Feed Other Than Coal, Oil Shale Or Wood Patents (Class 201/25)
  • Patent number: 6790317
    Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized with air and heated to ignition. Control of pressure by input of air and release of gases to maintain successively lower pressure levels results in a typical time for the conversion of less than 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6786335
    Abstract: A pyrolysis plant for refuse and a method for screening solid residues provide a sure and trouble-free sieving of a solid material using a sieving device having a configuration which is as simple as possible. A spiral formed by a rod which is wound in a helicoidal manner, or a plurality of such rods, are provided as the sieving device. The rod or rods can rotate around a longitudinal axis. The solid material is introduced into an interior formed by the rod for sieving, preferably with the assistance of an aligning device for longitudinally extended solid material parts. The spirals include, in particular, a bend so that the lodged solid materials can automatically detach themselves. The sieving device is especially suited for sieving pyrolysis residual material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Georg Gropper, Reinhold Riggenmann, Winfried Von Rhein, Helmut Werdinig
  • Patent number: 6777581
    Abstract: A subject of the invention is a method for transformation of polyolefin wastes into hydrocarbons and a plant for carrying thereof. According to the method, disintegrated polyolefin raw material is subjected in a reactor to the progressive heating to the temperature below 600° C. together with a catalyst chosen from a group comprising cements, heavy metal silicates and resinates and mixtures thereof, where a catalyst is used in an amount below 30% b.w., preferably in an amount of 5-10 % b.w., calculated on the weight of the polyolefin raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Smuda Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Henryk Zmuda
  • Patent number: 6774271
    Abstract: A system and method of converting waste plastics into hydrocarbon oil comprises a thermal cracking reactor, into which the waste plastics are cracked at a temperature in the range of 270-800° C. to obtain partly gaseous hydrocarbons, partly liquid hydrocarbons, and remaining residues. A continuous thermal cracking and residual discharging portion is connected to have the liquid hydrocarbons gradually and fully cracked into gaseous hydrocarbons, while the residues are discharged at a residual discharge outlet. A chlorine removal portion is connected to receive the gaseous hydrocarbons to remove chlorine from it. A catalytic cracking reactor is connected to the chlorine removal portion to have the gaseous hydrocarbons catalytic cracking with an acid catalyst. A three-stage cooling portion is adopted to have the catalytically cracked gaseous hydrocarbons fully converted into liquid hydrocarbons, i.e., hydrocarbon oil. A pressurized activation reaction portion is provided to remove few amount of S. N. P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Tianfu Jiang
  • Publication number: 20040111968
    Abstract: This invention relates a series of steps to provide an economical production of a carbon based fertilizer and soil amendment made during the capture of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil and non fossil fuels. The invention uses biomass and other carbonaceous sources through pyrolytic conversion to gases and charcoal, to allow for the further production of co-products, such as hydrogen and ammonia. The invention also relates to the combination of hydrated ammonia, combustion flue gas exhaust, and charcoal, provide for the conversion of the charcoal into a valued added soil amendment to return essential trace minerals and plant nutrients to the soil. The ability to produce a large volume carbon co-product while removing mandated emissions and producing renewable based hydrogen provides an economic gain to a large number small and large businesses and increase the chance of achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Danny Marshal Day, James Weifu Lee
  • Patent number: 6746497
    Abstract: A waste is dry-distilled in a gasification furnace and generated combustible gas is combusted in a combustion furnace. A temperature in the combustion furnace is set to be substantially constant at a first preset temperature or more. When the temperature in the combustion furnace is greater than the first preset temperature by combustion of other fuels, the combustible gas is introduced. When the temperature in the combustion furnace reaches a second preset temperature or more by the combustion of only the combustible gas, the combustion of the other fuels is finished. When the temperature in the combustion furnace falls below a third preset temperature the combustion of the other fuels is resumed. When the temperature in the gasification furnace falls below a fourth preset temperature, the combustion of the other fuels is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Kinsei Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamoto Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6736940
