b so that the oxygen concentration measured by
the oxygen sensor 123a is equal to or less than a predetermined value X%, for
example, 12%.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by controlling the various
15 equipment by the control device 571 based on the temperature of the coal 4 within
the rotary kiln assembly 103 and the oxygen concentration of the process gas 13
flowing within the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123, it is possible to
reliably control the rate of progress of the inactivation process of the coal 4 while
preventing spontaneous combustion of the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly
20 103, and more stably carry out the inactivation process of the coal 4.
[Sixth embodiment]
The following is a description of a sixth embodiment of the coal inactivation
processing apparatus according to the present invention based on FIG. 9.
The present embodiment is configured by adding a second circulation pipe
25 and a three-way valve to the first embodiment as described above and as illustrated
in FIG. 1. The rest of the configuration is generally the same as that described
above and illustrated in FIG. 1, so the same equipment is given the same reference
numeral and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, a coal inactivation processing apparatus 600
30 according to the present embodiment includes a second circulation pipe 641
connected at the base end side thereof to the gas discharge outlet 112b of the distal
end side casing 112 provided on the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103.
The distal end side of the second circulation pipe 641 is connected between the
cyclone 141a and the blower 14 1 b of the circulation pipe 141, via a three-way valve
641b. A cyclone 641a is provided between the base end side and the distal end side
of the second circulation pipe 641. In this way, it is possible to switch discharge of
the process gas 21 from the base end side casing 11 1 and discharge of the process
5 gas 31 from the distal end side casing 112 in accordance with the components of
the coal 4 supplied to the rotary kiln assembly 103.
In this embodiment, switching means is configured from the three-way valve
641b, and the like. Circulation means is configured from the second circulation
pipe 641, the cyclone 641a, the switching means, similar equipment as the first
10 embodiment as described above, and the like. The base end side process gas supply
means is configured from the circulation means, and otherwise similar equipment
as the first embodiment as described above, and the like. The distal end side
process gas supply means is configured from the circulation means, and otherwise
similar equipment as the first embodiment as described above, and the like. The
15 coal inactivation processing apparatus 600 is configured from the base end side
process gas supply means, the distal end side process gas supply means, the
circulation means, and otherwise similar equipment as the first embodiment as
described above, and the lilte. The other means are configured from similar
equipment as the first embodiment described above.
20 In the coal inactivation processing apparatus 600 according to the present
embodiment that includes the gas discharge outlet 112b, the second circulation pipe
641, the cyclone 641a, and the three-way valve 641b, it is possible to produce the
modified coal 5 from the low rank coal 1 by causing the same central operation as
the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment as
25 described above.
Also, the connection direction of the three-way valve 641b is controlled so
that the process gas used in the inactivation process of the coal 4 within the rotary
kiln assembly 103 is discharged from the gas discharge outlet I l l a of the base end
side casing 11 1 or the gas discharge outlet 112b of the distal end side casing 112, in
30 accordance with the components of the coal 4 transported into the rotary kiln
assembly 103 by the hopper 101 and the screw feeder 102. In other words, when
the process gas 21 is discharged from the gas discharge outlet 1 1 la of the base end
side casing 11 1, the three-way valve 641 b is controlled so that the cyclone 141a
side and the blower 141b side of the circulation pipe 141 are communicated. When
35 the process gas 31 is discl~arged from the gas discharge outlet 112b of the distal end
side casing 112, the three-way valve 641b is controlled so that the distal end side of
the second circulation pipe 641 b is communicated between the blower 141b and the
cyclone 141 a on the circulation pipe 141.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the
5 connection direction of the three-way valve 641b so that the used process gas used
in the process of inactivation of the coal 4 in the rotary kiln assembly 103 flows in
the direction opposite to the direction of transport of the coal 4, or flows in the
same direction as the direction of transport of the coal 4. Therefore, it is possible
to select the speed of progress of the inactivation process and stably carry out the
10 inactivation process of the coal 4, in accordance with the components of the coal 4
supplied within the rotary kiln assembly 103.
[Other Embodiments]
Note that in the above, coal inactivation processing apparatus 100, 200, 300,
400, 500, 600 that include a single temperature sensor 103a have been described,
15 but the coal inactivation processing apparatus provided with a plurality of
temperature sensors from the base end side to substantially the center portion in the
longitudinal direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103 is also possible.
