Apparatus and method for the continuous extrusion and partial deliquefaction of oleaginous materials

An extruder for treating oil-bearing material having a water content, comprising:

• a barrel formed with a barrel wall having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• a rotatable wormshaft disposed within said barrel and extending between said inlet end and said outlet end;
• a worm assembly on said wormshaft to advance and work material passed through the barrel from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• said outlet end of said barrel including surface means defining a restricted orifice;
• said barrel wall including a solid barrel wall section and a perforate barrel wall section disposed between said solid barrel wall section and said outlet end of said barrel;
• and
• means for raising the vapor pressure of the water in the material to significantly in excess of atmospheric pressure while maintaining all water in said barrel in the liquid phase.

An extruder for treating oil-bearing material, comprising:

• an elongate housing defining a longitudinally extending bore therein;
• means defining a material inlet opening in said bore adjacent to one end of said bore;
• means defining a material discharge opening in said bore at the other end of said bore;
• screw conveyor means disposed in said bore for moving the material being treated from the material inlet opening to the material discharge opening, said screw conveyor means including in succession first worm means and second worm means;
• said first worm means being disposed in a first, solid-wall section of said housing and being operative to move the material from a location adjacent the inlet opening to said second worm means;
• said second worm means being at least partially disposed in a second section of said housing and being operative to move the material from said first worm means to the discharge opening and to compress the material so that the material is under an increasing mechanical pressure as it is moved from said first worm means to the discharge opening;
• said second section of said housing including a perforate wall section for draining oil from said bore;
• and
• means for raising the vapor pressure of the water in the material to significantly in excess of atmospheric pressure while maintaining all water in said housing in the liquid phase.

An extruder for treating oil-bearing material having a water content, comprising:

• an elongate enclosure having an inlet end and a discharge end;
• means for working and advancing the material through the enclosure from said inlet end to said discharge end while
• (i) producing an increase in the vapor pressure of the water content of the material as it advances so as to achieve a vapor pressure significantly in excess of atmospheric pressure at least at a first location along said enclosure, and
• (ii) producing an increasing mechanical pressure on the material while the material is in the enclosure sufficient to prevent vaporization of any water content in material in said enclosure;
• and
• means for discharging the material from said discharge end into a zone of reduced pressure to permit vaporization;
• said enclosure including means for draining oil from said enclosure during the working of the material, said draining means being disposed at least at said first location along said enclosure.

An extruder comprising:

• a barrel having an inlet and an outlet end;
• a rotatable wormshaft disposed within said barrel and extending between said inlet and said outlet end, said wormshaft having a worm assembly thereon to advance and work material passed through the barrel from said inlet to said outlet end;
• said worm assembly including in succession feed worm means, transition worm means, and compaction worm means;
• said feed worm means including a double-flighted feed worm assembly having a first pitch;
• said transition worm means including a transition worm assembly having at least one transition worm with a second pitch which is shorter than said first pitch;
• said compaction worm means including a compaction worm assembly having a third pitch which is shorter than said second pitch.

An extruder for treating oil-bearing material, comprising:

• an elongate enclosure having an inlet end and a discharge end;
• means for working and advancing the material through said enclosure from said inlet end to said discharge end while
• (i) producing an increase in the vapor pressure of the water in the material as it advances so as to achieve a vapor pressure significantly in excess of atmospheric pressure as the material approaches the discharge end, and
• (ii) producing an increasing mechanical pressure on the material sufficient always to prevent vaporization of the water in the material while the material is in said enclosure;
• and
• means for discharging the material from said discharge end into a zone of reduced pressure to cause vaporization of water in the material and expansion of the material;
• wherein said enclosure comprises a solid wall section and also comprises a perforate wall section disposed between said solid wall section and said discharge end of said enclosure, and wherein said means for working and advancing the material comprises:
• a rotatable wormshaft disposed within said enclosure and extending between said inlet and said discharge end, said worm shaft having a worm assembly thereon to advance and work material passed through the barrel from said inlet to said discharge end,
• said worm assembly including in succession feed worm means, transition worm means, and compaction worm means,
• said feed worm means including a double-flighted feed worm assembly having a first pitch,
• said transition worm means including a transition worm assembly having at least one transition worm with a second pitch which is shorter than said first pitch;
• said compaction worm means including a compaction worm assembly having a third pitch which is shorter than said second pitch.