Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are pyrolyzed by simultaneous feed of the carbonaceous materials and a particulate source of heat to a cyclone reactor-separator wherein the centrifugal forces separate the vaporized product of pyrolysis from the solids. The carbon in the solids is partially combusted for recycle to the cyclone reactor separator and the vaporized products quenched and recovered. The yield of liquid hydrocarbons may be maximized.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source over an overflow weir to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue and separating out the fines.

Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are rapidly pyrolyzed by feed of the carbonaceous material at a high velocity tangentially to a cyclone reactor-separator while introducing a high velocity stream of a particulate source of heat into the cyclone reactor-separator at an angle inclined to the path of travel of the carbonaceous material. The cyclone reactor-separator induces separation of solids consisting of the particulate carbon containing solid residue of pyrolysis and particulate heat source from a vapor stream which includes condensible and non-condensible hydrocarbon products of pyrolysis. The particulate source of heat and solid particulate carbon containing residue of pyrolysis are transported to a cyclone burner and heated by partial combustion to a temperature suitable for feed to the cyclone reactor-separator. Rapid pyrolysis maximizes the yield of middle boiling hydrocarbons and olefins.

Abstract: A continuous process recovers values from a solid carbonaceous material by directly contacting a stream containing volatilized hydrocarbons resulting from the pyrolysis of the solid carbonaceous material with incoming feed carbonaceous material to quench the volatilized hydrocarbons, then pyrolyzing the carbonaceous material to yield a product stream containing volatilized hydrocarbons and a particulate residue.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for converting coal into useful liquids, solids, and gases, by combined processes of coal carbonization and liquefaction in which the carbonization reaction yields hydrogen suitable for the liquefaction. The heavy liquid products from the liquefaction and the carbonization may be combined with the solid char to form a metallurgical coke. Other liquids may be treated and converted into useful industrial hydrocarbon chemicals. The gases from the combined reactions yield a fuel gas as well as a hydrogen stream suitable for use in the overall processing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a solid heat transfer material to rapidly heat the hydrocarbon-containing solids to a high temperature. The shale and heat-transfer material are entrained in a high-velocity gaseous stream and conveyed upward in a vertical dilute phase lift pipe retorting vessel whereby the hydrocarbon-containing solids are rapidly heated to an elevated temperature vaporizing a minor portion of the hydrocarbons in the solid. The hydrocarbon-containing solids then pass into a disengaging zone wherein the gas and solids are separated. The partially retorted solids then pass into a gravitating bed retort and flow downward countercurrent to the flow of a stripping gas. The process is characterized by a high liquid yield and a minimum gas yield along with minimal amounts of volatile components being left in the retorted solids.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue. Apparatus useful for practicing this process are disclosed.

Abstract: A pyrolysis reactor decomposes solid organic waste materials by heating the materials with a fast fluidized particulate source of heat which are admitted to one end of a chamber through first and second inlet pipes. The products of decomposition together with the particulate source of heat are removed through an outlet pipe at the other end of the chamber. The chamber has an intermediate section adjacent the inlet pipes of reduced diameter forming a throat which improves the mixing of the heating particles and the organic waste particles for faster heat transfer.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition process and apparatus of the fluidized bed type for organic solid materials, particularly organic solid waste material contained in urban rubbish comprising a fluidized bed thermal decomposition furnace, the interior of which is divided by a partition plate into two zones, namely a first zone for thermally decomposing the organic solid waste material in the absence of oxygen and a second zone mainly for burning the carbonized material produced as a result of thermal decomposition of the organic solid waste material. Non-condensable components of the gas resulting from the thermal decomposition of the organic solid waste material are recirculated as fluidizing gas into the first zone, while air is used as the fluidizing gas for the second zone. Heat for the thermal decomposition in the first zone is obtained from the combustion in the second zone and transferred by the intertransfer of fluidized solids between zones beneath the partition plate.

