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US 4,728,339 AGranted
Multiple hearth apparatus and process for thermal treatment of carbonaceous materials
AssigneeK-Fuel Partnership
InventorEdward Koppelman
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AssigneeK-Fuel Partnership
InventorEdward Koppelman
Estimating the term…
A multiple hearth apparatus and process for the thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under controlled pressure and temperature comprising a pressure vessel containing a plurality of superimposed annular hearths including hearths in a reaction zone of the apparatus which are formed with a foraminous upper surface disposed in communication with a plenum for injecting a heated fluid into heat exchange contact with the feed material disposed thereon. The injected heating fluid or gas in further combination with the volatile gases evolved during the thermal restructuring reaction pass countercurrently relative to the travel of the feed material to effect a preheating thereof to a moderate temperature in a preheating zone of the apparatus. Preferably, at least a portion of the volatile gases from the apparatus are treated to remove condensible portions thereof and are reheated and pressurized for recycle to the apparatus. In operation, the apparatus is adapted to operate at temperatures ranging from about 200.degree. F. up to about 1200.degree. F. at pressures generally ranging from about 300 up to about 3000 psig. Resident times of as little as one minute up to about 1 hour can be employed which will vary depending upon the type of feed material and the desired upgraded solid product.
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 withdrawing 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 the lower hearths for heating the feed material thereon to an 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, said heating means including at least one of said lower hearths formed with a foraminous upper surface disposed in communication with a plenum for discharging a heated gas into contact with the feed material on said hearth and supply means for supplying the heated gas to said plenum at a controlled elevated temperature and at a pressure above the pressure in said chamber 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 for progressively heating the feed material on said hearths to an 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, said heating means including at least one annular hearth formed with a foraminous upper surface disposed in communication with a plenum for discharging a heated gas into contact with the feed material on said hearth and supply means for supplying the heated gas to said plenum at a controlled elevated temperature and at a pressure above the pressure in said vessel, 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.