Abstract: In a method for oil-extracting treatment of wastes for extracting oil by heating wastes contained in a waste containing chamber in a manner to be shut off from air, an inert gas is injected into the waste containing chamber after termination of thermal decomposition of the wastes to force out the combustible gas within said waste containing chamber and said waste containing chamber is then opened, so as to prevent an explosion due to mixing of the residual combustible gas within the waste containing chamber and air after the termination of thermal decomposition of the wastes.

Abstract: According to this invention there is provided a process for the heat treatment of noncaking, noncoking coal with a process derived gaseous fuel having a variably controllable calorific heating value.

Abstract: Waste plastics are heated so as to be thermally decomposed and produce a vapor product containing oil and gas components. The vapor product is brought into contact with a solid acid catalyst containing a hydrochloric acid as a decomposing activator to be cracked so as to recover a low boiling point hydrocarbon oil.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a nonrecovery coke oven battery including a plurality of elongated coke ovens constructed in side-by-side relation with each oven having a separate system of sole flues beneath each end connected to the crown of the oven by measuring the temperature in the oven and regulating the draft to the oven in response to the measured oven temperature and by measuring the temperature in the sole flue systems beneath each oven and adjusting the draft to one of the sole flue systems only in response to differences in temperature in the two sole flue systems.

Abstract: A plant for treating industrial and/or urban waste includes a stage for drying of the waste, followed by a stage for effecting thermolysis of the dried waste and a stage for effecting recovery of the solids and gases resulting from the thermolysis. Thermolysis of the waste is effected in a reactor by indirect heat exchange with combustion gases and drying gases for drying of the waste are subsequently treated to remove vapor materials and then recycled to a gas generator for generating the drying gases. Additionally the plant includes a stage for effecting dechlorination of the solids resulting from the thermolysis by washing the solids with an aqueous liquid, as well as a stage of separating the wash solids and the resulting wash liquid.

Abstract: A process for the pyrolysis of carbonation materials such as wood which comprises directly or indirectly heating the carbonaceous material with flue gases. When carbonization commences the direct heating is stopped while indirect heating continues until carbonization is complete. There is also described an application for effecting the process.

Abstract: In an apparatus and process for the activation of carbon from carbon feedstocks by electrical resistance heating in the presence of steam, which comprises preheating particles of the carbon feedstock in a preheater, having the particles descend by gravity into and through a vertical reactor connected to the preheater, introducing steam at the bottom of the reactor so that it moves upward against the downward flow of the particles, passing an electric current through the particles in the reactor, and discharging the activated carbon from the bottom of the reactor, the improvements that comprise feeding the carbon feedstock through the side of the preheater, controlling the electric input, having the reactor project into the preheater, using a knife-gate valve and a discharge-limiting device to control the discharge of the activated carbon, using a carbon feedstock that contains up to about 25% of organic volatiles, maintaining the preheating temperature within a range from about 550.degree. C. to about 750.

Abstract: A sole flue nonrecovery coking oven battery includes a plurality of elongated coking ovens constructed in side-by-side relation with common sidewalls downcomers connecting the ovens through the sidewalls to the sole flues, uptakes connecting the sole flues through the sidewalls to an elongated tunnel extending transversely of the battery and a single stack connected to the elongated tunnel applying a draft to all ovens in the battery through the downcomers, sole flues and uptakes, and an improved draft control system includes an adjustable draft regulating valve for controlling the flow of gas from the uptakes beneath each oven to the common tunnel. An adjustable damper type stack draft valve is also provided for opening and closing the stack to vary the draft applied to the stack to the battery.

Abstract: In an apparatus and process for the activation of carbon from carbon feedstocks by electrical resistance heating in the presence of steam, which comprises preheating particles of the carbon feedstock in a preheater, having the particles descend by gravity into and through a vertical reactor connected to the preheater, introducing steam at the bottom of the reactor so that it moves upward against the downward flow of the particles, passing an electric current through the particles in the reactor, and discharging the activated carbon from the bottom of the reactor, the improvements that comprise feeding the carbon feedstock through the side of the preheater, controlling the electric input, having the reactor project into the preheater, using a knife-gate valve and a discharge-limiting device to control the discharge of the activated carbon, using a carbon feedstock that contains up to about 25% of organic volatiles, maintaining the preheating temperature within a range from about 550.degree. C. to about 750.