Abstract: Coked solids, produced by coking of tar sands, are contacted in a first zone with air and the minimum amount of supplemental fuel needed to burn all the coke. Part of the hot clean mineral solids produced is then discarded; the balance is moved into a second zone. Here supplemental fuel is burned to increase the temperature of the solids. The hot solids from the second zone are recycled to the coking stage.Only part of the solids is heated with supplemental fuel, thereby reducing consumption of the latter. In addition, the flue gas from the second zone is relatively clean and can be vented directly to the atmosphere in the flue gas from the first zone.

Abstract: Particulate organic solid waste is pyrolyzed in the presence of an inert particulate source of heat and a carrier gas in a pyrolysis reactor to form a carbon containing solid residue of pyrolysis, pyrolytic oils and gases. The particulate source of heat and carbon containing solid residue of pyrolysis are separated from the product stream. The particulate source of heat and carbon containing solid residue of pyrolysis are transported to a combustion zone where through partial or total combustion. The particulate source of heat is reheated to a temperature requisite for feed to the pyrolysis reactor with attendant generation of additional particulate source of heat.

Abstract: There is provided a system for segregating through comminution and classification solid waste into ferrous metal, inorganic, and organic fractions. The inorganic fraction is further classified into aluminum and glass fractions. The organic fraction is further comminuted, dried and fed to a pyrolysis system where it is converted to gas for use in drying the organic material for feed to the pyrolysis system, pyrolytic oils and char. The principal saleable products recovered are char, pyrolytic oils, glass, aluminum, and ferrous metal.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material is pyrolyzed in the presence of a particulate source of heat obtained by the partial oxidation of a carbon containing solid residue of the carbonaceous material. The heat obtained from the oxidation of the carbon containing solid residue is maximized by preheating the carbon containing solid residue with a hot gas stream obtained by oxidizing the gaseous combustion products of the carbon containing solid residue.

Abstract: Solid carbonaceous materials are pyrolyzed by introducing a low velocity stream of carbonaceous material into a cyclone reactor-separator and introducing a low velocity stream of a particulate source of heat into the cyclone reactor-separator at an angle inclined toward the path of travel of the carbonaceous material. A high velocity stream of the particulate source of heat is introduced into the cyclone reactor separator along the inner surface of the separator to prevent carbonaceous material from caking along the walls of the separator. The cyclone reactor separator induces separation of solids consisting of a particulate carbon containing solid residue of pyrolysis and particulate heat source from a vapor stream which contains hydrocarbon products of pyrolysis.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for continuously pyrolyzing or gasifying a particulated carbonaceous feed material in which preheated heat-containing bodies or pebbles are admixed with the feed material in a stratified manner to form a downwardly moving columnar reaction mass, with a remaining portion of the pebbles substantially devoid of any feed material disposed in a surrounding layer relative to the reaction mass. Gas is continuously passed transversely through the reaction mass and surrounding layer in a manner to sweep the gaseous pyrolysis reaction products out of the reaction chamber, and wherein the layers of pebbles surrounding the reaction mass serve to effect a deposition of carbonaceous residue, preventing encrustation and fouling of the reactor system.

Abstract: A heated fluidized bed is formed by rotating a body of sand in a horizontal cylindrical drum, lifting and dropping sand from the bed through the open portion of the drum, and heating the region through which the sand drops. The drum is formed by a cylindrical water wall of pipes connected to a water source and a steam outlet, and annular end plates hold the sand bed and define inlet and outlet openings in the drum. Waste material is simply dumped through the inlet opening and ash is automatically discharged through the outlet opening. The sand is preferably lifted by small cross section, scoop-like baffles so that the coolest sand from the bottom of the bed is heated, and waste particles are not removed from the bed. If desired, auxiliary air can be introduced into the sand bed through a manifold-pipe arrangement.

Abstract: Solid carbonaceous materials are pyrolyzed by feeding the carbonaceous material along with a particulate source of heat to a fast fluidized bed contained within a vertically disposed duct. An internally circulating stream of spent particulate source of heat and carbon containing solid residue of the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material flows upwardly along the inner surface of the duct, thereby preventing carbonaceous material from caking on the duct.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a hot solid heat transfer material to rapidly heat the hydrocarbon-containing solids to a high temperature and conveyed through the retorting vessel by means of a flexible, generically helical shaped, elongated, hollow longitudinal core element. The shale and heat transfer material are conveyed concurrently through a first section of a cylindrical vessel while a stripping gas is introduced into a latter section of the vessel and flows countercurrent to the movement of the two solids. The stripping gas along with entrained fines, gaseous hydrocarbons, and liquid hydrocarbons in the form of a mist are removed from a middle section of the vessel while the retorted shale is removed from the end of the vessel.

