Systems and method for heating and drying solid feedstock in a gasification system

1. A system for heating and drying a quantity of coal feedstock, said system comprising:

a quench water sump comprising a first heat transfer fluid, said quench water sump configured to receive a stream of heated fluid from a gasifier and to transfer heat from the stream of heated fluid to the first heat transfer fluid;

a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with said quench water sump for transferring heat from the heated first heat transfer fluid to a second stream of heat transfer fluid; and

a second heat exchanger positioned downstream from said first heat exchanger for receiving the heated second stream of heat transfer fluid from said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated second stream of heat transfer fluid to a stream of makeup gas;

wherein the makeup gas facilitates removing a quantity of moisture from the solid coal feedstock.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a grinding mechanism downstream from said second heat exchanger, said grinding mechanism configured to:

channel a reduced moisture solids to the gasifier.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising a vent assembly downstream from said grinding mechanism, said vent assembly configured to recycle a quantity of the reduced moisture solids to said grinding mechanism to facilitate preventing water accumulation in said system.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the heated fluid comprises a heated syngas stream produced by the gasifier.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a syngas scrubber coupled in flow communication downstream from said first heat exchanger, said syngas scrubber configured to transfer heat to the first heat transfer fluid.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said heat transfer fluid comprises one of a hot oil or water.

7. A gasification system comprising:

a gasifier configured to output a stream of heated fluid; and

a solid coal feedstock moisture removal system comprising:

a quench water sump comprising a first heat transfer fluid, said quench water sump configured to receive the stream of heated fluid from said gasifier and to transfer heat from the stream of heated fluid to the first heat transfer fluid;

a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with said quench water sump for transferring heat from the heated first heat transfer fluid to a second stream of heat transfer fluid; and

a second heat exchanger positioned downstream from said first heat exchanger for receiving the heated second stream of heat transfer fluid from said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated second stream of heat transfer fluid to a stream of makeup gas;

wherein the makeup gas facilitates removing a quantity of moisture from a solid coal feedstock.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a grinding mechanism downstream from said second heat exchanger for receiving the stream of makeup gas prior to channeling a reduced moisture solids to the gasifier.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising a vent assembly downstream from said grinding mechanism, said vent assembly configured to recycle a quantity of the reduced moisture solids to said grinding mechanism to facilitate preventing water accumulation in said system.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the heated fluid comprises a heated syngas stream produced by the gasifier.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising a syngas scrubber coupled in flow communication downstream from said first heat exchanger, said syngas scrubber configured to transfer heat to the first heat transfer fluid.

12. A system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said heat transfer fluid comprises one of a hot oil or water.