Method and system to identify coal characteristics at the mine

Abstract

A composition is provided that includes a carbonaceous feed material to be combusted to generate an off-gas and an identifier. The identifier is associated with a predetermined composition, characteristic or property of the feed material or the off-gas.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An identifier associated with one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of a carbonaceous feed material and/or an off-gas produced by combustion of the carbonaceous feed material, wherein the identifier is adhered to a particle of the carbonaceous feed material, intermixed with the carbonaceous feed material, or attached to a surface of a haulage vehicle carrying the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         22 . The identifier of  claim 21 , wherein the identifier is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identifier (“RFD”), a bar code, and a chemical marker. 
     
     
         23 . The identifier of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is derived from average information previously determined for a mine or a coal seam that is a source of the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         24 . The identifier of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to a content of one or more of a halogen, sulfur, uranium, thorium, nitrogen, mercury, arsenic, and selenium. 
     
     
         25 . The identifier of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to one or more of a heating value, a melting point, a moisture content, a volatility content, an amount of fixed carbon, density, and rank of the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         26 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an identifier that is associated with one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of a carbonaceous feed material and/or an off-gas produced by combustion of the carbonaceous feed material, wherein the identifier is adhered to a particle of the carbonaceous feed material, intermixed with the carbonaceous feed material, and/or attached to a surface of a haulage vehicle carrying the carbonaceous feed material, and   reading the identifier to determine the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising predicting, based on the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of a carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material, an emission of an environmentally controlled substance or concentration thereof in the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material; and
 selecting a treatment to be applied to the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the identifier is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identifier (“RFID”), a bar code, and a chemical marker. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the identifier is read by a reader that optically, magnetically, or wirelessly via signaling senses the identifier. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is derived directly from the identifier or indirectly from a database search based on the identifier. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising combusting the carbonaceous feed material, wherein the identifier is introduced into a combustion furnace along with the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is derived from average information previously determined for a mine or a coal seam that is a source of the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to a content of one or more of a halogen, sulfur, uranium, thorium, nitrogen, mercury, arsenic, and selenium. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more predetermined compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to one or more of a heating value, a melting point, a moisture content, a volatility content, an amount of fixed carbon, density, and rank of the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a carbonaceous feed material,   determining one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or an off-gas produced by combustion of the carbonaceous feed material;   associating an identifier with the determined one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material; and   attaching the identifier to at least a portion of the carbonaceous feed material, wherein the identifier is adhered to a particle of the carbonaceous feed material, intermixed with the carbonaceous feed material, and/or to a surface of a haulage vehicle carrying the at least a portion of the carbonaceous feed material.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 reading the identifier, wherein the determined one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is derived directly from the identifier and/or indirectly from a database search based on the identifier, and wherein the identifier is associated with carbonaceous feed material at a first location and read at a second location.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the identifier is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identifier (“RFID”), a bar code, and a chemical marker. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the determined one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is derived from average information previously determined for a mine or a coal seam that is a source of the carbonaceous feed material. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the determined one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to a content of one or more of a halogen, sulfur, uranium, thorium, nitrogen, mercury, arsenic, and selenium. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the determined one or more compositions, characteristics, and properties of the carbonaceous feed material and/or the off-gas produced by the combustion of the carbonaceous feed material is related to one or more of a heating value, a melting point, a moisture content, a volatility content, an amount of fixed carbon, density, and rank of the carbonaceous feed material.