BE884953A - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING ORGANIC MATERIALS - Google Patents

Description

       

  "Apparatus and method for treating organic matter" A new and extremely efficient method for treating different organic matter into more useful states includes the action of enclosing material in the form of pieces of aggregate inside a room with vertical extension,

  
at least partial closure of the chamber vis-à-vis the air

  
to adjust the amount of oxygen in it, transport

  
pieces of aggregate across the vertical extent of the chamber in a predetermined time space by vibratory action, heating the chamber to a preselected temperature sufficient to convert the volatile hydrocarbon constituents of

  
the material in a gaseous state, and the removal of gases from the chamber for later use. i

  
The device for implementing the method comprises

  
preferably a first and a second chamber, each chamber comprising a continuous length plate arranged in a spiral along a vertical distance from the chamber, the plate surrounding

  
a vertical support. Vibration generators fixed to the support .. give vibratory forces to the plate to cause the pieces of material to move from one end of the plate to the other, for example from the bottom up, under the action of vibrations. The heating of the material is carried out in a chamber of this kind and with the resulting release gases which support combustion for this heating. After heating, the material is transferred from the first chamber into a second chamber, also closed in air, for cooling during which the pieces similarly pass through the vertical extent of a spiral conveyor seemingly controlled by vibrations and located in the second bedroom.

   If drying of the material is desired to reduce the humidity before carbonization, this can be done in a third chamber heated by combustion gases from

  
  <EMI ID = 1.1>

  
also be used simply as a drier for material which should not be treated for charring; in this chamber the material crosses the vertical extent of a spiral conveyor controlled by vibrations, similar to those of the first and second chambers.

  
Processing may include converting shavings from

  
  <EMI ID = 2.1>

  
wood or carbon voucher, carbonization or pyrolysis or reduction of the moisture content of such materials, conversion of tire waste to carbon black, extraction of kerogen or bitumen from oil, shale or sands, etc., the conversion of coal to coke, as well as the gasification of coal, or the mixture of materials of the same component or different components which requires mixing at temperatures higher than atmospheric temperature.

  
This invention relates to the treatment of different organic materials or materials carrying organic matter

  
and more particularly to the treatment by a highly efficient and energetic heating of the materials, by confining them under controlled conditions to convert the materials into more useful states

  
For this purpose, various devices have been proposed for the treatment of materials by the use of a column in which the materials are fed discontinuously or continuously to a retort, or heating container. For example, the carbonization of various organic materials, including the conversion of these materials into charcoal, has previously been carried out in either a drum or cylindrical retorts of the type having the main axis of the retort oriented either horizontally or under an angle to the horizontal.

  
Advantageously one of the two main techniques is used in these arrangements according to the prior art to move the material through the retort or the container when it is heated. In a first test, a via, auger, coil or other conventional mechanical conveyor is used to physically transport the material along the length of the retort. In the other type of arrangement, the retort itself is mounted to be rotated because it is on rollers, and pallets or other protrusions inside the retort are used to transport the material to inside when the retort turns, like a cement mixer. These two embodiments suffer from a certain number of disadvantages, among which the mechanical complexity and the use can be noted.

  
  <EMI ID = 3.1>

  
ges, chained, belts, transmissions or other important conventional machinery required, which are used to give rotation either to the coil, or to the conveyor, or to the retort itself.

  
Regardless of the detrimental nature of such expensive, complicated, and maintenance-consuming mechanical arrangements, it is also difficult to provide, in the reduced space of the retort, a treatment length sufficient to expose

  
thoroughly the materials on heating as they move through the retort. In addition, it has been exceedingly difficult, in any case, to provide a complete and uniform exposure of the material to the treatment in an apparatus of the prior art of this kind, given the fact that agglomerations of the material exclude the exposure of at least part of the material to the heating environment, and given the different hot spots or temperature gradients inside the retort or the heating container, part of the material may be exposed to temperatures different from other parts of the material. The treatment is therefore non-uniform and non-homogeneous inside the body of the material.

  
The present invention therefore aims to provide an improved device and method for the treatment, by heating, of both organic and inorganic materials.

  
Another object of the present invention consists in providing a new device and a new method for the treatment of different organic materials, or of materials containing organic constituents, in more useful forms, such as carbon, charcoal, coke, carbon black, or gaseous constituents.

