Abstract: An arrangement of a coke drum unit and of a coke crushing unit for use in a closed, gastight system for gaining sellable petroleum coke pieces out of solidified petroleum coke in a coke drum unit. It comprises a coke drum unit containing solidified petroleum coke; a coke crushing unit for crushing the petroleum coke into sellable petroleum coke pieces arranged below the coke drum unit; a lower funnel connected to the coke crushing unit and having an upper end portion; an upper funnel connected to the lower end of the coke drum unit and having a lower end portion with a smaller diameter than the upper end portion of the lower funnel; the lower end portion of the upper funnel extending into the upper end portion of the lower funnel; and at least one circumferential sealing element providing a gastight sealing between the upper funnel and the lower funnel and allowing for an axial and radial movement of the upper funnel with respect to the lower funnel.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coke production rates for coke ovens. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a false door system with a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven. A lower extension plate associated with embodiments of the false door is selectively, automatically extended beyond a lower end portion of the false door in order to extend an effective length of the false door. In other embodiments an extension plate may be coupled with an existing false door having an angled front surface to provide the existing false door with a vertically oriented face.

Abstract: A method for reducing the coking time in the oven area near the door or end wall and for improving coke quality and situation of emissions by compensating for radiation losses through coke oven chamber doors and end walls is described. This compensation is accomplished by varying the height of the coal cake in the environment of the frontal coke oven chamber doors. The variation is achieved both by increasing or decreasing the coal cake over part of the length or over the entire length of the coke oven chamber door. The reduction in the height of the coal cake can be generated by omission of coal or coal compacts, the increase in height can be accomplished by stacking of coal and pressing or adding of coal compacts, with it also being envisaged to omit the pressing cycle so as to obtain a recess with a lower coal cake density which also has less heat radiation.

Abstract: A carbonization apparatus for coal with wide particle size distribution, a carbonization apparatus unit, and a carbonization method based on the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a char discharge outlet (1), a combustion heating chamber (3), a coal feeding inlet (5), and a pyrolysis gas exhausting pipe (4). Wherein, two partition plates between which a pyrolysis gas channel (2) is formed are further provided in the carbonization apparatus, and orifices are provided on the partition plates to form a gas flow path from the fuel bed to the pyrolysis gas channel (2). Further, another internal having good heat transfer performance and made of a material resistant to high temperature, is provided in this coal carbonization apparatus to enhance the heat transfer from the heated wall of the apparatus to the fuel bed inside the apparatus. With the pyrolysis gas channel in the carbonization reaction apparatus, the gaseous products generated from coal pyrolysis are enabled to flow out timely.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for continuously converting biomass are described herein. A device has a feed section for holding a moving bed of biomass, namely wood, having a drying section, a flame zone for degassing, and a, smolder zone for carbonizing the biomass into a solid converted product, namely charcoal. The device includes a tank for collecting the solid converted product arranged below a grate and coupled with the feed section in a gas-tight manner. The system comprising the device, a biogas plant and/or a combined heat and power plant conveys the liquid converted product, namely pyroligneous acid or acetic acid, to the biogas plant and/or the solid converted product, namely charcoal, to the combined heat and power plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing charcoal. It is characterized in that: first hot gases are generated by at least one heating means; its first gases are mixed with second gases in order to form a gas mixture; this mixture is sent into a charge of wood in order to generate therein a pyrolysis front; an overpressure is created between the upstream end and the downstream end of the charge so as to force this front to pass through it in one direction, namely from the upstream end to the downstream end; and third gases are recovered downstream of the charge, at least a first portion of said third gases, in the form of a stream of said second gases, is conveyed by a conveying means. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method.

Abstract: A method for producing individual compacts made of coke and suitable for coke oven chambers by dividing a coal cake in a non-mechanical manner, wherein the coal cake is produced by a compression method according to the prior art and the coal cake is divided by non-mechanical, energy-supplying media, and the non-mechanical media supplying shearing energy are, for example, a laser beam, a high-pressure water jet, an abrasive-solid jet, an ultrasonic beam, a compressed-air jet, or a gas jet. By using the method, coal compacts can be produced from coal cakes without forming dust, without wearing out cutting tools, and with high precision.

