Abstract: A method of preheating coal for coking comprises bringing a hot operating gas into direct contact with the coal to preheat the coal. Both the coal and the operating gas are passed into a separator and the separator is operated so as to effect the separation of the coarse preheated coal for delivery to the coke oven from the operating gases and coal dust. The operating gases and coal dust are then passed into a deduster to remove the coal dust from the operating gases. A portion of the removed dust is continuously directed into an accumulator. The dust is either supplied from the deduster or the accumulator to a combustion furnace where it is burned to generate at least a portion of the operating gas.

Abstract: A process for pyrolysis of coal wherein the subdivided coal is preheated, pyrolyzed, and subjected to heat recovery after pyrolysis, heat transfer being effected by contacting the subdivided coal as a dilute-phase fluidized bed in the first stage of dual preheating zones with a first particulate heat carrier, with a second particulate heat carrier in a dense-phase fluidized bed in the second preheating stage, followed by pyrolysis in a dense-phase fluidized bed pyrolysis zone. The separate particulate heat carriers are employed in such manner that one mass of heat carrier is utilized for preheating the subdivided coal in the first stage and heat recovery, and a second mass of heat carrier is utilized for pyrolysis of the coal and the second stage preheating.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for converting a substance containing organic matter into hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue by feeding the substance into the upstream portion of a substantially cylindrical retort having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, substantially conveying the substance through the retort toward the downstream portion thereof, heating the retort by means of a fluidized bed of heated particles to a sufficient temperature to convert the substance into hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue and removing the hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue from the retort.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process to produce shale oil from oil shales. It comprises an improvement, the purpose of which is to remove relatively small and up to substantial amounts of the water present as steam; and to prevent pitch formation, and "stickiness" in a second or retorting stage of the process, carried out at a much higher temperature.The first step may consist of a fixed vertical vessel in one aspect of the process or alternately a much smaller rotating horizontal vessel than that used in the second step of the process. The first step is conducted at a temperature from ambient, preferably 212.degree. F. up to 550.degree. F. The second or retorting step is conducted at 800.degree. F. to 1000.degree. F. Indirect heating of the oil shales is employed in all cases.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for contacting at least two solids and a fluid, particularly for retorting and/or gasification of solid carbonaceous materials such as coal, coke, shale or tar sands by introducing a solid heat-transfer material into an upper portion of a treatment or contacting zone and a solid carbonaceous material into a lower portion of the treatment or contacting zone. The solid heat carrier is fluidized by an upflowing gas and moves downwardly, while the solid carbonaceous materials are entrained and move upwardly. The fluidizing gas may be inert or reactive. Substantially countercurrent plug flow of the two solids in the treatment or contacting zone is maintained by including means for preventing back mixing, such as a packing material filling the treatment or contacting zone.

Abstract: Oil shale is pyrolyzed by introducing an oil shale feed to a retorting zone fluidized bed to yield, as products of retorting, retorted oil shale containing residual carbonaceous material and volatilized hydrocarbons. The retorted oil shale particles are passed to the top of a combustion zone fluidized bed into which a gaseous source of oxygen is introduced for fluidizing the combustion zone fluidized bed and oxidizing residual carbonaceous material contained in the retorted oil shale particles to yield combustion gases for fluidizing the retorting zone fluidized bed and for maintaining the retorting zone fluidized bed at a temperature sufficient to retort oil shale.

Abstract: Oil Shale is partially dehydrated prior to retorting. Both the dehydrating and retorting steps carried out by heat treatment in rotating horizontal cylindrical vessels heated by indirect heat exchange with hot gas. The vapors withdrawn from the retorting step are fractionated to yield products including a heavy conversion oil.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, oil shale is introduced into a lock which discharges into a closed, vertical, stationary kiln fitted with mechanisms which cause the particulate oil shale to move continuously downwardly in a controlled, uniform plug type flow. The shale is heated by a counter flow of hot, nonoxidizing gases to the temperature required to pyrolyze the kerogen. The gaseous fraction of the kerogen joins the counter flowing gases for removal from the top of the kiln. The hot particulate shale containing the carbonaceous fraction of the kerogen moves downwardly through a second lock into a conveyance connected to the top of a second similar kiln wherein the carbonaceous residue is reacted with gaseous water and oxygen in a cocurrent manner to supply heat to the decarbonized shale and to produce carbon oxides and hydrogen.

