Abstract: Coke is produced from coal by coking the coal, and optionally by drying and/or preheating the coal prior to coking, and further optionally by dry cooling the coke subsequent to coking. At least the coking step is achieved in a pressure tight container which may be a transportable or tippable container. The coking step is performed in the container by conducting a gas through the container in direct or indirect heat exchange relationship with the coal and forming coke. The coking step includes a phase of lump coke formation achieved by heating the coal in a temperature range of between approximately 250.degree. and 600.degree. C. by indirect heat exchange only.

Abstract: A shale oil retorting system and novel continuous feed means for retorting oil shale within a retort housing employs a tilted circular conveyor within the housing which allows for continuous feeding of crushed oil shale within the conveyor for subsequent immersion in a hot process oil bath and unloading from the housing. The retort housing is constructed of side body members arranged to provide primary refluxing action of flammable process oil vapors evolved during retorting to prevent explosion. Safety is further augmented by providing an overhead vapor outlet and a sufficient level of process oil in the bath to produce a slight overpressure in the free board region conducive to quickly exhausting shale oil vapor from the housing into an overhead condensing unit. The spent shale particles discharged from the housing are immediately quenched to recover process oil coating the particles and minimize generation of flammable vapors from the hot particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the multi-stage refining of organic bulk materials according to the fluidized bed principle comprising a plurality of horizontally aligned cells (23) including an upper drying chamber (1), a middle degasification chamber (2) and a lower refining chamber (3) separated from each other by an individual gas permeable floor (19) or a gas impermeable floor (20). Adjacent cells are connected to each other by common discharge/charge chutes having vertical separation walls extending therein.

Abstract: A pyrolysis unit in which feed materials containing cellulose or oil are subjected to destructive heating to drive off gases and liquid vapors while leaving solid residue in the form of nearly pure carbon. The feed materials are conveyed in succession through horizontal reaction cylinders located at different elevations. Heat is applied by the burning of solid fuel in a firebox of the unit and also by injecting into each cylinder the process gas driven off in the immediately succeeding cylinder. A feeder which delivers both the fuel and feed materials includes drying zones in which combustion gases are directed through the fuel and feed materials to preheat and dry them and to filter the combustion gases.

Abstract: A staged retort is provided for the retorting of certain types of carbonaceous materials such as oil shale, coal or lignite, wherein the staged retort includes a number of separate retort chambers arranged in a modular configuration, with one retort chamber above the other, and mounted transversely within the staged retort. Each retort chamber is heated to a different temperature, and carbonaceous material is moved from a given retort chamber to a retort chamber having a higher temperature, whereby heavier fractions of liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons are formed as the carbonaceous materials undergo pyrolysis. Arrangements such as pressure regulating valves are provided to reduce mixing of the various fractions between the individual retort chambers to nearly zero, and conduits are provided to separately withdraw the hydrocarbon gases and/or liquids from each retort chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for the retorting of oil shale comprising passing feed comprising oil shale to a contacting zone wherein the feed oil shale is contacted with heat transfer medium to heat said shale to retorting temperature. Retorting of the feed oil shale is substantially effected to form fluid material having heating value and forming partially spent oil shale comprising inorganic and carbonaceous material. At least a portion of the partially spent oil shale is passed to a combustion zone wherein the partially spent oil shale is contacted with oxidizing gas comprising oxygen to substantially combust carbonaceous material and forming spent oil shale. At least a portion of the spent shale is passed to a cooling zone to remove heat from the spent shale and at least a portion of the spent shale from the cooling zone is recycled to the contacting zone.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process and apparatus for pyrolyzing particulate coal by heating with a particulate solid heating media in a transport reactor. The invention tends to dampen fluctuations in the flow of heating media upstream of the pyrolysis zone, and by so doing forms a substantially continuous and substantially uniform annular column of heating media flowing downwardly along the inside diameter of the reactor. The invention is particularly useful for bituminous or agglomerative type coals.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process and apparatus for pyrolyzing particulate coal by heating with a particulate solid heating media in a transport reactor. The invention tends to dampen fluctuations in the flow of heating media upstream of the pyrolysis zone, and by so doing forms a substantially continuous and substantially uniform annular column of heating media flowing downwardly along the inside diameter of the reactor. The invention is particularly useful for bituminous or agglomerative type coals.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pyrolyzing agglomerative coals which comprises introducing a fluidized bed of hot char particles into a pyrolysis chamber or reactor, and injecting upwardly into the chamber a high velocity jet of agglomerative coal particles in a carrier gas, the fluidized hot char particles surrounding the high velocity coal jet and heating the coal particles to yield gaseous products and char. The hot char particles in the fluidized state and disposed around the coal jet are entrained in the upwardly expanding coal jet and mixed with the coal particles, so that by the time the coal particles contact the pyrolysis chamber wall, such coal particles being heated by the char have passed through the tacky state and are no longer tacky and do not adhere to the chamber wall. The gaseous product and char formed during pyrolysis are rapidly removed from the pyrolysis chamber, and such char can be separated, e.g.

