H:\sbt\Intenvoven\NRPorbl\DCC\SB\7957005_ Idox-26/06/2015 MODIFIED COAL PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT [00011 The present invention relates to upgraded coal production equipment and is particularly useful when applied to a case of upgrading low-rank coal such as brown coal and subbituminous coal which is porous and which contains a large amount of moisture. [00021 There are abundant reserves of low-rank coal which is coal containing a large amount of moisture such as brown coal and subbituminous coal. Meanwhile, the calorific value of the low-rank coal per unit weight is small. In view of this, the low-rank coal is heated to be subjected to drying processing and pyrolysis processing and is thereby improved in calorific value per unit weight. [00031 In this connection, the heated low-rank coal tends to adsorb water. In addition, carboxylic groups and the like on a surface of the low-rank coal are removed, thereby forming radical and the like on the surface. This increases activity on the surface of the low-rank coal and accordingly makes the low-rank coal easily react with oxygen in the air. The low-rank coal may thus spontaneously combust due to reaction heat generated by the reaction. [00041 To counter this problem, in, for example, Patent Literature 1 listed below or the like, pyrolysis coal obtained by subjecting the low-rank coal to drying, and pyrolysis is subjected to deactivation processing in which, by heating the pyrolysis (at about 150 0 C to 1700C) in a low oxygen atmosphere (oxygen concentration around 10%), a surface of the pyrolysis coal is partially oxidized to reduce activity on the surface of the pyrolysis coal. As a H:\st\lnterov n\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005 .dex-26/06/2015 -2 result, upgraded coal whose spontaneous combustion is suppressed is produced. Citation List Patent Literature [0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 11-310785 [0006] The composition of the raw-material coal varies depending on a mine from which the coal is extracted. For this reason, for producing upgraded coal as described above, various processing conditions such as an oxygen concentration in an atmosphere of the deactivation processing, an atmosphere temperature, and a processing time are set such that the raw-material coal of even any composition can be deactivated sufficiently. Accordingly, even raw-material coal which can be sufficiently deactivated under relatively loose conditions is deactivated under relatively strict conditions, and there is a waste in processing cost. [0007] The invention provides upgraded coal production equipment comprising: drying means for producing dry coal by removing moisture from raw-material coal; pyrolysis means for producing pyrolysis coal by performing pyrolysis on the dry coal; deactivation processing means for producing upgraded coal by deactivating the pyrolysis coal by heating with processing gas containing oxygen; first oxygen adsorption rate measuring means for collecting part of the dry coal dried by the drying means and obtaining an oxygen adsorption rate Vd of the dry coal; H:\sbt\lntewovo\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005_I.docx-26/06/2015 -3 second oxygen adsorption rate measuring means for collecting part of the upgraded coal deactivated in the deactivation processing means and obtaining an oxygen adsorption rate Vr of the upgraded coal; and main arithmetic control means for: calculating an oxygen adsorption rate ratio N from the following oxygen adsorption rate ratio calculation formula on the basis of the oxygen adsorption rates Vd, Vr; if the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is within a range of a standard value Ns, controlling the deactivation processing means such that a deactivation processing condition is maintained; if the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is beyond the range of the standard value Ns, reading, from a map, an additional oxygen concentration value Oa to be applied to the processing gas correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N, calculating a corrected oxygen concentration value Oc in the processing gas on the basis of the additional oxygen concentration value Oa and a present oxygen concentration value Op in the processing gas, and controlling the deactivation processing means such that the processing gas is set to the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc; if the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is below the range of the standard value Ns, reading, from a map, a decrease oxygen concentration value Od to be applied to the processing gas correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N, calculating the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc in the processing gas on the basis of the decrease oxygen concentration value Od and the present oxygen concentration value Op in the processing gas, and controlling the deactivation processing means such that the processing gas is set to the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc, where the oxygen adsorption rate ratio calculation formula is H:\sbt\Intenvoven\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005_1.docx-26/06/2015 -4 N = |(Vr-Vd) |/Vd. [00081 Preferred embodiments of the invention provide upgraded coal production equipment capable of producing upgraded coal in a simple way by deactivating raw-material coal of various compositions under necessary sufficient conditions. [0009] In the upgraded coal production equipment of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc exceeds an upper limit value Ou, the main arithmetic control means reads, from a map, an additional temperature value Ta to be applied to the processing gas correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N, calculates a corrected temperature value Tc on the basis of the additional temperature value Ta and a present temperature value Tp in the processing gas, and controls the deactivation processing means such that the processing gas is set to the corrected temperature value Tc. [00101 In the upgraded coal production equipment of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second oxygen adsorption rate measuring means obtains a new oxygen adsorption rate Vrn of the upgraded coal by collecting part of the upgraded coal deactivated in the deactivation processing means, and then, every time a specific time Ts elapses, collecting again part of the upgraded coal newly deactivated in the deactivation processing means, and the main arithmetic control means: calculates a stability S from the following stability calculation formula on the basis of the current oxygen adsorption rate Vrn newly obtained and the oxygen adsorption rate Vrn-1 obtained just before the current oxygen adsorption rate Vrn: if the stability S is within a range of a standard value Ss, H:\st\nterwovm\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005_I.dox-26/06/2015 -5 recalculates