Accessories And Details Patents (Class 202/270)
  • Publication number: 20150136581
    Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production, including control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A conversion process completion detection subsystem may be operative to issue notifications. An example biochar manufacturing system includes at least one of the controlled kilns (100), a feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030) for providing feedstock to kiln 100, a firing line (1040) for receiving the kiln containing feedstock, a tipping station (1050) for receiving biochar from the kiln, a biochar sizing station, and an automated handler (800) configured to move the kiln between the feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030), the firing line (1040) and the tipping station (1050).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: BIOCHAR NOW, LLC
    Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
  • Patent number: 9011646
    Abstract: Mechanical visbreaking and pyrolysis between counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers in a continuous radial counterflow process minimizes wastewater discharges. In one example, a cataclastic shear retort comminutes, shear thins, and shear heats an axial feed, such as tar sand, oil shale, coal tailings, distillation bottoms, or lignite. Pyrolyzing the feedstock in this shear retort yields a product stream of gases, naphthas, and oils which first mixes with the feedstock and then is axially extracted, while spent solids are simultaneously extruded from the periphery as coked devolatilized residue, such as char sand for upgrading soil to terra preta. Recirculation of shear-heated solids in long residence time within the shear retort brings heat from the spent solids at the periphery to the feedstock without an external heated sand loop. CO2 emissions from combustion to heat water for oil extraction are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: McCutchen Co.
    Inventors: Wilmot H. McCutchen, David J. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 8999117
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a system for separating a plurality of naphtha components. The system can include a column, an overhead condenser, and a side condenser. Generally, the column includes a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing at least one side stream. Typically, the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections. Typically, the overhead condenser receives an overhead stream including a light naphtha from the column. Usually, a side condenser receives a process stream from the column and returns the stream to the column to facilitate separation. A cooling stream may pass through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Xin X. Zhu, Jibreel A. Qafisheh
  • Patent number: 8999116
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a solid fuel which may be made by a method involving mixing porous coal with a mixed oil containing heavy oil and solvent oil to prepare a raw material slurry; heating the raw material slurry to promote dehydration of the porous coal while impregnating the mixed oil into pores of the porous coal to obtain a dehydrated slurry; separating the resulting upgraded porous coal and mixed oil from the dehydrated slurry; drying the separated upgraded porous coal with carrier gas, and subsequently condensing vaporized mixed oil in the carrier gas by cooling, while capturing the porous coal in the carrier gas by atomization of the condensed mixed oil, thereby recovering the mixed oil; and returning the mixed oil separated and recovered in the separating to the mixing, further involving supplying the mixed oil recovered in the final drying to the separating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Sugita, Tetsuya Deguchi, Takuo Shigehisa
  • Patent number: 8926791
    Abstract: A tank or bed has a plurality of sidewalls that create a bed cavity and a Fresnel panel frame that includes at least one Fresnel panel. The Fresnel panel frame may be adjacent to the bed cavity and may cover at least a portion of the bed cavity. An amount of sludge may be contained within the bed cavity. When placed in sunlight, the heat enhanced by the Fresnel panels may heat the sludge sufficiently for the sludge to be used as fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Hammond
  • Patent number: 8877015
    Abstract: A process and system is disclosed for optimizing a key parameter of a biomass feedstock that enhances bio-oil production. The process and system involves optimizing the values of the key parameter in multiple biomass feedstocks by regulating their feed rates and blending those feedstocks to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock with an optimal value for the key parameter. The key parameter in the biomass feedstocks is measured and the feed rates of the multiple biomass feedstocks are adjusted in order to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock exhibiting optimal values for the desired key parameter. The key parameters can include compositional properties, such as lignin content or mineral content, and/or fluidization properties of the biomass materials, such as density, particle cohesion force, or particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Patent number: 8821694
