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

Abstract: Coal is processed sequentially over a range of temperatures up to a maximum of 750.degree. F. and preferably considerably less to obtain a clean burning coke, refinable petroleum and bitumen products, fertilizer minerals, combustible gases and water; the process is capable of producing a highly porous, easily crushed coke substantially free of pollutants and almost entirely depleted of oil so that it is hygroscopic and easily transformed to a pipeline slurry. The process is not one of destructive distillation but neither is atmospheric air employed as a combustion oxidant or reactant in the system; the process is preferably conducted under reflux conditions in a closed vessel and in such a way that the heat input is complemental substantially to the thermo-absorption spectrum of the coal.

Abstract: A coke oven door is equipped with a metallic sealing strip extending therearound and providing a tight seal for the coke oven. The sealing strip is a compound structure of thin layers or laminations of corrosion-resistant, preferably 0.5 mm thick sheet material. The individual layers are welded to one another at their edges, and, especially if the sealing strip is designed as a sectional diaphragm, a knife-edged sealing blade is provided on the free side of the sealing strip, which blade is pressed into tight contact with the door frame by means of thrust plungers, for example. Due to its laminated structure, the sealing strip is capable of taking up hammering without becoming permanently deformed.

Abstract: Cooling of a gas-permeable loose material having highly temperature-dependent coefficient of thermal conductivity is performed in a shaft-shaped chamber with use of a gaseous cooling medium so that the loose material is fed from above downwardly in a counter stream against a stream of the gaseous medium supplied from below upwardly. The stream of the gaseous medium is subdivided into two partial streams, and one of the partial streams is supplied into the lower part of the chamber, whereas the other of the partial streams is supplied into a region in which the loose material has at least a temperature above which the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the loose material in dependence upon the temperature greatly increases.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting a liquid reaction solution with a gas in separate reaction chambers within a single reaction vessel wherein the liquid reaction solution is continuously circulated between a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber within the reaction vessel but providing at least two side-by-side reaction chambers in open flow communication at their upper and lower ends with a gas supply means associated with each said chamber for introducing a gas in a finely divided form into the lower ends of each said chamber, and said gas supply means including flow control means whereby the rate of upward flow of gas in one of the chambers is greater than the rate of upward flow of gas in the other chamber so as to lower the density of the liquid reaction solution in the one chamber and provide continuous upward flow of liquid reaction solution and gas in the one chamber and downward flow of liquid reaction solution countercurrent to the flow of gas in the other chamber.

Abstract: The purification of N-substituted aminobenzaldehydes, such as p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, is facilitated via the use of stripping agents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for narrowing the distribution of residence times of any size particle and equalizing the residence times of large and small particles in fluidized beds. Particles are moved up one fluidized column and down a second fluidized column with the relative heights selected to equalize residence times of large and small particles. Additional pairs of columns are staged to narrow the distribution of residence times and provide complete processing of the material.

Abstract: Stack gases containing sulfur dioxide and other pollutant gases and particulate matter are passed through a horizontally extending chamber wherein the stack gases are sprayed by a liquid reagent. The liquid spray droplets move across the cross-sectional flow area of the stack gases and scrub the stack gases thereby removing a substantial portion of the pollutant gases and particulate matter therefrom. The resultant liquid slurry which might otherwise collect in the chamber is washed therefrom by the spray and drains downwardly from the chamber for discharge thereby preventing plugging of the chamber.

Abstract: A liquid chemical reactant is slowly sucked through capillary tubing into a closed partially evacuated reactor containing a second reactant, thus producing a gas, which is collected and dispensed by a vacuum pump. Simultaneously a small amount of air may be admitted into the reactor to displace the gas formed. Preferably the air enters through the reacting solution, cooling it and stirring it. The liquid reactant preferably is introduced in the immediate vicinity of the air entry. The liquid reactant stops flowing when the vacuum disappears and the reaction stops. The reaction may be automatically controlled by controlling the vacuum by means of a timed valve that bleeds air into the system.

Abstract: A method for continuously controlling the formation of crystal fines in a continuous crystallizing process in which product crystals are produced in a crystallizing zone from crystallizable material in a mother liquor, and in which product crystals are thereafter recovered. The invention is practiced by adding a flocculant, specific to the crystallizable material, to the mother liquor at a rate effective to cause flocculation of particles of crystallizable material in the mother liquor. One embodiment of the invention is practiced in a process for producing sodium bicarbonate crystals by adding anionic polyacrylate and/or polyacrylamide polymers to a sodium carbonate-containing feed brine received in a carbonator.