the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N from the following oxygen adsorption rate ratio recalculation formula on the basis of the oxygen adsorption rates Vd, Vrn; and compares the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N with the standard value Ns again, where the stability calculation formula is S = |(Vrn-Vrn-l)|/Vrn, and the oxygen adsorption rate ratio recalculation formula is N = |(Vrn-Vd)|/Vd. [0011] In the upgraded coal production equipment of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first oxygen adsorption rate measuring means comprises: first sampling means for collecting the part of the dry coal dried by the drying means as a sample; first testing means for performing an oxygen adsorption test by exposing the sample collected by the first sampling means to oxygen containing gas at a test temperature for a test time Td; first weighing means for measuring a weight Wdl of the sample, collected by the first sampling means, before the oxygen adsorption test and a weight Wd2 of the sample after the oxygen adsorption test; and first sub-arithmetic control means for calculating the oxygen adsorption rate Vd of the dry coal from the following dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula on the basis of the weights Wdl, Wd2 measured by the first weighing means, and the second oxygen adsorption rate measuring means comprises: second sampling means for collecting the part of the upgraded coal deactivated in the deactivation processing H:\sbt\hntenvov\NRPorlbl\DCC\SBT\795700J5_1.docx-26/06/2015 -6 means as a sample; second testing means for performing an oxygen adsorption test by exposing the sample collected by the second sampling means to oxygen containing gas at a test temperature for a test time Tr; second weighing means for measuring a weight Wrl of the sample, collected by the second sampling means, before the oxygen adsorption test and a weight Wr2 of the sample after the oxygen adsorption test; and second sub-arithmetic control means for calculating the oxygen adsorption rate Vr of the upgraded coal from the following upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula on the basis of the weights Wrl, Wr2 measured by the second weighing means, where the dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula is Vd = (Wd2-Wdl) / (Wdlx Td) x 100, and the upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula is Vr = (Wr2-Wrl) / (WrlxTr) x 100. [0012] In the upgraded coal production equipment of a preferred embodiment of the invention the first oxygen adsorption rate measuring means comprises: first sampling means for collecting the part of the dry coal dried by the drying means as a sample; first weighing means for measuring a weight Wdl of the sample collected by the first sampling means; first testing means for performing an oxygen adsorption test by holding the sample collected by the first sampling means in an air tight manner for a test time Td in an inside of the first testing means filled with an oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at a constant H:\sht\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\SBT\7957005_ .doex-26/06/20l5 -7 temperature; first pressure measuring means for measuring a pressure inside the first testing means; and first sub-arithmetic control means for calculating the oxygen adsorption rate Vd of the dry coal from the following dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula on the basis of the weight Wdl measured by the first weighing means as well as an internal pressure Pdl of the first testing means before the oxygen adsorption test and an internal pressure Pd2 of the first testing means just after the oxygen adsorption test which are measured by the first pressure measuring means with the inside of the first testing means held in the air tight manner while being filled with the oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at the constant temperature, the second oxygen adsorption rate measuring means comprises: second sampling means for collecting the part of the upgraded coal deactivated in the deactivation processing means as a sample; second weighing means for measuring a weight Wrl of the sample collected by the second sampling means; second testing means for performing the oxygen adsorption test by holding the sample collected by the second sampling means in an air tight manner for a test time Tr in an inside of the second testing means filled with an oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at a constant temperature; second pressure measuring means for measuring a pressure inside the second testing means; and second sub-arithmetic control means for calculating the oxygen adsorption rate Vr of the upgraded coal from the following upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate H:\sbt\1nterwovo,\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005 1.docx-26/06/2015 -8 calculation formula on the basis of the weight Wrl measured by the second weighing means as well as an internal pressure Prl of the second testing means before the oxygen adsorption test and an internal pressure Pr2 of the second testing means just after the oxygen adsorption test which are measured by the second pressure measuring means with the inside the second testing means held in the air tight manner while being filled with the oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at the constant temperature, where the dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula is Vd = Qd / (Wdl x Td) x 100, and the upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula is Vr = Qr / (Wrl x Tr) x 100, where Qd represents an oxygen adsorption quantity of the dry coal and Qr represents an oxygen adsorption quantity of the upgraded coal, Qd and Qr being values obtained from formulae shown below, Qd = [{(Pdl-Pd2)/1013) x{Cd-(Wdl/D)}] / (22.4 x Wdl), Qr = [{(Prl-Pr2)/1013} x {Cr-(Wrl/D)}] / (22.4 x Wrl), where Cd represents an internal capacity of the first testing means, Cr represents an internal capacity of the second testing means, and D represents a true density of the raw-material coal. [0013] In upgraded coal production equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the raw material coal is brown coal or subbituminous coal.