Abstract: A gas jumper arrangement for a coke oven is composed of adjacently arranged coke oven chambers each having a gas opening with rims at the top portion thereof. The gas jumper arrangement overlaps gas openings of two adjacent coke oven chambers by one lid chamber each. The two lid chambers are connected in a duct-like manner by a gas jumper pipe and lids covering the gas openings during filling of a coke oven chamber are displaceable from an opened position into a closed position and settable into a rotational movement within the lid chambers by an actuation device. In order to ensure the tightness of the gas openings at the rims thereof even at larger pressure fluctuations and to enable the introduction of inert gas into the gas jumper arrangment, both the lid and the rim of each gas opening includes valve-face type sealing surfaces that mate with each other when pressed against each other in the closed position of the lid. A feed line for supplying an inert gas runs into the gas jumper arrangement.

Abstract: An improved coke handling and quenching method utilizes a coke box for receiving, cooling and carrying a coke charge from a coke oven in a pollution-free manner and employs a highly maneuverable self-propelled carrier vehicle for transporting and maneuvering the coke box. The coke in the box is indirectly cooled by directing a cooling medium over the external surface of the box. In the preferred method the trapped hot gasses are circulated within the coke box for enhancing the cooling of the coke charge. The method may also include exhausting the combustible gasses from the coke box and burning them in a burner tube.

Abstract: A pollution control system for capturing and incinerating the emissions to the atmosphere which arise when incandescent coke is pushed from a coke oven, includes a hood for capturing the emissions and a stack mounted on top of the hood for incinerating the emissions and in which a natural draft is produced for pulling the emissions into the hood. The hood is mounted on a railroad car which may be self-propelled or towed by a locomotive. The stack has a combustion system for producing heat therein, a damper for regulating the draft and a venturi section for mixing the particulates with the gasses. The mounting of the hood incorporates a power-operator for moving the hood into or away from contact with the coke guide of the coke ovens.

Abstract: Lump wood is carbonized in a shaft retort, which is flown through by hot rinse gas. The wood is charged to the retort at its top. Wood charcoal is withdrawn from the lower portion of the retort. An exhaust gas which contains gases and vapors produced by carbonization is withdrawn from the top end of the shaft retort and is directly fed to a combustion chamber. In a first section of the combustion chamber, the exhaust gas is combusted with air at an understoichiometric to stoichiometric rate at temperatures from 800.degree. to 1250.degree. C. Part of the combustion gas is withdrawn from that first section of the combustion chamber and is cooled to temperatures from about 450.degree. to 900.degree. C. and is fed as a rinse gas to the shaft retort. In a second section of the combustion chamber, the exhaust gas is completely combusted with air supplied at an overstoichiometric rate.

Abstract: A novel process for producing molten pig iron or steel raw material is described. The pig iron is initially at least partly reduced to sponge iron by means of a reducing gas and is then melted in a melting gasifier, being optionally finally reduced. Apart from the sponge iron, the melting gasifier is supplied with coal at least partly degassed by a hot gas and oxygen-containing gas. The hot gas used for this purpose is formed from the gas produced during degassing and a supplied, oxygen-containing gas. The latter is preferably constituted by air, which can be preheated by the gas produced during degassing.

Abstract: There is provided a process and reaction system for the highly efficient utilization of solid fuels with a low content of organic matter, which may have a high sulfur content and a high mineral carbonate content. Carbonate decomposition is minimized and most of the sulfur is removed from the resulting ash which can be used to make construction materials. The process is effected in 3 stages, the first two of these comprising fluidized bed operation. In the first stage pyrolysis, gasification and only partial oxidation of organic matter takes place, in the second stage combustion of residual carbon is effected in the presence of an excess of air. In the third stage the streams of combustible material coming from the first two stages are combusted. Among suitable dilute solid fuels there are low grade oil shales. The operating conditions have to be adjusted according to the nature of the solid fuel type.