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Knoch, Franz-Josef Schuecker
  • Patent number: 8821693
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald Kim, Werner Hippe, Ulrich Kochanski
  • Patent number: 8668811
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and a method for producing a pyrolysis liquid, wherein the pyrolysis liquid is formed by means of pyrolysis from a raw material by forming, and a pyrolysis reactor, a gaseous pyrolysis product by pyrolysis and condensing it in a condenser into a pyrolysis liquid, and feeding circulation gas into the pyrolysis reactor. The circulation gas is conducted by a liquid ring compressor into the pyrolysis reactor and purified before being conducted into the pyrolysis reactor, and the pyrolysis liquid is used as the liquid layer in the liquid ring compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Metso Power Oy
    Inventors: Sampo Ratinen, Jani Lehto, Mikko Anttila, Tuomo Hilli, Kristin Onarheim, Ismo Hirvonen, Yrjo Solantausta, Markku Raiko
  • Patent number: 8574405
    Abstract: A system is described for processing biomass through a pyrolysis chamber that utilizes revolving polygon platforms, a conveyor system, and an airlock for introducing or removing biomass into the pyrolysis chamber. Biomass can be introduced via a first revolving polygon platform, and biochar resulting from pyrolysis can be removed via a second revolving polygon platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Cheiky, Richard J. Reis, Leo E. Manzer
  • Patent number: 8568568
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Schuecker, Peter Thomas
  • Patent number: 8506760
    Abstract: A coking plant first and second longitudinally extending rows of oven chambers all of generally the same width and generally the same longitudinal spacing and together defining a corridor into which the chambers all open. The first and second rows are longitudinally offset from each other by a predetermined distance that is greater than the oven-chamber width A device for servicing the oven chambers and movable longitudinally in the corridor between the two rows of oven chambers has first and second service machines transversely facing the respective first and second rows and operable to service the chambers thereof. A coupling of variable longitudinal length between the first and second machines operable can vary the longitudinal spacing between the two machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Schuecker
  • Patent number: 8486232
    Abstract: A cleaning device for the frame of a coke oven retort has a tool carrier positioned between anchor stands of the coke oven retort and exhibits cleaning apparatuses for the frame of the coke oven retort, sheet-shaped sealing elements being arranged on the tool carrier. The sealing elements are secured to the reverse side of the tool carrier, which side faces away from the coke oven retort. The sealing elements are orientated vertically and completely cover the height of the reverse side. The sealing elements consist of at least one central piece which is immovably fixed to the tool carrier and of side wings, the side wings being connected with the central piece in such a manner as to be rotationally moveable on vertical axes. The side wings are moveable in an adjusting movement in the direction of the coke oven retort against the front surfaces of the anchor stands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoch
  • Patent number: 8475626
    Abstract: An evaporator for evaporating a liquid containing fluid, having an inlet and an outlet connected to an evaporation volume with an internal structure, the inlet and the outlet defining a main flow path there between and the cross-section of the evaporation volume is substantially constant along the main flow path is described. A method method for evaporating a liquid containing fluid by providing an evaporator supplying a liquid containing feed stream to the inlet; exerting heat; choosing the operating conditions so that an annular flow is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Cornelius Maria Rops, Johannes Fransiscus Maria Velthuis, Frederik van der Graaf, Leon Ferdinand Gerard Geers
  • Patent number: 8470135
    Abstract: Accumulation of polymer on equipment, which is in contact with polymerizable material during normal process operation, is minimized by the method and apparatus of the present invention. The method involves positioning and affixing the equipment, such as a pressure relief device, to process apparatus, such as a distillation column, proximate to a wetted region formed by liquid phase fluid in the process apparatus, such that the moving liquid phase fluid is at least intermittently in contact with the equipment and one or more of accumulated polymerizable material, condensate including same, and polymer, is washed off of the equipment. The apparatus of the present invention is effective for maintaining the service-readiness of the equipment, which provides for safe long-term operation of the process apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: John O. Barnett, Michael Stanley DeCourcy, Michael W. Hurley
  • Patent number: 8192587
