Abstract: A distillation/evaporation/drying apparatus wherein alcohol is removed by a dry, warm carrier gas from an alcohol-containing slurry from a fermenter. Carbon dioxide from the fermenter is used as the carrier gas and is suitably dried, warmed and recycled into contact with the slurry to assist in removing alcohol therefrom. The apparatus includes a reflux section to upgrade the alcohol content of the carrier gas.

Abstract: A continuous distillation apparatus and method, the apparatus including separate stripping and rectifying sections in tandem, each of which are segregated into a plurality of vapor/liquid contact stages. The rectifying section is operated at a higher temperature than the stripping section by compressing vapor from the stripping section prior to introducing the vapor into the rectifying section. Thermal energy is conserved during the distillation process by transferring thermal energy from the rectifying section to the stripping section with a plurality of heat pipes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing synthetic crude oil from bitumen-bearing sands. The apparatus includes a vessel segregated into a pyrolysis zone and a combustion zone, each zone being in the form of a fluidized bed reactor. At least one heat pipe is provided for transferring thermal energy from the combustion zone to the pyrolysis zone where the thermal energy is used to pyrolyze the bitumen. The apparatus may also include additional heat exchange equipment for heating the incoming combustion air for the combustion zone. The combustion air serves as the fluidizing medium for the fluidized bed reactor of the combustion zone while flue gases from the combustion zone serve as the fluidizing medium for the fluidized bed reactor of the pyrolysis zone.