Abstract: A retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved through an elongated housing, includes a plurality of heat exchangers located in the housing for transferring heat to or from the shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define in sequence a drying zone, a preheating zone, a cracking and distillation zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the shale in the cracking and distillation zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom. The tubes of the heat exchangers are elongated ovals in cross-section and are offset from each other in alternate rows to increase the area of heat exchange and to reduce the temperature drop between the entering heated air and exiting heated air flowing through each heat exchange tube.

Abstract: An improved retort process in which oil is recovered from crushed oil shale moved by gravity through a passageway of an elongated housing with an inlet for the crushed oil shale at the top end and an outlet for the spent crushed oil shale at the bottom end of the housing, with the rate of movement of the crushed oil shale through the passageway in the housing being controlled. Heat is transferred in sequence to or from the ground oil shale as it moves from the inlet to the outlet by means of heat exchangers which are spaced to define a drying zone, a preheating zone, a cracking and distillation zone. Waste heat recovered from the waste heat recovery zone is passed to the preheating zone. Sufficient heat is delivered to the cracking and distillation zone to raise the temperature of the crushed oil shale moving through the cracking and distillation zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom by means of an auxiliary heating assembly.

Abstract: An improved retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved by gravity through a passageway of an elongated housing includes a control assembly connected adjacent the outlet end of the housing to control the rate of movement of the crushed oil shale through the passageway. A plurality of heat exchangers are located in the housing for transferring heat in sequence to or from the crushed oil shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define a drying zone, a preheating zone, a hydrocarbon recovery zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. A pump recirculating circuit is provided for passing waste heat recovered from the waste heat recovery zone to the preheating zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers in the hydrocarbon recovery zone delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the crushed oil shale moving through the hydrocarbon recovery zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom.

Abstract: Double walled tube assemblies to meet local code requirements for heat exchangers passing potable water therethrough in non-contacting heat exchange relation for example refrigerant to liquid heat exchangers for reclaiming heat from refrigeration cycles and systems have a first or outer tubular member for passing a first fluid such as hot compressed refrigerant gas therethrough and a second or inner tubular member connected for operative relation to the first tubular member for passing the potable water to be heated therethrough. The second or inner tubular member shaped, sized, and connected to the first or outer tubular member to establish optimum heat exchange relation between the first tubular member and the second tubular member when formed into heat exchange units.

Abstract: A coaxial tube in tube heat exchanger has at least one fluid tight connection for holding the outer tube, inner tube and a terminal connector in assembled position, and a support insert fixedly disposed in the inner tube for operative alignment with the fluid tight connection to permit use of a relatively thin walled inner tube for said heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon vapor analyzer for direct measurement of the percentage by volume of hydrocarbon vapor is a portable device utilizing two substantially identical vertically disposed graduated cylinders or burettes in which are mounted slidable and adjustable pistons for varying volumetric conditions and measuring changes in volumetric conditions of vapor mixtures of air and hydrocarbon being analyzed therein. One of the graduated cylinders defines a chamber for receiving the sample vapor mixture to be analyzed and the other provides a means for measuring the sample after it is transferred to the second burette through a device for absorbing the hydrocarbon vapor from the vapor mixture to be analyzed.

Abstract: A decanter for a system and apparatus for condensing and recovering vapors of low volatile liquids such as hydrocarbons has an inlet for the condensed vapors of the low volatile liquid, and an outlet for passing condensate from said decanter, a separating chamber in the decanter communicates with the inlet to receive condensate mixed with water and a second chamber communicates with the outlet, a transfer device permits separated condensate to pass to the second chamber and a heater is provided in the first chamber to maintain the water mixture above the freezing point thereof and preferably in a range from 40.degree. F to 70.degree. F.

Abstract: A vapor condenser for a system and apparatus for condensing and recovering vapors of low volatile liquids such as hydrocarbons has a U-shaped passage therethrough with one end of said U-shaped passage in communication with an inlet for vapors of the low volatile fluids to be condensed and the other end of said U-shaped passage is in communication with a discharge outlet for non-condensible gases, finned coil sections having passages for passing cooling fluid therethrough are disposed in said U-shaped passage, said finned coil sections having the fins thereon more widely spaced adjacent the inlet end of the U-shaped passage and the fins being more closely spaced on the finned section progressively the more remote the finned sections are from the inlet to the U-shaped passage, and the fins on the more closely spaced finned coil sections being lined up with the fins on the widely spaced finned coil section of the U-shaped passage, a collecting chamber at the end of said U-shaped passage remote from the inlet end

Abstract: A system and apparatus for condensing and recovering vapors of low volatile liquids such as hydrocarbons utilizes, a cascade cooling arrangement for providing and maintaining a cooling fluid such as methylene chloride at temperatures in a range from -70.degree. F to -110.degree. F which cooling fluid is held in a storage and circulating system; for circulating and recirculating the cooling fluid in heat exchange relationship with the cascade cooling arrangement to maintain the cooling fluid at the desired relatively low temperatures and for passing the cooling fluid through finned sections of a vapor condenser to condense the vapors of the low volatile liquids passed through said vapor condenser; said vapor condenser being operatively associated with a defroster for defrosting the vapor condenser, at regular intervals as required for efficient operation of the system, and a decanter for separating the condensate and water delivered thereto from the system and for removing condensate from the system.