H:\sbt\iterwove\NRPortbl\DCC\SBT\7957005_I.dox-26/06/2015 -9 [00141 The upgraded coal production equipment of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can produce upgraded coal in a simple way by deactivating raw-material coal of various compositions under necessary and sufficient conditions. [0015] to [0021] Blank [00221 The invention will now be described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention. [Fig. 21 Fig. 2 is a control flowchart of a main portion of the upgraded coal production equipment in Fig. 1. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a control flowchart subsequent to Fig. 2. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a control flowchart subsequent to Fig. 3. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a control flowchart of a main portion of the upgraded coal production equipment in Fig. 5. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a control flowchart subsequent to Fig. 6. [Fig. 81 Fig. 8 is a control flowchart subsequent to Fig. 7. [00231 Embodiments of upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention are described based on the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited H:\sbt\inte oven\NRPortb\DCC\SBT\7957005_.docx-26/06/2015 - 10 to the embodiments described below based on the drawings. [00241 <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention is described based on Figs. 1 to 4. [00251 As shown in Fig. 1, a delivery port of a mill-type pulverizer 111 configured to pulverize low-rank coal 1 which is raw-material coal such as subbituminous coal and brown coal is connected to a port of a drying device 112 for receiving the low-rank coal 1, via a rotary valve 121, the drying device 112 being a steam tube dryer system and configured to cause moisture 2 in the low-rank coal 1 to evaporate. Water vapor 101 which is a heat medium is supplied into a coil-shaped heating tube arranged in a center portion of the drying device 112, and the drying device 112 thereby heats (about 1000C) the low-rank coal 1 and removes the moisture 2 H:\sbt\lntenvoy\NRPoribl\DCC\S BT\7957005_1doe-26/06/201 5 - 11 INTENTIONALLY BLANK HA sbitcrivov\NRPol\DCC\SB"797005-l.docx-261fl6/2015 - 12 INTENTITONALLY BLANK 13 from low-rank coal 1. The drying device 112 can thus produce dry coal 3. [0026] A port of the drying device 112 for discharging the dry coal 3 is connected to an upstream side of a conveyor 113 in a conveyance direction via a rotary valve 122. A downstream side of the conveyor 113 in the conveyance direction is connected to a port of a pyrolysis device 114 for receiving the dry coal 3, via a rotary valve 123, the pyrolysis device 114 being a rotary kiln system and configured to perform pyrolysis on the dry coal 3. Combustion gas 102 which is a heating medium is supplied to a fixedly-supported outer jacket of the pyrolysis device 114, and the pyrolysis device 114. thereby performs heating pyrolysis (400'C to 600'C) on the dry coal 3 and removes volatile component 4 from the dry coal 3. The pyrolysis device 114 can thus produce pyrolysis coal 6. [0027] A port of the pyrolysis device 114 for discharging the pyrolysis coal 6 is connected to an upstream side of a conveyor 115 in the conveyance direction via a rotary valve 124. A downstream side of the conveyor 115 in the conveyance direction is connected to a port of a cooling device 116 for receiving the pyrolysis coal 6, via a rotary valve 125, the cooling device 116 being a steam tube dryer system and configured to cool the pyrolysis coal 6. Cooling water 103 which is a cooling medium is supplied into a coil-shaped cooling pipe arranged in a center portion of the cooling device 116 14 and the cooling device 116 can thereby cool (100"C or lower) the pyrolysis coal 6. [0028] A port of the cooling device 116 for discharging the pyrolysis coal 6 is connected to a port of a device main body 131 of a deactivation processing device 130 for receiving pyrolysis coal 6, via a rotary valve 126, the deactivation processing device 130 being a deactivation processing device of a continuous processing type such as a circular grate type or a sintering machine type (mesh conveyor type) and configured to deactivate the pyrolysis coal 6. A nitrogen gas supply source 132 is connected to a lower portion of the device main body 131 via a blower 133 and a heater 134. A blower 135 configured to supply air 104 is connected to a portion between the blower 133 and the heater 134. [0029] Specifically, activating the blowers 133, 135 causes the outside air 104 and nitrogen gas 105 which is inert gas from the nitrogen gas supply source 132 to mix with each other and produces processing gas 106 containing oxygen. Moreover, activating the heater 134 can heat the processing gas 106. The pyrolysis coal 6 in the device main body 131 is thus heated by the processing gas 106 and subjected to deactivation processing, and upgraded coal 7 can be thereby produced. Here, an oxygen gas concentration in the processing gas 106 can be adjusted by adjusting supply amounts of the nitrogen gas 105 and the air 104 from the blowers 133, 15 135, and the temperature of the processing gas 106 can be adjusted by adjusting the heater 134. [0030] A port of the device main body 131 for discharging the upgraded coal 7 is connected to an upstream side of a conveyor 117 in the conveyance direction via a rotary valve 127. A downstream side of the conveyor 117 in the conveyance direction is connected to a port of a storage tank 118 for receiving the upgraded coal 7, via a rotary valve 128, the storage tank 118 configured to store the upgraded coal 7. [0031] In such an embodiment, the pulverizer 111, the drying device 112, the conveyor 113, the rotary valves 121, 122, and the like form drying means; the pyrolysis device 114, the conveyor 115, the cooling device 116, the rotary valves 123 to 125, and the like formpyrolysis means; the deactivation processing device 130 including the device main body 131, the nitrogen gas supply source 132, the blowers 133, 135, the heater 134, and the like as well as the conveyor 117, the rotary valves 126, 127, and the like form deactivation processing means; and the storage tank 118, the rotary valve 128, and the like form storage means. [0032] Moreover, a first sampling device 141 configured to collect part of the dry coal 3 dried by the drying device 112 as a sample 3a is attached to the conveyor 113. A first sample moving device 142 configured to receive the sample 3a from the first sampling device 16 141 and move the sample 3a communicates with the first sampling device 141. [0033] The first sample moving device 142 can communicate with a first testing device 143 configured to perform oxygen adsorption test on the sample 3a collected by the first sampling device 141 and a first weighing device 144 configured to measure the weight of the sample 3a, collected by the first sampling device 141, before the oxygen adsorption test and the weight of a sample 3b after the oxygen adsorption test. A blower 149a and a heater 149b which supply the heated air 104 being oxygen containing gas into the first testing device 143 are connected to the first testing device 143. [0034] Meanwhile, a second sampling device 145 configured to collect part of the upgraded coal 7 deactivated in the deactivation processing device 130 as a sample 7a is attached to the conveyor 117. A second sample moving device 146 configured to receive the sample 7a from the second sampling device 145 and move the sample 7a communicates with the second sampling device 145. [0035] The second sample moving device 146 can communicate with a second testing device 147 configured to perform the oxygen adsorption test on