Abstract: Disclosed is a method of retorting an oil sands or oil scale material to recover the hydrocarbon values therein in the form of crude oil products. Dried crushed material is directed to a retort unit in which the material is heated in the present of a catalyst to generate a gas byproduct containing the desired hydrocarbon values and a solid byproduct containing carbon. The gas byproduct is treated in a condenser to cool the gas to recover desired crude oil products. The solids byproduct is calcined in a heated gas after which the calcined solids byproduct is separated from the heated gas.

Abstract: A vertically situated incinerator for receiving heated kiln off gases from a petroleum coke calcining process and incinerating volatile matter and carbon fines entrained in the gases. The incinerator also functions as a hot stack through which the gases are vented to atmosphere at times when any downstream equipment for receiving the gases are off line.

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material using hot kiln gases to preheat the particular material. The apparatus has a means to cool the hot kiln gases prior to the gases being exhausted from the preheating apparatus.

Abstract: In a process for the hydration of a material containing CaO, the material is contacted with water near the bottom of a vertical gas suspension column to thereby at least partially hydrate the material. The material is thereafter transported upward through and out of the vertical gas suspension column in an entraining gas that enters the vertical gas suspension column near its bottom.

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material comprises a containment vessel, a floor ending in a central material discharge section, and a vertically oriented outer annular preheating section which circles the center section, with said annular preheating section having an outer wall and an inner wall having a lower side that is spaced above the floor to form an arch. A ram-type plunger feeder moves reciprocally from a first retracted position located closer to the outer wall to a second extended position located between the first retracted position and the material outlet of the chamber for contacting particulate material with said pusher face and moving particulate material under the arch and toward the material outlet.

Abstract: Dried copper concentrate is introduced to a smelter/converter that utilizes oxygen enrichment in the smelter/convert process. The copper concentrate was previously dried in a gas suspension or fluid bed dryer by contact with nitrogen gas that was a byproduct from the oxygen plants utilized to support the smelter.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating particulate material in which the particulate material is transferred from one or more upper storage bins to a circular lower chamber that has an outer, essentially annular, portion which serves as a gas flow passage. The particulate material is directed from the feed bin or bins into a plurality of essentially vertical cylindrical feed cassettes via intermediate feed ducts. The lower chamber has a flat roof which is in contact with the bottom portion of the vertical feed cassettes. The vertical feed cassettes are approximately evenly spaced on top of the outer perimeter of the flat roof. The particulate material is preheated in the annular flow passage by hot kiln gases flowing in countercurrent heat exchange relationship with the particulate material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention a lime sludge feed is entrained in and thereafter dried in a gas flash dryer means to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is fed to a rotary kiln in which the dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime. In order to maintain the flow of gas in the flash dryer means at a predetermined velocity in order to entrain all the lime sludge feed in the gas flow, an adjustable portion of the separated gases are recycled through the flash dryer means.