Abstract: A method for compacting coal in a manner suitable for coke oven chambers is described. The coal is initially compressed by means of a suitable compressing device into one or more coal cakes, and the obtained coal cakes are divided into compacted products by a cutting device. The compacted products are stacked on top of the each other such that they can be loaded into a coke oven chamber for coking. The compacted products enable the coke oven chambers to be loaded in a precise and a coal loss-free manner. The coal compacted products are easy to store.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for charging the chambers of a coke oven with compacted coal. The method includes placing a plurality of adhesion reduction particles onto a coke oven charging plate, the particles being configured to reduce at least one of adhesion forces and friction forces present between the charging plate and compacted coal to be loaded thereon, loading compacted coal onto the charging plate, moving the charging plate loaded with compacted coal to the coke oven chamber, and slidably removing the compacted coal from the charging plate such that the compacted coal is disposed in the coke oven chamber. The device comprises a metal plate configured to load compacted coal into the coke oven, a plurality of adhesion reduction particles affixed to the metal plate by an adhesive layer, and a device used to move the metal plate to a front of the firing chamber of the coke oven.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of positioning service equipment of a coal-charging larry cart at charging ports of a coke oven, wherein a rail-guided larry cart is moved on the roof of a coke oven and is positioned at locations known by a machine control system and corresponding to charging ports in the oven roof in order to charge the oven chambers, and wherein then at least one piece of service equipment of the coal-charging larry cart is guided to the charging ports by horizontal biaxial positioning movements. According to the invention, an optical measurement method is used after each positioning of the larry cart to detect the coordinates of at least one marking that is applied to the oven roof and that has a fixed relationship with the center axis of a charging port within a measurement field that is predefined by the measurement method and to compare them with reference values that are stored in the machine control system for the marking.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for the production of densified charcoal from organic material that can be used for example as chemical reagents, fuels, or absorbents. The reaction vessel defines a flow path extending from the input to the vessel, through to the output from the vessel, in which the thermal decomposition of the organic material progresses as the organic material passes through the reaction vessel. The vessel includes a reaction zone for autogenous reaction of organic material in a reaction bed of the organic material. Pressure can be applied to the bed of organic material to increase the density of the resultant charcoal. Acoustic emitters may also be used to enhance the densification process.

Abstract: A device for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which device increases the interior surface of a coke cake or coke leaving the coking chamber by mechanically breaking apart or roughening it, resulting in a break-up of the coke structure and the formation of crevice-type cavities in the compacted coke charge so that an increased amount of water can flow into the interior of the coke charge during the subsequent quenching step through these crevices, resulting in a high profitability of the method due to reduced quenching times and lower water consumption. A method for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which serves to break up a fresh coke cake or to roughen the coke in order to reduce water consumption during quenching is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved biomass feed system and processes for transporting biomass to downstream processing locations are disclosed. The system uses a pressurized gas to assist in the transporting of the biomass to the conversion reactor.

Abstract: Processes for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material are provided. A process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material includes charging a reactor with a feed material comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, heating the feed material, and collecting liquid product from the reactor which is anaerobic in operation. At least 5% of the organic carbon atoms which are not present in an aromatic ring of a compound of the feed material are present in an aromatic ring of a compound in a liquid portion of the product.

Abstract: A coking oven has a battery of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced coking chambers each provided with a plurality of downwardly open and longitudinally spaced filling holes. Coal is charged into the chambers through the respective filling holes. A respective longitudinally movable leveling rod in each of the chambers can level coal charged by the filling equipment into the chambers. Sensors provided on the leveling rods scan from above transversely and longitudinally spaced points on a surface of the coal charged through the holes into the respective chambers. A controller connected to the sensors records a respective measurement corresponding to a vertical position of the surface at each the points and determines from the measurements thereof a three-dimensional filling-level profile of the surface of the charged coal for controlling operation of the filling equipment and filling of the chambers with the coal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for collecting so-called residual coke from a coke oven chamber while the door of the coke oven chamber is being opened. A collecting device is moved up against a guide plate arranged under the door of the coke oven chamber before the door of the coke oven chamber is opened, and the coke that falls out of the coke oven chamber falls across the guide plate into a collecting device. The collecting device is moved to a horizontal position after the coke has been collected so that the upper edge of the collecting device is at the height of the bottom of the coke oven chamber. The push-out device of the coke oven operating machine moves over the collecting device between the suspensions so that the coke is pushed out of the collecting device back into the coke oven chamber.

