Abstract: A carbonaceous material with high characteristics of surface area and activity is produced in a continuous process by heating and drying ground pit coal at 200 to 300.degree. C. for 15 to 120 minutes in air, and then heating in two further stages in fluidized bed reactors. The first of these further stages is 400 to 600.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes while the second is 800 to 1100.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes. Tar is condensed from the offgases of the first further stage and the residual gas is divided and 10 to 95% recycled to the first further stage. Similarly, 10 to 95% of the off-gases from the second further stage are recycled.

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: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a solid heat-transfer material to provide the necessary heat for retorting. The shale is retorted in a spouted bed of the shale and heat-transfer solids. Preferably, molecular oxygen is excluded from the retorting zone.

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: Coke is produced with high yield and low sulfur by heating and drying ground coking coal at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. for 15 to 120 minutes in air, and then heating in two semicoking stages in nitrogen in fluidized bed reactors. The first semicoking stage is 400.degree. to 600.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes while the second is 800.degree. to 1,100.degree. C. for 10 to 60 minutes. Tar is condensed from the offgases of the first semicoking stage and the residual gas is divided and 15 to 95% recycled to the first semicoking reactor. Similarly, 15 to 95% of the offgases from the second semicoking reactor is recycled. The condensed tar is fed to the final coke-forming operation.

Abstract: Raw tar sand is treated in a fluidized bed reactor means wherein the raw tar sands are fed into an area below the top of the bed. The bitumen is converted in the process in a reducing atmosphere including steam to produce hot coked sand and hot off-gases. Off-gases from the reactor means pass through a heat exchanger means to preheat fresh (raw) tar sand. The cooled off-gases are separated to recover raw oil, while at least a portion of the separated gases are recycled to the reactor means, to retrieve and retain heat in the system by passing upwardly through hot spent sand. Steam and oxygen are injected into the lower area of the fluid bed in an area above the spent sand zone to burn off coked sand so as to produce heat for the cracking zone.

Abstract: A low cost, high efficiency process for treating oil shale is provided which allows essentially complete recovery of the valuable hydrocarbon fraction of the shale, including light ends, without direct firing of the shale or use of other expensive processing steps heretofore proposed. In preferred forms, the oil shale is heated in a closed heating system using circulating, oxygen-free gases until the shale "break point," or temperature at which the hydrocarbons begin to vaporize from the shale, is reached; at this point the system is slowly depressurized and hydrocarbons are simultaneously released to a condensation stage for the recovery thereof and control of circulating fan horsepower. Steam may also be added to the circulating system to further purge hydrocarbons from the shale and provide additional control of fan horsepower.

Abstract: In gas-solids contacting processes involving the transfer of granular solids from a high-temperature, non-oxidizing treating zone through an enclosed conduit to a combustion zone, the transfer of gases between the treating zone and the combustion zone is prevented by using a novel steam sealing technique which avoids the use of mechanical sealing means and differential pressure controllers. Steam is injected into the system between the two contacting zones, and by the use of flow rate controllers and a pressure controller, a portion of such steam is forced at all times to flow through the combustion zone, while another portion thereof is withdrawn from the transfer conduit in admixture with a portion of net off-gas from the treating zone. The control system is particularly adapted for use in oil shale retorting, wherein coke on the retorted shale is burned in a combustion zone.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition process and apparatus of the fluidized bed type for organic solid materials, particularly organic solid waste material contained in urban rubbish comprising a fluidized bed thermal decomposition furnace, the interior of which is divided by a partition plate into two zones, namely a first zone for thermally decomposing the organic solid waste material in the absence of oxygen and a second zone mainly for burning the carbonized material produced as a result of thermal decomposition of the organic solid waste material. Non-condensable components of the gas resulting from the thermal decomposition of the organic solid waste material are recirculated as fluidizing gas into the first zone, while air is used as the fluidizing gas for the second zone. Heat for the thermal decomposition in the first zone is obtained from the combustion in the second zone and transferred by the intertransfer of fluidized solids between zones beneath the partition plate.

Abstract: A method of retorting oil shale which comprises the steps of passing the material in particulate form downwardly as a continuous vertical column of solid material successively through a preheating zone, a distillation zone, a combustion zone, and a residue cooling zone. An improved method of product oil recovery is disclosed whereby the vapor product is subjected to sequential treatment with cyclone separators and an absorption column, with a portion of the resulting noncondensible gases being recycled to the retort.