the sample 7a collected by the second sampling device 145 and a second weighing device 148 configured to measure the weight 17 of the sample 7a, collected by the second sampling device 145, before the oxygen adsorption test and the weight of a sample 7b after the oxygen adsorption test. The blower 149a and the heater 149b which supply the heated air 104 into the second testing device 147 are connected to the second testing device 147. [0036] The weighing devices 144, 148 are electrically connected to an input portion of an arithmetic control device 150 including a timer and the like. An output portion of the arithmetic control device 150 is electrically connected to the blowers 133, 135, the heater 134, the sampling devices 141, 145, the sample moving devices 142, 146, the testing devices 143, 147, the blower 149a, and the heater 149b. The arithmetic control device 150 can control operations of the sampling devices 141, 145, the sample moving devices 142, 146, the testing devices 143, 147, the blower 149a, the heater149b, and the like on the basis of information from the timer and the like, and can also control operations of the blowers 133, 135, the heater 134, and the like on the basis of information from the weighing devices 144, 148 and the like (details will be described later) [0037) In such an embodiment, the first sampling device 141 and the like form first sampling means; the first sample moving device 142 and the like form first sample moving means; the first testing device 143, the blower 149a, the heater 149b, and the like form first testing 18 means; the first weighing device 144 and the like form first weighing means; the second sampling device 145 and the like form second sampling means; the second sample moving device 146 and the like form second sample moving means; the second testing device 147, the blower 149a, the heater 149b, and the like form second testing means; the second weighing device 148 and the like form second weighing means; the arithmetic control device 150 and the like are configured to serve as main arithmetic controlmeans, first sub-arithmetic control means, and second sub-arithmetic control means; the first sampling means, the first sample moving means, the first testing means, the first weighing means, the first sub-arithmetic control means, and the like form first oxygen adsorption rate measuring means; and the second sampling means, the second sample moving means, the second testing means, the second weighing means, the second sub-arithmetic control means, and the like form second oxygen adsorption rate measuring means. (0038] Next, operations of the aforementioned upgraded coal production equipment 100 of the embodiment are described. [0039] When the low-rank coal 1 is supplied to the hopper illa of the pulverizer 111, the pulverizer 111 pulverizes the low-rank coal 1 to a predetermined grain size and supplies the low-rank coal 1 to the drying device 112 via the rotary valve 121. The drying device 112 heats and dries (about 100'C) the low-rank coal 1 19 by using the heat of the water vapor 101 and removes the moisture 2 to produce the dry coal 3. Thereafter, the drying device 112 supplies the dry coal 3 to the conveyor 113 via the rotary valve 122. The conveyor 113 supplies the dry coal 3 to the pyrolysis device 114 via the rotary valve 123. [0040] The pyrolysis device 114 performs heating pyrolysis (400*C to 600 0 C) on the dry coal 3 by using the heat of the combustion gas 102 and removes the volatile component 4 to produce the pyrolysis coal 6. Thereafter, the pyrolysis device 114 supplies the pyrolysis coal 6 to the conveyor 115 via the rotary valve 124. The conveyor 115 supplies the pyrolysis coal 6 to the cooling device 116 via the rotary valve 125. [0041] The cooling device 116 cools (100*C or lower) the pyrolysis coal 6 by using the cooling water 103 and then supplies the pyrolysis coal 6 into the device main body 131 of the deactivation processing device 130 via the rotary valve 126. [00421 The deactivation processing device 130 heats (50 0 C) the processing gas 106 (oxygen concentration: 1.5%) obtained by mixing the outside air 104 and the nitrogen gas 105 from the nitrogen gas supply source 132 and supplies the processing gas 106 into the device main body 131 by using the heater 134 and the blowers 133, 135. The deactivation processing device 130 thereby heats the pyrolysis coal 6 in the device main 20 body 131 and deactivates the pyrolysis coal 6 to produce the upgraded coal 7. Thereafter, the deactivation processing device 130 supplies the upgraded coal 7 to the conveyor 117 via the rotary valve 127. The conveyor 117 supplies the upgraded coal 7 to the storage tank 118 via the rotary valve 128 and the upgraded coal 7 is stored therein. [0043] As described above, in the production of the upgraded coal 7, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the first sampling device 141 such that the first sampling device 141 collects part of the dry coal 3 dried by the drying device 112 from the conveyor 113 as the sample 3a (S101 in Fig. 2), and then controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the first sample moving device 142 receives the collected sample 3a from the first sampling device 141. [0044] Thereafter, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the weight Wdl (g) of the sample 3a is measured by the first weighing device 144 (5102 in Fig. 2), and then controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the first sample moving device 142 moves the sample 3a whose weight has been measured into the first testing device 143.. [0045] Next, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operations of the blower 149a and the heater 149b 21 such that the air 104 heated to a predetermined test temperature (for example, 95 0 C) is supplied into the first testing device 143, and thereby exposes the sample 3a to the air 104 of the test temperature to perform the oxygen adsorption test (S103 in Fig. 2). [0046] Then, when a predetermined test time Td (min.) (for example, 30 minutes) elapses, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142, on the basis of information from the timer, such that the first sample moving device 142 moves the sample 3b subjected to the oxygen adsorption test from the inside of the first testing device 143 to the first weighing device 144. After the weight Wd2 (g) of the sample 3b is measured by the first weighing device 144 (S104 in Fig. 2), the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the first sample moving device 142 discharges the sample 3b to the outside of the system. [0047] When the weights Wdl, Wd2 respectively of the samples 3a, 3b are measured as described above, the arithmetic control device 150 calculates an oxygen adsorption rate Vd (wt%/min.) of the dry coal 3 from the following dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula (11) on the basis of the weights Wdl, Wd2 (S105 in Fig. 2). [0048] Vd = (Wd2-Wdl)/(WdlxTd)xl00 (11) 22 [0049] Moreover, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the second sampling device 145 such that the second sampling device 145 collects part of the upgraded coal 7 deactivated in the device main body 131 of the deactivation processing device 130 from the conveyor 117 as the sample 7a (S106 in Fig. 2), and then controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the second sample moving device 146 receives the collected sample 7a from the second sampling device 145. [0050] Thereafter, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the weight Wri (g) of the sample 7a is measured by the second weighing device 148 (S107 in Fig. 2) , and then controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the second sample moving device 146 moves the sample 7a whose weight has been measured into the second testing device 147. [0051] Next, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operations of the blower 149a and the heater 149b such that the air 104 heated to the predetermined temperature (for example, 95*C) is supplied into the second testing device 147, and thereby exposes the sample 7a to the air 104 of the test temperature to perform oxygen adsorption test (S108 in Fig. 2). [0052] 23 Then, when a predetermined test time Tr (min.) (for example, 30 minutes) elapses, the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146, on the basis of information from the timer, such that the second sample moving device 146 moves the sample 7b subjected to the adsorption test from the inside of the second testing device 147 to the second weighing device 148. After the weight Wr2 (g) of the sample 7b is measured by the second weighing device 148 (S109 in Fig. 2), the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the second sample moving device 146 discharges the sample 7b to the outside of the system. [0053] When the weights Wrl, Wr2 respectively of the samples 7a, 7b are measured as described above, the arithmetic control device 150 calculates the oxygen adsorption rate Vr (wt%/min.) of the upgraded coal 7 from the following upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula (12) (S110 in Fig. 2) on the basis of the weights Wrl, Wr2. [0054] Vr = (Wr2-Wrl)/(WrlxTr)x100 (12) [0055] When the oxygen adsorption rate Vd of the dry coal 3 and the oxygen adsorption rate Vr of the upgraded coal 7 are obtained as described above, the arithmetic control device 150 calculates an oxygen adsorption rate ratio N from the following oxygen adsorption rate ratio 24 calculation formula (13) on the basis of the oxygen adsorption rates Vd, Vr (Sll in Fig. 2). [0056] N = |(Vr-Vd)I/Vd (13) [0057] Then, the arithmetic control device 150 determines whether the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is within a range of a standard value Ns (for example, 0 to 0.05) (S112 in Fig. 2). If the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is within the range of the standard value Ns, the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing is performed properly and controls the operations of the blowers 133, 135 and the heater 134 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that deactivation processing conditions are maintained as they are (S113 in Fig. 2). [0058] Meanwhile, if the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is outside the range of the standard value Ns, the arithmetic control device 150 determines whether the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is beyond the range of the standard value Ns (S114 in Fig. 3) . If the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is beyond the range of the standard value Ns (N > Ns), the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing is insufficient, reads, from a map inputted in advance, an additional oxygen concentration value Oa to be applied the processing gas 106 correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N (S115 in Fig. 3), and calculates a corrected oxygen concentration value Oc 25 in the processing gas 106 on the basis of the additional oxygen concentration value Oa and a present oxygen concentration value Op in the processing gas 106 (S116 in Fig. 3) [0059] Next, the arithmetic control device 150 determines whether the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc is equal to or smaller than an upper limit value Ou (for example, 10%) (S117 in Fig. 3). When the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value Ou (Oc Ou) , the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operations of the blowers 133, 135 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that the processing gas 106 is set to the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc (S118 in Fig. 3). [0060] When the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc exceeds the upper limit value Ou (Oc > Ou), the arithmetic control device 150 determines that handling the matter by increasing the oxygen concentration of the processing gas 106 is inappropriate, reads, from a map inputted in advance, an additional temperature value Ta to be applied to the processing gas 106 correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N (5119 in Fig. 3), and calculates a corrected temperature value Tc of the processing gas 106 on the basis of the additional temperature value Ta and a present temperature value Tp in the processing gas 106 (S120 in Fig. 3).
26 0061] Next, the arithmetic control device 150 determines whether the corrected temperature value Tc is equal to or smaller than an upper limit value Tu (for example, 95"C) (S121 in Fig. 3). When the corrected temperature value Tc is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value Tu (Tc Tu) , the arithmetic control device 150 controls the operation of the heater 134 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that the processing gas 106 is set to the corrected temperature value Tc (S122 in Fig. 3) [0062] When the corrected temperature value Tc exceeds the upper limit value Tu (Tc > Tu) , the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing cannot be appropriately performed due to some reason and transmits a command required for suspending the production of the upgraded coal 7 (S123 in Fig. 3). [0063] Moreover, if the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N is below the range of the standard value Ns (N < Ns) in step S114 described above, the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing is excessively performed, reads, from a map inputted in advance, a decrease oxygen concentration value Od to be applied to the processing gas 106 correspondingly to the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N (S124 in Fig. 3), calculates the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc in the processing gas 106 on the basis of the decrease 27 oxygen concentration value Od and the present oxygen concentration value Op in the processing gas 106 (S125 in Fig. 3), and controls the operations of the blowers 133, 135 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that