    Abstract: Tire pyrolysis systems and processes are provided which include feeding tire shreds to a pyrolysis reactor, pyrolyzing the shreds in a pyrolysis reactor to produce a hydrocarbon-containing gas stream and carbon-containing solid, removing the carbon-containing solid from the reactor, directing the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream into a separator, contacting the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream with an oil spray in the separator thereby washing particulate from the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream and condensing a portion of the gas stream to oil, removing and cooling the oil from the separator, directing non-condensed gas from the gas stream away from the separator, and directing a portion of the cooled oil removed from the separator to an inlet of the separator for use as the separator oil spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Renaissance Recycling, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Masemore, Robert Zarrizski
  • Publication number: 20040055865
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of charcoal. More particularly, the invention is a process which maximizes the production of charcoal. Of secondary consequence is the production of fuel gasses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Fred P. Beierle
  • Patent number: 6683227
    Abstract: A process for the thermocatalytic conversion of waste organic materials (e.g., waste tires) into reusable hydrocarbons is provided. The process entails providing the feedstock and catalyst comprising AlCl3 to a heated, stirred reactor. An overhead portion of vaporized hydrocarbons as well as vaporized AlCl3 is initially removed from the reactor via a discharge port. The composition of the removed hydrocarbons will vary depending on which of three modes the process is run: low reactor pressure, partial vacuum, and high pressures. Vaporized AlCl3 and a certain fraction of the hydrocarbons are subsequently removed via condensation and returned to the reactor. The composition of the condensed hydrocarbon fraction is controlled based on vapor pressure. The remaining vaporized hydrocarbon is recovered for subsequent uses. A reactor discharge portion is also removed from the reactor. This portion may contain unreacted feedstock and catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald M. Platz, James C. Holste, Dawid J. Duvenhage
  • Patent number: 6657095
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for pyrolyzing waste tire chips, the tire chips passed into an inclined rotary kiln having an output end. The tire chips are saturated by oil in the inclined rotary kiln and are pyrolyzed by indirectly heating with a heated gas. The pyrolyzed tire chips and oil produces a vapor product and a solid product that are separated within the kiln by gravitational separation. The vapor product is processed to condense oil and a portion of the condensed oil is recycled to the rotary kiln. The solid product is separated into oil and char, a portion of the oil recycled to the inclined rotary kiln for saturating the tire chips. The vapor product following the oil removal is used to produce the heated gas to heat the rotary kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Recycled Energy, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Harold H. Holden, H. Scott Holden
  • Publication number: 20030196883
    Abstract: A plastic as a material to be treated and an additive such as unsaturated fatty acid oil are mixed, and the mixture is heated in a pyrolysis tank at a temperature of 300° C. to 450° C. by a heating member to thereby thermally decompose the mixture. A gas component produced during the heating process is then removed and a pyrolysate is thus produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Tokyo Ertec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Inoue, Satoru Aikawa, Norihiro Inagaki, Shigeru Tasaka
  • Patent number: 6623602
    Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for reclaiming volatile products and non-volatile residue through the pyrolysis of a polymeric material comprising placing the polymeric material in a reactor and establishing an oxygen deficient atmosphere in a reactor. The polymeric material is simultaneously compressed and heated to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the polymeric material to produce volatile products and non-volatile residue. The volatile products and non-volatile residue are subsequently removed from the reactor and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: G. Thomas Bissell
  • Publication number: 20030130548
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting hydrocarbon fuel products from plastic material provides extraction of usable fuel components from waste plastic materials. The materials (or hydrocarbon portion thereof) are liquified and introduced to a chamber where the liquid material is agitated and a negative relative pressure (vacuum) is applied. The liquid is maintained at a substantially constant temperature and the vacuum draws the off-gas hydrocarbon products out for condensation and further processing, while unconverted char is removed to an ash dump. An auger feed unit with agitator buckets is used to propel the char through a feed while agitating the liquid to enhance the rate of gas removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Donald W. Lemmons, Richard William Sheu