Abstract: A method of sequestering carbon dioxide emissions during recovery of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating, the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Additionally, during heating, any carbon dioxide that is produced can be sequestered. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A heat-resistant door device for closing a horizontal coke oven chamber is made of a refractory material, using a material containing silica or a material containing silica and aluminum oxides, in particular. The material has a low temperature expansion coefficient and it is thermally well insulating so that the door is not deformed and/or distorted during the coal carbonization process. The door device is built of a coke oven wall mainly located above the door and embracing the door as well as of a mobile door located underneath. Thereby less cold ambient air enters into the coke oven chamber and radiation losses are minimized. The door may be comprised of an ellipsoidal bulge by, which the coke can be better pushed into the coking chamber. The oven wall embracing the oven door can also be made of a refractory material containing silica or of a material containing silica and aluminum oxides.

Abstract: According to the invention, the loose coal is displaced from the peaks to the valleys of the waves on the narrow, long coal cake and is beaten down on the coal cake. The inventive device comprises at least one scraper (12) and at least one vertically movable impact plate (13) that are disposed one behind another and are fitted with a connection (7) to a holder. Furthermore, means are provided for generating a relative movement between the scraper (12) and the impact plate (13) and between the scraper (12) and a stamping form. The scraper (12) and the impact plate (13) are interconnected by means of a device frame (14) so as to form a structural unit (6) that is connected to the holder. Preferably, the structural unit (6) can be moved along the stamping form and is equipped with a drive unit. For this purpose, the holder encompasses a guide that extends along the stamping form as well as a carriage or a car which can be slid or moved on said guide and to which the unit (6) is connected with the aid of a boom.

Abstract: Methods for the thermolysis of lignocellulosic materials, such as wood, cellulose, lignin, and lignocellulose are provided. Some methods comprise combining the lignocellulosic material with an ionic liquid and subjecting the mixture of the lignocellulosic material and the ionic media to thermolysis conditions to form a recoverable product, such as a commodity chemical.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material are provided. In one embodiment the process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material includes charging a reactor with a feed material comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, heating the feed material, and collecting liquid product from the reactor which is anaerobic in operation. At least 5% of the organic carbon atoms which are not present in an aromatic ring of a compound of the feed material are present in an aromatic ring of a compound in a liquid portion of the product.

Abstract: A gasification reactor includes a wiper system including at least one wiper blade operable to wipe an interior surface of the reactor. A condenser unit of the gasification reactor includes a scraper system including at least one scraper segment operable to scrape an interior surface of the condenser unit.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A mined hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. Hydrocarbon products can be collected from intermediate locations within the permeable body. Advantageously, an intermediate fluid collection system can be used to draw a hydrocarbon product from the permeable body at preselected locations. Such intermediate collection can provide hydrocarbon product fractions which can reduce or eliminate the need for full-scale distillation of a hydrocarbon product having a full range of products such as that typically found in crude oil.

Abstract: A pyrolysis process and reactor converts various hydrocarbons such as waste materials, for example, scrap polymers, tires, etc., into various chemical components or amounts thereof, not otherwise produced by conventional pyrolytic processes. A large reactor size is utilized in association with a low heat input per unit weight of charge. A thick pyrolyzate/“char” layer is formed during pyrolysis. The product or various components thereof can be utilized as a fuel or octane additive.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and mechanisms for laterally dispensing fluid to a coke drum in a predictable and maintainable manner that alleviates thermal stress. In one embodiment, the methods and mechanisms utilize a split piping system to dispense fluid through two or more inlets into a spool that is connected to a coke drum and a coke drum bottom deheader valve. A combination of block valves and clean out ports provides a more effective means to clean the lines and allows fluid to be laterally dispensed in a controllable and predictable manner. The fluid is preferably introduced to the spool in opposing directions toward a central vertical axis of the spool at equal but opposing angles ranging from minus thirty (?30) to thirty (30) degrees relative to a horizontal line laterally bisecting the spool. Alternatively, however, fluid can be introduced to the spool tangentially.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for evacuating hot raw gases which occur in the oven chambers of a coke oven battery during coking. The oven gases are lead from the oven chambers into a hot gas collector. The pressure in the oven chambers is controlled by shut-off and throttling devices which are arranged in the hot gas streams between the raw gas outlet of the oven chambers and the hot gas collector. The positions of the devices are controlled according to the pressure that is measured in the allocated oven chamber. The gas of the hot gas collector is supplied to a steam boiler firing or a fission reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filling a horizontal flue coking oven. According to the invention, spinning cells are introduced into the furnace chamber for filling, which comprise a discharge element rotating about a vertical axis. The bulk material is charged onto the spinning cells and the bulk material distributed in the furnace chamber as a result of the rotation of the discharge element. The surface of the bulk material is subjected to a subsequent raking process.