the processing gas is set to the corrected oxygen concentration value Oc (S118 in Fig. 3). §0064] When a specific time Ts (for example, one hour) elapses from the collection of the upgraded coal 7 (S126 in Fig. 4) while the arithmetic control device 150 is controlling the operations of the blowers 133, 135 and the heater 134 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that the deactivation processing is appropriately performed, as in steps S106 to S110 described above, the arithmetic control device 150 collects again part of the upgraded coal 7 newly deactivated in the deactivation processing device 130 as a sample 7a. (3127 in Fig. 4), measures the weight Wrl, (g) of the sample 7a, before the oxygen adsorption test (S128 in Fig. 4) , performs the oxygen adsorption test on the sample 7an (3129 in Fig. 4) , then measures the weight Wr2a (g) of a sample 7bn after the oxygen adsorption test (S130 in Fig. 4) , and calculates a new oxygen adsorption rate Vrn (wt%/min.) of the upgraded coal 7 again from the following formula (14) similar to the formula (12), on the basis of the weights Wrla, Wr22 (S131 in Fig. 4) [00651 Vr, = (Wr2n-Wrl,) /(WrlxTr) x100 (14) [0066] 28 Next, the arithmetic control device 150 calculates a stability S of the deactivation processing from the following stability calculation formula (15), on the basis of the current oxygen adsorption rate Vr, newly-obtained and an oxygen adsorption rate Vr, 1 (Vr in this case) obtained just before the current oxygen adsorption rate Vrn (S132 in Fig. 4). [0067] S = | (Vrn-Vri) I/Vr, (15) [0068] Then, the arithmetic control device 150 determines whether the stability S is within a range of a standard value Ss (for example, 0 to 0.01) (S133 in Fig. 4) . If the stability S is within the range of the standard value Ss, the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing is in a stable state in which the processing is stably performed. Then, the arithmetic control device 150 recalculates the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N from the following oxygen adsorption rate ratio recalculation formula (16) similar to the formula (13), on the basis of the oxygen adsorption rate Vd obtained from the samples 3a, 3b of the dry coal 3 and the oxygen adsorption rate Vrn newly obtained from the samples 7an, 7bn of the new upgraded coal 7 which are collected again in the current test (S134 in Fig. 4), and thereafter returns to step S112 described above. [0069] N = | (Vrn-Vd) I/Vd (16) [0 0 70] 29 Meanwhile, if the stability S is within the range of the standard value Ss, the arithmetic control device 150 determines that the deactivation processing is in a transition state in which the processing is unstable and that appropriate determination cannot be performed. The arithmetic control device 150 then returns to step S126 described above and performs steps 3127 to S133 described above again. [0071) Accordingly, in the upgraded coal production equipment 100 of the embodiment, even when the composition of the low-rank coal 1 varies, the deactivation processing can be performed in a simple way under necessary and sufficient conditions corresponding to the composition of the low-rank coal 1. [0072] Hence, in the up-graded coal production equipment 100 of the embodiment, upgraded coal can be produced in a simple way at a low cost from the low-rank coal 1 of various compositions. [0073] <Second Embodiment> A second embodiment of the upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention is described based on Figs. 5 to 8. Note that parts similar to those in the aforementioned embodiment are denoted by reference numerals similar to the reference numerals used in the description of the aforementioned embodiment, and description overlapping the 30 description of the aforementioned embodiment is omitted. 0074] As shown in Fig. 5, the first sample moving device 142 configured to receive the sample 3a from the first sampling device 141 and move the sample 3a can communicate with: a first testing device 243 which is the first testing means and which performs the oxygen adsorption test by holding the sample 3a collected by the first sampling device 141 in an air-tight manner in an inside of the first testing device 243 filled with an air atmosphere being an oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at a constant temperature (for example, 20'C) ; and the first weighing device 144 which measures the weight of the sample 3a collected by the first sampling device 141. A pressure sensor 243a which is first pressure measuring means and which measures the pressure inside the first testing device 243 is provided in the first testing device 243. [0075] Moreover, the second sample moving device 146 configured to receive the sample 7a from the second sampling device 145 and move the sample 7a can communicate with: a second testing device 247 which is the second testing means and which performs the oxygen adsorption test by holding the sample 7a collected by the second sampling device 145 in an air-tight manner in an inside of the second testing device 247 filled with an air atmosphere being an oxygen containing atmosphere and maintained at a constant temperature 31 (for example, 20'C) ; and the second weighing device 148 which measures the weight of the sample 7a collected by the second sampling device 145. A pressure sensor 247a which is second pressure measuring means and which measures the pressure inside the second testing device 247 is provided in the second testing device 247. [0076] The pressure sensors 243a, 247a are electrically connected to an input portion of an arithmetic control device 250 including a timer and the like, together with the weighing devices 144, 148. An output portion of the arithmetic control device 250 is electrically connected to the blowers 133, 135, the heater 134, the sampling devices 141, 145, and the sample moving devices 142, 146, together with the testing devices 243, 247 . The arithmetic control device 250 can control the operations of the sampling devices 141, 145, the sample moving devices 142, 146, the testing devices 243, 247, and the like on the basis of information from the timer and the like, and can also control the operations of the blowers 133, 135, the heater 134, and the like on the basis of information from the weighing devices 144, 148, the pressure sensors 243a, 247a, and the like (details will be described later). (0077] In such an embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 and the like are configured to serve as the main arithmetic control means, the first sub-arithmetic control means, and the second sub-arithmetic control means.
