Abstract: Means and method of operating a tunnel kiln in which green carbon articles are baked in the ware (article) space of a baking zone by heat produced by the combustion of fuel directed to chambers adjacent the zone. The combustion chambers are connected in fluid communication with flues extending lengthwise of the kiln, the flues having a pressure gradient that extends lengthwise of the flues. The method of the invention includes the step of changing the pressure gradient within the flues such that a pressure differential between the combustion chambers and the ware space is effected that causes products of combustion to flow into the ware space from the combustion chambers in amounts sufficient to impede and prevent the deposition of coke formations on the walls of the space without burning the carbon articles.

Abstract: A method of producing abrasion resistant coke from brown coal briquets in a shaft furnace comprises charging the coke briquets into the top of the furnace and removing coke from the bottom of the furnace while directing inert hot combustion gases into the furnace and through the briquets at a plurality of vertically spaced levels throughout the height of the shaft furnace. Gases are directed at temperatures to effect and successively lower stages of the furnace the preheating, predrying, carbonization, and cooling of the charge. Gases are collected in each of the preheating and predrying stages by the use of a tubular suction arm which extends substantially across the width of the furnace and includes a performated bottom and sidewalls which extend partly below the bottom and are provided with a saw-tooth configuration so as to withdraw the gases through the space below the bottom and through the perforations of the bottom and to effect entrainment of dust from the charge in so doing.

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: In the multi-stage fluidized carbonization of coal to produce, oil, gas and char, oil containing vapors from the first stage are used as the fluidizing gas to dry the incoming coal feed. The oil vapor pressure of the fluidizing gas is maintained at a value under 10 mm. to prevent oil condensation in the fluidized drying vessel. The technique makes possible the recovery of sensible heat from the first stage overheads.

Abstract: A process for producing calcined coke agglomerates characterized by having a low reactivity to carbon dioxide. The process includes calcining green coal agglomerates at a temperature within the range of 1700.degree. F. to 1950.degree. F. (927.degree. C. to 1066.degree. C.) in a calciner. The agglomerates are exposed to a gaseous atmosphere which before cracking contains not less than 20% by volume of at least one straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon gas containing one to four carbon atoms. The gaseous atmosphere is preheated to a temperature within the range of 200.degree. F. to 700.degree. F.(93.degree. C. to 371.degree. C.) prior to being introduced into the calciner. Carbon produced when the hydrocarbon gas is cracked, is deposited as vitreous carbon on the surfaces, in the fissures and in the pores of the agglomerates. The calcined coke aggglomerates discharged from the calciner have a reactivity to carbon dioxide of between 2% to 8%.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and novel method and apparatus for reacting nongaseous material with a gaseous reactant comprising introducing a first stream containing a nongaseous material into a reaction zone; simultaneously introducing a second stream containing a gaseous reactant into the reaction zone such that the gaseous reactant immediately contacts and reacts with the first stream thereby producing a gaseous product; forming a spiralling vortex within the reaction zone to cause substantial separation of gases, including the gaseous product, from the nongaseous material; forming and removing a third stream from the reaction zone containing the gaseous product which is substantially free of the nongaseous material before a major portion of the gaseous product can react with the nongaseous material; and forming and removing a fourth stream containing the nongaseous material from the reaction zone.

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: 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 improving the mechanical resistance of coke comprises forming a liquor of fine grained coal and oil with the oil being of from 5% to 30% of the total weight, forming coal pellets of the liquor at an increased temperature of from approximately 80.degree. to 100.degree. C, and heating the pellets to transform them into coke in a known coking process. Prior to being carbonized, the pellets are advantageously coated with a separating layer of a substance preventing agglomeration, such as hematite ore, lime, fine coke, etc.

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: A gas, formed as a product of a pyrolysis of oil shale, is passed through hot, retorted shale (containing at least partially decomposed calcium or magnesium carbonate) to essentially eliminate sulfur contaminants in the gas. Specifically, a single chambered pyrolysis vessel, having a pyrolysis zone and a retorted shale gas into the bottom of the retorted shale zone and cleaned product gas is withdrawn as hot product gas near the top of such zone.

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: 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: A pyrolitic reducer and condenser apparatus within which waste material is reduced to char and volatiles with provision made for collecting heavy and light volatiles for their reuse. A reduction bin receives waste material which is reduced by a low oxygen heat flow passing downwardly through the bin. A lower bin portion intermittently discharges the resulting char while volatile matter passes outwardly and then upwardly along a condenser wall whereat heavier oils are condensed out. The condenser structure additionally includes an insulative member confining heat within the reduction bin. Lighter oils are condensed by water cooled surfaces within an upper, baffle equipped condenser portion. Provision is made for elevating of the condenser structure for periodic access to the reduction bin. A feed assembly embodies an air lock to enable the intermittent discharge of waste into the reduction bin while preventing the escape of reduction gases.

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: 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.

Abstract: A pyrolysing vessel in which the inlets and outlets for the charge and the pyrolysing gas are so arranged that charge and gas pass through the vessel along paths that meet substantially at right angles. The charge may descend vertically, and the vessel may taper outwardly and downwardly to aid this descent. The gas may enter and leave the vessel through grilles that can be oscillated to further aid the descent. Pyrolysing plant including the vessel may include means to take a fraction of the gas at the outlet and recycle it through a heater to the gas inlet.