Abstract: Slugs (4) of products dehydrated by compression are thrust into the tube (11) up to the hearth (15). The hot gases from the hearth passing round the tube (11) heat it up in order to release the gases and carbonize the solids which burn in the form of coke in the bottom (16) of the hearth. Household refuse may thus be eliminated not only without expense but with recovery of energy from it.

Abstract: Bulk materials containing volatile constituents are calcined in a two-stage process comprising a first heating stage at de-volatilizing temperature but below calcining temperature during which the material is turned over and mixed to accelerate its bulk heating rate without substantially accelerating local heating rate. The first heating stage is followed by a second heating stage at calcining temperature. A rotary hearth furnace adapted for the above process is divided into outer and inner connecting annular heating zones and has rabble means for turning over and mixing the charge in the outer zone and rabble means for transporting the charge through both zones.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charcoal producing apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, a heating chamber, first passage means interconnecting the combustion chamber and a discharge flue and second passage means interconnecting the heating chamber with the combustion chamber the second passage means being open to the atmosphere and having means for closing it off from the atmosphere. The invention also provides a method for the production of charcoal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of incinerating dewatered sludge without using an auxiliary fuel comprising pelletizing the partially dewatered sludge having a water content of 70 to 75%, drying the pellets with a heat source obtained by burning gases formed by dry-distillation and gasification, using part of the resulting dry-distilled gas in said drying step, dry-distilling the pellets by the sensible heat of a gas formed by gasification, gasifying the dry-distillation residues with air, water vapor and the remainder of said dry-distilled gas.

Abstract: The production of oil by retorting shale and other hydrocarbonaceous and lignocellulosic solid materials is facilitated by retorting in the presence of steam and acetic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric furnace for heating by passing a current through the charge, and more particularly, a continuous furnace in which the charge is a carbonaceous material.The furnace according to the invention is provided with a device for allowing non-reactive gas to be circulated in the opposite direction to the charge.The furnace according to the invention is used, in particular, for calcining anthracite.

Abstract: A plurality of sole flue-heated, non-recovery coke ovens constructed in side-by-side relation in a battery have their chimney uptake outlets connected to a common combustion tunnel extending longitudinally of and above the battery and connected to stacks at spaced intervals along its length. Each oven has a bypass flue directly connecting the top of its coking chamber to the combustion tunnel, and a normally closed valve in each bypass is operable to selectively connect the coking chamber to the tunnel to permit charging gases to be drawn from the chambers to be burned in the tunnel and stack. The bypass valve is closed during coking so that the partially burned gases from the crown of the coking chambers are led through downcomers in the oven walls to the sole flues where a controlled amount of combustion air can be admitted to promote the continued burning process and provide maximum heat in the sole flues.

Abstract: A plant for continuously retorting oil products contained in shales and sands comprising a substantially horizontal retort furnace into which said shales and sands are introduced by means of hoppers and metering devices and placed on metal conveyors moving in counter-current to gases, means being provided for placing said shales and sands onto said conveyors with a suitable thickness and for stirring the shales and sands. One or more combustion chambers are arranged outside said retort furnace for producing hot gases, and one or more input zones are located along the retort furnace for admitting hot gases into the retort furnace, causing the hot gases to mix with circulating gases which have been preheated by removing sensible heat from the exhausted shale and sand material. A direct contact condenser at the furnace head utilizes cold fluid to condense distilled oil products, and a decantation tank is arranged beneath said condenser for freeing the process gases from the dust.

Abstract: This invention comprises an apparatus and process for drying and/or heating materials. This invention was designed for use in the production of charcoal from wood feed material; however, it can be used to heat and/or dry many types of materials. Feed material is disposed in a reactor, wherein there is provided a first array of input channels extending through said feed material, through which hot gases are introduced into said feed material, and a second array of output channels extending through said feed material to collect and exit those hot gases and any gases or vapors derived from the heating and/or drying of the feed material.

