Methods and compositions for drying coal

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods, compositions and systems for drying coal fines.

1 . A method of reducing the water associated with wet coal fines comprising contacting said wet coal fines with at least one water-collecting material, wherein at least a portion of the water present in the mixture becomes associated with the water-collecting material. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said water-collecting material collects water by absorption and/or absorption. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein prior to the step of contacting said wet coal fines with said water-collecting material, the coal fines are in a mixture comprising water that is subjected to an earlier treatment for removing water. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said earlier treatment is carried out by one or more treatments selected from the group consisting of treatment with air or other gas, filtration, settling, and centrifugation. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said water-collecting material is in the form of particles, and wherein said particles have an average diameter that is greater than about 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 or 26 mm and wherein said average diameter is less than about 28, 30 or 32 mm. 
     
     
         8 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said water-collecting material comprises a desiccant selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, and calcium sulfate. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein following said contacting, the method further comprises a separation in which at least a portion of said water-collecting material is separated from said coal fines. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said separation comprises size-based separation. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, following the collection of water by the water-collecting material, the amount of water associated with the coal fines by weight is selected from the group consisting of less than about 10%, less than about 8%, less than about 6%, less than about 5% and less than about 4%. 
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising wet coal fines, and at least one water-collecting materials, wherein at least 25% of the water (by weight) in the composition is associated with the water-collecting material, wherein particles have an average diameter that is greater than about 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 or 26 mm, and wherein said average diameter is less than about 28, 30 or 32 mm. 
     
     
         23 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A system for removing water from wet coal fines comprising
 a first location in which the wet coal fines are admixed with at least one water-collecting material to form an admixture of wet coal fines and said water-collecting material, and   a second location where at least a portion of said water-collecting material is removed from said admixture.   
     
     
         39 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein following the step of forming said admixture, at least 25% of the water (by weight) in the composition is associated with the water-collecting material. 
     
     
         40 . A system according to  claim 39 , wherein the amount of water by weight that is associated with the water-collecting material is selected from the group consisting of at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, and at least 90%. 
     
     
         41 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein said water-collecting material comprises a material that absorbs water adsorbs water or bonds with the water. 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A system to  claim 38 , wherein said water-collecting material is in the form of particles. 
     
     
         45 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 44 , wherein said particles have an average diameter that is greater than about 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 or 26 mm and wherein the average diameter is less than about 28, 30 or 32 mm. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein said water-collecting material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a molecular sieve, a hydratable polymer and a desiccant. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein said water-collecting material comprises a desiccant selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, and calcium sulfate. 
     
     
         52 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein said second location is configured to provide size-based separation of said water collecting material from said coal fines. 
     
     
         53 .- 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A system for removing water from wet coal fines comprising
 a first location in which the wet coal fines are admixed with at least one water-collecting material that is susceptible to attraction by a magnet to form an admixture of wet coal fines and said water-collecting material, and   a second location where at least a portion of said water-collecting material is removed from said admixture using magnetic separation alone or in combination with size based separation applied to said particles either before or after said magnetic separation.   
     
     
         62 - 70 . (canceled)