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US 4,626,258 AGranted
Multiple hearth apparatus and process for thermal treatment of carbonaceous materials
OwnerEdward Koppelmaninventor
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OwnerEdward Koppelmaninventor
Estimating the term…
A multiple hearth reactor apparatus and process for the thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under controlled pressure and temperature comprising in accordance with one embodiment, a pressure vessel containing a plurality of superimposed annular hearths including a series of upper hearths defining a preheating zone and a series of lower hearths spaced therebelow defining a reaction zone. The reactor is provided with an inlet for introducing a moist carbonaceous feed material under pressure into the preheat zone and the feed material is transferred downwardly in a cascading manner through the preheat zone and reaction zone. The solid product is extracted from the lower portion of the apparatus while waste water and product gas are extracted from the preheat zone. The hot gases are passed in countercurrent fashion to effect a preheating of the feed material. In accordance with a second embodiment of the apparatus, a separate chamber is employed for preheating of the feed material and the preheated and partially dewatered feed material is thereafter directly charged into the multiple hearth apparatus defining the reaction zone. In operation, the apparatus is adapted to operate at temperatures ranging from about 200.degree. F. up to about 1200.degree. F. or higher at pressures generally ranging from about 300 up to about 3000 psig. Residence times of as little as 1 minute up to about 1 hour or longer can be employed depending upon the nature of the feed material and the desired thermal restructuring.
A multiple hearth apparatus for thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under pressure comprising a pressure vessel defining a chamber containing a plurality of superimposed annular hearths including a series of upper hearths angularly inclined downwardly toward the periphery of said chamber and a series of lower hearths spaced therebelow, inlet means in the upper portion of said vessel for introducing a moist carbonaceous feed material under pressure onto the uppermost hearth, rabble means disposed above each hearth for transferring the feed material radially along each hearth in an alternating inward and outward direction to effect a downward cascading of the feed material from one hearth to the next hearth therebelow, outlet means in the upper portion of said vessel for withdrwing volatile gases under pressure from said chamber, baffle means overlying the upper hearths and rabble means for directing the upward countercurrent flow of volatile gases adjacent to the feed material and in heat transfer relationship therewith, drain means disposed in communication with said upper hearths for withdrawing any liquid thereon under pressure from said chamber, heating means in said chamber disposed in the region of each of the lower hearths for independently heating the feed material thereon to a controlled elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the volatile substances therein to form volatile gases and a thermally restructured product and discharge means in the lower portion of said vessel for withdrawing the thermally restructured product under pressure from said chamber.
An apparatus for thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under pressure comprising a preheating chamber having an inlet at one end thereof for receiving the feed material under pressure and an outlet at the other end thereof for discharging the preheated feed material, conveying means for conveying the feed material through said chamber from said inlet to said outlet, drain means in said chamber for withdrawing any liquid therein under pressure from said chamber, outlet means in the upper portion of said chamber for withdrawing volatile gases under pressure from said chamber at a position spaced from said outlet, a multiple hearth apparatus comprising a pressure vessel containing a plurality of superimposed annular hearths, inlet means in the upper portion of said vessel disposed in communication with said outlet of said chamber for introducing the preheated feed material under pressure onto the uppermost hearth, rabble means disposed above each hearth for transferring the material radially along each hearth in an alternating inward and outward direction to effect a downward cascading of the feed material from one hearth to the next hearth therebelow, heating means in said vessel disposed in the region of each of said hearths for independently and for progressively heating the feed material on said hearths to a controlled elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the volatile substances therein to form volatile gases and a thermally restructured product, means for directing the volatile gases upwardly through said vessel and through said preheating chamber in a direction countercurrent to the travel of the feed material toward said outlet means, and discharge means in the lower portion of said vessel for discharging the thermally restructured product under pressure from said apparatus.
A process for the thermal treatment of moist organic carbonaceous materials under pressure which comprises the steps of:
A process for the thermal treatment of moist organic carbonaceous materials under pressure which comprises the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.