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: Lump fuels are continuously coked at a high temperature above 750.degree. C in a shaft oven with direct heating by a hot scavenging gas which is produced by a partial combustion of the coking gas and conducted through the shaft oven in a countercurrent to the lump fuel. A reactive carbonaceous material is added to the hot scavenging gas before it enters the high-temperature coking zone and reacts with the gasifying agents (carbon dioxide and water) contained therein before it is introduced into the shaft oven.

Abstract: Solid waste material is disposed of and a portion thereof converted into valuable refractory material within a reactor having a substantially vertical pyrolysis chamber, a refuse charging inlet and a combustible gas outlet in the upper region thereof and a molten refractory material outlet in the lower region thereof. Gas-feed means charges an oxygen-rich gas into the chamber under pressure at a plurality of vertically spaced points along the length thereof so as to produce combustion of the waste organic components and generate heat. The charge is controlled to maintain a plurality of different temperature zones along the length of the chamber so as to effect incomplete combustion of the waste organic component and form a combustible gas and an organic-free molten refractory material.