Processes and systems for using biomineral by-products as a fuel and for NOx removal at coal burning power plants

Abstract

Processes and systems are provided that include introducing ammonia liberated from organic waste to a coal burner in a coal burning power plant, preferably for NO x removal at the power plant. The ammonia is preferably either ammonia liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products or ammonia liberated when organic waste is mixed with coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. Also provided are processes and systems of fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and either a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. The present invention is further directed to mixtures of either organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or mixtures of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and alkaline additives made by the processes of the present invention.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A process comprising 
 mixing organic waste, one or more coal combustion by-products, and one or more alkaline additives to form an organic waste/coal combustion by-product/alkaline additive mixture having a solids content of at least 50%;    combining the organic waste/coal combustion by-product/alkaline additive mixture with coal; and    feeding the organic waste/coal combustion by-product/alkaline additive mixture and coal into a coal burner of a coal burning power plant.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said organic waste/coal combustion by-product/alkaline additive mixture has a solids content of at least 75%.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said organic waste/coal combustion by-product/alkaline additive mixture has a solids content of at least 90%.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said coal comprises pulverized coal.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , comprising one or more coal combustion by-products selected from the group consisting of fly ash, fluidized bed ash, flue gas desulfurization by-products and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein said coal combustion by-product comprises fly ash.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said alkaline additive is selected from the group consisting of lime, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, cement kiln dust, lime kiln dust and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said alkaline additive comprises lime.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said alkaline additive comprises cement kiln dust.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said alkaline additive comprises lime kiln dust.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said organic waste comprises waste selected from the group consisting of sewage sludges, animal manures, pulp and paper waste, fermentation waste, food waste, paper and cardboard, and other industrial organic waste.  
     
     
         12 . A process comprising 
 mixing organic waste and one or more coal combustion by-products to form an organic waste/coal combustion by-product mixture having a solids content of at least 50%;    combining the organic waste/coal combustion by-product mixture with coal; and    feeding the organic waste/coal combustion by-product mixture and coal into a coal burner of a coal burning power plant.    
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said organic waste/coal combustion by-product mixture has a solids content of at least 75%.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said organic waste/coal combustion by-product mixture has a solids content of at least 90%.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said coal comprises pulverized coal.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12 , comprising one or more coal combustion by-products selected from the group consisting of fly ash, fluidized bed ash, flue gas desulfurization by-products and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein said coal combustion by-product comprises fly ash.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said organic waste comprises waste selected from the group consisting of sewage sludges, animal manures, pulp and paper waste, fermentation waste, food waste, paper and cardboard, and other industrial organic waste.