  • Publication number: 20030114722
    Abstract: The amount of limonene and other pyrolytic oils within the condensate gases produced during pyrolysis of scrap tire carcasses or polyisoprene rubbers can be increased by fractionally condensing and liquefying the gaseous products in a series of vertical condensers. As the gases are passed through each successive condenser, fractions of the gases having a boiling point between 930 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees Fahrenheit are separated and recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: William D. Bradley
  • Publication number: 20030109761
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an equipment for pre-treatment of used tyres (1) before a pyrolysis process. The invention is characterized in that said cleaning of each tyre (1) is carried out in a closed chamber (5) with high pressure air jets. Air contaminated with dust and other dirt particles from said tyre (1) is preferably continuously conducted through an air cleaning device (10) for removing said dust and other dirt particles from the air, and received cleaned air is fed to a high pressure blower (8) for producing said high pressure air jets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Hannu L. Suominen
  • Publication number: 20030109762
    Abstract: A method for pyrolysis, characterized in that a material to be treated is heated to a temperature lower than the decomposition temperature of dioxins and the resulting gaseous components are cooled and liquefied; and an apparatus for practicing the method comprising a heating means (1) and a cooling and liquefying means (2) for the gaseous components formed by the above heating. The method can be employed for pyrolyzing a material to be treated with safety and at a lower cost as compared to a conventional method for pyrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Shibata Akira
  • Publication number: 20030047437
    Abstract: A process for converting waste plastic into gasoline, diesel, fuel oil and the like using pyrolysis and catalytic cracking techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Vladilen Stankevitch
  • Publication number: 20030009067
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for purging oxygen from a sealed container interior and a purge substance used in such method. The method is exemplified herein in an improved batch process and apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon containing material in a sealed reactor interior. According to the present invention the improved batch process may comprise, 1) loading the hydrocarbon containing material into and sealing the reactor, 2) purging or expelling oxygen from said reactor, and 3) heating said reactor to a predetermined temperature so as to obtain decomposition products, the improvement residing in the purging step including loading the reactor with an oxyphilic solution prior to sealing and heating the interior of the sealed reactor to a predetermined temperature to induce the oxyphilic solution to drive oxygen out of the interior of the container through said gas evacuation component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Bouziane, Gilles Tremblay
  • Publication number: 20030009068
    Abstract: A process for the thermocatalytic conversion of waste organic materials (e.g., waste tires) into reusable hydrocarbons is provided. The process entails providing the feedstock and catalyst comprising AlCl3 to a heated, stirred reactor. An overhead portion of vaporized hydrocarbons as well as vaporized AlCl3 is initially removed from the reactor via a discharge port. The composition of the removed hydrocarbons will vary depending on which of three modes the process is run: low reactor pressure, partial vacuum, and high pressures. Vaporized AlCl3 and a certain fraction of the hydrocarbons are subsequently removed via condensation and returned to the reactor. The composition of the condensed hydrocarbon fraction is controlled based on vapor pressure. The remaining vaporized hydrocarbon is recovered for subsequent uses. A reactor discharge portion is also removed from the reactor. This portion may contain unreacted feedstock and catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald M. Platz, James C. Holste, Dawid J. Duvenhage
  • Patent number: 6504068
    Abstract: A method of converting a plastic waste into oil by decomposing the plastic waste by a reaction using water in a supercritical or near supercritical region as a reaction medium. In this method, the reaction is conducted by using a tubular continuous reactor. The present invention further provides an apparatus therefor. Moreover, the present invention provides a method of converting a plastic waste into oil by conducting the reaction after hydrogen chloride is removed by performing the pyrolysis of the plastic waste in the case that the plastic waste contain chlorine. The present invention further provides an apparatus for performing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Matsubara, Hiroshi Makihara, Kazuto Kobayashi, Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20030000822
