Abstract: Tire pyrolysis systems and processes are provided which include feeding tire shreds to a pyrolysis vessel (40) and pyrolyzing the shreds in a pyrolysis vessel (40) to produce a pyrolysis gas and carbon black mixture. The pyrolysis gas processed by centrifugally separating entrained particles therefrom, separating the pyrolysis gas into a hydrocarbon condensate and a light vapor, removing entrained hydrocarbon condensate from the light vapor, and purifying and refining the hydrocarbon condensate. The carbon black mixture is processed by pulverizing the mixture to break up all strands and clumps of inorganic solids, cooling the carbon black mixture, separating the gross contaminants from the carbon mixture, and purifying and refining the carbon black. The hydrocarbon condensate is purified and refined by removing all remaining contaminants, removing any polycyclic aromatics to produce a clear, colorless plasticizer oil.

Abstract: Garbage and waste of all types that includes or comprises organic matter, particularly including medical waste, plastics, paper, food waste, animal by-products, and the like, can be economically recycled into petroleum products, including oil. Machinery performs a method that mimics natural processes but accomplishes the task in minutes, at rates of about 15 tons per day in a typical processing machine, rather than taking hundreds of thousands of years in nature. The process and apparatus of the invention may chop the waste into small pieces, under negative pressure if appropriate, and then pass the waste into first and then second augers for compression and heating. Destructive distillation occurs, in which large molecular weight hydrocarbons and petrochemicals are heated by hot oil passing through the hollow shaft and by circulating hot, dense, hard material, such as steel balls or fragments or hard rock pieces and such, under pressure with steam, to produce low molecular weight hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Used oil is treated in a reactor to remove contaminants. The reactor comprises a rotating vessel housed within a heating chamber. The inside of the vessel is indirectly heated by conduction through the vessel walls. The vessel contains a permanently resident charge of non-ablating, coarse granular solids. Within the vessel, the oil is vaporized and pyrolysed, producing a hydrocarbon vapor. Coke is formed as a byproduct. Contaminants, such as metals and halides become associated with the coke. The coarse granular solids scour and comminute the coke to form fine solids. The fine solids are separated from the coarse solids and are removed from the vessel. The hydrocarbon vapors are separated from any fine solids and are routed to a vapor condensation system for producing a substantially contaminant-free product oil. The contaminant-rich solids are collected for disposal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for withdrawing and dewatering slag from a gasification system. In particular, the present invention relates to a conveying lockhopper and method of using the conveying lockhopper to collect slag and other waste byproducts from the gasifier of a gasification system. The conveying lockhopper is configured to receive slag from a gasifier, simultaneously extract and dewater the slag, and expel the processed slag directly into an awaiting container suitable for carrying the processed slag away. The conveying lockhopper generally comprises a housing with inlet and outlet valves to receive and expel slag, respectively. The housing is inclined at an angle typically between 5 and 60 degrees to the horizontal so that the outlet is at a higher elevation than the inlet. Inside the housing, an auger or similar conveying mechanism conveys the slag from the inlet towards the outlet while simultaneously dewatering the slag.

Abstract: An apparatus removes water and organic compounds from waste streams such as contaminated soils and refinery tailings by a combination of thermal stripping and molecular decomposition. The apparatus includes at least one unit having a pipe which is preferably heated by induction heating and also having a transport arrangement. The transport arrangement includes a suitable motor and operates to move the waste stream material through the pipe and mix the material to provide uniform heat transfer from the heated pipe. The transport arrangement preferably includes an adjustment mechanism which allows adjustment of the rate at which material moves through the pipe for a given motor speed. The adjustment mechanism also adjusts the mixing provided by the transport arrangement. Several of the treatment units according to the invention may be connected in series to form a multistage device.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition apparatus for decomposing polymer waste is provided which is simple in structure, small in size and inexpensive, and also the operating cost thereof is low.A feed pipe 18 and an inclined pipe 23 are connected in the form of the letter V at a large angle therebetween, and a feed screw 19 and an feed-up screw 25 are arranged inside the respective pipes. Polymer waste introduced into a hopper 17 is melted in the interior of the feed pipe 18 by heat from a first hot air furnace 10 and accumulated in the V-shaped portion. The polymer melt is then conveyed upward by the feed-up screw 25. In the process of conveyance, the polymer melt undergoes primary decomposition by means of heat from a second hot air furnace 11 and the cracked gas thus generated undergoes secondary decomposition by the heat from a third hot air furnace 12, the resultant gas being guided to a condenser 7. Sludge drops down through a chute pipe 35 into a water tank 36.