Abstract: Coked solids, produced by coking of tar sands, are contacted in a first zone with air and the minimum amount of supplemental fuel needed to burn all the coke. Part of the hot clean mineral solids produced is then discarded; the balance is moved into a second zone. Here supplemental fuel is burned to increase the temperature of the solids. The hot solids from the second zone are recycled to the coking stage.Only part of the solids is heated with supplemental fuel, thereby reducing consumption of the latter. In addition, the flue gas from the second zone is relatively clean and can be vented directly to the atmosphere in the flue gas from the first zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for retorting oil shale whereby full utilization of the heat energy available in the retorted shale and maximum desulfurization of the flue gas released to the atmosphere are simultaneously effected. Basically, the process comprises passing a crushed shale feed upwardly through preheating and retorting zones in a retort vessel wherein eduction of shale oil and product gases is achieved by direct heat exchange with a preheated, recycled portion of said product gases passed countercurrently to the shale feed, and then passing the retorted shale downwardly through combustion and cooling zones. Complete combustion of coke on the retorted shale in the combustion zone not only results in full utilization of the potential heat energy stored within the retorted shale but also in the production of gaseous sulfur components (mostly SO.sub.2) that chemically react with the alkaline components of the shale. Concurrent flow of gas and retorted shale in the combustion zone at temperatures between 900.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating oil shale by microwave energy for recovering heated volatile fractions thereof. The microwave oven includes a sloping feeder made of glass, pyrex, or ceramic material, which feeder is reciprocated back and forth along a declining plane so as to advance slowly but progressively oil shale deposited on the top end thereof to the discharge end of the vibrator. Means are provided to evacuate volatile fractions and to feed such gases through preheater tubes to a condenser unit. The preheater tubes are disposed in line with and through the flow of incoming materials so as to tend to regulate material descent as well as preheat the shale. An additional solids heat exchanger is employed underneath the discharge end of the vibratory feeder means so as to slow the descent of the spent shale onto its ultimate conveyor as well as taking heat therefrom and from the magnetron tubes of the oven to conduct such heat upwardly to further increase the preheating effect upon incoming shale.

Abstract: A process for obtaining oil, gas, sulfur and other products from shale whereby there is effected drying, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion and cooling of pyrobituminous shale or similar rocks in a single passage of said shale continuously in a moving bed, the charge and discharge of the shale being intermittent and wherein the maximum temperature of the bed is maintained in the range of about 1050.degree. C to 1200.degree. C (1900.degree. F to 2200.degree. F) or higher. The shale is essentially completely freed from the organic matter, fixed carbon and sulfur, resulting in a clean solid residue which can be disposed of without harming the ecology.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for decomposing kerogen and recovering oil, high BTU gas and energy for the process wherein a crushed oil shale is fed to a rotary preheater (300.degree. to 350.degree. F.) hence into a rotary retort (850.degree.-1050.degree. F.) where the kerogen is decomposed and the oil evaporated, removed and condensed. From the retort the crushed shale goes to a hopper where any residual oil is stripped out by super heated steam leaving a char on the crushed shale. The stripped shale is fed into a furnace wherein the char is burned to provide heat for the process. To supplement the char and provide enough BTU's for the process, it is necessary to add a small amount of coal to the feed to the process. The hot gases from the furnace first pass into contact with the rotary retort and hence indirectly heat the oil shale in the retort. The hot furnace gases (or a portion thereof) then pass into direct contact with the crushd oil shale feed in the preheater.

Abstract: A gravity flow, vertical bed of crushed oil shale having a two level injection of air and a three level injection of non-oxygenous gas and an internal combustion of at least residual carbon on the retorted shale. The injection of air and gas is carefully controlled in relation to the mass flow rate of the shale to control the temperature of pyrolysis zone, producing a maximum conversion of the organic content of the shale to a liquid shale oil. The parameters of the operation provides an economical and highly efficient shale oil production.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for feeding scrap tires into a reactor for the recovery of carbonaceous raw materials. The process comprises suspending the tires in a melt chamber having hot gases flowing therethrough at between 250.degree. F and 600.degree. F, allowing the hot gases to flow past the tires, melting the carbonaceous material therein, the melted material being fed into a reactor tube which converts the material to carbonaceous raw materials. The non-meltable portions of the scrap tires, such as metal beads or belted reinforcement, are separated in the melt chamber from the melted scrap tires.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for decomposing kerogen and recovering oil, high BTU gas and energy for the process wherein a crushed oil shale is fed to a rotary preheater (300.degree. to 350.degree. F.) hence into a rotary retort (850.degree.-1050.degree. F.) where the kerogen is decomposed and the oil evaporated, removed and condensed. From the retort the crushed shale goes to a hopper where any residual oil is stripped out by super heated steam leaving a char on the crushed shale. The stripped shale is fed into a furnace wherein the char is burned to provide heat for the process. To supplement the char and provide enough BTU's for the process, it is necessary to add a small amount of coal to the feed to the process. The hot gases from the furnace first pass into contact with the rotary retort and hence indirectly heat the oil shale in the retort. The hot furnace gases (or a portion thereof) then pass into direct contact with the crushed oil shale feed in the preheater.