METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING SOLID FUEL PROPERTIES
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method of cleaning a solid fuel that may provide a starting solid fuel sample data relating to one or more characteristics of a solid fuel to be treated by a solid fuel treatment facility; may provide a desired solid fuel characteristic; may compare the starting solid fuel sample data relating to one or more characteristics to the desired solid fuel characteristic to determine a solid fuel composition delta; may determine an operational treatment parameter for the operation of the solid fuel treatment facility to clean the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta; and may monitor contaminants emitted from the solid fuel during treatment of the solid fuel and regulating the operational treatment parameter with respect thereto to create a cleaned solid fuel.
1 . A method of cleaning a solid fuel, comprising:
providing a starting solid fuel sample data relating to one or more characteristics of a solid fuel to be treated by a solid fuel treatment facility;
providing a desired solid fuel characteristic;
comparing the starting solid fuel sample data relating to one or more characteristics to the desired solid fuel characteristic to determine a solid fuel composition delta;
determining an operational treatment parameter for the operation of the solid fuel treatment facility to clean the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta; and
monitoring contaminants emitted from the solid fuel during treatment of the solid fuel and regulating the operational treatment parameter with respect thereto to create a cleaned solid fuel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel treatment facility is a microwave solid fuel treatment facility.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel is coal.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel sample data is a database.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel characteristic is water moisture percentage.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel characteristic is ash percentage.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel characteristic is sulfur percentage.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel characteristic is the type of solid fuel.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational treatment parameter is microwave power.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational treatment parameter is microwave frequency.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational treatment parameter is a frequency of microwave application.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise water.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise hydrogen.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise hydroxyls.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise sulfur gas.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise liquid sulfur.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise ash.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the emitted contaminates are monitored by solid fuel facility sensors.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensors provide feedback information for the regulating of the operational treatment parameter.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a high voltage power from a utility owned power transmission line directly to a microwave generator in the treatment facility, wherein the utility owned power transmission line is adapted to carry over 15 kv.
21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a multi-layered conveyor belt to carry the solid fuel through the treatment facility, wherein the multi-layered conveyor belt is adapted to pass a substantial portion of microwave energy through the belt while having a top layer that is resistant to abrasion and a second layer that is resistant to high temperatures.
22 . A solid fuel treatment facility, comprising:
an input facility adapted to receive a starting solid fuel sample data related to one or more characteristics of a solid fuel to be treated by a solid fuel treatment facility and a desired solid fuel characteristic;
a comparison facility adapted to compare the starting solid fuel sample data related to the one or more characteristics to the desired solid fuel characteristic to determine a solid fuel composition delta;
the solid fuel treatment facility further adapted to clean the solid fuel based at least in part on the solid fuel composition delta;
at least one sensor adapted to monitor contaminants emitted from the solid fuel during treatment of the solid fuel; and
a treatment regulation facility adapted to regulate an operational treatment parameter in accordance with feedback obtained from the at least one sensor with respect thereto the composition delta to create a cleaned solid fuel.
23 - 42 . (canceled)