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: In apparatus for thermolytic distillation of lump carbonaceous material, an enclosure contains a degassing bath, a reactor bath and a quenching bath. A closed loop continuous chain conveyor drives a plurality of baskets carrying carbonaceous material through the three baths of the enclosure. The carbonaceous material is degassed in hot distillate, then immersed in molten lead in the absence of oxygen to produce char and vapor by thermolytic distillation. The char is quenched with water in the absence of oxygen. At least a portion of the vapor is condensed to produce combustible distillate.

Abstract: A horizontal moving bed reactor for heat treating particulate material comprises a housing having an inlet for admitting therein the particulate material to be heat treated and an outlet for discharging the heat treated material, at least one tray disposed horizontally inside the housing between the inlet and outlet and having a support surface for supporting a bed of the particulate material, a heating system for heating the bed of particulate material on the support surface, and a conveyor system for moving the bed of particulate material while being heated along a predetermined direction on the support surface. The conveyor system includes a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart rake members extending across the support surface transversely of the predetermined direction and each having a plurality of spaced-apart fingers in sliding contact with the support surface.

Abstract: The carbonizing furnace of the present invention is capable of effectively making a large amount of carbides and reducing manufacturing cost and maintenance cost. The carbonizing furnace includes a furnace proper being formed into a cylindrical shape, the furnace proper having a first end section, to which a combustible raw material is supplied, and a second end section, from which a carbide is discharged; a spiral member for conveying the raw material from the first end section to the second end thereof; and a burner for burning the raw material to make the carbide, the burner burns the raw material in the second end section whereby the raw material is carbonized therein, wherein a surface of the raw material is coated with an inorganic binder.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of:(a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16);(b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilization of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char);(c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20);(d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24);(e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24);(f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and(g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing wood charcoal by pyrolysis of wood products or vegetable biomasses in general, the method including the steps of: loading the wood products, or vegetable biomasses in general, onto transport trolleys; introducing the trolleys, which contain the wood products, in a treatment tunnel wherein a pyrolysis chamber is formed; indirectly heating the wood products inside the pyrolysis chamber until pyrolysis of the wood products is obtained, with continuous extraction, from the pyrolysis chamber, of the gas generated by the pyrolysis process; and extracting the trolleys from the tunnel to unload from the trolleys the charcoal that constitutes the residue of the pyrolysis of the wood products.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a solvent from solid or granular particles. The apparatus includes a fully enclosed vessel having multiple stages for effecting the solvent removal therein. Each stage includes an upper deck and a lower deck extending across the width of the vessel generally parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of the vessel. A first gear and a second gear are operatively located beyond the ends of the upper and lower decks. A means for conveying solid particles forms a continuous loop extending from the first gear over the lower deck, around the second gear and over the upper deck and back to the first gear. Drive means are provided for rotating the means for conveying solids. The lower deck is heated to a sufficient temperature to cause vaporization of at least a portion of the solvent contaminating the solid particles as the particles are conveyed over the heated deck.

Abstract: A gasifier for producing methane-rich fuel gas from a biomass material feed includes at least one cylindrical vessel, and an axially extending rotor mounted within the vessel. A feeding system is mounted to the vessel at the input end for introducing feed to the vessel. The feeding system includes two independently operated pistons, slidable in an inclined cylinder, and two slide valves, disposed in a vertical pipe above the inclined cylinder. The slide valves serve to apportion the amount of feed delivered to the gasifier, while the pistons selectively seal the pressurized interior of the kiln from the feed hopper. A discharge system for removing residue from the kiln also includes two pistons which selectively seal kiln from the environment. The gasifier of the present invention may also include double-plate intake and exhaust manifolds, and a box beam rotor, optionally including zinc oxide disposed in the hollow, central rotor shaft defined by the vanes of the box beam rotor.