Abstract: Carbonaceous raw material, such as lignite coal, having first been passed successively through a moving grate stoker furnace, a shaft furnace and a quench chamber is screened so as to remove from the end product substantially all +12 mesh and larger particles which are then crushed to -12 mesh screen size and recirculated into the stream of raw material enroute through the moving grate stoker.

Abstract: A coke oven charging hole cover which includes a cylindrical wall section and a lower horizontal layer of a cast-in-place castable refractory material which is relatively dense and which contains a random dispersion of fine stainless steel fibers or similar fibers. A layer of an insulating material such as insulation board or a lightweight castable insulating refractory material is superimposed over the dense refractory material to enhance the overall insulating effect while avoiding damage due to carbon impregnation. A means for holding the refractory in the wall section such as a wire mesh which is fixed to the wall section and cast into the lower layer of the refractory is also provided.

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: Materials which become carbonized at high temperatures, such as wood, cellulose, household refuse, used tires, plastics, tar sand, oil shale, and the like, are subjected to thermal treatment, i.e., pyrolysis or gasification, in an electric shaft furnace having top and bottom electrodes. The material is charged into the furnace at the top and continuously moved downward through the furnace so slowly that as a result of heat transfer from the hotter parts of the furnace, it is carbonized to an extent which renders it electrically conductive by the time it comes in contact with those parts of the electrodes by means of which electric current is conducted through the material. The material charged at the top of the furnace can be caused to move downward by withdrawing suitable amounts of solid material from the bottom of the furnace, for example, or by gasifying the material with steam.

Abstract: In a coking process, coal to be coked is preheated in a cascaded whirling bed drier into which the coal is charged from above and exposed to an indirect heat transfer while whirling in a coal-stream mixture. Hot gas applied to the heating pipes in respective cascades of the drier is branched off from the total amount of hot gases discharged from a dry cooler in which hot coke from the coke oven is cooled by recirculating cooler gas constituted by a partial gas stream discharged from the cascades of the drier and reunited with the other partial stream subject to a heat exchange for generating steam. Steam from the whirling beds is discharged from the cascaded drier, separated from the entrained dust particles, and then the excessive steam is drained in a branch conduit and the remaining steam is compressed and reintroduced into the lowermost whirling bed in the drier.

Abstract: Green petroleum coke is partly devolatilized by transporting horizontally in static bed form through a furnace over a series of air box zones including a minority of zones adjacent the input end of the furnace and a majority remote from the input end and further devolatilized by soaking in a shaft furnace until at least most of the residual volatiles are driven off. From the shaft furnace the devolatilized coke is water quenched and steam produced in the quencher is mixed with downdrafted gases from said furnace to cool the same and prevent premature combustion.

Abstract: A container for transporting hot coke has a cylindrical portion and a narrowing conical portion downwardly extended therefrom. A rotation ring carrying grippers is positioned in the upper region of the container, which is operated during the filling of the container with coke.

Abstract: Moist bulk coal is supplied into a fluidized bed drier into which is introduced a first heat carrier gas to thereby dry the moist coal to form dried coal. The dried coal is discharged from the drier and is transferred to a generally horizontal bulk material conveyor. A second heat carrier gas is injected through the bottom of the bulk material conveyor, thereby transporting the coal generally horizontally and preheating the coal to form preheated coal. The preheated coal is then discharged from the bulk material conveyor and is filled into a selected charging opening of a coke oven battery.

Abstract: Devolatilizable fine-grained material which contains hydrocarbons is devolatilized by means of fine-grained solids which have been heated to temperatures of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The devolatilizable fine-grained material is mixed with the heated solids and is thus heated to temperatures of about 400.degree. to 900.degree. C. The mixture is passed through a dwell zone, and gaseous and vaporous devolatilization products are withdrawn and cooled. The heated solids are fed to the dwell zone as a loosened stream in a trickling and/or agitated state of motion, and the devolatilizable fine-grained material is introduced into said stream in order to be admixed thereto. The heated solids and the devolatilizable fine-grained material can be mixed in a weight ratio of 3:1 to 12:1. The stream of trickling heated soids can be deflected at least in part.

Abstract: A process and system for continuously pyrolyzing organic feedstock produces a solid carbonaceous residue of controlled volatility, in a manner that is highly energy efficient. The value of the gaseous product and of the pyrolytic oil produced are also optimized.