METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPGRADING CARBONACEOUS FUEL

摘要

The present invention is concerned with upgrading the BTU values of carbonaceous materials. The carbonaceous material is introduced into a heat exchanger (20) and is injected with gas such as an inert gas or carbon dioxide at a high pressure to raise the pressure at which the upgrading process is carried out. The carbonaceous material is then heated to the desired temperature by circulating a heat exchange medium throughout the outer casing (30). Water and other by-products such as tar and gases are recovered during this process. The heated water may be used as a source of pre-heating feed material in another vessel.