Abstract: The device relates to a device for leveling the coal filled in the retort of a coke oven, comprising a leveler bar (2) connected with a leveler bar drive (1) that can be moved into and out of the retort (4) through a leveling opening (3), and performs a leveling movement back and forth in the retort (4). According to the invention, the leveler bar (2) has a rake blade (5) on its front end with a width that can be adjusted by an operating device (6) arranged in the leveler bar (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a levelling bar for coking ovens, for levelling the cones of discharged coal which form under the filling holes of the oven chamber during the filling process. The levelling bar consists of two cheeks, such as plates (1), which extend essentially over the entire length of the ranged at a distance from each other depending on the width of the oven chamber, and parallel to each other. They are also interconnected and are essentially vertical. The levelling bar also has transversal coal carriers (2) which are arranged in the intermediate space delimited by the cheeks (1) at a mutual distance, one behind the other and which only extend over part of the cross-sectional surface of the levelling bar formed between he cheeks (1). The height (3) of the coal carriers (2), which take up the entire interval between the cheeks, is less than the height (H) of the cheeks (1) and the cheek form a gas channel (6) above the coal carriers (2) which is essentially free of built-in components.

Abstract: A coal compaction system and method for a non-recovery coke oven having refractory roof, floor, side walls and end doors for coal charging and coke discharge provides an improved coal charging machine carrying a coal conveyor supported intermediate the ends of the conveyor to avoid conveyor sagging and non-uniform depth of a deposited coal bed, a number of pressurized fluid-driven vibratory compactors mounted on an end of the charging machine and spaced-apart across the width of the coal bed and serving to compact the coal bed on a retraction stroke of the charging machine, a pivoted lifting frame mounted on the charging machine above the compactors and from which the compactors individually are suspended and are provided with individual supply of pressurized fluid, and a coke pusher head mounted on the charging machine behind the compactors and serving, when the lifting frame and associated compactors are raised, to push finished coke from the coke oven.

Abstract: A method of forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal. The coal is pulverized to provide a particulate coal feed, which is then extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube. A clay feed is extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of the coal tube and a combustible fuel is burned inside of the clay tube. The temperature of combustion is sufficient to fire the extruded clay and pyrolyze the extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char. The support tube has holes for releasing the hydrocarbon gases, which contain suspended particles formed during combustion. The suspended particles are removed from the hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases, which are passed through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion thereof. The ionized gases are then passed through a magnetic field to separate them from each other according to their molecular weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for the carbonization of materials, such as coal, comprising an elongated coking retort defined by an annulus which constitutes the coking chamber within which the coal is carbonized indirectly by conduction. In order to provide an efficient mechanism for transferring thermal energy to the coal by conduction, highly conductive tiles equipped with flues and adapted to transport hot flue gas makes up the walls of the annulus within which the coal is carbonized. The raw gas (discharged from carbonization) and the cooled flue gas (discharged from the flues) are collected and separately treated to prevent polluting emissions.