Abstract: A thermal conversion pyrolysis reactor system (10) is provided for use in providing a continuous flow type pyrolysis reaction for conversion of carbonizable input materials ("MW") (12). The reactor system (10) utilizes a diffusion material ("MD") (14) which is preheated and admixed with the MD (12) in order to facilitate pyrolysis and to partially catalyze reactions. Subsystems are provided to receive gaseous (30), liquid (32) and solid (32) phase outputs. The reactor system (10) includes further component subsystems for waste material MW input (22), MD input (26), reactor chamber (24), and heating (28). The MD (14) is preheated by being carried through the reactor chamber (64) prior to admixing with the MW (12) and further by exhaust gases (94) from the furnace space (88) being directed through a heat exchanger (126).

Abstract: A heat exchanger including one or more rotating drums with a freely rotating helix inside the drum to move material to be heated or cooled longitudinally through the drum, as well as to help clean the surface of the drum, together with carriers to assist in heat transfer and cleaning of the drum surface, and scoops to recycle the carriers through an inner coaxial drum. The drum has a sealed inlet and outlet disposed so that the seals are not exposed to excessive temperatures. Cooling chambers are coaxially mounted on each end of the rotating drums for cooling and condensing vapors and cooling solid particles treated in the drum. An inner drum conveys the carriers back to the starting point by means of a freely rotating helix.

Abstract: The processor is of the type incorporating horizontal, concentric, co-extensive inner and outer tubular members which rotate together. The processor is modified in the following respects:The front end of the inner tubular member is circumferentially corrugated and may be provided in the form of a plurality of parallel tubes arranged in a ring array, to thereby increase the shell area to promote heat transfer through the tube walls;Means are provided for interconnecting the tubular members, which means can accommodate differing rates of thermal expansion and;a rock recycle tube assembly is provided to recover oversize material leaving the corrugated portion of the inner tubular member and reject it from the processor.

Abstract: A recycle conduit insulation assembly for use with a helical recycle conduit of a rotary reactor of the type having a rotating, horizontally-oriented, cylindrical chamber for burning materials therein and a quantity of particulate, inorganic material within the chamber for conveying heat energy to material to be burned. The insulation assembly includes a plurality of shell elements, each comprising a cylinder enclosing a portion of the conduit and being arranged in overlapping relation, a plurality of mounting rings, each attached to and extending radially from the conduit and having a T-shape in section for supporting the shell elements at ends thereof, and a pumpable refractory mixture substantially filling the insulating space between the shell elements and conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for the thermal treatment of feed material containing solids and liquids such as solid waste or the like. The apparatus includes one or more coaxial rotatable drums and one or more free rotating spirals advancing the material in the drums. The material flowing through the drums is heated to form solids and vapors. In one or more embodiments of the apparatus, the hot solids and vapors exchange heat with the cold feed material. An extruder for preparing the solids being produced from the apparatus for disposal and a means for rotating the drums are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for economically recovering char, oil and fuel gas from vehicle tires is disclosed, for either whole tires or physically fragmented tires. The tires may be washed to remove dirt and road film. The tires are dried and preheated with super-heat steam. The hot tires are pyrolyzed to partially devolatize a major portion of the hydrocarbons and produce a char that can be separated from the steel and fiber glass. The char may be subsequently pyrolyzed with microwaves that elevate the tire temperature and devolatize the remaining hydrocarbons from the char as gas. The hot gases are cooled and partially condensed. The uncondensed gas is used as fuel. The condensed oil is sent to storage. The solid residue from the tire pyrolysis is substantially char, fiberglass and steel. The char is mechanically separated from the glass and steel. Alternately, the char and the glass and steel are separated by dumping the hot mixture into a water quench tank. The mixture is cooled.

Abstract: A method of continuously carbonizing a mixture of primarily organic waste material wherein a stream of comminuted waste material with a substantial organic material content is fed to one end of a mixer barrel, the material is compressed to form a barrel filling mass functioning as a first vapor block, and the work energy required to compress it and squeeze out entrapped air is used virtually exclusively to maintain the temperature of the material adiabatically, air and any steam created are vented, the material downstream from the first vapor block is decompressed in a second vent region, the material is recompressed in the absence of air to form another vapor block, while exclusively utilizing the work energy required to compress it to maintain the temperature of the material adiabatically at volatile releasing and carbonizing temperatures, the volatiles are vented, and the product is discharged as a dry, friable particulate char.