Abstract: A dry distillation process for treating bituminous or oil-containing fine-grained material, particularly tar sand, with a heat carrier comprising fine-grained dry distillation residue which is heated in a pneumatic conveyor line by hot combustion gases and then fed to a collecting vessel and mixed in a dry distillation zone with the fine-grained material to be subjected to dry distillation. The dry distillation residue is heated to a temperature of 600.degree.-850.degree. C before being mixed at least in part with the material which is to be subjected to dry distillation, said material containing at least 0.2% by weight magnesium carbonate and/or calcium carbonate.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an apparatus and process are disclosed wherein coal or peat or lignite is first transmitted to a devolatilizer from which tar and fuel gas are removed for transmission to a separator and recovery system, from which by-products are obtained and sulphur-free fuel gas is transmitted to the steam boiler. Char is recirculated between the devolatilizer and a heat generator. In one form of the invention a fraction of the char discharge from the devolatilizer is transmitted to a gasifier for gasification and complete sulphur extraction, and another fraction in readily combustible form is transmitted to the steam boiler for use. In another form of the invention the complete output of the devolatilizer is transmitted to the gasifier wherein a fraction is gasified and another fraction is transmitted to the steam boiler. The proportion of the fractions may be controlled to thereby control the overall sulphur emission of the system.

Abstract: A pyrolysis reactor has a feed system which includes one or more circularly arcuate feed tubes removably inserted through the outer wall of the reactor. Each feed tube is slidably disposed in a corresponding circularly arcuate external guide sleeve for positioning the discharge end of each feed tube at a predetermined location and orientation within the reactor. A hot particulate material normally suspended in a fluid carrier is fed into the reactor. The inlet end(s) of the feed tube(s) can be connected to a source of particulate agglomerative carbonaceous material suspended in a fluid carrier for injection into the reactor, preferably at a location where the hot particulate material is uniformly distributed throughout the cross-section of the reactor. Means can be provided to cool the particulate agglomerative carbonaceous material during transit through the feed tube(s) to prevent agglomeration in the feed tube(s).

Abstract: Fine-grained fuels such as coal are continuously degasified by a process wherein a fine-grained degasified residue is recirculated as a heat-carrying medium and is heated in a pneumatic conveyor line and then fed to a collecting vessel. A first partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed through a mixing zone together with the fuel to be subjected to dry distillation. A second partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed to a secondary degasification zone together with the mixture comprising the dry distillation residue. Volatile constituents are distilled from the mixture in the mixing zone and the secondary degasification zone and are fed to dust-collecting and condensing means. Degasified residue is recirculated to the pneumatic conveyor line.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the continuous and simultaneous retorting and hydrocracking of the carbonaceous materials found in such carbon containing solids as oil shale, coal, tar sands, lignite, and/or other carbon containing solids, and/or heavy liquids to produce low boiling liquid hydro-carbons and/or a gaseous product suitable for the subsequent production of methane or synthetic natural gas. It is a process by which high to very high molecular weight carbonaceous materials can be effectively and economically converted at high yields to either a low boiling crude of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. API gravity or a gas suitable for the subsequent production of methane, or both.

Abstract: Heat from spent shale combustion is removed from shale ash and combustion gases by direct contact thereof with raw shale particles wherein the fine raw shale particles not easily separable from the shale ash are removed prior to contact of the raw shale with the shale ash and combustion gases.

Abstract: Oil shale is retorted in a vertical reactor that is separated into discrete zones. Sensible heat from hot spent shale is used for the thermal decomposition of kerogen, which is done in the absence of air, thus liberating a maximum of desirable products, without loss of product by combustion, and avoiding the necessity of separating and removing gaseous combustion products from the volatilized kerogen. The carbonaceous residue on the retorted shale is combusted to furnish the sensible heat used in the various parts of the process.