Abstract: A system is provided for utilizing fines of carbonaceous materials such as particles or pieces of oil shale of about one-half inch or less diameter which are rejected for use in some conventional or prior surface retorting process, which obtains maximum utilization of the energy content of the fines and which produces a waste which is relatively inert and of a size to facilitate disposal. The system includes a cyclone retort (20) which pyrolyzes the fines in the presence of heated gaseous combustion products, the cyclone retort having a first outlet (30) through which vapors can exit that can be cooled to provide oil, and having a second outlet (32) through which spent shale fines are removed. A burner (36) connected to the spent shale outlet of the cyclone retort, burns the spent shale with air, to provide hot combustion products (24) that are carried back to the cyclone retort to supply gaseous combustion products utilized therein.

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: An improved method for retorting oil shale with heat-carrying bodies comprising relatively coarse attrition resistant, non-oil sorbing, shale ash particles wherein oil recovery is maximized. After retorting, the spent oil shale and heat-carrying bodies are transferred to a reheating vessel or combustor. The reheating vessel contains a dense phase fluidized bed wherein the fixed carbon contained in the spent shale is combusted at temperatures between 1100.degree. F. and 1600.degree. F. to reheat the heat-carrying bodies. The invention is based on the finding that the decomposition of kerogen, which is present as a binder in raw oil shale, leaves pores within kerogen-rich shale which results in relatively large surface areas. Attrition of the kerogen-rich shale in the dense phase fluidized bed at a superificial gas velocity of 7-14 ft/sec reduces the size of this porous, friable material and allows it to be removed in the exit gas stream as fines.

Abstract: A solid carbonaceous material is pyrolyzed in a descending flow pyrolysis reactor in the presence of a particulate source of heat to yield a particulate carbon containing solid residue. The particulate source of heat is obtained by educting with a gaseous source of oxygen the particulate carbon containing solid residue from a fluidized bed into a first combustion zone coupled to a second combustion zone. A source of oxygen is introduced into the second combustion zone to oxidize carbon monoxide formed in the first combustion zone to heat the solid residue to the temperature of the particulate source of heat.

Abstract: Bitumen-containing material is processed by distillation with a solid heat-carrier with subsequent gasification of the distillation residue and combustion of the gasification residue in an aerofountain furnace. During gasification, the formed flue gas and ash are heated and part of ash is used as the heat-carrier. The flue gas and ash are withdrawn from the process simultaneously in the form of their suspension in air, from which the heat-carrier is isolated for the distillation process, the consumption of the heat-carrier being controlled by withdrawing part of the suspension containing fine fraction of ash before the heat-carrier is isolated.

Abstract: A method of heating multi-fractional materials is disclosed wherein additional streams of heat carrier gas of a comparatively high temperature are introduced in a stream of heat carrier which has a maximum-temperature heating zone and a comparatively low-temperature heating zone provided in the process flow. The additional streams are supplied only to the comparatively low-temperature heating zone in the main stream of heat carrier, thereby raising the temperature of the heat carrier stream. Multi-fractional materials are heated as they enter the comparatively low-temperature heating zone in the heat carrier stream and before they have entered the maximum-temperature zone.The apparatus for implementing the method of heating consists of a plurality of heaters connected in a series relationship and having inlet tubes for supply of heat carrier and the materials to be heated, a means adapted for separating heated materials from waste heat carrier, and discharge tubes for the above products.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a carbonaceous material to produce a gas in which the carbonaceous material and a heated inert heat exchange medium are passed into a reactor vessel for mixing and for transferring the heat from the heat exchange medium to the carbonaceous material to produce gas. An outlet opening is provided through the reactor vessel for discharging the gas and an impingement plate is disposed in the interior of the vessel and extends across the outlet opening in a spaced relation thereto in the path of the gas. As a result the gas impinges against the plate before discharging from the outlet opening to separate solid particles from the gas.

Abstract: Adjacent alternating rows of relatively coarse and fine coal are deposited onto a horizontal moving grate running through a coking furnace.

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: To prevent plugging in a pyrolysis operation where an agglomerative coal in a nondeleteriously reactive carrier gas is injected as a turbulent jet from an opening into an elongate pyrolysis reactor, the coal is comminuted to a size where the particles under operating conditions will detackify prior to contact with internal reactor surfaces while a secondary flow of fluid is introduced along the peripheral inner surface of the reactor to prevent backflow of the coal particles. The pyrolysis operation is depicted by two equations which enable preselection of conditions which insure prevention of reactor plugging.

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 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: A furnace for manufacturing a high-calorific gas and coke from coal, provided with two walls 1 perforated in their upper portion, which form a rectangular chamber 2 filled with a coal charge. These walls are provided with channels 3 with inlet pipes 4 for supplying hot combustion gases and the furnace is furnished in its upper zone with inlet pipes 6 for delivering coal to the furnace and ramming pistons 7 having imparted free reciprocating motions. At the side of the furnace in its upper zone are inlet pipes 8 for supplying a hot circulating gas to the direct heating chamber where a coal charge is directly heated. Inside of the gas chamber 10 of the furnace there is an outlet pipe 9 for withdrawing cold circulating gas to a blower 14, which then becomes successively heated to the required temperature in a heat exchanger 13.

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: Carbonization of coal in travelling grate furnace with hot gas inlets below the grate. A refractory screen is provided above the grate to provide a flame propagation base for the volatile gases withdrawn from the coal on the grate. The combustion zone above the refractory screen provides radiant heat to vaporize volatiles present in the coal on the grate.The coal to be treated may be in the form of briquettes or an extruded slab. When an extruded slab of slurried coal is used the thermal shock on first entering the carbonization chamber results in the formation of carbon granules.