Abstract: A method of continuously carbonizing a mixture of primarily organic waste material to a high British Thermal Unit char product wherein a stream of comminuted garbage material with a substantial organic material content is fed to one end of a mixer barrel, the material is compressed to form a barrel filling mass functioning as a first vapor block, and the work energy required to compress it and squeeze out entrapped air is used virtually exclusively to raise the temperature of the material adiabatically, air and any steam created are vented, the material downstream from the first vapor block is decompressed in a second vent region, the material is recompressed in the absence of air to form another vapor block, while exclusively utilizing the work energy required to compress it to raise the temperature of the material abiabatically to a volatile releasing temperature in the neighborhood of 400.degree. F. to 600.degree. F.

Abstract: A continuous pyrolysis system is adapted for continuous pyrolysis of tire shreds with the simultaneous recovery of solid, liquid, and gas pyrolysate. The pyrolysis system includes an anaerobic pyrolyzing chamber with a conveyor for conveying tire shreds therethrough from an infeed end to a solids output end, and a heater for pyrolyzing the tire shreds as they are conveyed. The system also includes a solid pyrolysate output device for removing solid pyrolysate from the chamber, a liquid and gas pyrolysate output device for removing liquid and gas pyrolysate from the chamber, and a tire shred infeed device for feeding tire shreds into the chamber without interrupting either the pyrolysis of tire shreds already in the chamber, or the removal of pyrolystate from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for the separation and extraction of a waste material into a solid, a liquid, and a gas phase utilizing a rotating drum that is heated by a fluid medium circulating over the exterior surface of the drum in a chamber. The interior of the drum is sealed from the atmosphere and from the chamber. The waste material flows to the interior of the drum where the liquid components are vaporized and the solids are dried. The drum vapor effluent is cooled and the condensable components are condensed and separated. The noncondensable components are used as fuel for heating the heating medium. The dry solids flow from the retort to disposal facilities.

Abstract: Edible fats and oils are extracted from oil-bearing materials by loading the raw materials onto an inlet end of a flat and fixed conveying surface having elongate slits therein. The materials are conveyed from the inlet end to the outlet end of the conveying surface by scrapers moved by endless chains. Oil extracting solvent is sprayed onto the material on the conveying surface, to produce miscella, which flows through the slits in the surface and into hoppers beneath the surface. The miscella is circulated back to additional sprayers located upstream of the solvent sprayers for spraying the miscella onto the upstream end of the conveying surface. The resulting concentrated miscella is collected in hoppers beneath the surface and delivered to a further use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting hydrocarbons from tar sands. Stationary heater plates have a central opening therethrough through which a horizontal axle extends. Rotors having a central hub and a number of arms are splined on the axle, one closely sandwiched between every two heater plates. A ring is provided between the heater plates closely outward of the rotor arms. Sand retaining pockets are defined between adjacent arms of each rotor, the rotor hub, the ring and adjacent heater plates. Sand is retained in the sand retaining pockets for about one revolution about the axis between feed and removal positions. While retained in the pockets, the sand is heated and hydrocarbons driven off are collected.

Abstract: An apparatus for the conversion of sludge including a heated continuous tubular member having a continuous conveyor extending therethrough and defining along its length in succession a heating zone, a connecting zone and a reaction zone. The connecting zone conveys solid products from the heating zone to the reaction zone without substantial passage of gaseous material therethrough, and a duct means separate from the tubular member connects the heating zone and the reaction zone for the passage of gaseous products from the heating zone to the reaction zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of oil from shale is disclosed in which the shale travels through processing zones on a moving grate. Among the processing zones are a destructive distillation zone and a carbon combustion zone. A conduit is provided for recirculating gases to the carbon combustion zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for the pyrolysis of used vehicular tires. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber supported internally of an insulated casing and heated by heating means interposed between the chamber and the casing. Tire fragments are introduced into and removed from the reaction chamber through airlock mechanisms to prevent the ingress of ambient air as the fragments are conveyed through the chamber by a chain and flight conveyor scraping any accumulated solids from the chamber and the conveyor. All portions of the apparatus contacting the pyrolysis reaction products are clad with a layer of aluminum oxide to prevent corrosion. The process includes shredding the used tires, preheating the tire fragments if desired, passing the fragments through the reaction chamber, separating solid and gaseous products, recycling a portion of the gaseous product to the heating means, and recoving salable gas, oil and carbon products.

