Abstract: A solar distillation apparatus utilizing a substantially vertical reactor assembly is disclosed. The reactor includes a tubular outer shell, a base, a cap, and a central tension member. The annular space between the outer tube and the central tension member forms the reactor chamber. Seawater or other feed liquid enters the reactor chamber through the base plate. Reflected or direct solar energy heats the feed liquid, generating low pressure vapor. The vapor exits the reactor through the cap structure or the base. The concentrate left behind settles by gravity to the bottom region of the reactor's liquid column. Extension tubes on the feed openings allow feed liquid to enter the liquid column above the concentrate layer and avoid excessive mixing of the feed liquid and the concentrate. The concentrate exits the reactor through one or more openings in the base.

Abstract: An electrical heating coal material decomposition apparatus includes a closed kiln body with a feed inlet, a discharge outlet, and an electrical heating device arranged in the kiln body. A propulsion and decomposition path of coal material is formed between the electrical heating device and the inner wall of the kiln body. A coal decomposition gas collecting pipe communicates with the propulsion and decomposition path of coal material, and is connected with a gas dust-trapping and liquefying device arranged outside the kiln. The electrical heating device transfers heat to the pulverized coal inside the propulsion and decomposition path of coal material by conduction and irradiation. The pulverized coal absorbs sufficient heat and decomposes into fuel gas, tar gas and coal. The fuel gas and tar gas enters the gas dust-trapping and liquefying mechanism through the decomposed gas collecting tube, where they are collected, dust-trapped, separated and liquefied under pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for solar steam generation are described. The systems and methods include moving at least one frame mounted optical focusing lens to track the sun in two axes and disposing a water boiler at a focus of each optical focusing lens. Raw water is pumped through an inlet at a bottom of each boiler and solar energy is concentrated, using each optical focusing lens, on each boiler, heating the raw water in each boiler and evaporating steam from the raw water. The steam exits each boiler, via a steam outlet pipe. Remaining salts and solids in each boiler are ground by rotation of salt grinding-cleaning gears. These ground salts and solids are drained and/or pumped out of each boiler from an exit in the bottom of each boiler.

Abstract: In a bin system and a char recovery apparatus, reduction in size of the apparatus can be achieved. Provided are: a bin (44) that can store char; three char discharge lines (47, 49a, 49b) that are arranged at a predetermined inclination angle at which the char can be discharged in the bin (44) by means of gravitational fall; four switching lines (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) that are arranged at the predetermined inclination angle theta at which the char stored in the bin (44) can be fed by means of the gravitational fall; and assist gas feed parts (54, 55a, 55b) as an assist device that assist flow of the char gravitationally falling down the char discharge lines (47, 49a, 49b).

Abstract: An efficient delayed coking process improvement for producing heavy coker gas oil of sufficient quality to be used as hydrocracker feedstock.

Abstract: A bin system and a char recovery unit are provided with: a bin for storing char; three char discharge lines placed at the predetermined slope angle for causing the char to fall with the force of gravity so as to discharge the char into the bin; four switching lines placed at the predetermined slope angle for causing the char to fall with the force of gravity so as to feed the char stored in the bin; and assist gas feed units as assist devices for assisting the flow of the char that falls with the force of gravity through the char discharge lines. This allows for equipment downsizing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for solar water purification are described. In one exemplary aspect, the system includes a sun-tracking reflecting mirror unit, and a two-axis Fresnel concentrator mirror unit to collect sunlight reflected from the sun-tracking reflecting mirror unit and focus the sunlight. A central water purification boiler module includes a heating zone upon which the sunlight is focused by the two-axis Fresnel concentrator mirror unit. The focused sunlight heats the water contained therein to create steam which is redirected to heat water coming into the boiler and to condense as purified water.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for emptying a furnace floor in a soda recovery boiler when the soda recovery boiler is being shut down. The emptying may be started while smelt is still flowing in smelt spouts. The floor is emptied by sucking smelt from the furnace with a smelt eductor. The invention is also related to a device for removing smelt and wash water from a furnace of a soda recovery boiler by means of suction. Negative pressure is generated in the device by conducting pressurized gas into a suction pipe of the eductor so that the pressurized gas is discharged in the discharge direction of smelt and wash water.

Abstract: A down-draft fixed bed gasifier is disclosed that produced clean producer or synthesis gas. The gasifier can be installed at a stationary location or can be scaled down to enable placing the gasifier on a trailer that can be moved to the site of biomass generation. The gasifier is vertically oriented and generally cylindrical, and the design allows for a continual input of feedstock into the gasifier with less clogging and without lowering the gas pressure inside the gasifier. The design incorporates an internal catalyst to clean tars from the produced gas, and uses heat from the combustion chamber of the gasifier to heat the catalyst. The flow of air may be either positive flow or negative flow.

