Abstract: A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A retort heating apparatus includes a perimeter wall bounding a central compartment. A partition wall is disposed within the central compartment so as to separate the central compartment into at least a heating chamber and a vapor chamber. The partition wall has a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed thereon so as to provide fluid communication between the heating chamber and the collection chamber. A plurality of spaced apart baffles are disposed within the heating chamber between the perimeter wall and the partition wall. A collection plate is disposed within the vapor chamber at a downward curved or sloped orientation. The collection plate has lower end disposed at or adjacent to the partition wall and an opposing upper end disposed at or toward the perimeter wall.

Abstract: An improved flare burner for burning combustible gases in petroleum and petrochemical installations. A cylindrical shell has a closed bottom and an open top. A central opening in the bottom is connectable to a source of the gas to be burned. A plurality of linear steam/gas tubes is disposed within the shell, each tube extending to the open end of the shell and also extending through the shell bottom. A lower steam distribution sub-assembly below the shell bottom includes individual steam jets adjacent the ends of the tubes for educting air to the upper end of the tube. A pilot gas sub-assembly for igniting the flare gas is disposed within the shell. Gas to be burned is passed into the interior of the shell through the bottom opening and moves to the open end. Steam injected into the steam/air tubes educts air, and air and steam exit the tubes and mix with the gas to create a combustible mixture. The pilot light assembly provides an open flame which ignites the mixture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an ore comprising mineral substrate particles surrounded by hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sand grains, process tailings, and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, tailings, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen may be crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to provide a particle size of sand or smaller. The ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, which may also contain alkali, for example, sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate. The slurry is heated to about 80° C. and is intensively sheared to condition the slurry for separation, preferably by shear-fracture of the hydrocarbon layers surrounding the particles in the grains.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an ore comprising mineral substrate particles surrounded by hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sand grains and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen may be crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to provide a particle size of sand or smaller. The ore is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to about 80° C. and is intensively sheared to condition the slurry for separation, preferably by shear-fracture of the hydrocarbon layers surrounding the particles in the grains. The conditioned slurry is blended with a peroxide in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide, which enters the grains and is decomposed therein, creating bubbles of free oxygen within the grains which disrupt the hydrocarbon envelope.

Abstract: A system for reducing volatile organic compounds, particulates and carbon monoxide in exhaust from a wood products dryer is disclosed. The dryer exhaust is combined with waste wood or biomass fuel and partially combusted in a rotary gasifier, then fully combusted in a secondary combustion chamber. Hot flue gasses form the secondary combustion chamber are used to heat the conduits carrying the exhaust from the dryer, to heat oil, and to preheat air input to the dryer.

Abstract: A flare burner comprises a stack conduit, a plurality of gas distributing conduit extending radially from the stack conduit, and a plurality of gas supersonic gas nozzles connected to the gas distributing conduit. The stack conduit supplies flare gas to each of the gas distributing conduits, with gas communication therebetween. In one embodiment, the nozzles are directly connected to gas distributing conduit and in another embodiment the nozzles are connected to the gas distributing conduits via vertically extending burner conduits. The gas discharged through the supersonic nozzle flows at a supersonic velocity. The length of the burner conduits attached to the same gas distributing conduit becomes progressively shorter as the burner conduits are positioned further away from the stack conduit.

Abstract: A flare gas burner is provided which is less susceptible to damage caused by internal and/or external burning. An internal protective liner is attached within the burner and an external protective covering is attached over the exterior of the burner and conduits associated therewith whereby the burner is shielded from flame impingement and excessive heat and an aerodynamically improved exterior surface is provided on the burner.