    Abstract: Systems for recycling waste plastic can include cartridges that are selectively sealable. Some cartridges can have elongated receptacles that improve heat transfer to plastic feedstock within the cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Agilyx Corporation
    Inventors: Craig W. Garrison, Kevin Clark DeWhitt, Lance Talley
  • Patent number: 8157968
    Abstract: An oven observing equipment capable of observing the inside of an oven turned to a high temperature precisely includes: a housing 13 having an intake part for cooling air, and a discharging part for discharging the cooling air after being used for cooling; and an imaging device 20 contained in this housing 13 near the discharge part. This imaging device 20 is composed of integrated combination of an image sensor 16; plate-like thermoelectric cooling elements 18a to 18d arranged in a state that their heat-absorbing faces surround the periphery of a body of the image sensor; thermoconductive blocks 17a to 17d embedded in the gaps between the image sensor body and the thermoelectric cooling elements 18a to 18d; and cooling fins 19a to 19d formed on the heat-radiating faces of the thermoelectric cooling elements 18a to 18d are integrated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kansai Coke and Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Sato, Hironobu Inamasu, Kiyoshi Nakata, Keiji Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8029649
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Flsmidth A/S
    Inventors: Norbert Fiedler, Wilfried Schwan
  • Patent number: 7951270
    Abstract: Recycling a metal/organic laminate continuously involves providing a reactor having a first chamber with a first rotary stirrer, a second chamber with a second rotary stirrer, each chamber containing particulate microwave absorbing material, introducing laminate and additional absorbing material into the first chamber under a reducing or inert atmosphere, stirring and applying microwave energy sufficiently to pyrolyze organic material, transferring a portion of the mixture to the second chamber where it is stirred and microwave energy applied to pyrolyze remaining organic material, delaminate or delaminated metal migrating toward and floating on the upper surface of the mixture, where the second stirrer rotates in a horizontal plane and fluidizes the mixture to give the upper surface of the mixture a radial profile biasing metal floating to migrate radially outwardly, and recovering metal from an exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Cambridge University Technical Services Limited
    Inventors: Carlos Ludlow-Palafox, Howard A. Chase
  • Patent number: 7871499
    Abstract: A retort oven for decomposition of waste materials through pyrolysis employing a deck with a variable angle of inclination for adjusting the retention time and processing rate of waste material flowing unassisted through the oven interior. The oven includes an outer shell lined with a refractory material and houses an inner oven chamber. The deck is adjustably hinge mounted to the inner chamber supporting sidewalls extending in a decline from a waste material entrance to a charred material exit. The deck is operated in a preferred angle range of inclination between 28°-50° from the oven floor normal. A controlled heat source is positioned within the oven to heat a first outer volume whose heated gases are transferred into a second inner volume of the inner chamber using an array of heat gun tubes heating the deck and material as it descends along the declined deck. The deck can be adjusted for varying the retention time of material within the oven for varied exposure to heat and charring efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Simeken, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Gehring, William Sweet
  • Publication number: 20100147673
    Abstract: An improved water desalination system is disclosed, in which contaminated water such as seawater or brackish water is preheated and fed into a primary pressure vessel through a distribution head. The seawater is distributed from the distribution head over a non-adherent surface such as a plurality of silicone chords hanging below a distribution tank or a cone- and cylindrical-shaped surface. The water is exposed to a high temperature steam environment in the chamber to cause at least a portion of the water in the contaminated water to evaporate, while the remaining concentrated salts from the contaminated water fall to the bottom of the chamber. A portion of the steam in the primary pressure vessel is withdrawn to be condensed into fresh water. The energy withdrawn with the steam extracted from the primary pressure vessel is made up by a supplemental energy apparatus, such as a steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Water Desalination International, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Passarelli
  • Patent number: 7625467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a support beam for use in an easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. The support beam supports or reinforces an internal provided in the easily polymerizeable substance treatment apparatus. The support beam has an internal mounting portion to which the internal is attached, and a folded-back portion, at least part of which, is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal direction when approaching an end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Ando, Hideyasu Takezawa, Yasuhiro Kabu
