Abstract: Coal mixed with steam is carried through a pipeline to a coke oven where the mixture is introduced through an opening in the oven top directly downwardly into the oven at a location remote from the exhaust outlet in the top of the coke oven.

Abstract: Crushed oil shale is segregated into a major portion of relatively large particles and a minor portion of "fines" which will pass through screen openings up to about 1/4 inch in size. The large particles are subjected to retorting as an upflowing moving bed in countercurrent contact with downflowing hot eduction gas, while the fines are retorted by controlled distribution over the hot upper surface of the bed of retorted large particles.

Abstract: A process for producing formcoke composed of char and selected binders comprising process steps in which non-oxidative thermal carbonization is employed.

Abstract: A process for treating bituminous schists including the steps of crushing the bituminous schist, feeding said schist to the top of a retort, pyrolyzing the crushed schist in said retort as it is moved downwardly therein through a combustion zone into which air is introduced, removing volatiles from the upper part of the retort, and removing spent schist from the bottom of the retort, said process being characterized by maintaining the combustion zone at a predetermined level in the retort by feeding the schist in a gradual and even manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding bituminous schist to a series of retorts each equipped with a rotary distribution spout and a central feed channel, the retorts radiating from a central schist distributing tower. At least one hopper communicates with a central feed channel communicating with the retort, and is laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the retort. Conveyor belts are provided for conveying schists from the central distributing tower to the hopper or the hoppers of each retort.

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: Coal not normally used for coking is, prior to feeding to coking batteries, processed in a vertical suspension preheater heated by combustion gases from the coking batteries; the coal particles are separated from these combustion gases in two alternately operating sets of primary and secondary cyclone separators and are then supplied to coking batteries together with part of the combustion gases which serve as carrier gases for the coal particles.

Abstract: An inclined chamber of a coke oven is defined by a heating side wall, a coke removal side, a horizontal chamber ceiling and a chamber floor inclined downwardly from the heating side wall to the coke removal side. Briquettes are charged into the chamber, through charging holes in the heating side wall arranged vertically one above the other and through charging holes in the chamber ceiling arranged one behind the other, in separate inclined fill layers. The charging operation is through separate charging holes, in a sequence from the lowermost charging hole in the heating side wall to the uppermost charging hole therein, and then from the chamber ceiling charging hole closest to the heating side wall to the chamber ceiling charging hole furthest therefrom. The vertical and horizontal spacing between adjacent charging holes is dimensioned to avoid breakage of the briquettes.

Abstract: Method of keeping sprinkling water used for sprinkling in the uptakes of coke ovens in a clean condition, comprises directing the sprinkling water condensate which is collected after circulation in the uptakes, and which includes tar, tar oils, hydrocarbons and ammonia, into a separator to separate a clean sprinkling liquid therefrom, and returning this liquid to the flue and also directing a tar which is free of solids into the flue with the sprinkling liquid, at least during an initial period of operation of the coking oven.

Abstract: A process for the facile isolation of distillation by-products of coking operations, which include dusts and tars, comprising cooling said distillation by-products with ammoniacal waters and adjusting the dust:tar ratio between 1.3 and 1.6, thereby allowing separation of substantially clarified ammoniacal waters and a substantially solid product of said tars and dusts.

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: Control of emission from coke ovens during charging. A bank of coke ovens is provided with two gas mains. The first of the gas mains is connected to each of the individual ovens in turn during charging. The second of the gas mains is connected to the bank of ovens during coking. A fluid energized venturi ejector maintains a predetermined level of vacuum at the head of each individual coke oven during charging. Means are provided to automatically reduce the suction provided by the ejector if the level of vacuum exceeds said limit. This means consists of a valve operated by changes in the level of vacuum at the head of the individual oven during charging. The valve connects the second main to the first, thus increasing the gas pressure applied at the throat of the venturi ejector in turn decreasing the degree of vacuum provided by the venturi ejector. The energy for the ejector may be provided by flushing liquor or by a compressible fluid such as steam, air or an inert gas.