Abstract: A process for extracting hydrogen fluoride from fluorine containing materials includes countercurrently contacting the materials with steam having a plane of rotation relatively perpendicular to the direction of flow of the material. An apparatus for the extraction of hydrogen fluoride from fluorine containing materials includes a rotary kiln having a first zone wherein a steam-air mixture countercurrently contacts the materials in an oxidation step, a second zone wherein an oxygen containing gas is tangentially injected into the kiln to provide complete combustion of carbon containing materials, a third zone wherein a steam stream countercurrently contacts the materials in a reducing step and means for providing a plane of rotation to the steam which is relatively perpendicular to the direction of flow of the material.

Abstract: The wood gases of a facility for the carbonization of wood to produce a lump charcoal are passed to an afterburner. The afterburner utilizes auxiliary burner units set at an angle to the combustion chamber centerline to provide heat for increasing the temperature of the refractory liner to the combustion level. Combustion air is introduced into the chamber resulting in a rapid mixing of the air with the gas. As a result of the introduction of the combustion air, a cyclonic movement of the flame occurs resulting in continuous contact between the gas and the hot refractory during its passage through the combustion chamber. The burned wood gases are maintained at a predetermined temperature by mixture with ambient air and supplied directly for an end use comprising lumber drying kilns. The burned wood gases are thus capable of economically drying southern pine lumber to 20% moisture content in one-fifth the time required by natural air drying.

Abstract: Process for calcining green coke in at least three heating stages, which comprises preheating the green coke in the first stage, preliminarily calcining the coke in the second stage, cooling the coke; and calcining the coke in the third stage, volatile matter from the second stage being burned during the third stage. The product coke is suitable for preparing graphite electrodes.

Abstract: At least a portion of coke produced in a hearth-type furnace is fed into an activation reactor, and at least a portion of the waste gas from the hearth-type furnace is fed to the activation reactor to act as a heating gas and/or an activation gas for the coke feed. Hot waste gas from the activation reactor is passed to a waste-heat boiler. Active coke which has at least partially lost its adsorption capacity may be fed into the furnace in mixture with the coal or alone, or it may be fed directly into the activation reactor for re-activation of the coke.

Abstract: An elongated tube is maintained at a temperature of about 1100.degree. F. throughout its length. Organic waste material such as shredded rubber automobile tires or industrial plastic waste or residential trash which preferably has metal and inorganic matter removed therefrom, is moved through the tube at a uniform rate of speed in the absence of air and/or oxygen, with the material being churned or tumbled as by means of a screw conveyor. The vapors and gases which are produced and/or liberated within the tube are quickly removed therefrom by means of a vacuum of from about four inches to about six inches of mercury, with the vapors being condensed and the gases separated therefrom. The char or residue which is a black, powdery, carbon-type material is also recovered.

Abstract: A pyrolysis reactor is operated by passing the waste products into a reactor provided with a heating unit; after completion of the pyrolysis passing the gaseous and vaporous products including suspended solids resulting from said pyrolysis into a partial oxidation zone wherein preheated air is added in an amount insufficient for complete combustion but sufficient to cause the exiting gas to have a temperature of at least 1000.degree., thereby causing decomposition of substantially all hydrocarbons present; then passing the partially oxidized gas through separate heat exchange means in contact, successively, with (1) the purified gas, (2) the air to be fed into the heating unit of the reactor and (3) with the air for said partial oxidation; then subjecting the partial oxidation gas to a purification; introducing air separately to said oxidation zone and heating means of the reactor; and passing the purified gas together with part of said added air into the heating unit of the reactor.

Abstract: A single-pass, continuous process converts organic feedstocks into activated carbonaceous products having high surface area values. The introduction of air and steam into the bed of material at selected locations, and at controlled rates, enables the economic, dependable and convenient production of such products, while maximizing the efficiency of energy utilization.

Abstract: Green petroleum coke is indirectly dried, then calcined in a cylindric rotary kiln and indirectly cooled utilizing a one-way gas flow in the system. Most of the dust in the vapor from the drying step is directly burned in a steam boiler whose off-gases are used to heat the dryer. Any residual dust in the gas is collected in an electro-filter. This dust together with dust which settles out from the dryer and the kiln is collected and added in controlled amounts to the dried coke before calcining. Hydrocarbons expelled during calcining are partially burned off with a stream of secondary air introduced at the coke exit end of the kiln. Most of the remaining hydrocarbons are burned off before they leave the coke inlet end of the kiln. The calcined coke product contains 0.1% by weight of hydrocarbons. The final off-gas from the process has a residual dust content of less than 100 mg/nm.sup.3.