  • Patent number: 7547377
    Abstract: A coke-oven repairing apparatus comprising: a traveling carriage 3 which travels in the direction of coke oven battery with the carriage straddled on the rails placed on the top of a coke oven; a traversing carriage 4 provided on said traveling carriage 3, which moves in the direction orthogonal to the direction of coke oven battery; and a working device 5 for making repairs on the oven walls within the coke oven which is mounted on said traversing carriage 4, wherein the working device 5 includes: a guide post 31 which stands on the traversing carriage 4, and is also coupled, at its lower end portion, to a supporting portion provided on the traversing carriage through a pivot shaft 42; a lance 32 which ascends or descends along the guide post 31; and a derricking device 45 which tilts the guide post 31 between a forward-tilted posture and a backward-tilted posture using the pivot shaft 42 as the fulcrum to oscillate the lance 32 inserted in a coke-oven carbonizing chamber through a charging-hole, within
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Kansai Coke and Chemicals Co., Ltd., The
    Inventors: Hironobu Inamasu, Nobuki Takayama, Shunji Horinouchi, Hirofumi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7534327
    Abstract: A device for recovering drinking water from condensate includes a self-supporting moulded part 11 formed of a transparent synthetic resin such as PET or PC, which is resistant to UV radiation. The moulded part 11 presents an open bottom area 16 with a collecting channel 15 on the edge side, with the collecting channel 15 presenting an inner wall 18 oriented towards the circumferential surface 12 and serving, at the same time, as floating aid, and with the moulded part 11 being provided with a pouring opening in its upper section 13 . For the manufacture of this device, a vacuum is created in a special deep-drawing tool not only in the region of the circumferential surface to be produced but also in the region of the collecting channel to be formed, and the moulded part is separated from a separated deep-drawing tool element outside the zone of the collecting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventor: Stephan Augustin
  • Patent number: 7473337
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system that allows an operator to remotely switch between cutting and boring while removing solid carbonaceous residue from large cylindrical vessels called coke drums comprising a cutting head for ejecting high pressure fluids into the coke bed; a flow diversion apparatus; and a shifting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation
    Inventor: Ruben F. Lah
  • Patent number: 7459063
    Abstract: A coke drum bottom de-heading system having an internal shroud enclosure and a shroud end cap opened by a flange to a coke bottom de-heading valve capable of accepting the end of a gate valve upon actuation. Acting in coordination with the shroud enclosure to prevent the escape of steam is a gate seal assembly having a gate seal slidably engaged against the sliding gate to prevent the passage of steam thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation
    Inventors: Ruben F. Lah, Gary Larsen
  • Patent number: 7399384
    Abstract: A coke drum bottom de-heading system having an internal shroud enclosure and a shroud end cap opened by a flange to a coke bottom de-heading valve capable of accepting the end of a gate valve upon actuation. Acting in coordination with the shroud enclosure to prevent the escape of steam is a gate seal assembly having a gate seal slidably engaged against the sliding gate to prevent the passage of steam thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation
    Inventors: Ruben F. Lah, Gary Larsen
  • Patent number: 7341647
    Abstract: A coke oven door prevents the generation of poor-qualitycoke and yielding and adhesion of tar by promoting the temperature rise of coal particles charged near the coke oven door of a coke oven. The coke oven door comprises a heat-insulating box provided on the coke oven side of a oven door structure adapted to open and close an opening in the coke oven in which the coal particles are charged, horizontal support frames fitted in said heat-insulating box to vertically partition the heat-insulating box into multiple sections, and a bottom-less gas migration and isolation hollow plug formed by laterally and vertically putting together removable shield bars in spaces between said horizontal support frames with small ventilating spaces left on both sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Yamasaki Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kesao Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7264694
    Abstract: A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Oil-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron G. Merrell, Michael R. Keller, Roger K. Noble
  • Patent number: 7166197