    Abstract: In the method for thermal biomass processing, comprising charging the material in a converter, pyrolyzing said material at a temperature ranging between 650 and 950° C. in the medium of a reducing gas, feeding of steam after the pyrolysis reaction has been completed, and isolating the resultant solid residue, reducing gas is prepared by combusting a hydrocarbon fuel at an air consumption factor &agr; ranging from 0.85 to 1.1, and by mixing the resultant combustion products together with the biomass pyrolysis gases, the ratio between said gases and said combustion products being (1-3):1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Vladimir Fedorich Antonenko, Sergei Alexandrovich Anischenko
  • Publication number: 20020179424
    Abstract: A conventional method of pyrolytically decomposing plastic to make low-molecular compounds is poor in efficiency of use of energy due to high heating temperatures (at least 600° C. and 800° C. at maximum).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: OSADA GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu Osada, Tatsutoshi Shimabara
  • Publication number: 20020117388
    Abstract: Tire pyrolysis systems and processes are provided which include feeding tire shreds to a pyrolysis vessel (40) and pyrolyzing the shreds in a pyrolysis vessel (40) to produce a pyrolysis gas and carbon black mixture. The pyrolysis gas processed by centrifugally separating entrained particles therefrom, separating the pyrolysis gas into a hydrocarbon condensate and a light vapor, removing entrained hydrocarbon condensate from the light vapor, and purifying and refining the hydrocarbon condensate. The carbon black mixture is processed by pulverizing the mixture to break up all strands and clumps of inorganic solids, cooling the carbon black mixture, separating the gross contaminants from the carbon mixture, and purifying and refining the carbon black. The hydrocarbon condensate is purified and refined by removing all remaining contaminants, removing any polycyclic aromatics to produce a clear, colorless plasticizer oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Gilbert W. Denison
  • Patent number: 6423878
    Abstract: An apparatus for the pyrolysis (cracking) of a polymeric material consisting of a reactor provided with a molten catalyst bed and a feeding extruder for introducing the polymeric material into the catalyst bed. The process consists in the introduction of a polymeric material in the molten catalyst bed for converting a variety of polymers, side-chain plastics, linear-chain plastics and halogenated plastics, such as for example PVC, into hydrocarbon products which are useful for energy generation while avoiding the pollution problems associated with the direct combustion of plastic materials. The process can also be used for cracking mixtures of polymeric material derived from the sorting of municipal solid waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Riccardo Reverso
  • Patent number: 6387221
    Abstract: Garbage and waste of all types that includes or comprises organic matter, particularly including medical waste, plastics, paper, food waste, animal by-products, and the like, can be economically recycled into petroleum products, including oil. Machinery performs a method that mimics natural processes but accomplishes the task in minutes, at rates of about 15 tons per day in a typical processing machine, rather than taking hundreds of thousands of years in nature. The process and apparatus of the invention may chop the waste into small pieces, under negative pressure if appropriate, and then pass the waste into first and then second augers for compression and heating. Destructive distillation occurs, in which large molecular weight hydrocarbons and petrochemicals are heated by hot oil passing through the hollow shaft and by circulating hot, dense, hard material, such as steel balls or fragments or hard rock pieces and such, under pressure with steam, to produce low molecular weight hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: James D. Schoenhard
  • Patent number: 6372948
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the destructive distillation or pyrolysis of rubber, such as used rubber tires, to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and a solid carbonaceous char. A heat transfer gas circulating in a circulation loop is used to cool the hot char produced in the distillation chamber of a distillation oven, the circulation loop having some means for removing the heat transferred to the heat transfer gas from the hot char. In one embodiment, two distillation ovens are operated in off-set, batchwise distillation cycles. The distillation cycles in the two ovens are coordinated so that a fresh charge of rubber feed is introduced into the distillation chamber of one of the ovens as the distillation of rubber in the other oven is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Gentech, Inc.