Abstract: A process for calcining green coke containing water and combustible volatile matter and obtained by a delayed coking process in three or more stages of heating furnaces which are connected in series, and the control of the temperature and the adjustment of the atmosphere in the respective furnaces can be independently carried out, which process comprises carrying out, in respective furnaces in the indicated order, the steps of:(a) evaporating the water contained in the green coke, and drying and pre-heating the coke;(b) distilling off and burning the volatile matter from the dried coke; and(c) heating and calcining the coke from the step (b).Because each furnace can be controlled independently from the other furnaces in the above described process, it is possible to produce high-grade coke without process difficulties such as the loss of the coke by combustion and the formation of coke ring.

Abstract: A method for operating a battery of horizontal coke ovens which are connected to primary and secondary gas-collecting mains extending alongside the battery, wherein dust-laden gas which occurs during charging of an oven is caused to flow through the secondary main while the velocity of the gas in the secondary main is maintained at a level which will prevent settling of the dust and the temperature within the secondary main is maintained at a level which will prevent condensation of tars.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding an oxidant such as air and/or a fuel rich gas within the confines of a substantially air tight enclosure employed in the heat treatment of volatile containing materials which are deposited on the floor of a rotary hearth mounted within the enclosure. A larger number of air and/or fuel rich gas inlet ports are provided in the roof of the enclosure at the outer periphery thereof than at the central or intermediate areas of the enclosure to thus provide a more oxidizing atmosphere at the outer peripheral area of the enclosure than at the central and intermediate areas of the enclosure. The oxidant is admitted into the furnace enclosure through concentrically arranged rows of inlet openings formed in the roof of the enclosure.

Abstract: An improved dust collecting system for a coke oven employs a bag filter dust collector as a common dust collector for both the coke discharge operation and the coal charging operation. First, the dust spouted out in the coke discharge operation and then successively and alternatingly, the dust spouted out in the coal charging operation and in the coke discharge operation are collected, whereby fine coal particles deposited out in the coal charging step are deposited on the layer of the fine coke particles firstly deposited out in the coke discharging operation. In addition, a combustion chamber is provided for burning the gases and dusts spouted off in the coal charging operation and a pre-dust wet-type collector is utilized therein for preliminary filtering before the same is fed to the common bag filter dust collector.

Abstract: The coke forms are produced in four stages, each constituted by a respective oven chamber, and in which the briquets are, respectively, preheated, dehydrated or dried, carbonized and cooled. Hot gas circuits are provided, in which the hot gas is composed substantially of burnt lean gas of the carbonization, and, for each stage, the hot gases are recirculated in a separate respective circuit. In the preheating, dehydrating and carbonization stages, the hot gases are heated and produced, or supplemented, in a respective separate combustion chamber with the recirculating hot gas in the carbonization stage being supplemented with cooled lean gas from this stage. The recirculating hot gases are dedusted separately in a dust settling chamber in which their flow velocity is reduced to approximately 0.2 to 2.0 m/sec, with the dust being collected.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, coking or carbonizing fluent or flowable carbon-containing material, such as wood, peat, residues, wastes or the like, by means of gases in an inclined treatment chamber through which the material moves from the top towards the bottom under the influence of gravity while utilizing the flow action of the material while exceeding the natural angle of repose of the material. Gas is conducted from the bottom towards the top in countercurrent flow to the material through the treatment chamber. The gases, constituting a mixture of an infed dosed supply of air and distillation gas escaping out of the material in gaseous state into the hot gas mixture, are exclusively conducted upwardly in the treatment chamber over the material in direct contact therewith owing to the natural rise or lift and the heat needed for coking or carbonizing the material is exclusively produced in the treatment chamber by combustion of the distillation gas with the infed air.