    Abstract: A coke-oven door has an annular periphery normally juxtaposed with an annular door frame. A seal assembly for the door has at least two flexible, relatively displaceable, metallic, and annular membranes each having an annular inner periphery and an annular outer periphery and a U-section channel fixed to the outer periphery of only one of the membranes, open toward the door, and having annular inner and outer edges. The other membrane bears on the one membrane and therethrough on the channel. A mount secures the inner peripheries of the membranes to the periphery of the door. A spring urges the edges of the channel with a spring force against the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Josef Giertz, Klaus Dieter Ruthemann, Jürgen George, Franz Liesewitz, Horst Schröder, Friedrich Wilhelm Cyris
  • Patent number: 7108767
    Abstract: Useful byproducts are recovered through the pyrolytic processing of biomass material such as vegetation, paper, or worn tires. The process is conducted in a sealed enclosure under vacuum or other controlled atmosphere. The biomass material is ablated and burned by crunching between counter-rotating rollers whose inner walls have been exposed to a highly heated fluid. The biomass material is preheated by injecting into the feeding duct super-heated: dry steam. A condenser within the enclosure reduces resulting vapors into oils that can be drained from the enclosure pan. Solid combustion residue is abstracted from the enclosure by an Archimedes screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Vincent H. Noto
  • Patent number: 7097743
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a coke oven battery including many identical coking chambers, a raw gas receiver, and throttle devices arranged in the receiver for individually controlling the gas pressure in the chambers. Each throttle device includes an immersion bucket acted upon by water. Gas lines terminating in immersion pipes in the immersion buckets connect the chambers with the receiver. Throttle devices are employed that include an overflow that can be vertically adjusted by an actuating drive for controlling the liquid level in the immersion bucket. For a coking chamber to which a pressure control device is allotted, the setting signals for the actuating drive allocated to the time pressure curve in the process of carbonizing coal to coke are recorded as a position-time curve. The actuating drives of throttle devices that are allocated to coking chambers without pressure control devices are controlled according to the position-time curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Krebber, Helmut Dobert, Ralf Schumacher, Ulrich Kochanski
  • Patent number: 7094321
    Abstract: A device for controlling the gas pressure in a coke oven chamber, has an immersion cup, to which water is supplied, and with an immersion pipe which is connected to the gas space of the coke oven chamber and terminates in the, immersion cup. The immersion cup has an overflow and a closeable outflow. To control the liquid level, an outflow pipe for water is provided, the inflow-side end of which projects into the immersion pipe and contains casing-side inflow orifices for the inflow of water. Within the outflow pipe is arranged a slide which is open on both end faces and which closes the inflow orifices of the outflow pipe in the longitudinal direction according to the position of said slide and forms a vertically adjustable overflow for the water flowing into the outflow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Krebber, Manfred Stier, Helmut Dobert
  • Patent number: 7077618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for lilting and removing oven doors of a coking oven that is comprised of a door removing head (1), which can be coupled to vertically extending oven doors of a horizontal chamber coking oven, of a drive device (3) for effecting adjusting movements of the door removing head (1), and of a suction hood, which can be displaced along the horizontal chamber coking oven above the oven door. According to the invention, sealing elements (5) are connected to the door removing head (1) and, on both sides of an oven door (2) to be opened, can be displaced against front contact surfaces (6) of the horizontal chamber coking oven. Said sealing elements extend essentially over the entire height of the oven door (2) and into the suction area (4) of the suction hood, and they form a suction chamber (8) for door emissions when the oven door (2) is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoch
  • Patent number: 7037408
    Abstract: A safe, efficient and repetitively operable coke vessel decoking system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the closed system comprises a coker vessel pressure-tightly sealed to a top head system, which includes a closure housing with a laterally moveable horizontal closure member therein and a cutting head enclosure, which further comprises a drill stem guide, an access door, and a cutting assembly mounted therein. A novel feature of the invention is a steam purge/blocking system whereby steam pressure is maintained in the closure housing during the coking cycle to maintain seal integrity. Personnel safety during decoking operations is greatly enhanced by eliminating dangerous manual tasks associated with the prior art such as unbolting and removing top head devices. The system can be remotely and repetitively operated through numerous coking/decoking cycles without removal of any system element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dale W. Wilborn, Christopher I. Fitzgerald, Ronald R. DiPadua, Gary D. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7037409
