AU2015290405B2

AU2015290405B2 - Binder for coal briquette

Info

Publication number: AU2015290405B2
Application number: AU2015290405A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nak Woon Choi; Doo Ho Kim; Tae Heon Kim; Tae Hong Kim
Original assignee: Lotte Fine Chemical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lotte Fine Chemical Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-17
Filing date: 2015-07-10
Publication date: 2018-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-10
Also published as: KR20160010316A; BR112017000775A2; BR112017000775B1; AU2015290405A1; CN106661474A; TW201610143A; KR102469996B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a binder for a coal briquette. The disclosed binder for a coal briquette comprises at least one cellulose ether-based compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose, which have viscosity of 1,000-80,000 cps. The binder for a coal briquette may not need an additional strength enhancer, and can produce a high-strength coal briquette, capable of simplifying the manufacturing process of the coal briquette.

Description

TITLE

BINDER FOR COAL BRIQUETTE

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] A binder for coal briquette is disclosed. In detail, a binder for coal briquette including a cellulose ether-based compound having a certain viscosity range is disclosed.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] An iron and steel manufacturing process may be classified into an iron making process of producing a molten iron by charging iron ore and coal into a blast furnace, a steel making process of producing high-purity molten steel by removing impurities contained in the molten iron, a casting process of producing a semi-finished product, such as solid phase slab from the molten steel in a liquid state, and a rolling process of producing a final steel product by processing a semi-finished product, such as the slab.

[0003] In new iron and steel manufacturing processes, FINEX (fine ore reduction process) and COREX (smelting reduction process), Bituminuous coal in the original state is charged into a melting furnace without processing the Bituminuous coal into cokes as in conventional iron and steel manufacturing processes.

[0004] Bituminuous coal with a particle size of more than 8 mm may be used immediately without any special processing; however, the use of Bituminuous coal having a particle size of 8 mm or less may be limited by the reason, such as dust generation during the 25 operation. Therefore, Bituminuous coal having a particle size of 8 mm or less may be used after being processed into coal briquette having a certain particle size.

[0005] When the Bituminuous coal having such a small particle size is processed into coal briquette, molasses is mainly used as a binder conventionally. However, when molasses is used as a binder, various shortcomings may occur as follows.

[0006] First, when molasses is used as a binder, as the strength of the finally produced coal briquette is weak, strength reinforcing agents, such as quicklime, bentonite, or a mixture thereof have to be additionally used so as to reinforce the strength of the coal briquette.

[0007] Next, stench may occur derived from molasses while working.

[0008] In addition, because molasses has a shape of a sticky liquid, and viscosity thereof

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 increases as temperature decrease, there are problems in that molasses is attached to a storage tank, pipe, and nozzle during the storage, transportation, and spraying. Therefore, equipment (for example, high pressure pump and heating apparatus) is required in order to prevent such problems. Thus, when molasses is used as a binder, the manufacturing process of coal briquette becomes complicated.

[0009] Further, as molasses is derived from a natural material, viscosity thereof may not be constant depending on the source of supply, supplier, and time of supply, causing it difficult to maintain the quality of coal briquette constantly.

[0010] In addition, molasses has to be used in a large amount as the molasses is a liquid and has low density, and thus, there is a disadvantage in that a large-capacity storage facility is necessary, and the quantity of goods transported and associated transportation costs increases.

[0011] In addition, there is a shortcoming in that the supply and the price of molasses are unstable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

TECHNICAL PROBLEM [0012] According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a binder for coal briquette may include at least one cellulose ether-based compound having a certain viscosity range and selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION [0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a binder for coal briquette including at least one cellulose ether-based compound having a viscosity in a range of Ι,θθθ cps to 80,000 cps and selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose wherein the cellulose ether-based 30 compound does not include carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).

[0014] The binder for coal briquette may be for preparing coal briquette by binding pulverized coal.

[0015] The pulverized coal may be Bituminuous coal having a particle size of 8 mm or less, in particular, 4 mm or less.

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 [0016] The cellulose ether-based compound may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC).

[0017] The MC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32 wt%, the HEC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxyethyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32 wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range of 2 wt% to 14 wt%, and the HEMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxyethyl group in a range 2 wt% to 14 wt%.

[0018] The cellulose ether-based compound may be used in an amount of 0.01 part by weight to 15.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the pulverized coal.

[0019] The binder for coal briquette may further include an additional binder in a range greater than 0 to 10,000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the cellulose ether-based compound.