    Inventor: V. J. Flanigan
  • Publication number: 20010056214
    Abstract: An apparatus for the pyrolysis (cracking) of a polymeric material consisting of a reactor provided with a molten catalyst bed and a feeding extruder for introducing the polymeric material into the catalyst bed. The process consists in the introduction of a polymeric material in the molten catalyst bed for converting a variety of polymers, side-chain plastics, linear-chain plastics and halogenated plastics, such as for example PVC, into hydrocarbon products which are useful for energy generation while avoiding the pollution problems associated with the direct combustion of plastic materials. The process can also be used for cracking mixtures of polymeric material derived from the sorting of municipal solid waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Riccardo Reverso
  • Patent number: 6316378
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of shaped activated carbon by steam activation in an continuously operating rotary tunnel kiln, by continuously drying spherically preformed raw materials in a rotary tunnel dryer with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation, with a product temperature of from 250 to 300° C. in the 50 to 80% kiln length range and a residence time of from 30 to 6O minutes by means of a hot gas in countercurrent, then, in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln, which is subdivided into a carbonising zone and activating zone, continuously carbonising the material with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a product temperature profile in the carbonising zone of from 850 to 900° C. and a residence time of from 120 to 180 minutes, and activating the material with a product temperature profile in the activating zone of from 910 to 920° C. and a residence time of from 480 to 720 minutes with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: CarboTex, GmbH
    Inventors: Jann-Michael Giebelhausen, Hubertus Spieker
  • Patent number: 6310264
    Abstract: A method for processing material comprising combinations of aluminum and plastic, such as aluminum bottle caps having a plastic coating, comprising the steps of: pyrolyzing the plastic in an inert atmosphere, cracking or gasifying the gases or vapours which are released in the course of pyrolysis, afterburning the coke which remains behind on the aluminum in the course or pyrolysis. The gases or vapours released are recirculated and are used, during pyrolysis, as an inert, oxygen-free medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Ronald Gerard Kamst
  • Patent number: 6271427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recovery of carbon and combinations of hydrocarbons from discarded tyres or similar polymeric material by pyrolysis, using a reactor (3) in which the material is placed in a preferably largely fragmented condition, whereby the material is heated to pyrolysis temperature by the recirculation of previously formed and heated pyrolysis gas which is led through the material and where the pyrolysis gas obtained in this way is brought to condense to condensable products in a condenser (8) connected to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Bengt-Sture Ershag
  • Patent number: 6255547
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is the method of obtaining liquid fuels from polyolefine wastes. According to the method, properly disintegrated polyolefines in an amount of 100 parts y weight are heated in the temperatures between 300° C. to 450° C. till the moment of a decay of volatile product forming, in the presence of heavy metals silicates as catalysts, added in amounts of 1-30 parts by weight. As catalyst, the silicates of iron Fe3+, cobalt Co2+, nickel Ni2+, manganium Mn2+, chromium Cr3+, copper Cu2+, zinc Zn2+, cadmium Cd2+ and/or their mixtures are used. The catalyst is applied in an amorphic form in an amount from 5 to 10 % by weight, calculated on the mass of the raw material. The catalyst is recycled and used multiply. A process is run in a continous way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Heinrich Smuda
  • Patent number: 6204421
    Abstract: A method for recycling a waste stream containing water and solids comprises (a) removing water from the waste stream to produce a second stream containing less than 60% by weight water, (b) drying the second stream to produce a waste feed charge containing less than 15% by weight water, and (c) injecting the waste feed charge into a coker during the coking cycle. The water removal can be carried out in one or more steps, and can be carried out in a vertical disk centrifuge if it is also desired to reduce the particle size of the solids fraction. The waste feed charge can be injected into a delayed coker, flexicoker, or fluid coker, and allows the recycle of solid waste into the coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Scaltech Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Genssler, Raymond R. Ruth
  • Patent number: 6184427