    Abstract: A method and a device for the hot-repairing of the heating flues of a coke-oven battery according to which the completed sections of a heating flue still under construction are heated by means of a heated gas. The heated gas comprises the air usually provided for combustion in the heating flues during coking operations. The air is guided through the flow paths provided for in the coke-oven battery for combustion air and waste gases as well as through the regenerator, heated as it passes through the flow paths and then guided through the heating flues to be repaired. The completed section of the heating flue is separated from the non-completed portion by an air-reversion device that also directs the heated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Thyssen Krupp Encoke GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Hippe, Hans-Juergen Fischer
  • Patent number: 7033460
    Abstract: A coke drum bottom de-heading system having an internal shroud enclosure and a shroud end cap opened by a flange to a coke bottom de-heading valve capable of accepting the end of a gate valve upon actuation. Acting in coordination with the shroud enclosure to prevent the escape of steam is a gate seal assembly having a gate seal slidably engaged against the sliding gate to prevent the passage of steam thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corportaion
    Inventors: Ruben F. Lah, Gary Larsen
  • Patent number: 6958111
    Abstract: In a dividing wall column comprising as segments a) an upper column region (6), b) an inflow section (7), c) an offtake section (8) and d) a lower column region (9), the inflow section b) (7) and the offtake section c) (8) are separated from one another laterally by a dividing wall (10) fixed in the column and the dividing wall (10) is located between the upper column region a) (6) and the lower column region d) (9). The present invention provides for the dividing wall (10) to be constructed at least partly of an elastic material, the dividing wall (10) to have a slightly overdimensional width and the dividing wall (10) to be fixed in the column by the dividing wall exercising an elastic recovery force on the interior wall of the column. The dividing wall can easily be installed in, in particular, relatively small columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Rust, Gerd Kaibel
  • Patent number: 6929719
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: DMT Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Josef Giertz, Jürgen George, Klaus-Dieter Ruthemann
  • Patent number: 6926807
    Abstract: An insulated transition spool apparatus for mounting unheading devices to pressure vessels, such as coker vessels, and enabling repetitive operation thereof is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing, an inner housing that encloses an insulating space between the inner and outer housing, a side feed entry aperture in each housing and a spool adapter flange to facilitate attachment of the spool to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Bosi, David W. Reeves
  • Patent number: 6916406
    Abstract: A coke oven door comprises a generally rectangular outer frame, a generally rectangular inner frame positioned within the outer frame and a seal operably mounted to the inner frame and adapted for effecting sealing against a jamb of a coke oven. The outer frame is adapted for moving the seal toward the jamb and the outer and inner frames are pivotally connected so as to be able to pivot relative to one another about a longitudinal pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Saturn Machine & Welding Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Billy Carr Baird
  • Publication number: 20040238342
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable lock ring and a lock arm that prevents inadvertent movement of the lock ring. Contemplated configurations are especially useful in delayed coking vessels to prevent opening of the vessel while the vessel is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: John W. Oder, Leslie P. Antalffy, Michael B. Knowles, Samuel A. Martin, George T. West
  • Patent number: 6770173
    Abstract: Partitions for columns for the separation of components or chemical reactions are assembled from plates or wall elements provided with plug and clamp connectors along respective edges and formed by strips so that the partitions can be easily and safely assembled and disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Julius Montz GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Jansen, Jochen Leben, Thomas Rietfort, Egon Zich
  • Patent number: 6733635