32 [0078] Next, operations of the aforementioned upgraded coal production equipment 200 of the embodiment are described. [0079] When the low-rank coal 1 is supplied to the hopper 111a of the pulverizer 111, like the upgraded coal production equipment 100 of the aforementioned embodiment, the upgraded coal production equipment 200 of the embodiment removes the moisture 2 from the low-rank coal 1 to produce the dry coal 3, performs pyrolysis on the dry coal 3 to produce the pyrolysis coal 6, and deactivates the pyrolysis coal 6 by heating the pyrolysis coal 6 with the processing gas 106 to produce the upgraded coal 7, and stores the upgraded coal 7 in the storage tank 118. [0080] Moreover, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 controls the operation of the first sampling device 141 such that the first sampling device 141 collects part of the dry coal 3 dried by the drying device 112 from the conveyor 113 as the sample 3a (S201 in Fig. 6) , and then controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the first sample moving device 142 receives the collected sample 3a from the first sampling device 141. [0081] Next, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the 33 weight Wdl (g) of the sample 3a is measured by the first weighing device 144 (S202 in Fig. 6), then controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the measured sample 3a is sealed inside the first testing device 243, and measures an internal pressure Pdl (hPa) of the first testing device 243 before the oxygen adsorption test on the basis of information from the pressure sensor 243a (S203 in Fig. 6). [0082] Next, after the oxygen adsorption test is performed (S204 in Fig. 6) by holding the sample 3a inside the first testing device 243 in an air-tight manner in the air atmosphere at the constant temperature for a predetermined test time Td (min.) (for example, 10 minutes) on the basis of information from the timer, the arithmetic control device 250 measures an internal pressure Pd2 (hPa) of the first testing device 243 after the oxygen adsorption test on the basis of information from the pressure sensor 243a (S205 in Fig. 6) , and controls the operation of the first sample moving device 142 such that the first sample moving device 142 discharges the sample 3b subjected to the oxygen adsorption test from the inside of the first testing device 243 to the outside of the system. [0083] When the weight Wdl of the sample 3a and the internal pressures Pdl, Pd2 of the first testing device 243 before and after the oxygen adsorption test are measured as described above, the arithmetic control device 250 calculates the oxygen adsorption rate Vd 34 (wt%/min.) of the dry coal 3 from the following dry coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formulae (21), (22) on the basis of the weight Wdl and the internal pressures Pdl, Pd2 (S206 in Fig. 6) [0084] Vd = Qd/(WdlxTd)x100 (21) [0085] In this formula, Qd represents an oxygen adsorption quantity (mmol-0 2 /g-coal) of the dry coal 3 and is a value obtained from the following formula (22). [008 6] Qd = [{(Pdl-Pd2)/1013} x{Cd-(Wd1/D)}]/(22.4xWd1) (22) [0087] In this formula, Cd represents the internal capacity (cm 3 ) of the first testing device 243 and D represents the true density (g/cm 3 ) of the low-rank coal 1. Cd and D are both values obtained in advance. [0088] Moreover, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 controls the operation of the second sampling device 145 such that the second sampling device 145 collects part of the upgraded coal 7 deactivated in the deactivation processing device 130 from the conveyor 117 as the sample 7a (S207 in Fig. 6), and then controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the second sample moving device 146 receives the 35 collected sample 7a from the second sampling device 145. [0089] Thereafter, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the weight Wr1 (g) of the sample 7a is measured by the second weighing device 148 (S208 in Fig. 6) , then controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the sample 7a whose weight has been measured is sealed inside the second testing device 247, and measures an internal pressure PrI (hPa) of the second testing device 247 before the oxygen adsorption test on the basis of information from the pressure sensor 247a (S209 in Fig. 6). [0090] Next, after the oxygen adsorption test is performed (S210 in Fig. 6) by holding the sample 7a inside the second testing device 247 in an air-tight manner in the air atmosphere at the constant temperature for a predetermined test time Tr (min.) (for example, 10 minutes) on the basis of information from the timer, the arithmetic control device 250 measures an internal pressure Pr2 (hPa) of the second testing device 247 after the oxygen adsorption test on the basis of information from the pressure sensor 247a (S211 in Fig. 6), and controls the operation of the second sample moving device 146 such that the second sample moving device 146 discharges the sample 7a subjected to the oxygen adsorption test from the inside 36 of the second testing device 247 to the outside of the system. [0091] When the weight Wrl of the sample 7a and the internal pressures Prl, Pr2 of the second testing device 247 before and after the oxygen adsorption test are measured as described above, the arithmetic control device 250 calculates the oxygen adsorption rate Vr (wt%/min.) of the upgraded coal 7 from the following upgraded coal oxygen adsorption rate calculation formula (23) on the basis of the weight Wrl and the internal pressures Pri, Pr2 (S212 in Fig. 6). [0092] Vr = Qr/(WrlxTr)x100 (23) [0093] In this formula, Qr represents an oxygen adsorption quantity (mmol-0 2 /g-coal) of the upgraded coal 7 and is a value obtained from the following formula (24). [00 94] Qr = [{(Prl-Pr2)/1013} x{Cr-(Wrl/D)}]/(22.4xWrl) (24) [0095] In this formula, Cr represents the internal capacity (cm 3 ) of the second testing device 247 and is a value obtained in advance. [00 96] When the oxygen adsorption rate Vd of the dry coal 3 and the oxygen adsorption rate Vr of the upgraded coal 7 are obtained as described above, as in the 37 aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 calculates the oxygen adsorption rate ratio N from the oxygen adsorption rate ratio calculation formula (13) on the basis of the oxygen adsorption rates Vd, Vr (S111 in Fig. 6) [0097] Next, the arithmetic control device 250 performs steps S112 to S126 described above as in the aforementioned embodiment (see Figs. 6 to 8). [0098] Then, as in the aforementioned embodiment, when the specific time Ts (for example, one hour) elapses from the collection of the upgraded coal 7 (3126 in Fig. 8) while the arithmetic control device 250 is controlling the operations of the blowers 133, 135 and the heater 134 of the deactivation processing device 130 such that the deactivation processing is appropriately performed, as in steps S207 to S212 described above, the arithmetic control device 250 collects again part of the upgraded coal 7 newly deactivated in the deactivation processing device 130 as the sample 7a, (S213 in Fig. 8) , measures the weight Wrl, (g) of the sample 7a, before the oxygen adsorption test (S214 in Fig. 8), measures the internal pressure Prla