Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

Abstract: Described are an apparatus and a method for recovering styrene monomer using an auxiliary solvent, more particularly an apparatus and a method for recovering styrene monomer through pyrolysis of waste polystyrene capable of improving recovery ratio of styrene monomer using an auxiliary solvent such as steam, preventing repolymerization of pyrolyzed styrene monomer and effectively preventing production of unwanted high molecular weight materials.

Abstract: Described is a method for the coking of coal, in particular coal with a high or alternating volatility, in coking plants comprising coking chambers, according to the non-recovery method or the heat-recovery method. Also described is device, which can be used to carry out said method simply, as the overheating of the coking furnace is prevented by the injection of water vapor. If a battery of coking furnaces is used, the disclosed method can be carried out irrespective of the number of said furnaces.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering energy values of waste tar sludge comprises dewatering the waste tar sludge, transporting the dewatered tar sludge in enclosed containers vented through activated carbon to remove volatile hydrocarbons before vapors are vented to the atmosphere, and injecting the dewatered tar sludge into the side wall of a coke oven charging hole along with a stream of coking coal introduced through the top of the charging hole.

Abstract: In an apparatus and process for the activation of carbon from carbon feedstocks by electrical resistance heating in the presence of steam, which comprises preheating particles of the carbon feedstock in a preheater, having the particles descend by gravity into and through a vertical reactor connected to the preheater, introducing steam at the bottom of the reactor so that it moves upward against the downward flow of the particles, passing an electric current through the particles in the reactor, and discharging the activated carbon from the bottom of the reactor, the improvements that comprise feeding the carbon feedstock through the side of the preheater, controlling the electric input, having the reactor project into the preheater, using a knife-gate valve and a discharge-limiting device to control the discharge of the activated carbon, using a carbon feedstock that contains up to about 25% of organic volatiles, maintaining the preheating temperature within a range from about 550.degree. C. to about 750.

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: A process for the recovery of solvents is disclosed. A hot carrier gas stream laden with solvent vapors from an evaporation space is compressed, cooled, and expanded with production of work for condensing and separating the solvent. The carrier gas stream lean in solvent vapors is conducted back into the evaporation space after being reheated. The whole of the work arising on expansion is transferred in direct mechanical coupling to one of two or more compression stages for compression of the carrier gas stream laden with solvent vapors. An apparatus for practicing the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal fluid bed retorting process is provided for preheating, retorting, combusting, and recovering heat from oil shale and other solid hydrocarbon-containing material. In the process, the combustor and heat recovery chambers share a common heat-conductive metal wall with and are positioned in side-by-side relationship to the cellular preheating and retorting chambers. The heat of combustion in the combustor and the heat recovered from the combusted shale or other material in the heat recovery chamber are transferred by conduction into the retorting and preheating chambers, respectively, to provide the process heat requirements for preheating and retorting the oil shale or other feed. The oil shale or other feed is fluidly moved in a generally horizontal S-shaped flow pattern through the preheating and retorting chambers in countercurrent flow to the combusted material in the combustor and heat recovery chambers.

Abstract: A process for carbonizing and then activating carbonaceous materials in a continuous process as performed by an apparatus consisting of an elongated, slightly inclined rotary retort into the higher end of which the material is deposited and from the lower end of which the product is removed, the material moving therethrough in the form of a tumbling bed, a system for introducing air in independently regulatable amounts into each of a series of longitudinally spaced zones of the retort, except a final zone closest to its lower end, in such a manner that contact of the air with the material bed is delayed for a substantial time after the air enters the retort, and a system for introducing superheated steam into the final retort zone as an oxidizing agent in such a manner as to immediately engage and thoroughly intermix with the material bed. Provision is also made for introducing air, rather than steam, into the final retort zone, in the event carbonization, but not activation, may be desired.

Abstract: A plurality of sole flue-heated, non-recovery coke ovens constructed in side-by-side relation in a battery have their chimney uptake outlets connected to a common combustion tunnel extending longitudinally of and above the battery and connected to stacks at spaced intervals along its length. Each oven has a bypass flue directly connecting the top of its coking chamber to the combustion tunnel, and a normally closed valve in each bypass is operable to selectively connect the coking chamber to the tunnel to permit charging gases to be drawn from the chambers to be burned in the tunnel and stack. The bypass valve is closed during coking so that the partially burned gases from the crown of the coking chambers are led through downcomers in the oven walls to the sole flues where a controlled amount of combustion air can be admitted to promote the continued burning process and provide maximum heat in the sole flues.

Abstract: In the apparatus, concentric, radially spaced tubes are secured to each other and rotated about a common horizontal long axis. Selectively placed and configured lift elements repeatedly lift and drop feed material in the two tubes. Advance elements cause the feed material introduced into the feed end of the structure to advance through the inner tube where it is progressively heated, dehydrated and its hydrocarbon content is largely vaporized. The hydrocarbon vapors are removed from the opposite product end of the structure. The remaining solid material falls from the end of the inner tube into a combustion zone in the outer tube. Oxygen supplying means are provided for causing the carbon coatings on the particles in the combustion zone to burn to produce heat employed in the processing of the feed material. The solid particles in the outer tube are moved back toward the feed end by advancing elements.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for purification of petroleum coke to produce an economical low sulfur product suitable for electrode production. Finely ground green coke is treated on an enclosed circular grate apparatus and subjected to sequential treatments in which hot gases are passed through a deep permeable bed of coke on the grate in a series of separate treating zones including a preheat zone, a heating and calcining zone, a desulfurizing zone in which hydrogen rich gas is passed through the heated bed, a reduction gas generation zone in which hydrocarbon and steam pass through hot coke to form hydrogen, and a cooling zone.Adequate temperatures for calcination and desulfurization are achieved and the proper heating rate is obtained without overheating the metal parts of the hearth by use of radiant and hot gas heating means in the calcining zone and in the desulfurizing zone and by introducing the air and/or fuel gas near the bottom of the coke bed.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus suitable for the combustion of fuel has a baffle assembly arranged in the freeboard above the fluidized bed level. The assembly is in the form of a perforate duct which defines within it a passage connecting with the gas exit of the apparatus. Gases issuing from the bed, in use, and carrying bed material impinge upon the duct and are arranged to follow a vortical path around the duct, resulting in a deceleration of the particles which fall back into the bed. The gases pass into the duct for exhaust substantially free from contamination by bed material. The baffle assembly is of particular value where a gas flows horizontally to a gas exit and prevents or substantially reduces elutriation.