Abstract: A system and process for educing hydrocarbons from shale. The system comprises a retort vessel which has an integral apparatus for mixing raw and recycle shale that embodies raw shale pulverizing and has an integral apparatus for finally pulverizing the raw shale particulates that have descended through a fluidized bed. The system further comprises: a burner which generates process heat; heat transfer apparatus which extracts heat for use in the process; and means for recovering such heat. The process involves recovery of significant amounts of process energy including: the recovery of heat from retort vapors; the recovery of heat from spent shale; recovery and utilization of the heat of combustion; and recycling of gases for the operation of mechanical pulverizing apparatus.

Abstract: The heat of solar radiation is collected through a thin receptor panel directly into liquid held against and flowable upwardly along the panel in shallow channels extending between upper and lower plenum spaces in a receptor chamber which is inclined across the path of the sunlight and connected in a flow circuit kept completely filled with the liquid under a limited constant hydrostatic pressure. The flow circuit extends from the upper plenum space to a heat exchange zone and then back into the lower plenum space. The receptor chamber is formed by two flexible plastic panels which are sealed together peripherially and also along closely spaced longitudinal seams to provide the channels and plenum spaces.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a hollow shell that defines an elongate shell space for circulation of a first fluid therethrough, and a plurality of elongate tubes spaced apart inside the shell to conduct a second fluid therethrough in heat exchange relation with the first fluid in the shell space. The heat exchanger further includes an improved assembly for coupling an end of the shell with adjacent ends of the tubes and for conducting the respective fluids separately into and from the tubes and into and from the elongate shell space without leakage. This assembly comprises a socket member having forward and backward socket portions and an annular shoulder portion protruding inwardly between them. The forward portion is connected in fluid-tight relation to an end of the shell and has a passageway extending through it for conducting the first fluid into or from the elongate shell space.

Abstract: The heat of solar radiation is collected through a thin receptor panel directly into a layer of liquid held against and flowable only upwardly along the panel in shallow channels extending between upper and lower plenum spaces in a receptor chamber which is inclined across the path of the sunlight and connected in a flow circuit completely filled with the liquid under low pressure. The liquid in the receptor will accumulate heat in the upper plenum space to exceed a selected minimum temperature and can then be passed through the flow circuit, which extends from the upper plenum space via a heat exchange zone and then back into the lower plenum space. The total volume of liquid filling the system can be so small in relation to the exposed receptor surface area that little sun time is lost in bringing the system to a relatively high temperature for delivery of the collected heat.

Abstract: A combined chamber and conduit device to be mounted on a roof at an elevation higher than an assembly of one or more solar radiation receptors comprises a container having a depending well portion to extend through an opening in the roof or like support structure, which container forms part of a liquid flow circuit extending from the receptors and to a heat exchange zone beneath the roof for transferring heat from the solar heated liquid, serves for filling the receptors and the flow circuit with liquid which it holds under low hydrostatic pressure while letting the liquid expand and contract with temperature changes, and has lengths of tubing extending through the well portion and the container side wall for return flow of liquid to the receptors and for displacements of gaseous fluid between a cover space over the receptors and fluid dessicating and expansion chambers beneath the roof.