Systems and methods for coal water slurry concentration
The present application provides a slurry concentration system for concentrating a flow of slurry. The slurry concentration system may include a boiler for producing a flow of steam, a first evaporator for concentrating the flow of slurry with the flow of steam and creating a first flow of water vapor, and a second evaporator positioned downstream of the first evaporator for further concentrating the flow of slurry with the first flow of water vapor and creating a second flow of water vapor.
1. A slurry concentration system for concentrating a flow of slurry, comprising:
a boiler for producing a flow of steam;
a first evaporator for concentrating the flow of slurry with the flow of steam and creating a first flow of water vapor; and
a second evaporator positioned downstream of the first evaporator for further concentrating the flow of slurry with the first flow of water vapor and creating a second flow of water vapor.
2. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , further comprising a third evaporator downstream of the second evaporator.
3. The slurry concentration system of claim 2 , wherein the third evaporator further concentrates the flow slurry with the second flow of water vapor and creates a third flow of water vapor.
4. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , further comprising a waste heat source to power the boiler.
5. The slurry concentration system of claim 4 , wherein the waste heat source comprises a liquid/gaseous fuel or a low grade coal.
6. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator comprises a steam chest in communication with the boiler.
7. The slurry concentration system of claim 6 , wherein the second evaporator comprises a steam chest in communication with the first flow of water vapor.
8. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , further comprising a slurry tank positioned downstream of the second evaporator.
9. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , wherein the slurry comprises a coal water slurry.
10. The slurry concentration system of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the slurry increases four or more times.
11. A method of concentrating a coal water slurry, comprising:
passing the coal water slurry through a first evaporator;
vaporizing the coal water slurry with a flow of steam;
creating a first flow of water vapor;
passing the coal water slurry through a second evaporator; and
further vaporizing the coal water slurry with the first flow of water vapor.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of creating a second flow of water vapor.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of passing the coal water slurry though a third evaporator.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of vaporizing the coal water slurry with the second flow of water vapor.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of creating a third flow of water vapor.
16. A slurry preparation system for creating a flow of slurry, comprising:
a conditioning tank;
a washing column;
a first evaporator;
a boiler for creating a flow of steam for the first evaporator; and
a second evaporator positioned downstream of the first evaporator.
17. The slurry preparation system of claim 16 , further comprising a third evaporator downstream of the second evaporator.
18. The slurry preparation system of claim 16 , further comprising a waste heat source to power the boiler.
19. The slurry preparation system of claim 18 , wherein the waste heat source comprises a liquid/gaseous fuel or a low grade coal.
20. The slurry preparation system of claim 16 , wherein the first evaporator comprises a steam chest in communication with the boiler.