Abstract: This invention is a continuous process combining water evaporation and solvent extraction of contaminated water-wet soil, sediment or sludge, including specifically, but not exclusively Petroleum Refinery "K" and "F" wastes as defined by the U.S.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids are disclosed. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by means of a plurality of mechanical vapor recompression evaporators operating in staged array whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Residual fluidizing oil may be removed from the solids by direct contact with a hot blowing gas such as blowing steam. The invention is characterized by the conservation of energy through the use of heat exchangers whereby condensate gives up its heat to the feed.

Abstract: An evaporator having a vertically mounted elongated tubular chamber, a pair of upper and lower tube sheets mounted near the ends of said tubular chamber, each tube sheet having a plurality of openings therein with a plurality of vertical evaporator tubes mounted between the pair of tube sheets, tangentially mounted inlet tubes between the upper tube sheet and a top cover for the tubular chamber, and an inverted cone mounted as a filler piece on the underside of the top cover and having its apex just slightly spaced from the upper tube sheet and its circumferential edge substantially spaced therefrom for effecting a uniform and even flow and distribution to the evaporator tubes of a liquid/solid mixture inputted into the tangential inlet tubes. The elongated tubular chamber is also provided with lateral inlet and outlet openings for inputting/outputting heated and subsequently cooled fluid to flow externally past the evaporator tubes.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for drying aqueous solids by evaporation using a fluidizing oil and a surfactant wherein the fluidizing oil and surfactant are recovered and recycled separately or together. The aqueous solids may, or may not, have a heavy, natural oil associated with them.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for drying aqueous solids by evaporation using a fluidizing oil and a surfactant wherein the fluidizing oil and surfactant are recovered and recycled separately or together. The aqueous solids may, or may not, have a heavy, natural oil associated with them.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in an apparatus where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil in a fluidizing tank to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids in a liquid-solid separating means. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact in a deoiler apparatus with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in a process where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas." The hot, inert blowing gas effects the removal of the residual light oil from the solids.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Those solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with steam, referred to herein as "blowing steam". The presence of the blowing steam reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Effluent blowing steam and light oil vapor removed from the solids may be used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Those solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with steam, referred to herein as "blowing steam". The presence of the blowing steam reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Effluent blowing steam and light oil vapor removed from the solids may be used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for dehydrating waste solids concentrates including secondary and digested sewage sludges and those concentrates prone to form emulsions upon the addition of oil are obtained and accomplished by mixing the sludge or other concentrate with fluidizing oil prior to dehydration by heat evaporation to maintain pumpability; recycling a portion of the substantially anhydrous waste solids and oil evaporator output slurry, and admixing it with the fluidizing oil and input sludge or concentrate to regulate the solids content and viscosity of the steady state feed mixture and thereby prevent fouling of the evaporator heat transfer surfaces and convert emulsions to suspensions.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Those solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with steam, referred to herein as "blowing steam". The presence of the blowing steam reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Effluent blowing steam and light oil vapor removed from the solids may be used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Apparatus and a proccess for the thermal decomposition of organic material is disclosed wherein the waste solids concentrates are first mixed in a fluidizing tank with a fluidizing oil to form an appropriate mixture which is then dehydrated to remove water from the waste and oil mixture. Subsequently, the waste solids and oil are separated. The resultant dehydrated, substantially oil free organic waste material is then pyrolized within a temperature range of approximately 700.degree. F. to 1800.degree. F. by which lower molecular weight organic compounds are distilled off as organic vapors and gases while a residue of char and ash remain.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water from aqueous wastes by evaporation while avoiding scaling and fouling as well as corrosion of the evaporator tubes. Addition of an oil, preferably a volatile oil, to the aqueous waste feed results in the formation of a coating of said oil on the surfaces of the tubes, thereby preventing corrosion and fouling and build-up of scale deposits. Volatile oil that distills over is separated from the aqueous distillate by conventional means and may be recirculated.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering residual oil from solids previously substantially dehydrated by a process wherein a slurry of water-wet solids in oil is subjected to a heat evaporation step to substantially remove the water. The oil is then largely expressed from the solids after which the solids still containing some oil as residual oil are extracted with a relatively low viscosity and relatively volatile water-immiscible light oil. The light oil-laden solids are then brought into direct contact with steam whereby the presence of the steam effectively reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Excess externally supplied steam and light oil vapor are used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water from aqueous wastes by evaporation while avoiding scaling and fouling as well as corrosion of the evaporator tubes. Addition of an oil, preferably a volatile oil, to the aqueous waste feed results in the formation of a coating of said oil on the surfaces of the tubes, thereby preventing corrosion and fouling and build-up of scale deposits. Volatile oil that distills over is separated from the aqueous distillate by conventional means and may be recirculated.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for dehydrating waste solids concentrates including secondary and digested sewage sludges and those concentrates prone to form emulsions upon the addition of oil are obtained and accomplished by mixing the sludge or other concentrate with fluidizing oil prior to dehydration by heat evaporation to maintain pumpability; recycling a portion of the substantially anhydrous waste solids and oil evaporator output slurry, and admixing it with the fluidizing oil and input sludge or concentrate to regulate the solids content and viscosity of the steady state feed mixture and thereby prevent fouling of the evaporator heat transfer surfaces and convert emulsions to suspensions.