Abstract: A process for preparing blast furnace cokes which contain large amounts of low-grade coal which comprises the steps of adding a binder to a coal for making briquettes which comprises a substantially low-grade coal such as non- and/or poorly-coking coal; either alone or when blended in an amount of up to about 40% or more with a charging coal; mixing the binder and the coal briquetting the mixture in a roll press to form briquettes of two or more types; blending the resulting briquettes of different types with a charging coal in a total amount of about 35% or more of the briquettes based on the charging coal and, to prepare a blended charging coal; and carbonizing the blended charging coal in a coke oven.

Abstract: A method of smokeless charging of coke ovens with coal charge in which coal is poured into each chamber of the coke oven in two stages: firstly coal charge is loaded into the oven chamber through extreme holes and charging gases liberated during said operation are discharged simultaneously, the loaded coal charge is held within the oven, after which the latter is replenished to capacity with coal charge through central holes, charging of the oven which is next in terms of the charging schedule and replenishing of the preceding one being effected simultaneously.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in a system which conducts a mixture of granular solids, such as preheated coal particles, and carrier gas, such as steam, to a plurality of enclosures, such as individual coke ovens of a coke oven battery. The mixture passes through a primary conduit and at least a portion of the mixture is diverted from the primary conduit by diverter means to a plurality of branch conduits. Each of the branch conduits leads to one of the enclosures. The method includes: removing a portion of the carrier gas from the mixture in the branch conduit prior to introducing the granular solids into the enclosure; and returning the removed portion of the carrier gas to the primary conduit downstream of the diverter means. The apparatus of the present invention includes a bleed-off conduit arranged between each of the branch conduits and a portion of the primary conduit downstream of the diverter means.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of oil from oil-bearing shale and for employing the oil-depleted shale as a combustible heat source. The oil-bearing shale is charged on a traveling grate to form a burden. A bed of oil-depleted shale having uncombusted carbon and hydrocarbons is provided, and those uncombusted materials are combusted to raise the temperature of the bed to above about 1000.degree. F. A reducing atmosphere is passed through the oil-depleted and combusted bed to raise the temperature of the reducing atmosphere. The heated reducing atmosphere is then passed through the burden to raise the temperature of the oil shale to at least 800.degree. F. and to thereby educt oil from the oil shale. In another embodiment, the combusted oil-depleted material is layered onto the oil-bearing and the reducing atmosphere is passed sequentially through the oil-depleted and oil-bearing material.

Abstract: A furnace and process for carrying out the carbonizing and/or activating of charcoal and similar operations includes vent means, which may be in the general shape of one or more elongated chambers of tunnels, that acts in combination with air admission means to determine the location, size, shape, and temperature of one or more hot zones within a pile of particulate combustible material. The vent means acts to (1) expedite the venting of gases generated in the mass of particulate material being treated, (2) collect a portion of the released gases in one or more chambers or zones, and (3) provide a space to burn any combustible gases at substantially controlled temperatures and in heat transfer relationship with the particulate mass.

Abstract: Coal is preheated and contacted with 0.5 to 3 percent by weight of moist coal tar, preferably bituminous coal tar. The thus-treated coal is admitted into a coke oven through the ceiling of the latter. The coal is poured into the coke oven, rather than being blown in, and is permitted to descend into the coke oven under the influence of gravity. Preferably, the coal is poured into the coke oven through at least two or three openings in the ceiling thereof. The coal tar serves to bind finely divided coal particles to the coarser particles and, in this manner, the development of dust during the introduction of the coal into the coke oven is restricted and, concomitantly, the danger of ignition or explosion is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of coke from coal by a dry distillation operation wherein the coking plant is provided with a computer unit that receives signals from the coal leveling mechanism, the door mechanism, the quenching car mechanism, and a signal value for the time required to achieve the coking of the coal. The computer prevents the opening of any given coking chamber until the minimum coking time has lapsed and the opening of the chamber and discharging and quenching of the coke is correlated to the actual operating conditions rushing at that time. If desired, the charging and emptying operations may be carried out on a completely automatic basis.