  
Another object of the invention is to provide such devices and methods for producing extremely high quality charcoal or carbon from wood or other lignocellulosic materials, including forest products, such as wood waste, wood chips, sawdust, wood dust, bark, planing, pellets <EMI ID = 4.1>

  
bagasse, herbs, various cuts, crops and crop waste, coffee grounds, leaves, straw, pods, cockles, stems, pods, ears, and waste including animal manure, these various materials being converted into one of the preceding desired forms.

  
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device and methods which are capable of treating organic as well as inorganic materials which are under

  
  <EMI ID = 5.1>

  
small pieces, dumplings, fragments, grains, particles, dust, planes, powder, flakes, large pieces, etc.

  
Another object of the invention is to provide such a device and methods which can be used to obtain different industrial fuels, including gases with a low or high amount of heat usable as fuels

  
  <EMI ID = 6.1>

  
biomass materials.

  
Yet another object of the invention consists in providing such a device and methods for converting waste tires from rubber to carbon black or to another converted material with a high carbon content.

  
Another object of the invention is to provide such devices and methods of treating charcoal to obtain activated charcoal.

  
Yet another object of the invention consists in the pre- <EMI ID = 7.1>

  
coke from coal.

  
Another related object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind and methods usable for the gasification of coal.

  
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind and methods for extracting kerogen, that is to say material providing organic oil, from bituminous shales, or bitumen from tar sands.

  
Yet another object of the present invention is

  
to provide a device of this kind which can be used not only for heating but also for drying and mixing

  
  <EMI ID = 8.1>

  
provision of a device of this kind which, in addition to being usable for the treatment of different materials and for the implementation of different methods as previously noted,

  
  <EMI ID = 9.1>

  
strongly uniform, allows the heating of these materials in the form of an aggregate in pieces or particles with extraordinary uniformity and possibility of control, processes pieces of material of different dimensions, mesh openings, degrees and textures ranging from powders up to large chunks, and allows for a very high degree of precision and control over a wide range of processing times and speeds.

  
Among still other objects of the invention, it is necessary to note the development of a device of this kind which is relatively compact while receiving the treatment materials along

  
  <EMI ID = 10.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 11.1>

  
a relative minimum of energy, this weak energy, rather tiny, being used only for handling and transferring materials to and from the device.

  
Additional objects of the invention include

  
the provision of a device of this kind and of processes which do not require the use of rotary shafts, of screws and of conventional coils, which obviate the use of complicated or expensive machinery requiring maintenance , which allow the use of a stationary treatment chamber and which allow treatment along a vetical distance from the chamber.

  
Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, without implied limitation and with reference to the attached drawings.

  
FIG. 1 represents a front elevation view, partially in schematic form, which illustrates a device constructed according to the present invention and comprising a heating device and a cooling device. FIG. 2 represents a simplified schematic view of the heating device according to the invention comprising certain gas flow, pipe and control elements of this device. FIG. 3 represents a sim-plified cross-sectional view which illustrates a heating device according to the invention, this view being taken generally in the form of a vertical cross-sectional view through the heating parts of the Figure 1 device. Figure 4 shows a similar cross-sectional view of the inventive cooling device.

   Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 shows a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view which illustrates parts of the conveyor controlled by vibrations of the device according to the figures 3 and 5. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of Figure 3, this view being an illustration similar to Figure 5. Figure 8 shows a horizontal plan view, fragmentary, on an enlarged scale , of parts of a conveyor plate of the device according to the present invention which illustrates the movement of the pieces of material on the plate. FIG. 9 represents a simplified schematic view of the device according to the invention which illustrates certain additional uses of the device.

  
Identical or analogous elements of the different drawings are designated by the same references.

  
If we now refer to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, it is generally designated by the reference 11 a system or device according to the present invention for implementing a processing procedure for different

  
  <EMI ID = 12.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 13.1>

  
volatile drocarbons in a gaseous state. The device 11 comprises a cylindrical heating unit 12 below which is located a combustion chamber 14 adapted to be supplied with combustible gases, as will be described in more detail below. Different species of organic matter (or as it can also be conceived inorganic) are supplied to the heating unit 12 in the form of aggregates, i.e. in the form of chips, small pieces, pellets ,

  
fragments, grains, particles, dust, planes; powders, flakes, large pieces, and the like, by means of a feed chute 15. The latter can be connected to an appropriate hopper, to a box, to a common conveyor or to a similar element intended for transport of aggregate or bulk material to the chute 15 for processing in the heating unit 12.

  
Inside the heating unit 12 there is a heating chamber 17 (see Figure 2) which should be described in more detail below. The materials fed by the feed chute 15 are treated through a vertical distance from the chamber 17, being transported through the latter according to a new arrangement, explained below, and they are then delivered by means of a transfer channel 18 from the top of the heating unit to a point at the lower end of the cooling unit 20 which has a cooling chamber 21.