    Abstract: A process of activated cracking of high molecular organic waste material which includes confining the organic waste material in a reactor space as a mixture with a pulverized electrically conducting material (sensitizer) and/or catalysts and/or “upgrading agents” and treating this mixture by microwave or radio frequency electro-magnetic radiation. Organic waste materials include hydrocarbons or their derivatives, polymers or plastic materials and shredded rubber. The shredded rubber can be the source of the sensitizer and/or catalyst material as it is rich in carbon and other metallic species. This sensitizer can also consist of pulverized coke or pyrolytically carbonized organic feedstock and/or highly dispersed metals and/or other inorganic materials with high dielectric loss which absorb microwave or radio frequency energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Invitri, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Klepfer, Travis W. Honeycutt, Viktor Sharivker, Gulshen Tairova
  • Patent number: 6182584
    Abstract: A system and process to provide integrated control for the pyrolytic composition of organic (biomass) waste products especially for municipal solid waste systems. The system includes integrated control that monitors biomass waste stream throughout the entire system and the products produced therefrom and includes presorting, controlling the amount of material processed in a continuous manner, shredding, removing moisture in a continuous process that is controlled and providing the waste stream to the distillation unit for pyrolytic action where it is converted into gaseous fuel and a char residue. The gaseous fuel is scrubbed clean and monitored and stored and reused to provide heat to the system. The entire system may be self-sustaining and continuous with very little or no human intervention. An integrated real time computer control system includes sensors and measuring devices with all the major components to ensure integrated efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Environmental Solutions & Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig T. Gaudio
  • Patent number: 6172271
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reclaiming oil from waste plastic in such a way that thermosetting resins and solid foreign matter in the plastic will not pose a problem. This method greatly reduces the burden of presorting the garbage or industrial waste. To achieve this objective when oil is to be reclaimed from a waste plastic containing chlorine compounds, such as vinyl chloride, the plastic must first be stripped of chlorine. Prior to pyrolysis, while being conveyed forward in a continuous stream, the plastic is mixed with heated sand and/or an additive agent to raise its temperature to 250-350° C. This creates a product which is comprised of a mixture of sand and substantially dechlorinated plastic. The product is mixed with heated sand to heat it directly to a temperature of 350-500° C. It is maintained at this temperature until pyrolysis occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Horizoe, Takeshi Amari, Hiroshi Nagai, Shizuo Yasuda, Yuji Kaihara, Yoshimasa Kawami, Yasumasa Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 6168688
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the thermolysis of solid waste within an enclosed thermolysis chamber in the absence of free oxygen which produces a thermolysis off-gas. The thermolysis off-gas is removed from the thermolysis chamber and injected into a cyclone where it is washed with water and cooled. The washed and cooled thermolysis off-gas is divided into two portions. One portion of the washed thermolysis off-gas is further cooled in a heat exchanger and then injected into a burner and combusted, while the remaining portion of the washed thermolysis off-gas is passed into indirect heat exchange with the hot off-gas resulting from the combustion of the other portion of the thermolysis off-gas in the burner and recycled back into the enclosed thermolysis chamber. This in-situ recycling of hot thermolysis off-gas helps prevent the creation of hot spots in the thermolysis chamber and the possibility of an explosive reaction between oxygen and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Francaise de Thermolyse
    Inventors: Guy Clot, Jean Roure
  • Patent number: 6149773
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for producing gaseous energy which may be used as fuel for driving electricity generating means comprises an oven (2), a ram (11) for feeding gas-producing waste material to the oven (2), gas burners (5) for heating the waste material while in the oven (2), and a collection vessel (25) for collecting gaseous fuel liberated by heating the waste material. The oven (2) and waste material feeder duct (7) connected thereto are of airtight construction, so that combustion of the waste material is not allowed to take place. The airtight oven (2) has a central gasifier section (15) having an inlet end (15a) and an outlet end (15b). The feeder duct (7) is connected to the inlet end (15a) and an outlet duct (16) is connected to the outlet end (15b). The outlet duct (16) extends into the collection vessel (25), which has an upper end housing a gas filter (26) and a lower end connected to an ash receptacle (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Waste Gas Technology Limited
    Inventors: Anthony John Grimshaw, Maurice Edward George Maton
