Fine coal recovery and dewatering processing unit
This technology cleans and dries fine coal particles by mixing them with a hydrophobic (water-repelling) liquid, which causes the coal to migrate into the liquid phase while dirt and mineral impurities stay behind in the water phase. The two phases are then separated, and any water droplets trapped with the coal are mechanically removed, yielding a cleaner, drier coal product. The hydrophobic liquid is recovered and recycled back into the process, keeping operating costs down. The result is a continuous cleaning process that simultaneously strips ash-forming minerals and surface moisture from coal fines that are otherwise difficult to process economically.
What you could build
A modular processing unit sold or licensed to coal preparation plants that handles fine coal refuse or slurry ponds, enabling recovery of saleable coal product from material currently discarded or stockpiled; buyers would be coal mining companies and contract coal-processing operators.
Who in Virginia should care
Southwest Virginia coal operators and preparation plant owners, as well as Virginia Tech's mining and minerals engineering ecosystem, would have direct interest in licensing or piloting this technology.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Roe-Hoan Yoon, Mert K. Eraydin, Chad Freeland
- Granted
- October 17, 2017
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 9789492
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.