Abstract: An increased coking rate of a coal charge in a non-recovery coke oven is achieved without polluting emissions by decreasing the supply of primary air fed into the coke oven chamber throughout the coking period while controlling the amount of heated secondary air for combustion of the effluent in downcomers to maintain the temperature therein between 1200.degree. F and 2400.degree. F and to maintain a temperature in the range of 1800.degree. F to 2700.degree. F in heating flues by further combustion of the effluent discharged thereto from the downcomers. Coking proceeds from the top, bottom and sides of the coal charge. The effluent from the sole heating flue is incinerated within a checker-filled ignition chamber maintained at a temperature of at least 1600.degree. F. The incinerated gases are drawn into a stack at a negative draft pressure of between 0.15 and 0.17 inch water gage.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for treating a comminuted solid carbonizable material, such as comminuted municipal waste; sawdust, granulated coal, shredded tires and the like wherein the material is caused to be pyrolyzed in a horizontally disposed elongated reaction zone essentially free of any oxygen containing gases at ambient pressure and at a temperature of from 400.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. The material is passed through the reaction zone by paddle-like impellers mounted on a shaft while being subject to an indirect heat transfer relationship via a burning air fuel mixture spirally swirling within a heating zone about the reaction zone and the mixture being withdrawn from a lower portion of the heating zone. During pyrolysis, the material is chemically changed into valuable gaseous, liquid and solid products.

Abstract: A method of pyrolyzing sewage sludge to transform the same into activated carbon, with the combustible pyrogas and volatile liquids included therewith that arise from the pyrolysis operation being burned to sustain the transformation operation. A first portion of the hot activated carbon resulting from the operation is mixed with the wet sewage sludge to provide a dry sludge mixture that is subsequently subjected to the pyrolyzing operation. Water vapor that discharges as the hot activated carbon is mixed with the wet sewage sludge is heated by the burning of the pyrogas and transformed to steam. The resulting steam is in contact with the dry mixture during the pyrolyzing operation, and as a result the dry mixture is transformed to activated carbon. A second portion of the resulting activated carbon is separated from the first portion thereof, with this second portion being available for use apart from the method.

Abstract: Gases formed on charging a coke oven are extracted, burned and washed. A gas-handling system, mounted on a machinery truck of the coke-oven plant, is used. An extractor unit of the system comprises an extractor conduit which is connected to an updraft pipe of a coke oven during charging of the oven. The gas-handling system specifically comprises a combustion chamber shaped and dimensioned to ensure a gas flow at a velocity which does not exceed 10 meters per second. The combustion chamber comprises a heat-retentative lining to ensure that the temperature within the chamber does not fall substantially below the ignition temperature of charge gases between successive charging operations.

Abstract: A process for carbonizing lignite coal in a Herreshoff Carbonizer of a multi-hearth type. The novel process comprises the steps of introducing given quantities of lignite in the first and succeeding hearths while introducing sufficient quantities of combustion air and fuel to ignite the fuel and to raise the temperature of the hearths until the process is self-sustaining as a result of the combustion of the volatiles driven off of the lignite. The hearth temperatures range approximately 1450.degree. to 1620.degree. F in the first furnace hearth with the second furnace hearth ranging approximately 1650.degree. to 1800.degree. F and the third furnace hearth ranging approximately 1650.degree. to 1890.degree. F. Sufficient combustion air is introduced into various hearths of the furnace to insure complete combustion in at least the first hearth and in the stack of the volatiles being driven off thereby making the process self-sustaining, allowing the introductory fuel to be cut off.

Abstract: The so-called float tar which floats on the stream of crude tar and ammonia water in the tar separator of a coking installation and which interferes with the clean separation of crude tar and ammonia water is removed by skimming the float tar off the crude tar and ammonia water mixture and subjecting the separated float tar to comminution and homogenization whereupon the homogenized tar product may be processed either separately or together with the bulk of the tar. An installation for use in the process comprises a tar separator in the form of an open top separator vessel, a channelled structure associated with the separator vessel, means provided in the separator vessel for skimming the float tar off the bulk of the crude tar and ammonia water and passing it into the channel of said structure, and a comminuting and homogenizing device which communicates with said channel through a grade drop.