[0020] The additional binder may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of molasses, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAM), sucrose, liquid glucose, acacia gum, tragacanth gum, gelatin, alginic acid, polymethacyrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), sodium polyacrylate, polyvinylmethylether (PLM), asphalt, bitumen, casein, epoxy resin, pitch, polyamide, polyurethane, and polyvinyl acetal.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS [0021] A binder for coal briquette according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a cellulose ether-based compound having a certain viscosity range. Therefore, the total amount of a binder used may be decreased (to a degree of 1/10 of the 30 amount of molasses used in the case that molasses is used for 100% of a binder), an additional strength reinforcing agent may not be required to be used, the manufacture process of coal briquette may be simplified, and high-strength coal briquette that may maintain stable supply and price, compare with molasses, may be manufactured.

[0022] Further, a binder for coal briquette including the cellulose ether-based compound 3

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 is colorless and odorless without occurring stench, thereby improving the working environment.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter a binder for coal briquette according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail. The binder for coal briquette according to an exemplary embodiment may include at least one cellulose ether-based compound having a viscosity in a range 1,000 to 80,000 centipoises (cps) or mPa· s and selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose.

In the present specification, the term a viscosity of a cellulose ether-based compound refers to a viscosity measured by using a DV-II+Pro (spindle HA), available from Brookfield Co.,Ltd, and a viscosity of an aqueous cellulose ether-based compound solution having a concentration of 2 wt% at 20±0.1°C

When the viscosity of the cellulose ether-based compound is less than 1,000 cps, the viscosity of a solution containing the cellulose ether-based compound (for example, an aqueous solution) may be significantly low, resulting in a low binding strength of the cellulose ether-based compound to a pulverized coal. When the viscosity of the cellulose ether-based compound is more than 80,000 cps, the molecular weight of the cellulose ether-based compound may be high and have a low water-solubility, resulting in an insufficient binding strength of the cellulose ether-based compound to the pulverized coal.

The viscosity of the cellulose ether-based compound may be, for example, 2,000 to 70,000 cps, for example, 6,000 to 60,000 cps, for example, 7,000 to 50,000 cps, for example, 8,000 to 40,000 cps, for example, 9,000 to 30,000 cps, and, for example, 10,000 to 20,000 25 cps.

The binder for coal briquette may be for preparing coal briquette by binding pulverized coal. In the present specification, the term pulverized coal refers to coal having a particle size of 8 mm or less.

The pulverized coal may be bituminous coal. In the present specification, the term 30 Bituminuous coal refers to coal that is relatively soft and contains tar-type material, called bitumen.

The pulverized coal may have a particle size of 4 mm or less. When the particle size of the pulverized coal is 4 mm or less, breaking of the pulverized coal due to an applied pressure may be prevented during the manufacture process of coal briquette. As such, when

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 the particle size of the pulverized coal is 4 mm or less, the coal briquette that is finally formed may maintain a high strength.

The cellulose ether-based compound may play a role of binding together particles of the pulverized coal.

The cellulose ether-based compound may be easily dissolved in water, and when the cellulose ether-based compound in an aqueous solution state is injected through a nozzle, the cellulose ether-based compound may not be deposited on an inner surface of the nozzle so that it may not block the nozzle orifice. In addition, since the cellulose ether-based compound may be stored and transported in a solid phase powder form, either alone or mixed with the pulverized coal, and mixed with water in the final stage of use, miniaturization and simplification of a storage facility and simplification of a transporting equipment may be possible. Further, even with less amount of the cellulose ether-based compound than that of molasses, the cellulose ether-based compound may have the same binding effect as molasses, resulting in reduction of material cost. Moreover, when the cellulose ether-based compound is used, coal briquette having an excellent strength may be obtained even without using a strength reinforcing agent.

The cellulose ether-based compound may not include carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). If the cellulose ether-based compound includes CMC, the strength of coal briquette prepared using a coal briquette forming composition containing the binder for coal briquette may decrease.

The cellulose ether-based compound may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC).

The MC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to wt%, the HEC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxyethyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32 wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range 30 of 2 wt% to 14 wt%, and the HEMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxyethyl group in a range 2 wt% to 14 wt%.

The cellulose ether-based compound may be used in an amount of 0.01 part by weight to 15.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the pulverized coal. When the

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 cellulose ether-based compound is used within the above range, coal briquette with a high strength may be obtained even with a small addition amount of the cellulose ether-based compound compared to that of molasses.

