Patent ID: 6173663
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: C01B,F23C,F23D,F23L,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of combusting pulverized coal by mixing the pulverized coal and an oxidant gas to provide a pulverized coal-oxidant gas mixture and contacting the pulverized coal-oxidant gas mixture with a flame sufficiently hot to combust the mixture, comprising passing an oxygen-containing gas in contact with a dense ceramic membrane of metal oxide material having electron conductivity and oxygen ion conductivity that is gas-impervious until the oxygen concentration on one side of the membrane is greater than about 30% by volume, combining the gas having an oxygen concentration of greater than about 30% by volume with CO.sub.2 to provide an oxidant gas having an oxyen concentration of not less than about 30% by volume and a CO.sub.2 concentration of greater than about 30% by volume, providing a mixture of the oxidant gas and pulverized coal in contact with a flame sufficiently hot to combust the mixture to produce heat and a flue gas.