  
In the cooling chamber, the materials are cooled while being kept in the closed environment of the cooling chamber 21 where they are transported upwards over a vertical distance from this chamber by an arrangement similar to that used in the cooling unit. heating 11. The cooled materials, which have been converted, or otherwise processed, are then delivered through a discharge or delivery channel.

  
  <EMI ID = 14.1>

  
or to a common carrier for storage or other processing or handling. The cooling unit 20 is supported on a suitable platform 24 and the height of the cooling unit is proportional to that of the heating unit 11. An inspection door 22 in a front wall of the cooling unit cooling 20 allows the observation of the heat treated material which is supplied by the channel 18 to the cooling unit.

  
In general, the heating unit 12 and the cooling unit 20 each contain a vibratory conveyor which should be described in more detail below and which is provided with metal columns 26, 27, which form protrudes upwards from the units and supports respective flanges 29, 30 which are suspended from respective platforms 32, 33 on which are mounted vibratory units generally designated by the references 35 and

  
36. These units 35, 36 are identical, each having a pair of electric motor units 38.38 'which are attached to opposite sides of the carrier structures 39.40, and extend upward corresponding platforms
32.33 to give them a vibration around the vertical axis of the columns 26.27.

  
These platforms 32, 33 are each resiliently supported by springs 42 provided on consoles 43 which are supported at their opposite ends by appropriate beams, as illustrated in broken lines at 45. The beams are supported between amounts 46.47. So we can see that the weight of each of the vibratory units 35.36 is supported by the beam and upright structure rather than by the respective heating and cooling units 12.20, these units being still free to vibrate with respect to the beam and upright structure.

  
A suitable alternating current is supplied to the electric motor units 38, 38 ′ of the vibratory units 35, 36 from a current alternating current line. The switching of the cou-

  
  <EMI ID = 15.1>

  
current switching mechanism to control the energization of the 38.38 'electric motor units of one of the vibrating units

  
  <EMI ID = 16.1>

  
The heating chamber 17 is configured so as to control the quantity of oxygen contained therein, and it is substantially closed to prevent any combustion of the air which is supplied to it. For this purpose, the feed chute 15 can, as illustrated, be provided with a shutter adjustment 51 for closing

  
  <EMI ID = 17.1>

  
air entering the heating chamber, a similar setting 51 'being provided to close the discharge channel 23.

  
During the heating of the materials inside the chamber 17, volatile components of the organic materials supplied by the chute 15 are released by the heat supplied to the heating chamber by combustion inside the combustion chamber 14. These volatile components are extracted in the form of hot exhaust gases by a duct 52 which can be noted as being connected by a shutter 53 to another duct 54. The latter can communicate with the atmosphere to expel the exhaust gases to the atmosphere if necessary. But preferably, the conduit 54 is connected to a running torch 55
(see figure 2), which burns all the exhaust gases that must be released.

  
A conduit 57 is also connected to the conduit 52 and allows the volatile components to be directed to a fan
59 (Figure 2) to compress the exhaust gases which are then supplied by a conduit 60, through a nozzle 62, in the combustion chamber 14. Therefore, it should be understood that the exhaust gases are combustible gases which can be burned

  
inside the chamber 14 for continuous heating of the materials inside the heating chamber 17, in a way

  
  <EMI ID = 18.1>

  
Referring now to Figure 2, it appears that the heating chamber 17 is surrounded by an annular space 64 where the hot gases rising from the combustion chamber 14 are directed around the periphery of the heating chamber and are then passed through a flue 65 for open area in the att-

  
  <EMI ID = 19.1> chamber 17, move upwards inside this chamber, as illustrated by arrows, for processing and then leave the chamber.

  
Preferably, a commercially available type burner 66 is used to supply gaseous fuel and pressurized air to the combustion chamber 14. Although the exhaust gases from the chamber 17 are used to support combustion, LP, petroleum, natural propane gas can be used for initial heating purposes or for additional heat supply.

  
For this purpose, a conduit 67 and a shutter 68 contained

  
  <EMI ID = 20.1>

  
or propane gas through a nozzle 70 of the burner. The air is supplied by a duct 72 to a fan 73 to be brought under pressure by another duct 74 to an air box 76 of the burner 66. The air is then supplied to the combustion chamber 14

  
under pressure by a burner tube 77 which surrounds the nozzles

  
62 or 70 and which projects into the combustion chamber 14. The orientation of the nozzles 62 and 70 is illustrated in a representative manner in FIG. 1 in which it can be seen that the nozzle 70 is supported by a console 79 which projects outwards from the combustion chamber 14.