Abstract: Presented in this application is a simply operated, continuous residue discharging system. The system includes two sub-systems which convey residue from a reactor, through a closed residue discharging channel, to a residue storage tank. Also disclosed is a method of using the high temperature, separable, continuous residue discharging system and a kit including components for a continuous residue discharging system.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a continuous method for charging and discharging carbonization furnaces (15) moving in a circle, in which method the charging and the discharging are effected in a closed process mainly simultaneously at the opposite ends of the furnace, and the gases are collected and cleaned. Another object of the invention is an apparatus for implementing the method. The equipment comprises carbonization furnaces (15) moving in a circle, a charging device (11, 14, 32), and a discharging device (18, 19), and at least one gas duct for each furnace, the duct being connected at the one end thereof to the furnace and at the other end to a gas collector. According to the invention, the charging device is docked in a gastight manner to the one end of the furnace by means of a docking device (35), and the discharging device is attached in a gas-tight manner to the other end of the furnace for charging and discharging mainly at the same time.

Abstract: An improved coker fractionator system which permits withdrawing, from selected ports in the fractionator, streams of selected boiling point ranges for recovery of thermal energy and for altering the liquid vapor loading within the column for more efficient fractionation within the column. The system includes the provision of one or more ports in a fractionation column between the light coker gas oil draw and the heavy coker gas oil draw connected to either a thermal energy recovery pump-around system or a recycle system for returning a stream to the coker furnace feed stream.

Abstract: The reactor forms a chamber which contains the reaction process. There are accesses to the chamber for receiving shredded tires and oil. There are egresses from the chamber for discharging the tire oil and for discharging unreacted elements. Apparatus is located within the chamber which separates the unreacted components of the shredded tires from the tire oil. The apparatus also provides for the removal of the unreacted elements from the chamber means. The reactor also includes a heater which heats the inside of the chamber to a temperature sufficient to cause a reaction between the shredded tires and the oil.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a heating device, an inlet for medium to be distilled, a vapor outlet, a distillation space between the distillation medium inlet and the vapor outlet and a drain for the separate components of the solvent, arranged in the bottom part of the distilling space and extending from same. In a heating vessel, which is able to be filled with a heating medium to be heated by the heating device, there is a downwardly extending down tube joined with the inlet and an up tube extending upwards to the vapor inlet. During operation the two tubes are surrounded by heating medium and form the distillation space. The drain is arranged under the junction between the up and down tubes and is provided with a U-trap.

Abstract: A liquid product (4) leaving a furnace (2) is introduced into a series of cyclone separators (5, 6, 7). The liquid product to be vaporized is introduced tangentially into the top portion (5a, 6a, 7a) of each cyclone to place the product into contact with a side wall (5b, 6b, 7b) of the cyclone. A gaseous phase (11, 12, 13) formed in each cyclone is collected in the central zone (8, 9, 10) of the cyclone and is then introduced into a vacuum distillation column (3). The liquid phase obtained in each cyclone is collected at the bottom (5c, 6c, 7c) of the cyclone and then is introduced tangentially into the top (6a, 7a) of the following cyclone or, in the case of the last cyclone, is introduced directly into the vacuum distillation column (3). The side wall (5b, 6b, 7b) of each cyclone (5, 6, 7) is heated to a temperature near the maximum temperature allowable for avoiding all thermal deterioration of the product.

Abstract: Apparatus for purifying, devolatilizing and/or sheeting a thermoplastic material in which a high density, flowable heat exchange material, having a density substantially above the density of the thermoplastic material and which is essentially immiscible therewith, is continuously circulated through a contact zone in a manner to maintain an extended surface area body of the high density heat exchange material in the contact zone, the thermoplastic material is introduced into and withdrawn from the contact zone in a manner to form a continuously flowing layer of the thermoplastic material across the surface of the body of high density heat exchange material. Thermoplastic material may be introduced into the contact vessel as a powder, melted in an intermediate section of the contact vessel, resolidified at the opposite end of the contact vessel and withdrawn as a sheet of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A blowdown pot is provided with an inlet pressure control valve through which the pot receives unwanted residue e.g., ash from a high pressure chemical reactor, and this reactor residue can thereby be continuously or semi-continuously blown out from the high pressure, high temperature chemical reactor into the relatively low pressure blowdown pot which includes means maintaining a liquid level therein minimizing steam flashing and vessel wear. At the same time the reactor residue is removed from the pot with a liquid overflow.

Abstract: A retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved through an elongated housing, includes a plurality of heat exchangers located in the housing for transferring heat to or from the shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define in sequence a drying zone, a preheating zone, a cracking and distillation zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the shale in the cracking and distillation zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom. The tubes of the heat exchangers are elongated ovals in cross-section and are offset from each other in alternate rows to increase the area of heat exchange and to reduce the temperature drop between the entering heated air and exiting heated air flowing through each heat exchange tube.

Abstract: A dry sealing leg apparatus is comprised of four chambers through which a moving bed of retorted shale particulates from an oil shale retort is passed serially: a surge chamber, a gas injection chamber, a seal leg chamber, and a gas disengaging chamber. In the gas injection chamber, a sealing gas penetrates the moving bed of shale and divides into two portions. One portion travels countercurrently to the shale through the surge chamber and enters the retort at a positive pressure to seal product gases therein. A second portion travels co-currently with the shale through the seal leg chamber and gas disengaging chamber and exits at a pressure less than that of the retort, having been reduced in pressure by resistance to its passage through the shale.

