Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing biofuel from biomass material, comprising the steps of (a) pyrolyzing a first fraction of the biomass material having a pyrolysis temperature that is lower relative to the pyrolysis temperature of a second fraction of the biomass material to thereby produce a primary volatile fraction, and (b) separating the primary volatile fraction from the biomass material before pyrolyzing the second fraction, to thereby produce biofuel.

Abstract: A liquid condensation system heats a liquid raw material under a decompressed circumstance and evaporates a volatile component from a liquid surface to condense the liquid raw material. Therefore, the liquid condensation system includes: liquid condensers, each of which condenses the liquid raw material; a vacuum pump that is in communication with the liquid condensers; and a warm water circulation system as a heating source that heats the liquid raw material in the liquid condensers. The volatile component evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through vapor lines. The condensed liquid that is not evaporated in the liquid condensers is led to the outside of the liquid condensers through condensed-liquid lines. Condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves are interposed on the condensed-liquid lines, and heating means is attached to the condensed-liquid lines. A control unit controls the heating means and the condensed-liquid-line adjusting valves.

Abstract: A continuous pyrolysis and decoking process and apparatus is described for the production of acetylenic compounds, in which hydrocarbons and steam are circulated in at least one tube (31) of a steam cracking reactor (30) and steam is circulated in at least one tube (32) of that reactor. The hydrocarbon effluent and steam then circulate in at least one row (1) of a pyrolysis reactor (40) and the decoking effluent comprising steam circulate in at least one other row (2) of that reactor (4) to effect decoking. A set of valves V1, V2, V11, V12 is used to alternate the pyrolysis step path and the decoking step path. The temperature in the steam cracking furnaces is lower than that in the pyrolysis reactor.

Abstract: The processor is of the type incorporating horizontal, concentric, co-extensive inner and outer tubular members which rotate together. The processor is modified in the following respects:The front end of the inner tubular member is circumferentially corrugated and may be provided in the form of a plurality of parallel tubes arranged in a ring array, to thereby increase the shell area to promote heat transfer through the tube walls;Means are provided for interconnecting the tubular members, which means can accommodate differing rates of thermal expansion and;a rock recycle tube assembly is provided to recover oversize material leaving the corrugated portion of the inner tubular member and reject it from the processor.

Abstract: Briquettes made from bituminous or sub-bituminous coal or peat are produced by grinding the coal, mixing it with a binder and compacting the mixture. They are then carbonized in a continuous process in a shaft oven. The coal may be predried and the finished briquettes may be preheated, with a subsequent drying and hardening. The carbonization is effected in two stages in an indirectly heated shaft oven, with the evolved gas being taken off about at the mid-height of the oven shaft, processed, and used for heating in the second, high-temperature stage. The flue gases from this high-temperature stage are used for heating in the first stage and for preheating. The second or high-temperature stage is followed by a cooling stage where the gases evolved in the second stage, and mainly comprising hydrogen are used and circulated. The evolved gas in excess is continuously removed from the cooling circuit.

Abstract: Vertically elongate pockets are defined between fixed and horizontally movable vertical refractory walls. When the bottom of the pocket is closed, coal dropped into the pocket from above is compressed between the fixed and movable walls and heated to coking temperature by hot gases in vertical flues extending through the refractory walls. When coked, the moveable wall recedes and the coke therein drops into a shaft furnace below, where devolatilization is complete and the coke is quenched in an inert gas atmosphere, which is totally enclosed to prevent air pollution.

Abstract: An elongated tube is maintained at a temperature of about 1100.degree. F. throughout its length. Organic waste material such as shredded rubber automobile tires or industrial plastic waste or residential trash which preferably has metal and inorganic matter removed therefrom, is moved through the tube at a uniform rate of speed in the absence of air and/or oxygen, with the material being churned or tumbled as by means of a screw conveyor. The vapors and gases which are produced and/or liberated within the tube are quickly removed therefrom by means of a vacuum of from about four inches to about six inches of mercury, with the vapors being condensed and the gases separated therefrom. The char or residue which is a black, powdery, carbon-type material is also recovered.

Abstract: A continuous process for removing a substantial amount of the water present in oil shale prior to retorting the same to facillitate the rate of recovery of the oil therefrom in the retorting step of the process and to substantially increase the capacity of the latter step in the process and improve the overall efficiency thereof; which comprises subjecting the said oil shale in subdivided form to indirect heat treatment with hot combustion gases in a partial dehydration step under relatively milder temperature conditions than that of the retort, collecting the vapors and gases from the partial dehydration step, in the temperature range from the prevailing temperature up to about 550.degree. F. to about 650.degree. F.