The binder for coal briquette may further include an additional binder in a range greater than 0 to 10,000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the cellulose ether-based compound. When the amount of the additional binder is within the above range, the manufacture cost of the binder for coal briquette may be reduced by reducing the amount of the cellulose ether-based compound used, the drying rate of the coal briquette forming composition containing the binder for coal briquette may increase, and generation of dust may be reduced or prevented, and coal briquette having improved strength may be obtained.

The additional binder may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of molasses, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAM), sucrose, liquid glucose, acacia gum, tragacanth gum, gelatin, alginic acid, polymethacyrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), sodium polyacrylate, polyvinylmethylether (PLM), asphalt, bitumen, casein, epoxy resin, pitch, polyamide, polyurethane, and polyvinyl acetal.

The binder for coal briquette may provide a coal briquette having improved strength even without including a strength reinforcing agent, such as quicklime, bentonite, or other materials that may improve strength of coal briquette.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, coal briquette prepared by using the binder for coal briquette may be provided.

When preparing coal briquette using the binder for coal briquette, water in a range greater than 0 to 15.0 parts by weight may be used based on 100 parts by weight of the pulverized coal. When the amount of water is within the above range, a coal briquette 25 forming composition that is easy to handle and has a uniform composition may be obtained, and a sticking phenomenon of some of components of the coal briquette forming composition to a surface of a molding machine during the coal briquette molding process may be prevented.

The coal briquette prepared using the binder for coal briquette may be not to be used 30 in cokes production process but to be used as a heat source in FINEX process and COREX process. Accordingly, the prepared coal briquette may have advantages such as high heat efficiency and quick drying rate.

The method of preparing coal briquette using the binder for coal briquette is as follows. That is, the binder for coal briquette, pulverized coal, and water may be mixed 6

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 together to prepare a coal briquette forming composition, and the prepared coal briquette forming composition may be injected to a mold, and then, a predetermined pressure may be applied thereto to prepare coal briquette.

The binder for coal briquette may provide a binder for coal briquette having improved strength even without including a strength reinforcing agent.

MODE OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT [0023] Hereinafter the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples; however, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0024] Example [0025] Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 [0026] (Preparation of coal briquette forming composition containing binder for coal briquette) [0027] Pulverized coal (available from SK Networks Co.,Ltd, particle size: 0.1 to 5 mm), and optional hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) (available from Ashland Co.,Ltd, AQUALON™, viscosity: 6,000 cps), molasses (available from Kcchem Co.,Ltd, solid content: 77.2 wt%, the total equivalent weight: 49.3 wt%), quicklime (available from Chungmoo Chemical Co.,Ltd, CaO content: 70 wt% or more, finess of powder: 95 wt% thereof pass a sieve of 170 mesh (89 qm)) were mixed according to a composition and an amount listed in Table 1, thereby obtaining a first composition. Then, distilled water was added to the first composition to obtain a coal briquette forming composition. The amount of components used in each Example and Comparative Example are shown in Table 1.

[0028] (Preparation of coal briquette) [0029] The prepared coal briquette forming composition was compression-molded with a load of 70 kN by using a briquette machine (available from Jeil Machinery Co.,Ltd, JCB250T) to prepare fifty coal briquettes, followed by selecting thirty coal briquettes except for the twenty coal briquettes prepared at the beginning and the end. The weight of each of the prepared coal briquettes was 5 g to 10 g.

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 [Table 1]

	Mixing ratio (parts by weight)
Pulveri -zed coal	Molass es	Distille d water	Quickli me	HPMC	CMC
1	2	3	4	5
Example 1	100	0	10	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Example 2	100	0	10	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Example 3	100	0	10	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
Example 4	100	0	10	0	7	0	0	0	0	0
Example 5	100	2	8	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
Example 6	100	2	8	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Example 7	100	2	8	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
Example 8	100	0	10	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Example 9	100	0	10	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Compar ative Example 1	100	0	10	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Compar ative Example 2	100	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Compar ative	100	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	1

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Example 3
Compar ative Example 4	100	8	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0

