Application of Fluidization Technique to Coal Carbonization

Fluidized and allied carbonization processes developed abroad are reviewed. The processes developed by Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co., Institute of Gas Technology, Bureau of Mines and United Engineers and Constructors Inc., are described. The first two processes propose to treat both non-caking as well as caking coals with the object of producing semi-coked char for blanding and power generation. The Bureau of Mines process which has been developed commercially is limited to coals with oxygen content above 12%, heating value less than 14250 B.t.u./lb. on pure coal basis. The process developed by United Engineers & Constructors Inc., operates continuously with any coal but it has not been tried on any large plant. The two processes developed by Imperial Chemical Industries and national Coal Board, in U.K., are described. The former could be operated continuously with caking coal and the latter has the object of using high volatile non-caking coals for producing smokeless domestic fuel for open grates. The fluidized carbonization process operating on a commercial scale in Germany is discussed