Waste petroleum filter recycling process
AssigneeCanadian Oil Filter Recovery Corp.
InventorKenneth G. Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Filters contaminated with hydrocarbons are treated to reduce hydrocarbon content to acceptable levels for transportation and recycling. In one embodiment used petroleum filters are crushed and some of the hydrocarbon products released. The filters, either crushed or non-crushed, are heated in a primary chamber to a temperature of at least about 250.degree. C., the air flow into the primary chamber is controlled and the temperature in the primary chamber is maintained within a temperature range of about 250.degree. to 400 .degree. C. by application of heat and application of water sprays to carbonize hydrocarbons in the filters. The hydrocarbon vapors and water vapors from the primary chamber are condensed in a condenser and any non-condensed hydrocarbons remaining are incinerated in a secondary chamber.
Claims19
A process for recycling filters which include a filter medium contained in a metal casing and contaminated with a combustible hydrocarbon liquid, comprising the steps of:
- heating the filters in a primary chamber to a temperature of at least 250.degree. C.;
- controlling air flow to the primary chamber;
- maintaining temperature in the primary chamber within a temperature range of about 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. by application of heat and application of water sprays to carbonize hydrocarbons in the filters and produce hydrocarbon vapours and water vapours;
- separating the metal casings and carbonized hydrocarbons in the filters;
- condensing the hydrocarbon vapours and water vapours from the primary chamber in a condenser means, thereby yielding condensed hydrocarbons and water and non-condensed hydrocarbons;
- separating the condensed hydrocarbons and water;
- and
- incinerating the non-condensed hydrocarbons from the condenser means in a secondary chamber.
A process for recycling petroleum filters which include a filter medium contained in a metal casing and contaminated with a combustible hydrocarbon liquid, comprising the steps of:
- crushing used filters and collecting hydrocarbon products released therefrom;
- heating the crushed filters in a primary chamber to a temperature of at least 250.degree. C.;
- controlling air flow to the primary chamber;
- maintaining temperature in the primary chamber within a temperature range of about 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. by application of heat and application of water sprays to carbonize hydrocarbons in the crushed filters and produce hydrocarbon vapours and water vapours;
- separating the metal casings and carbonized hydrocarbons in the filters;
- condensing the hydrocarbon vapours and water vapours from the primary chamber in a condenser means, thereby yielding condensed hydrocarbons and water and non-condensed hydrocarbons;
- separating the condensed hydrocarbons and water;
- and
- incinerating the non-condensed hydrocarbons from the condenser means in a secondary chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.