| Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissionsRelated Patent Categories: Fuel And Related Compositions, Liquid Fuels (excluding Fuels That Are Exclusively Mixtures Of Liquid Hydrocarbons), Organic Oxygen Compound Containing (e.g., Alicyclic Alcohols, Hypochlorites, Etc.), EtherMethod for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070113468, Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/612,354, filed Jul. 2, 2003. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a method of combusting coal for the generation of heat and power that results in reduced emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which consists of a co-firing pulverized coal, preferably in a boiler or furnace system, with an effective amount of an oxygen-containing organic compound. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The demands of an industrialized society and the consequent need to burn fuel for the generation of energy tend to compromise air quality. Existing fuels that are burned in boiler systems and furnaces to produce heat and power include distillate fuel oil, residual (number 6) fuel oil, blends of distillate and residual fuel oil, and coal. Many of the existing energy sources, particularly fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal, release substantial amounts of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) upon combustion. These pollutants cause respiratory diseases and other human ailments. These pollutants also poison the environment via acid rain, ground level ozone and greenhouse gases. [0004] Being the least expensive and available in relative abundance, coal is the preferred fuel in many instances. Unfortunately however, the combustion of coal generates substantial quantities of harmful pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and particulates. Fuels other than coal often have fewer effects on air quality, but tend to be more expensive, or be in relatively short supply. [0005] Environmental legislation, such as the Clean Air Act in the United States, has been enacted in many countries to control the amount of various chemicals released into the atmosphere in an effort to protect human health and the environment. At a local or regional level, industry is typically regulated by state or regional environmental protection agencies that set limits as to the amounts of airborne pollutants that can be emitted from a given source. [0006] As energy demands increase, the pressures, conflicts and costs involved in supplying that energy without exacerbating these health and environmental problems become increasingly difficult. [0007] In recent years, much work has been conducted on finding ways of reducing the output of NOx and SOx and other pollutants from coal combustion. The most common means of reducing NOx emissions is the use of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. However, this approach requires the construction of an expensive catalytic system to treat the exhaust gases from the combustion process. This approach may not be cost effective for smaller coal fired furnaces or boilers. [0008] Another approach is to use staged combustion to reduce NOx wherein there are more than one individualized combustion zones in the furnace. While this technique is suitable for the construction of a new furnace, it is not easily or inexpensively retrofitted to existing furnaces. [0009] Yet another approach is the use of additives during the combustion process to effect changes in the combustion conditions such that emissions are reduced. In one method, calcium compounds such as CaO, CaCO3, CaF, etc, are added to the combustion zone to effect the reduction in NOx and SOx emissions. However, this and similar techniques result in a slag disposal issue. [0010] Another method of reducing NOx emissions (at the point of exit from the stack) is to combine another fuel having less NOx emissions per heating unit value, such as fuel oil, in a furnace or boiler, with the coal. Such combination can reduce the overall NOx emissions while providing the same or similar overall heating values. Although this method often permits coal-burning facilities to meet air quality regulations, it is simply a substitution of a more expensive, but less NOx emitting fuel for the coal. The fuel oil does not actually reduce the emissions of the coal itself, but rather, reduces the emissions from the heating system itself. [0011] In short, notwithstanding previous attempts to solve the emissions problems associated with the combustion of fossil fuels, especially coal, there is a continuing need to develop coal burning methods that improve the NOx emissions, can be cost-effectively retrofitted to existing heat-producing units, such as furnaces and boilers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] It has now surprisingly been discovered that the combination of pulverized coal and an effective amount of oxygenate, when burned as fuel to produce heat, will provide greater-than substitution effect reductions of emissions of NOx from the heat-generating unit. [0013] Therefore the present invention relates to fuel compositions providing reduced emissions of NOx when combusted, wherein the composition comprises: [0014] a) pulverized coal; and [0015] b) an oxygenate selected from the group consisting of, glycerol, glycerol derivatives, propylene glycol, propylene glycol derivatives, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol derivatives, fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. [0016] The present invention also relates to methods of reducing the NOx emissions generated from the burning of pulverized coal in a heat-producing unit, wherein said method comprises the steps of: [0017] a) introducing pulverized coal into a combustion chamber of the heat-producing unit; and [0018] b) co-firing the pulverized coal with an oxygenate source selected from the group consisting of glycerol, glycerol derivatives, propylene glycol, propylene glycol derivatives, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol derivatives, fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof; wherein combustion of the oxygenate source generates at least 2.5%, on a heat input basis, of the total heat generated by the co-firing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] While the specification concludes with the claims particularly pointing and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description. [0020] All percentages and ratios used herein are by weight of the total composition and all measurements made are at 25.degree. C., unless otherwise designated. Continue reading about Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions... Full patent description for Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for combustion of pulverized coal with reduced emissions patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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