In the above, coal inactivation processing apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400, 500,
600 have been described in which the process gas 13 containing oxygen in low
20 concentration is blown to the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 from the
base end side to substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the
rotary kiln assembly 103, and the process gas 14 containing oxygen in high
concentration is blown from substantially the center portion in the longitudinal
direction to the distal end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103. However, a coal
25 inactivation processing apparatus that blows the process gas 13 containing oxygen
in low concentration to the coal 4 within the rotary kiln assembly 103 over a range
of 30% to 70% of the base end side of the rotary ltiln assembly 103, and blows the
process gas 14 containing oxygen in high concentration to the coal 4 within the
rotary ltiln assembly 103 over a range of 70% to 30% of the distal end side of the
30 rotary ltiln assembly 103 is also possible. This increases the reaction per unit time
of the oxygen in the process gas 13, 14, with the coal 4. In other words, the oxygen
adsorption speed is larger in the region of the base end side of the rotary ltiln
assembly 103 where the carbon activation immediately after pyrolyzing the coal 4
supplied within the rotary kiln assembly 103 is high, and the temperature is high.
Therefore, oxygen adsorption can easily occur in the region 30% to 70% (50 +
20%) of the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103, and oxygen adsorption is
more difficult to occur in the region 30% to 70% (50 h 20%) of the distal end side
of the rotary kiln assembly 103 compared with the region 70% to 30% (50 rt 20%)
5 of the base end side of the rotary kiln assembly 103.
In the above, the use of an inactivation processing apparatus 400 that
includes the discharge pipes 445 with the distal end thereof located in substantially
the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotary kiln assembly 103, and
the base end side thereof connected to the base end side of the circulation pipe 141
10 was described. However, a coal inactivation processing apparatus that includes
discharge pipes with the distal ends thereof located within the range from
substantially the center portion in the longitudinal direction to the distal end side of
the rotary kiln assembly 103, and the base end side thereof connected to the base
end side of the circulation pipe 141 is also possible.
15 In the above, the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400,
500, 600 that include the temperature and humidity adjustment device 150 provided
on the circulation pipe 141 were described. However, a coal inactivation
processing apparatus provided with the temperature and humidity adjustment
device 150 in the low oxygen process gas supply pipe 123, the inert gas supply pipe
20 124, the high oxygen process gas supply pipe 133, the air supply pipe 134, and the
branch circulation pipes 142, 143 is also possible.
In the above, the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400,
500, 600 that include the circulation pipe 143 connected to the distal end side of the
circulation pipe 141, 341 and the base end side of the high oxygen process gas
25 supply pipe 133 were described, but a coal inactivation processing apparatus that
does not include the circulation pipe 143 is also possible.
In the above, the coal inactivation processing apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400,
500, 600 that include the circulation pipes 141 to 143, 341, 641 were described, but
a coal inactivation processing apparatus that does not include the circulation pipes
30 141 to 143, 341, 641 is also possible.
Industrial Applicability
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to the present
invention can produce inactivated coal in a short period of time while preventing
spontaneous combustion, so it can be extremely beneficially used in industry.
5
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
I Low-grade coal (low rank coal)
2 Dried coal
3 Pyrolyzed coal
10 4 Coal
5 Modified coal
6,7 Pulverized coal
I1 Air
12 Inert gas
15 13 Low oxygen process gas
14 High oxygen process gas
21 Used gas
22 Temperature and humidity adjusted used gas
3 1 Used gas
20 32 Temperature and humidity adjusted used gas
41 Used gas
42 Temperature and humidity adjusted used gas
5 1 Water (water for temperature and humidity adjustment)
61 Cooling water
25 62 Used cooling water
100 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
101 Hopper
102 Screw feeder
103 Rotary kiln assembly (rotary apparatus assembly)
30 103a Temperature sensor
104 Protrusion
105 Rollers
106 Gear
107 Drive electric motor
35 107a Gear
108 Seal device
109a, 109b Seal device
11 1 Base end side casing
1 I 1 a Gas discharge outlet
112 Distal end side casing
1 12a Chute
5 1 12b Gas discharge outlet
121 Low oxygen process gas introduction pipe
122 Jet Nozzle
122a Tip end
123 Low oxygen process gas supply pipe
10 12Ja Oxygen sensor
124 Inert gas supply pipe
124a Flow rate adjustment valve
125 Inert gas supply source
13 1 High oxygen process gas introduction pipe
15 132 Jet Nozzle
132a Tip end
133 High oxygen process gas supply pipe
133a Oxygen sensor
134 High oxygen process gas supply pipe
20 134a Flow rate adjustment valve
135 Blower
136 Connecting pipe
136a Flow rate adjustment valve
141 Circulation pipe
25 14 1 a Cyclone
141b Blower
142 Branch circulation pipe
142a Flow rate adjustment valve
143 Branch circulation pipe
30 143a Flow rate adjustment valve
144 Air discharge pipe
1 50 Temperature and humidity adjustment device
