Abstract: A process for enhancing the fuel form, raising the energy content, and lowering the level of impurities of low rank coals and/or carbonaceous wastes, like Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), and sewage sludge, by providing the low rank fuel, carbonaceous waste, or mixtures thereof as a slurry in water of processable viscosity. This feed slurry is heated under pressure, usually in the presence of an alkali, to a temperature at which a significant physical and molecular rearrangement occurs, characterized by the splitting off of a substantial proportion of the oxygen bound in the low rank coal or carbonaceous waste as carbon dioxide. At these conditions, solid particles in the feed slurry lose much of their fibrous and hydrophilic character, and are broken up into smaller particles of char, resulting in a slurry of dramatically improved rheology, i.e., capable of a much higher solids concentration (or energy density) at processable viscosity.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the continuous processing of organic carbonaceous materials containing appreciable amounts of water to produce thermally upgraded products suitable for use as fuels, carbon-containing chemical intermediates, and the like. The apparatus and process utilizes controlled elevated temperatures and pressures to which the feed material is sequentially subjected including a preheating stage, a pressurized dewatering stage and a reaction stage during which vaporization of at least a portion of the volatile organic and moisture constituents therein is effected to form a gaseous phase. The intervening dewatering stage removes a large proportion of the initial moisture content of the feed material whereby substantially improved efficiency and increased capacity are attained.

Abstract: A screw conveyor apparatus suitable for conveying and processing flowable materials such as particulate materials and slurries, for example, which incorporates cleaning or scraping elements for dislodging the accumulation of materials from the surfaces of the helical flight. The apparatus comprises an elongated housing defining a conveying chamber in which a helical flight is rotatably supported formed with a central axially extending bore through at least a portion of the length thereof and a shaft slidably disposed in the bore and reciprocable and rotatable relative to the helical flight. A series of scraper elements are mounted on the shaft adjacent to the leading and trailing surfaces of the helical flight and a drive mechanism is provided for rotating the helical flight and the shaft.

Abstract: A filter apparatus and filtering system which is particularly applicable for extracting particulated material from hot gases comprising a collector overlying a portion of the upstream face of the filter element for applying a reduced pressure to the particulate filter cake formed thereover to effect a dislodgement and recovery of the filtered particulate material. The collector is movable to progressively traverse substantially the entire upstream face of the filter element to effect a cleaning thereof by removal of the filter cake without interruption of the operation of the filtering system. The invention further encompasses a separator for cleaning the granular filter medium withdrawn from the filter apparatus and for recycling the cleaned filter medium back to the filter apparatus.

Abstract: The staging or compounding of drag-type turbines having a high energy input is herein accomplished by disposing successive stages of a drag turbine in radially offset relation, i.e., nested relationship with nozzles between radially displaced stages mounted either in fixed spatial position or mounted for rotation with the upstream rotor and providing either like or opposite directions of rotation of successive stages. The successive radial stages of the present invention are separately coupled to coaxial drive shafts which, in turn, may be appropriately coupled to rotary output means in a conventional manner to provide the output power and high efficiency of the multistaged turbine.

Abstract: A heat saving method for drying wet particulate solids as the latter move upwardly in a loaded screw flight conveyer wherein, by establishing a non-condensable gas barrier at the upper end of the flight, the vapors formed by heating the upwardly moving mass are induced to flow downwardly for condensation by the cooler incoming particulate matter, thereby effecting an internal transfer of the heat of vaporization of the wetting liquid and a consequent reduction in the heat required to dry the particulate matter and recover the separated vapor in liquid form.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a continuous thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under controlled pressure in which the feed material is introduced into the system in the form of a slurry, and the level of liquid is maintained at a preselected operating level, serving as a gas-tight seal. The feed material is conveyed upwardly of the liquid operating level and is thereafter introduced into a reaction chamber in which it is heated to within a controlled elevated temperature range under controlled pressure in a manner to effect vaporization of at least a portion of the volatile substances therein, forming a gaseous phase composed of condensible and noncondensible vapors.

Abstract: A system for effecting a sharp separation from tar sands of the large weight fraction of coarse materials present therein and for recovering bitumen, or tar, from the remaining product, wherein, as a first step, finely divided particles of a tar sand are added to a liquid hydrocarbon solvent in an agitation zone to form a dilute solution of the bitumen component which is agitated to maintain both the coarse as well as the fine solid particles present in a well dispersed condition. This dispersion flows downwardly from the agitation zone and through a shallow conduit, generally rectangular in cross section and having an opening extending across its bottom portion over which the dispersion passes. During the short residence time of the dispersion over the opening, the coarse sand particles, which under the influence of gravity fall faster than the fines, selectively drop out of the dispersion and pass through the conduit opening into an underlying sand-receiving chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously pyrolyzing, vaporizing or gasifying a particulated carbonaceous feed material in which preheated heat-containing bodies or pebbles are admixed with the feed material in a stratified manner to form a downwardly moving columnar reaction mass, with a remaining portion of the pebbles substantially devoid of any feed material disposed in a surrounding layer relative to the reaction mass. Gas is continuously passed transversely through the reaction mass and surrounding layer in a manner to sweep the gaseous pyrolysis reaction products out of the reaction chamber and wherein the layers of pebbles surrounding the reaction mass serve to effect a deposition of carbonaceous residue preventing encrustation and fouling of the reactor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are shown for feeding particulate material into a pressurized container. A rotor is located within the pressurized container, and the rotor hub is connected to a combination drive and material supply tube which extends through a wall of the container in fluid-tight engagement therewith. Particulate material from an unpressurized supply source outside the container is fed to the rotor through the supply tube, and is discharged through radially extending flow passages formed in the rotor. Means are provided for restricting the flow of particulate material at the discharge end of the flow passages such that material flowing therein is compacted by centrifugal acceleration to substantially prevent flow of fluid from the pressurized container through the supply pipe while continuously supplying particulate material to the container.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for continuously pyrolyzing or gasifying a particulated carbonaceous feed material in which preheated heat-containing bodies or pebbles are admixed with the feed material in a stratified manner to form a downwardly moving columnar reaction mass, with a remaining portion of the pebbles substantially devoid of any feed material disposed in a surrounding layer relative to the reaction mass. Gas is continuously passed transversely through the reaction mass and surrounding layer in a manner to sweep the gaseous pyrolysis reaction products out of the reaction chamber, and wherein the layers of pebbles surrounding the reaction mass serve to effect a deposition of carbonaceous residue, preventing encrustation and fouling of the reactor system.