  • Patent number: 6143136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating volatile from nonvolatile substances, separation of volatile substances, one from the other, and for performing various chemical reactions. In particular, an apparatus which performs these functions utilizing a combination of above ambient temperatures and above one inch of mercury vacuum within a rotating vessel. The apparatus uses a conventional rotary vacuum seal. The apparatus, however, operates well above the maximum operating temperature of the conventional rotary vacuum seal by isolating and cooling the conventional rotary vacuum seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sepradyne Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Aulbaugh, Gregory G. Hawk
  • Patent number: 6139722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for producing synthetic crude oil from oil bearing material, e.g., oil shale or tar sand, through continuous feeding and calcining, hydrocracking and hydrogenating kerogen or bitumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Chattanooga Corporation
    Inventors: Chalmer G. Kirkbride, James A. Doyle, Fred Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 6139723
    Abstract: A highly dispersed iron-based ionic liquid or liquid-gel catalyst which may be anion-modified and metals-promoted has high catalytic activity, and is useful for hydrocracking/hydrogenation reactions for carbonaceous feed materials. The catalyst is produced by aqueous precipitation from saturated iron salt solutions such as ferric sulfate and ferric alum, and may be modified during preparation with anionic sulfate (SO.sub.4.sup.2-) and promoted with small percentages of at least one active metal such as cobalt, molybdenum, palladium, platinum, nickel, or tungsten or mixtures thereof. The resulting catalyst may be used in a preferred ionic liquid form or in a liquid-gel form, and either fluidic form can be easily mixed and reacted with carbonaceous feed materials such as coal, heavy petroleum fractions, mixed plastic waste, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce P. Pelrine, Alfred G. Comolli, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 6133491
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from residential trash or waste and/or organic waste materials. In particular, the invention provides a process and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from residential trash or waste and/or organic waste materials in virtue of pyrolysis and catalytic cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Li Xing
  • Patent number: 6084139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing waste or biomass material into valuable products such as, for example, combustible gases, which is characterized in that(a) the waste or biomass material is subjected to a pyrolysis at a temperature of 350-650.degree. C., advantageously 450-550.degree. C.;(b) the gas released in the course of the pyrolysis is subjected--without condensation--to a cracking treatment at a temperature of 1100-1600.degree. C., advantageously 1200-1400.degree. C., under the influence of oxygen-rich gas introduced from outside and possibly of steam;(c) the residue liberated in the course of the pyrolysis is gasified under a pressure of 0.5-1.5 bar, advantageously 0.8-1.2 bar, at a temperature of 1200-1700.degree. C., advantageously 1400-1600.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Gibros Pec B.V.
    Inventors: Abraham Barend Van Der Giessen, Jacob Hendrik Obbo Hazewinkel, Klaus Jungk, Jan Pieter Lotens, Ruurd Andries Van Der Veen
  • Patent number: 6060631
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of plastic to produce a synthetic crude oil by means of separating a liquefied plastic into a lower boiling fraction and a higher boiling fraction containing non-distillable particulate matter which is admixed with a hydrocarbonaceous recycle stream and filtered. The filtered stream having a reduced concentration of finely divided particulate matter and the distillable lower boiling stream together with hydrogen is contacted with a hydro-demetallization catalyst in a hydro-demetallization zone. The effluent from the hydro-demetallization zone is contacted with a hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking zone to produce lower boiling hydrocarbons suitable for use as a synthetic crude oil and to produce gaseous, water-soluble inorganic compounds. A recovered hydrogen-rich gaseous stream is preferably recycled to the hydro-demetallization zone. The gaseous, water-soluble inorganic compounds are removed by scrubbing the hydrocracking zone effluent with an aqueous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. James, Jr., Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 6048374
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to unique and advantageous systems for gasifying and/or liquefying biomass. The systems of the subject invention utilize a unique design whereby heat from a combustion chamber is used to directly gasify or liquefy biomass. In a preferred embodiment, the biomass is moved through a reactor tube in which all the gasification and/or liquefaction takes place. Preferably, char exits the biomass reactor tube and enters the combustion chamber where the char serves as fuel for combustion. The combustion chamber partially surrounds the reactor tube and is in direct thermal contact with the reactor tube such that heat from the combustion chamber passes through the reactor wall and directly heats the biomass within the reactor tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Alex E. S. Green