before the oxygen adsorption test of the second testing device 247 held in an air-tight manner in the air atmosphere at the constant temperature (S215 in Fig. 8), then performs the oxygen adsorption test on the sample 7an (S216 in Fig. 8), measures the internal pressure Pr2, just after the oxygen adsorption test 38 (3217 in Fig. 8) , and calculates a new oxygen adsorption rate Vrn (wt%/min.) of the upgraded coal 7 again from the following formula (25) similar to the formula (23), on the basis of the weights Wrl, and the internal pressures PRl, Pr2, (S218 in Fig. 8) [0099] Vr, = Qr,/(WrlaxTr) x100 (25) [0100] In this formula, Qr, is an oxygen adsorption quantity (mmol-0 2 /g-coal) of the new upgraded coal 7 collected again and is a value obtained from the following formula (26) similar to the formula (24) [0101] Qr [{ (Prl,-Pr2,)/1013} x{Cr-(Wr1/D) }]/(22.4xWrln) (26) [0102] Next, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 calculates the stability S from the formula (15) on the basis of the current oxygen adsorption rate Vr, newly-obtained and the oxygen adsorption rate Vr,_ (Vr in this case) obtained just before the current oxygen adsorption rate Vr, (S132 in Fig. 8). [0103] Then, as in the aforementioned embodiment, the arithmetic control device 250 performs steps S133, S134 described above (see Fig. 8). Hereafter, the arithmetic control device 250 controls the operations as in the aforementioned embodiment (see Figs. 6 to 8). [0104] 39 Accordingly, in the upgraded coal production equipment 200 of the embodiment, even when the composition of the low-rank coal 1 varies, the deactivation processing can be performed in a simple way under necessary and sufficient conditions corresponding to the composition of the low-rank coal 1, as in the upgraded coal production equipment 100 of the aforementioned embodiment. [0105] Hence, in the upgraded coal production equipment 200 of the embodiment, upgraded coal can be produced in a simple way at a low cost from the low-rank coal 1 of various compositions, as in the upgraded coal production equipment 100 of the aforementioned embodiment. [0106] <Other Embodiment> In the aforementioned embodiments, description is given of the upgraded coal production equipment 100, 200 including the pulverizer 111 and the cooling device 116. However, depending on the state of the low-rank coal 1 and various conditions such as pyrolysis conditions, the pulverizer 111 and the cooling device 116 can be omitted. [01071 Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiments, the arithmetic control device 150, 250 is configured to serve as the main arithmetic control means, the first sub-arithmetic control means, and the second sub-arithmetic control means. However, as another 40 embodiment, for example, the main arithmetic control means, the first sub-arithmetic control means, and the second sub-arithmetic control means may be configured to be independent from one another. [0108] Moreover, in the embodiments described above, the first sample moving device 142 moves the sample 3a collected by the first sampling device 141 to the first weighing device 144 and the first testing device 143, 243, and the second sample moving device 146 moves the sample 7a collected by the second sampling device 145 to the second weighing device 148 and the second testing device 147, 247. However, as another embodiment, for example, the sample 3a collected by the first sampling means and the sample 7a collected by the second sampling means may be moved by the same sample moving means, a single weighing means may be configured to serve as the first weighing means and the second weighing means, and a single testing means may be configured to serve as the first testing means and second testing means. [0109] Furthermore, in the aforementioned embodiments, the processing gas 106 having the predetermined oxygen concentration is produced by mixing the nitrogen gas 105 and the air 104 together. However, as another embodiment, for example, the processing gas 106 having the predetermined oxygen concentration may be produced by mixing the nitrogen gas 105 and oxygen gas together. However, producing the processing gas 106 having the predetermined oxygen concentration by mixing the 41 nitrogen gas 105 and the air 104 together as in the aforementioned embodiments is very preferable because there is no need to prepare the oxygen gas. [0110] Moreover, a nitrogen gas cylinder or the like prepared only for production of the processing gas 106 may be used as the nitrogen gas supply source 132 as a matter of course. Alternatively, for example, it is possible to use pyrolysis gas (main component: nitrogen gas) which is sent out from the pyrolysis device performing the pyrolysis of the low-rank coal by using nitrogen gas supplied thereto and which is then subjected to removal of volatile components, dusts, and the like. In this case, it is possible to reduce heat energy to be newly added to the processing gas 106 to perform the deactivation processing. [0111] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiments, description is given of the case where the low-rank coal 1 is dried and subjected to the pyrolysis and then deactivated to produce the upgraded coal 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this case and can be applied to any case where raw-material coal is dried and subjected to the pyrolysis and then deactivated to produce upgraded coal, as in the aforementioned embodiments. Industrial Applicability [0112] Since the upgraded coal production equipment of the present invention can produce the upgraded coal by 42 deactivating raw-material coal of various compositions in a simple way at low cost, the present invention can be very useful in industries. Reference Signs List [0113] 1 low-rank coal 2 moisture 3 dry coal 3a, 3b sample 4 volatile component 6 pyrolysis coal 7 upgraded coal 7a, 7b sample 100 upgraded coal production equipment 101 water vapor 102 combustion gas 103 cooling water 104 air 105 nitrogen gas 106 processing gas 111 pulverizer 111a hopper 112 drying device 113 conveyor 114 pyrolysis device 115 conveyor 116 cooling device 117 conveyor 118 storage tank 121 to 128rotary valve 43 130 deactivation processing device 131 device main body 132 nitrogen gas supply source 133 blower 134 heater 135 blower 141 first sampling device 142 first sample moving device 143 first testing device 144 first weighing device 145 second sampling device 146 second sample moving device 147 second testing device 148 second weighing device 149a blower 149b heater 150 arithmetic control device 200 upgraded coal production equipment 243 first testing device 243a pressure sensor 247 second testing device 247a pressure sensor 250 arithmetic control device H:\sbtlnrove\NRPorbl\DCC\SBT\7957005_laox-26/06/2015 - 44 [0114] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. [0115] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [0116] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.