Abstract: As hot oil depleted shale from an indirect retorting process passes downward through a vertical shaft furnace, the residual carbon in the shale is burned out in the upper portion by air fed into the top of the furnace. The temperature of combustion is moderated by an inert gas also fed into the top of the furnace. Additional inert gas fed into the bottom of the furnace flows upward in countercurrent contact with the descending hot shale to cool the shale and heat the inert gas. The downwardly flowing gases from the upper, combustion portion of the furnace and the upwardly flowing gas from the lower, cooling portion are withdrawn from the furnace intermediate the upper and lower portions. The inert gas can be recycle gas which is heated by direct contact with the hot shale, a separate inert gas which is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the recycle gas or a combination of the two.

Abstract: Hot oil depleted shale from an indirect oil shale retorting process is charged into the top of a vertical shaft furnace together with sufficient oxygen to combust the residual carbon in the shale. Recycle process gas is fed into the bottom of the furnace for direct heating by the spent shale. The heated recycle process gas and combustion gases are withdrawn from the furnace separately to minimize dilution of the high BTU process gas. A selected quantity of coarse, cooled spent shale discharged from the bottom of the furnace is recycled to the top to moderate the temperature of combustion.

Abstract: Recycle gas for the indirect retorting of oil shale, is heated after the oil has been recovered from the gas, utilizing the residual carbon in hot oil depleted shale. The hot oil depleted shale is charged into a vertical shaft furnace where it is combusted by the introduction of air into the upper portion of the furnace. The heat so generated is recovered from the lower part of the furnace for heating the recycle gas and cooling the spent shale. A portion of the coarse fraction of the cooled spent shale discharged from the bottom of the furnace is recycled to the top to regulate the temperature of combustion. The recycle gas may be heated directly by countercurrent contact with the hot, spent shale in the lower portion of the furnace or indirectly in a heat exchanger by an inert gas which is circulated through the lower portion of the furnace.

Abstract: A burner for the flash oxidation of particles of metal concentrates has three downwardly directed, concentrically mounted tubes each having a venturi nozzle on the discharge end thereof. Finely divided metal concentrates introduced into the annular space between the inner tube and the intermediate tube are accelerated by high pressure oxygen introduced through the inner tube to substantially the velocity of an oxidizing gas introduced into the annular space between the intermediate tube and the outer tube. Means are provided for adjusting the extent that the nozzles on the ends of the inner tube and intermediate tube extend into the nozzles on the ends of the intermediate and outer tubes respectively.

Abstract: A burner for the flash oxidation of particles of metal concentrates has three downwardly directed, concentrically mounted tubes each having a venturi nozzle on the discharge end thereof. Finely divided metal concentrates introduced into the annular space between the inner tube and the intermediate tube are accelerated by high pressure oxygen introduced through the inner tube to substantially the velocity of an oxidizing gas introduced into the annular space between the intermediate tube and the outer tube. Means are provided for adjusting the extent that the nozzles on the ends of the inner tube and intermediate tube extend into the nozzles on the ends of the intermediate and outer tubes respectively.

Abstract: A continuous, autogenous process for conversion of nonferrous metal sulfide concentrates to remove metal therefrom wherein oxygen-containing gas is fed to a molten concentrate charge, through fluid shielded nozzles of a substantially horizontal converter, wherein sulfur trioxide is fed along with the oxygen-containing gas, with the sulfur trioxide converted to sulfur dioxide within the converter to absorb heat from the charge and assist in control of the temperature thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering lead from worn out electric storage batteries in which finely divided dried battery mud is injected into a stream of air through the veni contracta of a venturi in an air conduit. A reducing gas and oxygen are successively introduced into the stream through apertures in the walls of the conduit communicating with annular chambers in fuel and oxygen manifolds surrounding the conduit in sufficient quantities to maintain a stable reducing flame. The droplets of metallic lead and slag which fall from the reducing flame are collected in a refractory lined chamber and separated in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Finely divided particulate material is discharged against the incandescent wall of a rotary furnace through a pipe extending into the open end of the furnace in a position where the material is out of the path of the flame projected into the furnace through the open end and out of the path of the out-flowing gases. The material is retained against the interior wall of the furnace by centrifugal force and, as the material melts, it collects in a pool at the inner end of the furnace. The entrainment of fine particles and their subsequent removal with the exhaust furnace gases is thereby substantially reduced, if not entirely eliminated.

Abstract: Non-ferrous metal sulfides are converted to recover metals therefrom in a high speed rotary converter, wherein an oxygen-containing gas is used for said conversion, with sulfur trioxide added to the converter along with the oxygen-containing gas to assist in control of temperatures of the charge during conversion, the sulfur trioxide being reduced to sulfur dioxide within the converter and exhausted therefrom.

Abstract: Rotation of a first drum member at a preselected speed intimately mixes finely divided agglomerative materials to form a loosely coherent, plastic sticky mass. The tumbling action generated by the rotating drum breaks up the loosely coherent, plastic mass into plastic particles or agglomerates which grow in size as they roll within the first drum member. The formed agglomerates are conveyed by rotation of the first drum member into a second drum member that includes an inlet portion surrounding the outlet portion of the first drum member. The second drum member has a longitudinal axis that is coplanarly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first drum member and both drum members are independently rotated at preselected peripheral speeds with the angle of inclination of the first drum member being adjustable relative to the second drum member to control the movement of the agglomerates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering lead from worn out electric storage batteries in which finely divided dried battery mud is injected into a stream of air through the veni contracta of a venturi in an air conduit. A reducing gas and oxygen are successively introduced into the stream through apertures in the walls of the conduit communicating with annular chambers in fuel and oxygen manifolds surrounding the conduit in sufficient quantities to maintain a stable reducing flame. The droplets of metallic lead and slag which fall from the reducing flame are collected in a refractory lined chamber and separated in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Finely divided particulate material is discharged against the incandescent wall of a rotary furnace through a pipe extending into the open end of the furnace in a position where the material is out of the path of the flame projected into the furnace through the open end and out of the path of the outflowing gases. The material is retained against the interior wall of the furnace by centrifugal force and, as the material melts, it collects in a pool at the inner end of the furnace. The entrainment of fine particles and their subsequent removal with the exhaust furnace gases is thereby substantially reduced, if not entirely eliminated.