Abstract: This invention discloses a new method for the production of coke from coals. In the present invention, coke is continuously produced by heating a moving charge of coal inside the annular space between two tubes. The coking chamber, which includes a large tube and a smaller tube, is force-fed with a coal such as a metallurgical coal. The coal is bi-directionally heated along a controlled temperature gradient between the outer wall of the small tube and the inner wall of the large tube. The coal is transformed to coke as it travels through the annulus of the coking chamber. Coke is discharged from the chamber at the end opposite to which it was charged and is cooled before being exposed to the atmosphere. Gases generated during the coking process are collected and treated. All of these operations are accomplished in a closed system to prevent pollution.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering energy values of waste tar sludge comprises dewatering the waste tar sludge, transporting the dewatered tar sludge in enclosed containers vented through activated carbon to remove volatile hydrocarbons before vapors are vented to the atmosphere, and injecting the dewatered tar sludge into the side wall of a coke oven charging hole along with a stream of coking coal introduced through the top of the charging hole.

Abstract: Individual coke ovens in a nonrecovery coke oven battery are charged through an open door at the pushing end of the ovens, and emissions escaping through the open door of the respective ovens during charging are captured by a hood mounted on the pushing and charging machine for movement therewith along the pushing side of the battery and for movement thereon from a retracted position spaced outwardly from the ovens and a capturing position above the open oven door. Air and emissions captured by the hood are withdrawn and passed through an air cleaner mounted on the pushing and charging machine to remove smoke and particulates before being discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The macromolecular waste (which is not itself susceptible to microwave heating and may be, for example, plastics or polychlorinated biphenyl) is mixed (B) with pulverulent carbonaceous material, which comprises elemental carbon or is degradable by microwave irradiation to elemental carbon (such as waste tire material). The mix is subjected to microwave irradiation (C) in an inert atmosphere to cause pyrolysis of the plastics. Preferably part of the resulting solids is recycled to the microwave zone (C).

Abstract: A leveler bar for a coke oven is controlled in its travel toward and away from the coke side of the oven by semi-automatic means to move the leveler bar during a "cycle" mode through half strokes and during the "finish" mode it performs four "full" strokes of which a full stroke can mean a 3/4 distance of full travel across the oven. Electrical circuitry which modifies or adds to prior art circuitry to accomplish this leveler bar movement is included herein.

Abstract: A coal-leveling apparatus includes a leveling rod supported by a pressing machine for movement through a leveling opening into a mushroom-shaped gas-collecting space to level the coal charged in the coking chamber of a coke oven. The leveling rod includes a head element that carries two support members that can move on pivot levers between an operative position wherein the support members are extended from the head element for support by upwardly-inclined wall surfaces in the mushroom-shaped gas-collecting space. In the inoperative position, the support members are retracted toward both sides of the head element. An actuating rod extends through the leveling rod to the head element. In one embodiment, the actuating rod can be moved in opposite directions of its length. An end of each of the first pivot levers is connected to the actuating rod and the opposite ends of the first levers are connected to second pivot levers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying preheated coal particles to a coking chamber through an enclosed pipeline by means of a pressurized inert carrier gas, wherein the coal particles are charged into the top of the coking chamber through a portion of the pipeline wherein at least the end of which is disposed vertically or not more than 30.degree. from vertical. The advantages of the top charging technique include one or more of the following: reduced carryover of fine coal during charging, increased density of the charge of coal to be coked, reduced weight of carrier gas per unit weight of coal, improved uniformity of coal bed level throughout the coking chamber, and reduced carbon deposits on surfaces of the chamber above the coal charge and in the gas off-takes.

Abstract: Fragile agglomerates with crushed rock fragments, such as fines which are subsequently agglomerated and which result in the crushing of rock fragments, such as oil shale prepared for retorting are mixed and delivered onto conveying means, such as a travelling grate by charging the rock fragments into a bin which delivers through a choke-feed onto the conveyor or travelling grate by introducing the agglomerates through a series of space conducts or tubes terminating inside the bin below the level of the lump material or fragments in the bin where the rock fragments have a downward travel such as to enable the aggregates to defuse from the ends of the spaced pipes into and through the fragments and while so separated and diffused through the fragments move with the fragments onto the grate.