Abstract: An improved retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved by gravity through a passageway of an elongated housing includes a control assembly connected adjacent the outlet end of the housing to control the rate of movement of the crushed oil shale through the passageway. A plurality of heat exchangers are located in the housing for transferring heat in sequence to or from the crushed oil shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define a drying zone, a preheating zone, a hydrocarbon recovery zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. A pump recirculating circuit is provided for passing waste heat recovered from the waste heat recovery zone to the preheating zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers in the hydrocarbon recovery zone delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the crushed oil shale moving through the hydrocarbon recovery zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom.

Abstract: A spray nozzle for use in the elbow interconnecting a coke oven ascension pipe and a main, characterized in having frusto-conical nozzle orifices to generate sprays which commpletely cover the elbow cross section only when they reach the transition between the elbow and the coke oven main. The invention resides in the realization that in order to optimize the performance of the nozzle, there must be a specified relationship between the inlet diameters of the frusto-conical orifices, the outlet diameters of the orifices and the radial and circumferential distances between the centers of orifices arranged in concentric circles.

Abstract: A device for separating gases and solids, particularly coal dust, during the carbonization of coal, particularly predried and preheated fine coal in coke ovens arranged in a battery which includes a standpipe extending upwardly from the top of the battery having a bend extending from the top of the standpipe downwardly into a collecting main, comprises, a vertically extending standpipe which extends upwardly from the top of the battery and has a bend at the top thereof extending outwardly and downwardly from the top and which includes a longitudinally extending collecting main connected into the lower end of the bend with a solids discharge line overlying the bend and extending substantially parallel to the collecting main. The solids matter discharge line includes a connection extending downwardly into the bend. Means are provided for spraying a liquid into the bend over the collecting line and the solids matter discharge line includes a shutoff control in the connection to the bend.

Abstract: A cover and cover assembly fabricated from steel plate for selectively covering an opening communicating with a coke oven and cooperable with seal rim sealing surface which surrounds the opening. The cover includes a knife-like sealing edge which engages the seal rim sealing surface to provide a primary seal therefor. An area on the cover peripheral surface is generally compatible with an area of the seal rim sealing surface for providing a secondary seal. In one instance, the knife-like sealing edge supports the cover in a manner such that compatible sealing rim and cover surfaces are slightly spaced apart from each other. Tar, pitch, residue and by-products of the coking operation which may by-pass the primary seal accummulate in this gap area at the start of a coking operation to complete the secondary seal.

Abstract: Method of operating a coke oven battery arranged in a battery in connection with a predrying or preheating plant for the coal to be coked comprises predrying and preheating coke oven charge moist coal by bringing it into contact with a circulated current of hot inert gas to remove water from the charge with the inert gas comprising a gas containing only a small amount of oxygen and a remainder comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide and steam, charging the preheated and predried coal into a coke oven, directing the coke oven gases generated in the oven out through an offtake, and adding an amount of steam corresponding approximately to the amount of water removed from the charge coal during the predrying and preheating to the coke oven gases in the gas offtake. The apparatus includes a closed circuit in which steam is added to a line and then superheated by a heater and is directed into a secondary flash heater.

Abstract: A solvent-bearing sludge material is pumped by a variable speed positive displacement pump from a preparation mixing tank through a pressure responsive valve which distributes the material into the upper portion of an insulated distilling or processing vessel. Steam is introduced into the lower portion of the vessel and mixes with the material to volatize the solvents which are directed through a condenser and pump to a storage tank. Water and suspended solid particles are continuously pumped from the bottom of the vessel to an insulated settling tank where the solid particles settle and are continuously removed by a drag-out conveyor. The hot water in the upper portion of the settling tank is pumped back into the vessel, and may have sufficient velocity to increase agitation within the vessel, or a mechanical agitator may be installed within the bottom portion of the vessel.

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: A system for preventing effluents containing coal dust from being emitted from a coke oven upon charging the coke oven with coal. A U-tube mounted on a larry car interconnects the charging oven with a coking oven and an air valve mixes air with the effluents being transferred from the charging oven to the coking oven. A venturi tube is in communication with the coking oven on the side thereof away from the U-tube and has a steam jet therein to provide sufficient draft across the coking oven to draw the effluents. The restriction in the venturi tube accelerates the effluents through the venturi tube to accommodate all of the effluents produced during the charging of the coke oven.

Abstract: A pollutant collection and exhaust system is provided in a battery of coke ovens for removal of atmospheric pollutants from the gases released at the time of discharge of coke from an oven. A coke guide carriage is provided with an exhaust hood which encloses the coke guide and extends over the transfer car thereby enshrouding the discharging coke and resulting fumes and smoke during the discharge operation. The exhaust hood is movable along the length of the oven battery. A stationary exhaust manifold extends along the battery in spaced relation above the oven exhaust hood. The exhaust hood is equipped with connecting means which are adapted to register in coplanar sealing engagement with selected gated openings in the manifold while simultaneously opening the selected gates. Pollutants are exhausted from the discharge site and conducted through the manifold and associated treating apparatus with draft induced by an exhaust means connected to the manifold and treating apparatus.