Method and apparatus for preparing pulverized coal used to produce synthesis gas

1. A method for preparing coal for use in producing synthesis gas for use in gas turbines comprising the steps of:

grinding coal in a pulverizer to produce pulverized coal;

combusting synthesis gas with air in a gas turbine to produce hot turbine exhaust gas;

conveying a first portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas to the coal pulverizer to dry and convey the pulverized coal from the pulverizer to a coal/gas separation device;

conveying a second portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas through a waste heat recovery boiler to produce cooled turbine exhaust gas; and

mixing the first portion of the turbine exhaust gas and the cooled turbine exhaust together and then conveying the mixture to the coal pulverizer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

separating the pulverized coal from the turbine exhaust gas in the coal/gas separating device;

conveying the separated pulverized coal from the coal/gas separation device to a pulverized coal storage bin; and

conveying the turbine exhaust gas from the coal/gas separation device to an environmental clean-up unit.

3. A method for preparing coal for use in producing synthesis gas for use in gas turbines comprising the steps of:

grinding coal in a pulverizer to produce pulverized coal;

combusting synthesis gas with air in a gas turbine to produce hot turbine exhaust gas;

conveying a first portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas to the coal pulverizer to dry and convey the pulverized coal from the pulverizer to a coal/gas separation device;

conveying a second portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas through a waste heat recovery boiler to produce cooled turbine exhaust gas;

mixing the first portion of the turbine exhaust gas and the cooled turbine exhaust together and then conveying the mixture to the coal pulverizer; and

regulating the relative amounts of hot turbine exhaust gas and cooled turbine gas provided to the coal pulverizer to achieve a desired pulverized coal mill outlet temperature.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising the steps of:

separating the pulverized coal from the turbine exhaust gas in the coal/gas separating device;

conveying the separated pulverized coal from the coal/gas separation device to a pulverized coal storage bin; and

conveying the turbine exhaust gas from the coal/gas separation device to an environmental clean-up unit.

5. An apparatus for preparing coal for use in producing synthesis gas for use in gas turbines, comprising:

a pulverizer for producing pulverized coal from raw coal;

a gas turbine for combusting synthesis gas and air to produce hot turbine exhaust gas;

a waste heat recovery boiler for receiving a first portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas to produce cooled turbine exhaust gas;

dampers for regulating the relative amounts of hot turbine exhaust gas and cooled turbine gas provided to the coal pulverizer to achieve a desired pulverized coal mill outlet temperature;

mixing point for mixing the first portion of the hot turbine exhaust gas and the cooled turbine exhaust together; and

means for providing the mixture to the coal pulverizer to dry the pulverized coal and convey the pulverized coal from the coal pulverizer to a coal/gas separation device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , comprising:

a fabric filter for receiving the pulverized coal and turbine exhaust gas from the coal pulverizer and separating the pulverized coal from the turbine exhaust gas.