Abstract: A primary combustor of waste solids, wherein the solids are burned under sub-stoichiometric air control and then substantially immediately merged with the burning zone in a secondary combustor wherein waste fluids are burned with excess air and substantial waste heat recovered in the form of an energy resource such as steam.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for accumulating and conveying hot ash produced by an incinerator are provided. The method is comprised of the steps of continuously conducting hot ash from the incinerator to a closed oscillating housing which includes first and second compartments. The compartments are connected by an internal door for sealingly isolating the first compartment from the second compartment, and the second compartment has an ash discharge door connected thereto for sealingly isolating both the first and second compartments when the internal door therebetween is open. The oscillating housing is continuously operated in cycles whereby the ash conducted to the first compartment is accumulated therein and conveyed over the floor thereof to the second compartment, and the ash received in the second compartment is conveyed over the floor thereof and discharged therefrom without air infiltration from the housing to the incinerator taking place.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flaring a gas stream such as the gas mixtures formed in landfills while retarding the backward propagation of flame thereto are provided. The method comprises conducting the gas stream to a burner structure having a plurality of flow passages therein configured such that the gas stream can flow through the passages, but the backward propagation of flame therethrough is retarded; flowing the gas stream through the flow passages of the burner whereby the gas stream is jetted therefrom and initially mixed with air; igniting the gas stream; and mixing the ignited gas stream with additional air by confining the jetted and ignited gas mixture within a stack configured to allow the admission of air around the burner structure and to discharge products of combustion into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling ash. A tank is filled with water and has the lower end thereof located at a substantial angle from horizontal. The tank is positioned beneath an incinerator to receive ash therefrom. An ash wheel having sectors defined by upright paddle elements has a portion thereof received beneath the water into which the ash falls and a portion thereof which extends over one edge of the tank. As the wheel rotates, ash is swept over the edge of the tank and onto a conveyor for disposal.

Abstract: An improved solids incineration process and system are provided of the type wherein the solids are combusted and the resulting combustion gases are separated from combustion ash, the ash is quenched and neutralized with a quench liquid, heat is removed from the combustion gases and the combustion gases contacted with a scrubber liquid in a wet scrubber to remove fly ash therefrom. By the present invention, the spent scrubber liquid from the wet scrubber is utilized as at least a portion of the ash quench liquid.

Abstract: A flre for burning low pressure waste gas wherein kinetic energy is imparted to the gas in a device having a central conduit for the low pressure waste gas and a plurality of radial arms surrounding the central conduit to which are supplied high pressure fluids at a steep upward angle to impart time-turbulence and temperature for creating `stand-up` flare burning substantially unaffected by wind.

Abstract: A flare gas burner is provided which is less susceptible to damage caused by internal and/or external burning. An internal protective liner is attached within the burner and an external protective covering is attached over the exterior of the burner and conduits associated therewith whereby the burner is shielded from flame impingement and excessive heat and an aerodynamically improved exterior surface is provided on the burner.

Abstract: A flare gas burner is provided which is less susceptible to damage caused by internal and/or external burning. An internal protective liner is attached within the burner and an external protective covering is attached over the exterior of the burner and conduits associated therewith whereby the burner is shielded from flame impingement and excessive heat and an aerodynamically improved exterior surface is provided on the burner.

Abstract: A smoke suppressing flare gas burner is provided which is less susceptible to damage caused by internal and/or external burning. An external protective covering is attached over the exterior of the burner as well as smoke suppressant and pilot flame conduits associated therewith whereby the burner is shielded from flame impingement and excessive heat and an aerodynamically improved exterior surface is provided on the burner.

Abstract: Flare stack burning of waste gases utilizes available low pressure steam by sequential steam injection as a function of the demand for smokeless combustion.

Abstract: A large capacity air-powered flare for smokeless combustion of very large volumes of vented waste gases, comprises a first inner vertical conduit of diameter D1, for the flow of waste gas, and a second larger coaxial conduit of diameter D2, for the flow of primary combustion air, at a selected velocity in the annular space therebetween. Above the top the inner conduit there is a cylindrical obstruction of diameter D3 which is greater than D1, but less than D2. This forces the upwardly flowing gases to be deflected outwardly and upwardly into the second annular space between the obstruction and the outer conduit. The velocity of primary combustion air in the second annular space is at least 50 f.p.s., which serves to thoroughly mix with the inflowing gases so that as they rise through the second annular space they continue flowing above the top of the flare as an annular wall of high velocity gas, air and flame. This high velocity annular flow has large surface area on the outside and inside.