  
The hot combustible gas supplied by the fan 59 via the conduit 60 can be supplied directly by the nozzle 62 to be burned in the combustion chamber 14. However, certain types of organic matter, when they have been treated according to the invention, provide sufficient quantities <EMI ID = 21.1>

  
gas that it cannot be effectively burnt inside the combustion chamber 14. In a corresponding manner, there is provided another conduit 81 connected to the conduit 60 which receives the hot combustible gas, under pressure, from the top of the heating chamber 17. The duct 81 comprises a shutter 82 which can be opened to deliver at least part of the hot combustible gas for further treatment, for example to be burned for heating in an auxiliary apparatus, to be condensed for storage, or for treatment for the disposal of certain components before use for other purposes. Another conduit 84 connects the conduit 81 and the torch 55 and it includes a relief valve 85 adapted to

  
  <EMI ID = 22.1>

  
the conduit 81 and to connect the conduit 81 and the torch 55. Depending on the type of organic matter heated

  
inside the chamber 17, various combustible gases with a low or high heat quantity can be formed by the exhaust gases released during the volatilization of the constituents of the organic materials subjected to heating. Where the material consists of wood or different other cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials, different pyroligneous gases are obtained which are released during the heating of the material, including methanes, aldehydes, formic acid, formaldehydes, as well than different other condensable and non-condensable gases of different

  
  <EMI ID = 23.1>

  
not to mention carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other compositions and fractions.

  
Additionally, in the heating of wood and various other organic materials, water vapor is present in the exhaust gas and can be easily condensed or separated from the gas stream.

  
Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates details of the heating unit 12 and the arrangement of the vibratory conveyor provided therein. More specifically,

  
there is provided inside the heating chamber 17 a spiral vibration conveyor generally designated by the reference 87. This conveyor has a large number of turns

  
  <EMI ID = 24.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 25.1>

  
devil. This plate 90 has a lip around its outer edges as indicated in 91, the entire plate 90 rotating in a spiral around the column 26 and being fixed to the latter which, as it emerges from FIG. 6 , may have the shape of a hollow cylinder and constitute a continuous length of material which extends downward from the flange 29, which is fixed to the underside of the platform 32 and on which the unit 35 is mounted. This column 26 extends downward through the vertical extent of the heating chamber 17 but it does not come into contact with the bottom wall or floor 93 of the heating chamber. At the lower end of the spiral conveyor 87, a tray 94 of enlarged diameter is provided and it is fixed to the lower end of the column 26.

   The feed chute 15 is provided with a tapered configuration which has an end 96 inside the heating chamber.

  
17, this end projecting above a lip 97 of the bottom plate 94 with an enlarged diameter to entrain the material on said plate; it can be seen that the spiral plate 88 turns in an upward spiral from the bottom plate 94.

  
Similarly, an upper turn 97 of the tray 90 communicates with an internal end 99 of a chute
101 which, in turn, communicates with the transfer channel 18; for this purpose (see FIG. 1) a housing 102 is provided at the upper end of the external surface of the heating unit 12 and another housing 103 projects outwards from there

  
and is connected to the transfer channel 18. The housing 103 may preferably be provided with an inspection window 105 to allow observation of the heated materials delivered to the transfer channel 18 and it may comprise at its upper end a hatch 106 which allows collecting material which flows from the chute 101 into the housing 103, for examination and measurement.

  
In a practical embodiment of the device, the spiral plate 90 consists of approximately 22 turns, the spiral plate having an inclination of approximately 7 degrees and having an approximate diameter of the order of 0.75 m, the diameter of the column 26 being approximately 0.30 m. Assuming a tray diameter of the order of 0.75 m, a total length of the tray 90 from the bottom to the top along the spiral path formed by the tray provides an effective transport distance of about 51, 9 m when measuring along the length of a continuous path close to the outer periphery

  
  <EMI ID = 26.1>

  
is relatively compact, since it is approximately 0.95 m in an advantageous embodiment of the invention and it has a total height of the spiral plate section of the conveyor which is only slightly greater than 1.8 m. In this embodiment, the lip 91 around the outer periphery

  
  <EMI ID = 27.1>

  
In this respect, a very compact device is obtained and it provides in such a compact space an extraordinarily long treatment length for the movement of the materials which are delivered to the conveyor 87 by the feed chute 15 and which are discharged from the conveyor by the chute 101.