Abstract: A method of charging coke ovens with coal through charging holes and simultaneously withdrawing gases evolving from the coal charge through the middle charging holes thereof, holding the coal charge over a period of time sufficient for a coal-charging machine to deliver a next batch of said coal charge for charging the next successive coke oven, completely charging said coke oven while simultaneously charging the next successive coke oven through its extreme charging holes, and withdrawing through said middle charging holes of said coke oven being completely charged, said coke-oven gases and introducing a gas inert to said coke-oven gas in an amount of 15-20% of the total amount of the coke-oven gas being withdrawn.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for purification of petroleum coke to produce an economical low sulfur product suitable for electrode production. Finely ground green coke is treated on an enclosed circular grate apparatus and subjected to sequential treatments in which hot gases are passed through a deep permeable bed of coke on the grate in a series of separate treating zones including a preheat zone, a heating and calcining zone, a desulfurizing zone in which hydrogen rich gas is passed through the heated bed, a reduction gas generation zone in which hydrocarbon and steam pass through hot coke to form hydrogen, and a cooling zone.Adequate temperatures for calcination and desulfurization are achieved and the proper heating rate is obtained without overheating the metal parts of the hearth by use of radiant and hot gas heating means in the calcining zone and in the desulfurizing zone and by introducing the air and/or fuel gas near the bottom of the coke bed.

Abstract: A device for separating gases and solids, particularly coal dust, during the carbonization of coal, particularly predried and preheated fine coal in coke ovens arranged in a battery which includes a standpipe extending upwardly from the top of the battery having a bend extending from the top of the standpipe downwardly into a collecting main, comprises, a vertically extending standpipe which extends upwardly from the top of the battery and has a bend at the top thereof extending outwardly and downwardly from the top and which includes a longitudinally extending collecting main connected into the lower end of the bend with a solids discharge line overlying the bend and extending substantially parallel to the collecting main. The solids matter discharge line includes a connection extending downwardly into the bend. Means are provided for spraying a liquid into the bend over the collecting line and the solids matter discharge line includes a shutoff control in the connection to the bend.

Abstract: A method of reducing the carbonization pressure in the coking of coal is provided which comprises randomly dispersing flakes through the coal, said flakes formed of a material that does not pass through a plastic phase such as pressed sawdust wherein the flakes have a thickness of between about 1/8" and about 3/4" and a length and width of between about 1" and about 5".

Abstract: Crushed oil shale is segregated into a major portion of relatively large particles and a minor portion of "fines," such as will pass through 1/8-inch screen openings. The large particles are subjected to retorting in an upflowing bed in countercurrent contact with a downflowing hot eduction gas, while the fines are fed onto and controllably transported across the hot planar surface of a free-standing truncated cone of spent shale at the top of the retort.

Abstract: A method of preparing coals for coking in a conventional coke oven includes agglomerating the loose coal, in combination with a binder, into flakes, mixing the flakes with non-agglomerated coal, and charging the mixture into the coke oven in the conventional manner. The method provides for the utilization in a conventional coke oven, of coals that are marginal in coking quality, greater bulk densities of the coal as charged into a conventional coke oven, acceptable shatter resistance and physical stability of the coke produced, and acceptable carbonization pressure on the coke oven walls.

Abstract: Method for charging a coke oven chamber. Where the chamber is charged through a single charging hole with a stream of flowable preheated particulate coal at a flow rate of between substantially 8-20 tons per minute. The coal flows sufficiently in the chamber to assure filling of the chamber to substantially 100% of the volumetric capacity of the same. Due to the flowability of the preheated coal the charge is self-leveling.

Abstract: Adjacent alternating rows of relatively coarse and fine coal are deposited onto a horizontal moving grate running through a coking furnace.

Abstract: Method of operating a coke oven battery arranged in a battery in connection with a predrying or preheating plant for the coal to be coked comprises predrying and preheating coke oven charge moist coal by bringing it into contact with a circulated current of hot inert gas to remove water from the charge with the inert gas comprising a gas containing only a small amount of oxygen and a remainder comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide and steam, charging the preheated and predried coal into a coke oven, directing the coke oven gases generated in the oven out through an offtake, and adding an amount of steam corresponding approximately to the amount of water removed from the charge coal during the predrying and preheating to the coke oven gases in the gas offtake. The apparatus includes a closed circuit in which steam is added to a line and then superheated by a heater and is directed into a secondary flash heater.