Abstract: An apparatus and method for decontaminating petroleum contaminated soil and the like, and which comprises a rotary drum dryer which is adapted to convey the soil therethrough, and which includes a burner at one end for generating a heated gas stream which passes through the dryer to heat the soil to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the contaminates. A fixed enclosure is mounted to surround the discharge end of the dryer and the enclosure receives the heated soil as it is discharged from the dryer. Any entrained dust particles which are withdrawn with the exhaust gas stream from the dryer, and which may remain contaminated, are separated from the gas stream and returned to the enclosure. In the enclosure, the returned dust is mixed with the heated soil so as to cause the dust to be heated and to release its volatile contaminates, without risk of the returned dust being again entrained in the gas stream flowing through the dryer.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to heat and dry stone aggregate useful in the production of asphalt paving, and which also has the ability to incinerate contaminated soil. The apparatus comprises a rotary drum for heating and drying the stone aggregate, and a separate rotary incinerator for incinerating the soil. The incinerator includes an outlet housing for withdrawing the incinerated soil and selectively conveying the soil so as to be mixed with the heated and dried aggregate, or delivered to a separate location. Further, the incinerator has an exhaust duct for conveying the gaseous products of combustion from the incinerator into the rotary drum, so that any volatile hydrocarbons contained in the gaseous products of combustion from the incinerator are effectively incinerated before being discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Cooling assemblies of the cooling apparatus each include an air atomizing spray nozzle located within a heated cooling chamber. An outer conduit interconnects the spray nozzle of each assembly and a source of cooling water. An inner conduit within the outer conduit interconnects the spray nozzle and a source of compressed air. Water passing through the outer conduit cools both it and the inner conduit. The outer conduit includes a flexible section that interconnects rigid sections and allows the latter to freely undergo differential expansive and contractive movement. Generally conical spray patterns produced by the spray nozzles form a circular array within the cooling chamber. Adjacent ones of the spray patterns abut each other and another nozzle spray pattern produced by a spray nozzle located generally centrally of the array and of the cooling chamber.