Half of the world's coal resources are so-called low-rank coal (LRC) such as lignite (brown coal), sub-bituminous coal. Such coal still remains to be local energy sources, because it has low heat value and high propensity of spontaneous combustion. Some of low-rank coals have advantages as clean coal; i.e. low ash and low sulfur content. The UBC (Upgraded Brown Coal) process is a new technology to refine LRC up to transportable solid fuel with high heat value and less spontaneous combustion propensity. This process removes coal moisture in the oil phase, so that heavy oil fraction is adsorbed on the internal surfaces of coal pores. This oil coating makes UBC product not only stable but also re-wetting free. Various coals, so as Australian and Indonesian low rank coal, were tested by Autoclave and Bench Scale Unit and the process application to Indonesian low rank coal was proved to be most feasible. Pilot plant with the capacity of 5 tons/day is now operated in Indonesia, expecting near future commercialization in order to utilize abundant LRC of clean property.
展开▼