2015290405 08 Nov 2018 [0030] HPMC 1: Samsung Fine Chemicals Co.,Ltd, Mecellose® HPMC (PMC-60U), viscosity: 60,000 cps, a degree of substitution of methyl group: 23.2 wt%, and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group: 8.8wt% [0031] HPMC 2: Samsung Fine Chemicals Co.,Ltd, Mecellose® HPMC (PMB-40H), viscosity: 4,000 cps, a degree of substitution of methyl group: 28.6 wt%, and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group: 6.1 wt% [0032] HPMC 3: Samsung Fine Chemicals Co.,Ltd, HPMC, viscosity: 80,000 cps, a degree of substitution of methyl group: 22.8wt%, and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group: 9.1wt% [0033] HPMC 4: Samsung Fine Chemicals Co.,Ltd, HPMC, viscosity: 500 cps, a degree of substitution of methyl group: 26.4wt%, and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group: 8.2wt%a [0034] HPMC 5: Samsung Fine Chemicals Co.,Ltd, HPMC, viscosity: 85,000 cps, a degree of substitution of methyl group: 22.6wt%, and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group: 9.2wt% [0035] CMC: Ashland Co.,Ltd, AQUALON™, and viscosity: 6,000 cps [0036] Evaluation Example [0037] Evaluation Example 1 [0038] Impact strengths and compression strengths of the coal briquettes prepared in Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were evaluated as follow. The results thereof are shown in Table 2.

[0039] (Impact strength evaluation) [0040] A sand-filled rectangular parallelepiped tray (the total weight: 0.5 kg) was 25 dropped from a height of 50 cm upward from ten coal briquettes toward the ten coal briquettes. The drop test was repeated twice more, ten coal briquettes per once, upon the remaining twenty coal briquettes. Then, the total weight of the particles having a size of 10

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2015290405 08 Nov 2018 mm or more of the existing coal briquettes was expressed by a percentage with respect to the total weight of the coal briquettes before the drop test, and the value was evaluated as impact strength. Here, the greater obtained value indicates the greater impact strength. The impact strength is a reference for determining a rate of loss due to several times of drops when the coal briquettes are transported by a conveyor belt.

[0041] (Compression strength evaluation) [0042] The maximum strength of the coal briquette, when the coal briquette was compressed at a rate of 5 mm/min in a universal testing machine (available from Shin Gang Precision IND. Co., Ltd, AD-universal testing machine -kN), was measured. The measured value was recorded as compression strength. The compression strength is a reference for determining a rate of damage by the coal briquettes’ own weight when the coal briquettes are stored in a storage tank.

[Table 2]

	Example	Comparative Example
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	1	2	3	4
Impact strength (%)	83	85	88	93	95	90	85	84	85	73	74	70	78
Compression strength (MPa)	9.9	10.5	11.2	13.1	15.3	12.3	10.8	9.8	10.1	8.9	9.1	7.5	9.3

[0043] Referring to Table 2, it was found that the respective coal briquette prepared in Examples 1 to 9 had greater impact strength and compression strength than the coal briquettes prepared in Comparative Examples 1 to 4.

[0044] While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in 20 the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0045] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an 25 inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

10822490_1 (GHMatters) P104842.AU [0046] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

2015290405 08 Nov 2018

Claims

1. A binder for coal briquette for preparing coal briquette by binding a pulverized coal, wherein the binder comprises at least one cellulose ether-based compound having a viscosity in a range of 1,000 cps to 80,000 cps and selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose, wherein the cellulose ether-based compound does not include carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).

2. The binder of claim 1, wherein the cellulose ether-based compound comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC).

3. The binder of claim 2, wherein the MC has a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32 wt%, the HEC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxyethyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPC may have a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range of 20 wt% to 80 wt%, the HPMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32 wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl group in a range of 2 wt% to 14 wt%, and the HEMC may have a degree of substitution of methyl group in a range of 18 wt% to 32wt% and a degree of substitution of hydroxy ethyl group in a range 2 wt% to 14 wt%.

4. The binder of claim 1, wherein the cellulose ether-based compound is used in

25 an amount of 0.01 part by weight to 15.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the pulverized coal.

5. The binder of claim 1 further comprising an additional binder in a range greater than 0 to 10,000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the cellulose

30 ether-based compound.

6. The binder of claim 5, wherein the additional binder comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of molasses, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAM), sucrose,

10822490_1 (GHMatters) P104842.AU liquid glucose, acacia gum, tragacanth gum, gelatin, alginic acid, polymethacyrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), sodium polyacrylate, polyvinylmethylether (PLM), asphalt, bitumen, casein, epoxy resin, pitch, polyamide, polyurethane, and polyvinyl acetal.

2015290405 08 Nov 2018