  
The heating chamber 17 has a cylindrical shape which has a vertical side wall 108 and which is completely closed at the bottom by the floor 93 which, to prevent distortion, is of convex configuration. A peripheral rim 109, which projects radially outward around the periphery of the side wall 108, fixes the latter, with the floor 93, in the form of an integral unit 110, concentrically inside a housing made of cylindrical refractory material, generally designated by the reference 111. This housing
111 is delimited by a cylindrical external wall 113 which is preferably made of steel and by an internal concentric wall 114 which can be made of steel or stainless steel, a refractory material
115 being provided between these walls.

  
Said internal wall 114 projects vertically upwards from a flat horizontal plate 117 forming the floor of the combustion chamber 14, a metal plate 118 similarly closing the entire bottom of the refractory material housing 111, from the refractory material 120 being located between these plates 117 and 118. A cylindrical or rectangular external wall 121 is provided around the outside of the combustion chamber 14 and it is located a few centimeters outside

  
  <EMI ID = 28.1>

  
thick 123 for the refractory materials which surround the combustion chamber 14.

  
We can see that an annular space 124 a few centimeters wide surrounds the container 110 between the internal wall
114 of the refractory material housing 111 and the wall 108 of the heating container 110. This space is closed at the top by the peripheral rim 109 while, in fact, the combustion chamber is placed in communication with the annular space 124 to provide a flow of hot gases from the combustion chamber upwards and around the container 110 in order to carry out a thorough heating of the materials when they are moved by the conveyor 87 inside the container 110.

  
The flue 65 communicates with the annular space 124 near its upper end, the ascending, swirling hot gases, which come from combustion inside the combustion chamber 14, being subjected to an upward draft around the container 110 and out of the flue 65. To increase the draft, the flue 65 can communicate with a chimney 126 having a fan 127 mounted inside the internal diameter of the chimney 126, to provide a forced draft of the combustion gases hot.

  
The upper end of the refractory housing 111 is closed by a flat horizontal internal plate 129, for example of steel or stainless steel, which, with the internal wall 114 of the housing, effectively closes the upper end of the heating container 110 A horizontal, flat outer plate
130 also extends through the top of the refractory housing
111, being spaced upward from the plate 129, refractory material 131 being provided between the plates 129 and 130. The outer wall 113 can protrude upward beyond the plate 130 to provide a flange 133 for to receive additional refractory material 134.

  
A new arrangement for sealing between the upper end of the refractory housing 111 and the column
26 of the conveyor may be provided as comprising a bowl
136 constituted by a collar 137 which projects upwards from the plate 130 in a concentric position relative to the

  
  <EMI ID = 29.1>

  
the column 26 and extends between the plates 129 and 130 and upwards beyond the plate 30. A bed of sand 140 is provided in the bowl 136. A flange hanging 142 which is an extension of a collar 143 , which is engaged tightly on the periphery of the column 26, projects downward into said sand 140. In accordance with this, a relatively tight seal is provided.

  
  <EMI ID = 30.1> gendres inside the heating container 17 around the column 26. These gases are however subjected to a draft through the conduit 52 which projects through the walls 113 and
114 of the refractory material housing and which communicates with a space 145 located at the upper end of the conveyor.

  
A tube 147, in which the probe 148 of a pyrometer or other temperature measuring device 150 extends, also extends between the external wall 113 and the internal wall
114 of the housing 147 of refractory material. This probe 148 has a temperature measurement end 151 which projects through a suitable opening in the wall 108 of the heating container and which is situated between two turns 88 of the spiral plate 87 for ef-

  
  <EMI ID = 31.1>

  
heating pient 17. Although it is preferable that at least one such temperature measuring device 150 is located as shown in Figure 3, additional temperature measuring devices can be similarly arranged in higher locations along the vertical extent of the conveyor 87 for temperature measurements at various locations along the length of the conveyor.

  
Conveyor arrangements for both the unit

  
12 and the cooling unit 20 are substantially identical. In accordance with this, the description of the carrier

  
87 inside the heating container 17 suffices to explain a substantially identical conveyor arrangement inside the cooling chamber 21. Similarly, the vibratory units 35,36, which are identical, are each de -described with reference to the vibratory unit 35 which is located at the top of the heating unit 12. Therefore, as it emerges from FIG. 3, the support structure 39 simply comprises a rectangular unit similar to a boot or a rectangular welded unit which is located directly above the column 26 so that the support 39 is essentially coaxial with the longitudinal axis or central line of the column 26, as illustrated by the reference 152.