15 1 Process column (apparatus assembly)
152 Packing material
35 P 53 Water storage tank
154 Supply pipe
154a Blower
154b Diffuser
160 Cooling device
161 Cooling water supply header
162 Supply pipe
5 163 Bearing
164 Cooling water discharge header
1 8 1 Dryer
182 Pyrolyzer
183 Cooler
10 200 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
226 Connecting pipe
226a Flow rate adjustment valve
300 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
341 Circulation pipe
15 341a Cyclone
341b Blower
400 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
445 Discharge pipe
500 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
20 571 Control device
600 Coal inactivation processing apparatus
641 Second circulation pipe
641a Cyclone
64 1 b Three-way valve

WE CLAIM:
A coal inactivation processing apparatus that inactivates coal using
process gas that contains oxygen, comprising:
a kiln assembly for passing the coal from a base end side to a
distal end side in the kiln assembly;
base end side process gas supply means for supplying the process
gas to the base end side of the interior of the kiln assembly;
distal end side process gas supply means for supplying the process
gas to the distal end side of the interior of the kiln assembly;
process gas oxygen concentration adjusting means for adjusting
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied to the interior of the
kiln assembly; and
cooling means for cooling the coal in the interior of the kiln
assembly.
The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the process gas oxygen concentration adjusting means includes
distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting means for adjusting the
oxygen concentration in the process gas supplied by the distal end side
process gas supply means, and base end side oxygen concentration
adjusting means for adjusting the oxygen concentration in the process gas
supplied by the base end side process gas supply means to be lower than
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the distal end
side process gas supply means.
3. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the base end side oxygen concentration adjusting means adjusts
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the base end side
process gas supply means to be equal to or less than 1296, and
the distal end side oxygen concentration adjusting means adjusts
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the distal end
side process gas supply means to be equal to or less than 21%.
4. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to any one of claims
I to 3, further comprising
humidification means for humidifying the process gas supplied to
the interior of the kiln assembly.
5. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to any one of claims
1 to 4, further comprising
process gas discharge means for discharging the process gas used
in the interior of the kiln assembly, and
circulation means for circulating the process gas discharged by the
process gas discharge means to the base end side process gas supply
means.
6. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the process gas discharge means is provided on the base end side
of the kiln assembly, and includes a discharge pipe that discharges the
process gas that has been used in the interior of the kiln assembly from
the distal end side of the interior of the kiln assembly.
'7. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the process gas discharge means includes base end side process
gas discharge means provided on the base end side of the kiln assembly,
and distal end side process gas discharge means provided on the distal
end side of the kiln assembly, and
the circulation means includes switching means for switching a
connection between the base end side process gas discharge means and
the base end side process gas supply means, and a connection between
the distal end side process gas discharge means and the base end side
process gas supply means.
8. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to any one of claims
2 to 7, further comprising
kiln assembly internal temperature measuring means for measuring
a temperature of the interior of the kiln assembly,
process gas oxygen concentration measuring means for measuring
the oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied to the interior of the
kiln assembly, and
control means for controlling the process gas oxygen
concentration adjusting means based on information from the kiln
assembly internal temperature measuring means and the process gas
oxygen concentration measuring means.
9. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the kiln assembly internal temperature measuring means includes
base end side temperature measuring means for measuring the
temperature of the interior of the base end side of the kiln assembly,
the process gas oxygen concentration measuring means includes
base end side oxygen concentration measuring means for measuring the
oxygen concentration of the process gas supplied by the base end side
process gas supply means, and
the control means controls the base end side oxygen concentration
measuring means based on information from the base end side
temperature measuring means and the base end side oxygen concentration
measuring means.
10. The coal inactivation processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
the control means controls the base end side oxygen concentration
adjusting means so that the temperature measured by the base end side
temperature measuring means is equal to or less than 90°C, and, the
oxygen concentration measured by the base end side oxygen
concentration measuring means is equal to or less than 12%.