Abstract: Coke is produced with high yield and low sulfur by heating and drying ground coking coal at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. for 15 to 120 minutes in air, and then heating in three semicoking stages in fluidized bed reactors. The first semicoking stage is 300.degree. to 470.degree. C. for 10 to 20 minutes; the second is 400.degree. to 600.degree. C. for 10 to 20 minutes; while the third is 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C. for 10 to 20 minutes. Tar is condensed from the offgases of the first two semicoking stages and the residual gas from each is divided and 60 to 80% recycled as fluidizing gas to the same semicoking reactor. 10 to 20% of the offgases from the third semicoking stage is recycled to the third stage as fluidizing gas. In addition, oxygen is used as make-up fluidizing gas in each of the three stages, in the amount of 10 to 30 liters per kilogram of dry coal in the first stage, 5 to 20 liters per kilogram of dry coal in the second stage, and 40 to 100 liters per kilogram of dry coal in the third stage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the destructive distillation of organic waste materials. An insulated sealed distillator compartment is provided having a plurality of conveyor stages for transporting the waste material through the sealed compartment while subjecting the material to a plurality of increased zones of temperature in order to completely pyrolyze the material and evolve pyrolysis gases. An auger feed apparatus supplys a continuous supply of material to the sealed distillator, while an auger discharge apparatus removes a continuous supply of solid carbonaceous residue from the distillator. The residue can be classified and separated into usable products. The evolved gases may be converted into crude oil and natural gas. A process for destructive distillation of the waste materials is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of treating a waste combustion gas from a coke oven comprising the steps of deoxidizing the waste gas, introducing the deoxidized gas into a dry-quenching unit as a gas for quenching red-hot coke, recovering the sensible heat of the red-hot coke given to the gas discharged from the dry-quenching unit for use as a heat source for generating steam and thereafter discharging the gas.

Abstract: In a continuous, solids upflow, gas downflow shale retorting process carried out at superatmospheric pressures, hydrostatic sealing means are provided at the shale inlet and retorted shale outlet ends of the retort, thereby avoiding the need for mechanical sealing means, lock vessels, etc. The raw shale is fed into the retort through a standing reservoir of product oil, or preferably a light fraction thereof, and the retorted shale is discharged from the retort through a water quenching zone and seal, in the lower portion of which is maintained a sufficient hydrostatic head of water to prevent the discharge therethrough of retort gases. Steam generated in the quench zone, containing some entrained hydrocarbonaceous matter, is treated in a multistage cooling and condensing manner for gas cleanup and for recovery of heat and an oil-free water condensate for recycle to the water sealing and quench zones.

Abstract: In a continuous, solids upflow, gas downflow shale retorting process carried out at superatmospheric pressures, hydrostatic sealing means are provided at the shale inlet and retorted shale outlet ends of the retort, thereby avoiding the need for mechanical sealing means, lock vessels, etc. The raw shale is fed into the retort through a standing reservoir of product oil, or preferably a light fraction thereof, and the retorted shale is discharged from the retort through a water quenching zone and seal, in the lower portion of which is maintained a sufficient hydrostatic head of water to prevent the discharge therethrough of retort gases. Steam generated in the quench zone, containing some entrained hydrocarbonaceous matter, is treated in a multistage cooling and condensing manner for gas cleanup and for recovery of heat and an oil-free water condensate for recycle to the water sealing and quench zones.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for increasing yields of certain recoverable gases, particularly ethylene feedstocks, produced during the manufacture of coke from a raw material in a coking apparatus is disclosed.The method includes the steps of heating the raw material to its coking temperature to cause evolvement of the recoverable gases in an effluent zone in the coking apparatus above the raw material; and simultaneously introducing a cooling fluid into the effluent zone to maintain the temperature of the recoverable gases in the effluent zone below their decomposition temperature, thereby increasing the yield of certain recoverable gases from the coking apparatus while maintaining maximum coke-producing rates in the coking apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous process is described whereby particulate woody materials are carbonized in a fluidized bed to form solid and gaseous fuel. The process includes injecting particulate woody materials, on a continuous basis, into a fluidized bed of previously carbonized material. Off-gas from carbonization with entrained charcoal fines is continuously removed from above the bed, and coarse charcoal is continuously removed from the surface of the bed. If desired, a high ash, coarse fraction may also be continuously removed from immediately above the bed grid. The off-gas and entrained fine charcoal are separated in a cyclone system, and the charcoal fines with the coarse charcoal fraction from the bed surface are collected for use as solid fuel. Off-gas from the separator may be scrubbed, if desired, or utilized directly as an enriched gaseous fuel.

Abstract: Waste, preferably in a pre-dried state, is passed through a carbonizing oven chamber, from the top towards the bottom and is carbonized therein through interaction with a counter flow of heated gas; that gas together with carbonization gas is taken from the chamber and pre-cleaned (to remove condensates); a portion of the pre-cleaned gas is heated and used as carbonization producing and sustaining gas; the remainder of the pre-cleaned gas is washed and used otherwise, for example, as combustion fuel in a heater for the pre-cleaned gas that will then be used as carbonizing agent. The carbonizing oven chamber can be of various construction such as a pit furnace or a revolving oven. Preferred is to commence carbonization of waste in the chamber through a thermo shock.

Abstract: Solid waste, including municipal, agricultural, industrial, vegetable and animal matter, garbage and waste paper, is progressively converted by means of partial oxidation and distillation into gas under controlled temperature and pressure conditions and the gas is made suitable for industrial and chemical uses by being purified and separated into its main components or ingredients.