Abstract: A modified rotary kiln suitable for calcining normally solid carbonaceous material, having adapted thereto at one end a firing crown and means for admitting combustible gases or liquids and air; a feeding means for such solid carbonaceous material to be calcined adapted to the other end of the kiln; and wherein the combustion gases and solid materials travel countercurrently in the kiln during calcination, wherein: at least one series of at least two tuyeres passes through the wall of the kiln symmetrically spaced to and at about a point longitudinally in the middle one-half of the longitudinal axis of the kiln; each tuyere terminating within the kiln through a nozzle on the side of the tuyere at a height sufficient for the discharge of exterior oxidizing gases passing therethrough at a point above the bed of the carbonaceous material in the kiln, directing the exterior oxidizing gases toward the feed end at about the same acute angular direction from a line passing through the nozzle and parallel to the long

Abstract: Organic and pseudo-organic materials such as waste materials, for example, are processed in a converter system and decomposed into various usable and reusable forms. Inorganic metals and salts are treated likewise in the same converter system and processed into various usable and reusable forms. While being carried by a conveyor through a controlled atmosphere treatment chamber, virtually free from combustion supporting air or other oxidizing agents, the feed material is caused to progressively thermally break down into its more basic constituents which flow out of the material treatment chamber in a continuous liquid and gaseous vapor stream. Negative pressure is applied upstream from the material treatment chamber to lead the liquid and gaseous vapor stream through successive processing stages of collection containers, condensers and gas scrubbers. The variable negative pressure is sufficient to maintain the pressure in the material treatment chamber within a range of slightly above ambient pressure.

Abstract: The vapor emissions from process exhausts, containing one or more contaminants of the solid, liquid and gaseous types, are delivered to the inlet of a firebox which, in one embodiment, has a cylindrical side wall and a tangentially arranged oxidizing air-fuel burner. The hot gas outlet of the firebox is so arranged that the hot gases of combustion are retained within the firebox a sufficient length of time to insure substantially complete combustion of combustibles within the firebox. The portions of the firebox which are contacted by the gases of combustion are of a material or combination of materials having a surface capable of being heated to a temperature exceeding the ignition temperature of the air-fuel mixture of the burner and of combustible materials from the process, and an external mass capable of insulating said surface against external cooling below said ignition temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing form coke that is coke having pieces of substantially identical form using a heated shaft furnace comprises mixing fine coke with a caking coal and pressing the mixture at temperatures at which the mixture is plastic in order to form briquettes. The briquettes are permitted to harden and degasify and thereafter they are exposed to a high temperature after hardening for example to a temperature of from 400.degree. to 900.degree. C from 60 to 120 minutes. Thereafter the briquettes are cooled. A first mixing substance is prepared by permitting a fine coal to fall in a non-compressed stream in the shaft furnace while heat is transferred thereto substantially by radiation.

Abstract: A burner for oil or gas is controlled by a thermocouple to maintain a predetermined minimum operating temperature within ignition chambers employed to incinerate partially-burned distillation products conducted from the space above a coal charge in a coke oven. Passageways in the side walls of the coke oven conduct the partially-burned distillation products from the space above the coal charge into sole heating flues located below the oven floor from where such distillation products are conducted into the ignition chambers. A stack is connected to the ignition chambers by a conduit which includes a recuperator used to reduce the temperature of the burned gases and provides a heated secondary air supply. This air supply is fed by separate pipes including control valves into one of the ignition chambers and into the passageways in the side walls of the coke oven. The stack includes a gas washer and a fan used to control the draw on the ignition chambers as well as the coke oven.

Abstract: Pulverulent coke and granular reactive coke are produced, respectively, from fines and grains of coal of grades which are not normally usable for coking, containing more than 15% of volatile matter and having a swelling index between 1 and 8, by carbonization between 600.degree. C and 1100.degree. C, wherein combustion air in excess of that which would be necessary to bring the coke to the desired coking temperature is introduced into a slightly inclined rotary tubular oven through which the coal passes during its conversion into coke, the air introduction being effected between the coke outlet and the zone in which the product reaches its maximum temperature and being controlled so that the temperature of the gases issuing from the oven is kept above 600.degree. C. At least 60% of the air is preferably introduced at the downstream end of the oven, and further air may be introduced at intermediate points along the oven length.