Abstract: Bulk materials containing volatile constituents are calcined in a two-stage process comprising a first heating stage at de-volatilizing temperature but below calcining temperature during which the material is turned over and mixed to accelerate its bulk heating rate without substantially accelerating local heating rate. The first heating stage is followed by a second heating stage at calcining temperature. A rotary hearth furnace adapted for the above process is divided into outer and inner connecting annular heating zones and has rabble means for turning over and mixing the charge in the outer zone and rabble means for transporting the charge through both zones.

Abstract: A pyrolysis unit in which feed materials containing cellulose or oil are subjected to destructive heating to drive off gases and liquid vapors while leaving solid residue in the form of nearly pure carbon. The feed materials are conveyed in succession through horizontal reaction cylinders located at different elevations. Heat is applied by the burning of solid fuel in a firebox of the unit and also by injecting into each cylinder the process gas driven off in the immediately succeeding cylinder. A feeder which delivers both the fuel and feed materials includes drying zones in which combustion gases are directed through the fuel and feed materials to preheat and dry them and to filter the combustion gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for retorting particulate solid materials, particularly hydrocarbon-containing materials such as oil shale, oil sands, tar sands, coal shale, coal tailings, and the like, for the recovery of a volatile constituent such as oil or gas. A rotary retorting apparatus is employed which consists of a cylindrical drum, or other similar regularly shaped chamber, with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and having multiple compartments for retorting and combustion and, optionally, spent solids cooling. The apparatus further includes solids transport chutes for forward and backward circulation of solids, arranged for the intercompartmental transfer of solids with the capability of additions at one or more points in each compartment. Employing the method and apparatus, particulate solids feedstock is heated by recycled spent solids material to remove the volatile constituent of the feedstock in the retort section.

Abstract: Pyrolytic apparatus for recycling discarded rubber tires and the like that includes an auto clave shell that is closed at both ends to provide a closed vessel and has an interior refractory lining enclosing a reactor chamber and in conjunction with the vessel forms a gas-oil separation chamber surrounding the lining, heat exchangers within the lining, burners exterior of the vessel for conducting heat to the heat exchangers, a compressor for withdrawing pyrolytic gas given off by the pyrolytic decomposition of tires in the reactor chamber and conducting it to a recovered gas storage tank and a line for conducting oil given off by the decomposition of tires in the reactor chamber to an oil storage tank. The vessel walls are of a sufficiently lower temperature than that in the reactor chamber that the oil condenses on the vessel walls.

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 conduits 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 diffuse 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 and apparatus is provided for accomplishing thermal separation of various hydrocarbons and other compounds from coal, a hydrocarbon rendering module is provided for the continuous agitation and circulation of coal during the rendering period and utilizes thermal trays having stationary and revolving apparatus to improve heat transfer to coal particles and minimize rendering time. Portions of the rendered hydrocarbon products are recycled to the mechanism as an energy source for continuous operation.

Abstract: An oil shale retorting method and apparatus moves a bed of oil bearing shale particles along a generally horizontal path and passes through the bed at spaced points a plurality of discrete nonoxidizing gas streams heated to different oil educting temperatures to vaporize and educe different weight fractions of oil from the kerogen in the shale into the gas streams. Preferably the heated gas streams are also passed through the moving shale bed upstream from distillation of the volatile oil constituents to preheat the shale particles and condense the educted oils which become suspended as stable mists and are mechanically separated from the gas streams. Heat energy is preferably removed from the spent shale particles of the moving bed by burning them with combustion air downstream from the retorting sites, and such heat energy is transferred to the nonoxidizing streams to raise them to different oil educting temperatures before they are passed through the moving bed to educe oil from the shale particles.

Abstract: A gas generating system deriving useful BTU products from cellulosic waste material and comprising a conical shell to which the waste material is fed at the bottom and moved upwardly by an auger to permit the expanding walls of the cone to loosen the material by sintering action in the upper portion of the shell in a combustion zone located above the level of a row of air inlet ports substantially midway of the shell, the shell also having a gas accumulating chamber in the top thereof and a gas discharge device leading from the chamber to gas purifying and cooling mechanism including spray devices, a settling tank and liquid storage tank operating in a manner to re-use liquid incident to the operation of the spray devices. Operation of the controlled air delivery to the nozzles and cone also can be regulated to produce desirable amounts of charcoal and mechanism is included to remove the same from the cone.