    Abstract: A coke oven buckstay moving device and method which can be used to quickly, reliably, and smoothly repair buckstays compared to conventional methods and devices. The coke oven buckstay moving means includes a main car, a subcar, a frame, and securing means. The main car is used when repairing pillered buckstays that support oven walls of the coke oven, and moves on a coke side platform or a machine side platform. The subcar is placed on the main car, and can freely move forward and backward in a direction of a lengthwise direction of the coke oven. The frame is provided in a standing manner on the subcar. The securing members are mounted to the frame and are used to grasp and secure the buckstays. According to the method, a damaged portion of the buckstay is secured to the subcar, cut, and then removed. Reversing the steps, a replacement buckstay is secured to the subcar, moved into position, and welded into place. The subcar is detached, and the oven repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozawa, Nozomu Tamura, Tetsuro Uchida, Nobuya Kamide
  • Patent number: 6629687
    Abstract: A vapor-liquid contact tray is provided with a quick opening manway. The manway includes an opening formed in the tray and an overlying cover formed by a pair of panels joined together by a center hinged connection. The cover panels of the manway have upturned flanges formed along the lateral margins of the cover. The flanges are removably received within inverted U-shaped brackets that are positioned along the lateral margins of the tray adjacent the manway opening. When the cover is closed, the flanges are received tightly within the associated brackets to secure the lateral margins of the cover to the tray. The cover can be opened by lifting one or both cover panels to cause them to fold together about the center hinge. As the cover panels are lifted, the flanges tilt within the brackets and are released from engagement therewith. The end margins of the cover panels are secured to the adjacent portions of the tray by conventional manway clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Koch-Glitsch, LP
    Inventor: Gary W. Gage
  • Patent number: 6589395
    Abstract: The distillation plant comprises a column (1) and a heat pump (4, 5) which operates between a sump vaporizer (3) and an exhaust vapor compressor (2) of the column. The heat pump is substitutable by devices (6, 7) which can be switched to the sump vaporizer and the exhaust vapor compressor when required. These substituting devices comprise devices (6 and 7 respectively) for the production of vapor or the provision of a coolant respectively as well as connection means (63, 63′, 72, 72′). The coolants can be liquids (water) or gases (air).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventor: Albert Meili
  • Publication number: 20020170813
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reclaiming deicer from produced water of an oil or gas well includes a fractionation tower having a top condenser section, a bottom heat exchanger section and an intermediate packing section. A deicer outlet is positioned in the condenser section, for removal of condensed deicer. An inlet is provided to receive produced water contaminated by deicer. The inlet is coupled to the condenser section such that produced water must pass through the condenser to enter the inlet. A water outlet is provided in the heat exchanger section. Operation of the water outlet is controlled to maintain a predetermined level of accumulated water in the heat exchanger section. The heat exchanger is adapted to be coupled with a source of hot fluids produced by an external heat source. The circulation of hot fluids through the heat exchanger heats accumulated water in the heat exchanger section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin Melvin Kjelland
  • Patent number: 6395139
    Abstract: There is provided a feed distributor for feeding liquid to a liquid distributor. The feed distributor has an elongated body sized to extend across the liquid distributor and an inlet defined in the one of the ends thereof. One or more passageways are provided within the body extending between the ends of the body. Each passageway has an elongated outlet configured to discharge the liquid across the liquid distributor. Each passageway has a taper configured to promote a constant liquid velocity within the passageway. As a result, a uniform liquid distribution of the liquid out of the elongated outlet and therefore to the liquid distributor are promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Potthoff
  • Patent number: 6059932
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Pennsylvania Coke Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond M. Sturgulewski
  • Patent number: 5925222
    Abstract: The invention concerns a leveler bar for coke ovens for levelling the coke debris cone forming below the filling holes in the furnace chamber during the filling process. The leveler bar comprises interconnected support elements which extend over the entire length of the oven chamber and are disposed parallel to one another at a distance dependent on the width of the oven chamber. According to the invention, the leveler bar comprises at least three support elements which are arranged parallel to one another, extend over the entire length of the oven chamber and are disposed relative to one another such that the leveler bar has a triangular cross-section. The two lower support elements are disposed at the same level and the upper support element is arranged centrally thereabove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Thyssen Still Otto Anlagentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Dudler