  • Patent number: 6046370
    Abstract: The process aims treatment of used rubber and plastics such as vehicle tires, car fluff (plastic and rubber residues from shredded automobiles), and RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel). A vacuum pyrolysis of cuttings of said rubber and plastics is made in a reactor to yield a non condensable fraction of combustible gas, oil, and a carbonaceous solid residue. A portion of the carbonaceous solid residue is mechanically mixed in the reactor to the rubber and plastics cuttings before and during pyrolysis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Alcyon S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Affolter, Richard Bovey, Jean-Pierre Vuille
  • Patent number: 6039791
    Abstract: Certain physical properties, chemical composition and a content of volatile carbonaceous materials define the limits of the use of coke by-products of crude oil refining as green cokes for use in the manufacture of calcined cokes suitable in the production of anodes for the reduction processes in the aluminum industry. These limits render large quantities of green coke unusable for the purpose set forth above. The invention shows a way to overcome these limits by rendering up to now unusable cokes usable as green cokes for the manufacture of calcined cokes for the production of anodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventors: Michael G. Kazeef, Raymond Perruchoud
  • Patent number: 6011187
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reclaiming oil from waste plastic in such a way that thermosetting resins and solid foreign matter in the plastic will not pose a problem. This method greatly reduces the burden of presorting the garbage or industrial waste. To achieve this objective when oil is to be reclaimed from a waste plastic containing chlorine compounds, such as vinyl chloride, the plastic must first be stripped of chlorine. Prior to pyrolysis, while being conveyed forward in a continuous stream, the plastic is mixed with heated sand and/or an additive agent to raise its temperature to 250-350.degree. C. This creates a product which is comprised of a mixture of sand and substantially dechlorinated plastic. The product is mixed with heated sand to heat it directly to a temperature of 350-500.degree. C. It is maintained at this temperature until pyrolysis occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Horizoe, Takeshi Amari, Hiroshi Nagai, Shizuo Yasuda, Yuji Kaihara, Yoshimasa Kawami, Yasumasa Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 5998682
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for energy recovery through waste classification and calcination, and an apparatus therefor; the process comprises crushing and sorting various types of wastes, and by means of a series of classification, calcination and recovering treatments, recovering and reusing efficiently fuel oil, fuel gas and residues, as well as providing electric power and heat required for the apparatus in the self-supplying feedback system of the invention, and additionally, lowering successfully the secondary pollution from waste disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Szu Jeng Chien
  • Patent number: 5977421
    Abstract: The amount of limonene produced during pyrolysis of scrap tire carcass or polyisoprene rubber can be increased by decreasing residence time of the isoprene gas produced during the thermal degradation of polyisoprene rubber in the high temperature reactor region of an oven. This is achieved by using a novel oven design which permits rapid expansion of the isoprene gas away from the high temperature reactor region of the oven to a cooler region where the gas forms limonene and condenses. This pyrolysis method also decreases the amount of soot produced while increasing the amount of limonene produced. Furthermore, this system readily enables separation of the solid, liquid and gas phases produced during pyrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: Curtiss D. Hanson, Timothy Burrell, James E. Haworth, James A. Olson
  • Patent number: 5973217
    Abstract: According to the process described, old or waste plastics are depolymerized into a pumpable phase and a volatile phase to allow recovery of chemical raw materials and liquid fuel components. The volatile phase is separated into a gaseous phase and a condensate. In order to simplify the process in comparison with the state of the art, the depolymerised product remaining after the volatile phase is separated is also heated together with the condensate or condensate fractions in the presence of hydrogen under pressure and is subjected to hydrotreating, after non-boiling components are removed, to produce syncrude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Veba Oel AG
    Inventors: Horst Hastrich, Christian Hecka, Rolf Holighaus, Klaus Niemann, Claus Strecker