Abstract: Pyrolysis reaction apparatus and method are described in which carbonizable waste material is fed into the pyrolysis reaction chamber by an inlet conduit which passes through the wall of a heating furnace surrounding such chamber. As a result, the material is immediately vaporized in the reaction chamber due to the high temperature at the inlet portion of the chamber where the material is introduced. A fluid cooling jacket surrounds the inlet conduit to maintain the temperature within such conduit below the melting temperature of the material being transmitted therethrough in order to prevent clogging of the conduit. The material is fed into the reaction chamber by the inlet conduit along an input feed direction which is laterally offset from the axis of the shaft of an impeller for conveying such material through such chamber and is preferably directed toward the tips of the impeller blades in order to prevent clogging of the impeller.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering volatile distillates from coal, and other solid carbonaceous fuel sources, by heating the top surface of a bilayer of coal formed of an upper layer of recycled coal and a lower layer of green coal, maintaining the lower level of green coal at a temperature cool enough to condense constituents distilled from the upper layer of recycle coal, and recycling the once passed green coal as recycle coal is disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the pyrolysis of coal or other hydrocarbon bearing materials in which the material is fed into the upper end of a rotating cylinder and is heated in a plurality of stages, the heated material passing from the cylinder into a char pit, and treating the resulting materials to separate them into fuels having different characteristics.One feature of the invention is the addition of CaO or NaHCO.sub.3 to the charged materials and addition of H.sub.2 O in the char pit to facilitate removal of sulfur.Another feature is the scraping and brushing of the inside surfaces of the rotary cylinder to clean the interior of the cylinder during the conduct of the process.

Abstract: A gas generating system utilizing cellulosic waste, such as sawdust and the like, of a low BTU rating, which is partially dried on the closed top of, and then fed to the bottom of a conical generator into which a limited air supply is delivered to the upper portion of the generator where a combustion zone occurs to sinter the material and form steam and wood gas (methane) which passes to and through a heat exchange coil in an after-cooler tank in which water is heated incident to cooling the gas which successively passes through several cyclone units which successively remove dust, ash, creosote and other condensates, a blower also being included to induce a low rate of suction in the system to insure movement of the gas through the system which finally preferably is passed through a scrubber to clean the gas product of any appreciable impurities and the scrubbing water is recirculated to absorb more impurities after being stratified to remove heavy condensates and other solids.

Abstract: A horizontal retorting apparatus and method designed to pyrolyze tar sands and oil shale, which are often found together in naturally occurring deposits. The retort is based on a horizontal retorting tube defining a horizontal retort zone having an upstream and a downstream end. Inlet means are provided for introducing the combined tar sands and oil shale into the upstream end of the retort. A screw conveyor horizontally conveys tar sands and oil shale from the upstream end of the retort zone to the downstream end of the retort zone while simultaneously mixing the tar sands and oil shale to insure full release of product gases. A firebox defining a heating zone surrounds the horizontal retort is provided for heating the tar sands and oil shale to pyrolysis temperatures. Spent shale and tar sands residue are passed horizontally beneath the retort tube with any carbonaceous residue thereon being combusted to provide a portion of the heat necessary for pyrolysis.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon containing oil shale is processed on the surface of a rabbled rotary hearth by mixing it with a heat exchange medium consisting of heated spent oil shale. Mixing is obtained by feeding the raw shale and the heated spent shale separately, but in proximity to one another, onto the surface of a hearth, and then subjecting both materials to rabbling action. This mixing causes heat from the heated spent shale heat exchange medium to be transferred to the fresh raw shale, which results in the removal of hydrocarbons from the raw shale. In one preferred embodiment, heated spent shale is obtained by removing spent shale from the hearth after processing, mixing it, preferably while it is still hot, with compatible combustible solids, and then introducing oxidizing gases into the mixture. This results in the burning of the combustible solids and any combustible materials remaining in the shale and the heating of the spent shale.

