Curtis L Knudson

US Patent:

52545210, Oct 19, 1993

Filed:

Aug 3, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/896333

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND

Assignee:

University of North Dakota Energy and Environment Research Center
Foundation - Grand Forks ND

International Classification:

C01B 3110
C01B 3108
B01D 5302

US Classification:

502432

Abstract:

A process of preparing lignite (low rank) coal filter material, suitable for use in lieu of more expensive activated carbon filter materials, is disclosed. The process comprises size reducing Leonardite coal material to a suitable filtering effective size, and thereafter heating the size reduced Leonardite preferably to at least 750. degree. C. in the presence of a flow of an inert gas.

US Patent:

54055938, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Jul 2, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/087995

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND

Assignee:

University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center
Foundation - Grand Forks ND

International Classification:

B01J 802

US Classification:

42324403

Abstract:

A method of removing polluting noxious substances from a flow of flue-gas including sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides and heavy metals is disclosed. The method consists of passing the flue-gas material through sized-reduced leonardite to assure that it will have a high display of adsorption capacities. The Leonardite is superior to commercially available carbonized char products such as activated carbon, as well as the traditional lignite coke material.

US Patent:

43371426, Jun 29, 1982

Filed:

May 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/154351

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND
Warrack G. Willson - Grand Forks ND
Gene G. Baker - Grand Forks ND
Everett A. Sondreal - Grand Forks ND
Sylvia A. Farnum - Grand Forks ND

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C10G 100

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

An improved process for converting coal to liquid and gaseous products wherein the liquid products predominate and wherein reactor, tubing, and valve plugging due to carbonate salt formation is reduced by reacting crushed low-rank coal containing about 12 to 30% by weight of water in a solvent at a temperature in the range of about 455. degree. to 500. degree. C. , under about 2000 to 5000 psi pressure of a H. sub. 2 /CO mixture for a liquid residence time of about 20 to 60 minutes. The solvent is a fraction of liquid product defined on a weight basis as being made up of about 55% of which distills at less than 250. degree. C. /lmm, about 20% of which is soluble in THF, and about 25% of which is carbon polymer and indigenous inorganic matter. The solvent is further defined as containing at least about 5 weight % of partially hydrogenated aromatics and/or fully hydrogenated aromatics and little or no alkylated aromatics or higher alkanes.

US Patent:

50321463, Jul 16, 1991

Filed:

Sep 28, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/414536

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND
Ronald C. Timpe - Grand Forks ND

Assignee:

The University of North Dakota School of Engineering & Mines Foundation
(UNDSEM Foundation) - Grand Forks ND

International Classification:

C10L 502

US Classification:

44592

Abstract:

A low-rank coal oil agglomeration process. High mineral content, a high ash content subbituminous coals are effectively agglomerated with a bridging oil which is partially water soluble and capable of entering the pore structure, and usually coal derived.

US Patent:

48469637, Jul 11, 1989

Filed:

Apr 18, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/853703

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND
John R. Rindt - Grand Forks ND
Sylvia A. Farnum - Grand Forks ND

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 106

US Classification:

208408

Abstract:

A coal liquefaction process using ionic liquefaction techniques with polar solvent solubilizing agents and water soluble inorganic compounds, produces a carbonaceous liquefaction product which is separated from the process stream by the use of methanol as a partitioning agent and the methanol and solubilizing agent are recovered separately for reuse.

US Patent:

51620502, Nov 10, 1992

Filed:

Jul 12, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/729461

Inventors:

Curtis L. Knudson - Grand Forks ND
Ronald C. Timpe - Grand Forks ND
Todd A. Potas - Plymouth MN
Raymond A. DeWall - Grand Forks ND
Mark A. Musich - Grand Forks ND

Assignee:

University of North Dakota School of Engineering & Mines Foundation
(UND-SEM Foundation) - Grand Forks ND

International Classification:

C01L 502

US Classification:

44592

Abstract:

A selectively-sized, raw, low-rank coal is processed to produce a low ash and relative water-free agglomerate with an enhanced heating value and a hardness sufficient to produce a non-decrepitating, shippable fuel. The low-rank coal is treated, under high shear conditions, in the first stage to cause ash reduction and subsequent surface modification which is necessary to facilitate agglomerate formation. In the second stage the treated low-rank coal is contacted with bridging and binding oils under low shear conditions to produce agglomerates of selected size. The bridging and binding oils may be coal or petroleum derived. The process incorporates a thermal deoiling step whereby the bridging oil may be completely or partially recovered from the agglomerate; whereas, partial recovery of the bridging oil functions to leave as an agglomerate binder, the heavy constituents of the bridging oil. The recovered oil is suitable for recycling to the agglomeration step or can serve as a value-added product.