Abstract: Coal is first fed into the oven chamber through a plurality of first filling openings until the bases of the resultant cone-shaped charges are approximately in contact. Thereafter, coal is fed into a plurality of second filling openings positioned between adjacent first filling openings. The above operations are repeated until the oven chamber is filled. The coarser coal is thus distributed in a plurality of diagonal layers in the oven chamber. Filling gas is removed from the oven chamber during feeding through filling openings which are not being employed for feeding.

Abstract: A charging car supports a plurality of hoppers in a manner such that two hoppers for supplying coal to adjacent charging holes are supported one after the other in a consecutive relationship along a line which is generally parallel to movement by the charging car. A conveyor conducts coal from each hopper to a telescopic charging tube which communicates with the charging hole in the roof of a coking chamber. Skirt-like walls enclose the sides of the spaces containing two of the hoppers to conduct smoke and other gases upwardly toward a roof which is supported by stanchions at each side of the battery of coke ovens. In one embodiment, two roof sections extend from the sides of a battery of coke ovens toward the center thereof. Gas-conducting mains receive gases via outlet pipes having control valves from the spaces beneath the roofs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the heat treatment of materials on a traveling hearth mounted on a horizontal plane and rotated on a vertical axis within a substantially air-tight enclosure. The materials on the hearth are deposited thereon in separate and distinct rows and retained in separate rows while undergoing heat treatment within the enclosure. The material in one of said rows is capable of evolving volatiles when the materials are subjected to a heat treatment and the evolved volatiles rise and are dispersed in the upper portion of the enclosure where the same will combine with an oxidant such as air and/or oxygen which is admitted into this portion of the enclosure. The mixture of evolved volatiles and oxidants such as air and/or oxygen will combust in the upper portion of the enclosure.

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: An end wall of a horizontally extending coking chamber is provided with an opening through which a reciprocatable leveling rod projects with clearance into the chamber for leveling coal fed thereinto. Channel means communicating at one end with this opening surround with clearance the portion of the leveling rod outside the chamber. Air under pressure is fed into the region of the outer end of the channel means and sucked out from the latter from the region of the one end to thereby prevent gas to pass through the clearance between the rod, the opening in the wall and the channel means to the outside of the coking oven without feeding any of the air into the chamber.

Abstract: Coke oven gas collecting apparatus includes separate gas and liquor collecting mains for charging gas and coking gas connected to the standpipe through a rotary vane liquor seal valve.

Abstract: Charging apparatus is provided for charging preheated coal into a battery of coke oven chambers from a bunker above the battery which has sufficient capacity to contain enough coal to charge at least one oven chamber. Each oven chamber has a plurality of charging holes in the roof and the charging holes of the several chambers are arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the battery. A vibratory conveyor is associated with each row of charging holes for selectively delivering coal to the holes, and coal is supplied from the bunker to each conveyor through a measuring chamber which holds a predetermined amount of coal and delivers exactly the right amount to the conveyor for charging one oven chamber.

Abstract: At the machine side of a coke oven, a leveling rod is moved into a coke oven chamber through an opening surrounded by a frame on a removable oven door. A movable hood is positioned to define a horizontal extension to the opening in the coke oven door to thereby enclose a portion of the leveling rod during its movement into the oven chamber. A support member within the hood is arranged below the lower edge of the frame that surrounds the opening in the door. Bracket plates are carried by the support member such that the leveling rod moves upon the top surface of the uppermost plate. A removable bolt is employed to secure the bracket plates to the support member. The number of bracket plates used determines the elevation at which the leveling rod moves into the oven chamber. An extension insert is removably attached to the roof of the hood above the leveling rod.