Abstract: A plant for continuously retorting oil products contained in shales and sands comprising a substantially horizontal retort furnace into which said shales and sands are introduced by means of hoppers and metering devices and placed on metal conveyors moving in counter-current to gases, means being provided for placing said shales and sands onto said conveyors with a suitable thickness and for stirring the shales and sands. One or more combustion chambers are arranged outside said retort furnace for producing hot gases, and one or more input zones are located along the retort furnace for admitting hot gases into the retort furnace, causing the hot gases to mix with circulating gases which have been preheated by removing sensible heat from the exhausted shale and sand material. A direct contact condenser at the furnace head utilizes cold fluid to condense distilled oil products, and a decantation tank is arranged beneath said condenser for freeing the process gases from the dust.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting the pyrolytic treatment of solid carbonizable materials, such as coal, shredded scrap-tires, comminuted municipal waste, sawdust and wood shavings, and the like. The treatment takes place in a cylindrical, horizontally-disposed reactor vessel including a material conveying device which transports the carbonizable materials through the vessel as a moving bed. A heating chamber is arranged coaxially around the reactor vessel and is configured as an annulus of substantially uniform inner diameter and of decreasing outer dimension from its forward end adjacent the materials outlet end of the reaction vessel, to its rearward end, adjacent the materials inlet end of such vessel. The material passing through the reaction vessel is subject to an indirect heat transfer relationship with a burning air-fuel mixture spirally swirling within the heating chamber and moving in a direction generally counter-current to the material passing through the reaction vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for incinerating and gasifying biomass material by employing a flight conveyor having an upper run traversing a horizontal, perforated upper grate and a lower run traversing a perforated lower grate which is parallel to and beneath the upper grate, the material being continuously deposited on the upper grate and urged continuously across it by the upper run in a bed wherein the material is pyrolyzed into char and combustible gas and then being deposited on the lower grate in a bed continuously urged by the lower run over a source of air beneath the lower grate so that the char is continuously oxidized by air from the source producing hot products which pass upwardly from the lower grate through the bed on the upper grate, filtering particulates from the products and providing heat for the pyrolysis, and then sequentially over a source of steam beneath the lower grate so that the char continuously reacts with steam from the source to generate water gas which is collected substantially unmixed with ot

Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering liquid and gaseous fuel from solid hydrocarbon-containing mineral material such as bitumen-containing mineral materials exemplified by tar sands or oil-bearing diatomites, without expensive pretreatment to separate the hydrocarbon containing material from material containing no hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon-containing material is agglomerated into discrete pieces that are treated on a traveling grate such as a circular traveling grate and subjected to sequential treatments in which hot gases are passed upwardly or downwardly through a relatively deep permeable bed of the pieces on the grate, in several treating zones separated by transverse gas seals and sealed at the side edges by suitable gas seals. All, or essentially all, of the heat required is obtained in a coke burn-off zone from combustion of coke that remains in the material on the grate after the volatile hydrocarbons have been removed by distillation in an earlier distillation zone.

Abstract: In the apparatus, concentric, radially spaced tubes are secured to each other and rotated about a common horizontal long axis. Selectively placed and configured lift elements repeatedly lift and drop feed material in the two tubes. Advance elements cause the feed material introduced into the feed end of the structure to advance through the inner tube where it is progressively heated, dehydrated and its hydrocarbon content is largely vaporized. The hydrocarbon vapors are removed from the opposite product end of the structure. The remaining solid material falls from the end of the inner tube into a combustion zone in the outer tube. Oxygen supplying means are provided for causing the carbon coatings on the particles in the combustion zone to burn to produce heat employed in the processing of the feed material. The solid particles in the outer tube are moved back toward the feed end by advancing elements.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing coal dust to a reaction chamber, especially in the process of producing low-sulfur coke dust and gas by gas extraction and partial gasification of coal dust in a reaction chamber for partially combusting coal dust. Coal dust and a first stream of combustion gas are combined and passed through a central conduit to a reaction chamber. A second stream of combustion gas can be selectively subjected to swirling motion and can be combined with the stream emanating from the central conduit. The degree of swirl of the first stream and the second stream of combustion gas is used to control distribution of the gas-solids mixture in the reaction chamber and to control the path of the gas-solids mixture leading into the wall of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A dry thermal processor for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand solids comprises concentric, radially spaced, horizontal inner and outer tubular members connected for rotation together. The inner member provides a substantially open preheat zone and vaporization zone while the outer member provides, in the annular space between the tubular members, a substantially open combustion zone and heat transfer zone. The ends of the outer member are sealed by stationary feed end and product end structures. Advance means move the oil sand solids from the feed end structure through the preheat and vaporization zones to the product end structure and back through the combustion and heat transfer zones. Rotation of the inner member causes size reduction of the oil sand feed in the preheat zone, and oversize is discharged directly into the annular space at the second end of the preheat zone.