Method and apparatus to preheat slurry

Abstract

A method of operating a gasification facility includes channeling steam into a grinding mill via a flow control device and a conduit. The method also includes mixing carbonaceous fuel, preheated water, and steam within the grinding mill, to form a preheated coal slurry stream.

1 . A method of operating a gasification facility, said method comprising:
 channeling steam into a grinding mill via a flow control device and a conduit; and   mixing carbonaceous fuel, preheated water, and steam within the grinding mill, to form a preheated coal slurry stream.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is one of rigid conduit and flexible conduit. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 channeling carbonaceous fuel into the grinding mill via a fuel flow control device; and 
 channeling preheated water into the grinding mill via a flow control device. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3  further comprising at least one of:
 channeling a slurry viscosity additive into the grinding mill via a flow control device, thereby mixing the slurry viscosity additive within the grinding mill; and 
 heating the preheated coal slurry stream by channeling steam into the preheated coal slurry stream. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein mixing carbonaceous fuel, preheated water, slurry viscosity additive, and steam within the grinding mill comprises modulating a rate of flow of each of the carbonaceous fuel, preheated water, slurry viscosity additive, and steam for discharging the preheated coal slurry stream from the grinding mill with at least one of a predetermined slurry temperature and a predetermined slurry viscosity. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein discharging the preheated coal slurry stream from the grinding mill comprises preheating makeup water by at least one of:
 channeling steam through at least one heating device immersed within a mixing tank;   channeling heated gasification by-product into the mixing tank and at least partially mixing the makeup water with the heated gasification by-product; and   channeling at least partially mixed makeup water and gasification by-product from the mixing tank to the grinding mill and channeling steam into the makeup water and the gasification by-product therebetween.   
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein discharging the preheated coal slurry stream from the grinding mill comprises preheating at least a portion of the carbonaceous fuel by channeling steam into a coal transfer apparatus comprising at least one of:
 channeling steam through at least a portion of a coal storage bin; and   channeling steam through at least a portion of a coal conveyor.   
     
     
         8 . A slurry preparation system coupled in flow communication with a carbonaceous fuel source, a makeup water source, and a steam source, said slurry preparation system comprising a fuel grinding mill coupled in flow communication with the steam source via at least one conduit. 
     
     
         9 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said at least one conduit is one of a flexible conduit and a rigid conduit. 
     
     
         10 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising at least one slurry viscosity additive flow control device coupled in flow communication with a slurry viscosity additive source. 
     
     
         11 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising at least one of:
 at least one steam flow control device coupled in flow communication with the steam source and said at least one conduit; and 
 at least one temperature control device coupled in communication with said at least one steam flow control device. 
 
     
     
         12 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 11  further comprising at least one mixing tank coupled in flow communication with the makeup water source and with at least one gasification by-product source. 
     
     
         13 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said at least one mixing tank is coupled in flow communication with said grinding mill via a fluid transfer conduit and at least one of:
 at least one steam injection device coupled in flow communication with said fluid transfer conduit; and 
 at least one fluid flow control device coupled in flow communication with said fluid transfer conduit. 
 
     
     
         14 . A slurry preparation system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said at least one fluid flow control device is coupled in communication with said at least one steam flow control device. 
     
     
         15 . A gasification facility comprising:
 a carbonaceous fuel source;   a makeup water source;   a steam source; and   a slurry preparation system coupled in flow communication with said carbonaceous fuel source, said makeup water source, and said steam source, said slurry preparation system comprising a fuel grinding mill coupled in flow communication with said steam source via at least one conduit.   
     
     
         16 . A gasification facility in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said at least one conduit is one of a flexible conduit and a rigid conduit. 
     
     
         17 . A gasification facility in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising at least one slurry viscosity additive flow control device coupled in flow communication with a slurry viscosity additive source. 
     
     
         18 . A gasification facility in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising at least one of:
 at least one steam flow control device coupled in flow communication with the steam source and said at least one conduit; and 
 at least one temperature control device coupled in communication with said at least one steam flow control device. 
 
     
     
         19 . A gasification facility in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising
 at least one mixing tank coupled in flow communication with the makeup water source and with at least one gasification by-product source, wherein said at least one mixing tank is coupled in flow communication with said grinding mill via a fluid transfer conduit and at least one of:
 at least one steam injection device coupled in flow communication with said fluid transfer conduit; and 
 at least one fluid flow control device coupled in flow communication with said fluid transfer conduit. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . A gasification facility in accordance with  claim 19  further comprising a coal transfer apparatus coupled in flow communication with said carbonaceous fuel source, said coal transfer apparatus comprises a fuel flow control device coupled in communication with said at least one fluid flow control device and said at least one steam flow control device.