  
The 38.38 'electric motor units are simply vibration generators of the commercially available type.

  
LEMENT to the FMC Corporation of Homer City, Pennsylvania and sold under the trade designation of SYNTRON, these generators being described according to their preferred mode of use in the patent in the United States of America 3,053,380 which is included here as reference. These units employed in a practical experimental embodiment of the present invention are each of a size of 1,491.4 J / s.

   Each such unit includes a pair of wings 154,155 which project radially outward from a cylindrical body portion 156 of the respective unit and which are bolted to a plate 158 which is tightly engaged by clamping elements fixed by bolt 160,161 on a respective face 163 of the support structure 39, the drive unit can simply be rotated on an axis 164 which extends at right angles to the axis 152. The speed

  
to which the materials can be transported along the

  
  <EMI ID = 32.1>

  
chection of the clamping elements 160, 161 and by rotation of the drive unit by an appropriate value to modify the speed of feed by vibration of the materials between appropriate minimum and maximum values, the drive units 38 and 38 'being oriented in opposite directions in any set of circumstances, as illustrated generally in FIG. 3. As appears from this figure, the variation of the angles of the motor units 38, 38 ′ as described above will directly determine the value of the time during which the material can be moved from the bottom to the top of the conveyor
87 to be discharged through the chute 101.

   Therefore, the motor angles determine the value of the material processing time inside the heating chamber 17 and in a similar manner inside the cooling chamber 21.

  
  <EMI ID = 33.1>

  
vibration around the axis 152 of the column 26 by the individual drive units 38,38 'which act in cooperation. Therefore, the purpose of the springs 42 will be to allow the platform 32 to undergo the vibrations. In addition, the presence of sand 140 in the bowl 136 allows relative movement of the column 26, when it is subjected to vibrations, with respect to the tubular extension 139 which extends between the plates 129 and 130, and this without allowing a significant amount of gas released inside the heating chamber 17 to be expelled around the periphery of the column 26 and without allowing air to enter the heating chamber 17.

  
The vibrating action imparted to the pieces 166 which are transported by the transporter 87 is illustrated in the figures

  
5 to 8. The distribution of the typical pieces of material on a single turn 88 of the tray 90 is illustrated in FIG. 5 in which it can be seen that the pieces are uniformly distributed across the surface of the tray 90, because there are as many of probability that a piece is near the column 26 than the lip 91 of the tray. In Figure 7, the pieces 166 'of material entering the heating chamber 17 by means of the chute 15 are shown being deposited on the bottom plate 94 of larger diameter.

   Thanks to the vibratory action imparted to the pieces by rotation around the axis 152 of the column 26, the pieces of material are gradually caused to vibrate upward along the path of the plate 90 until they are distributed. uniformly as shown in Figures 5 and 6, through the surface of the plate which is radially normal to the axis 152 and therefore is horizontal. Given the vibratory movement imparted to the pieces, they each follow a random path, as illustrated in Figure 8.

   In addition, the observation of the pieces of material on the surface of the plate, when the material is in sufficient quantity so that there is a layer or a thickness of material at any given point of the plate, shows from a similarly a random movement in the vertical direction, the material being constantly inverted, agitated, and essentially vibrated so <EMI ID = 34.1>

  
takes place in a vertical direction as well as along the arcuate extent of the plate 90. In accordance with this, the material is completely exposed to the heated medium inside the chamber 17, the treatment of the material being carried out in a non-discriminatory and extraordinarily uniform manner without any part of the material being exposed to hot spots or having permission to move in any other way along

  
the length of the conveyor, in a different way from any other piece of material. Therefore, there is an extraordinarily high probability that any given piece of material will be exposed to precisely the same conditions inside the heating chamber 17 as any other piece of material subjected to treatment. Obviously, this also applies to the material which is moved through the cooling chamber 21.

  
According to a practical experimental embodiment of the present device, it has been discovered that motor units 38,
38 'of 1,491.4 J / s are suitable for moving 1,362 kg of material per hour through either the heating unit or the unit

  
cooling.

  
Reference is now made directly to FIG. 4 which shows details of the cooling unit 20 and the vibration conveyor arrangement provided therein. The cooling chamber 21 comprises a cylindrical housing having a vertical wall 168 which surrounds the chamber and it is closed at the top by a flat, upper horizontal plate, 170 and at its bottom by a flat lower horizontal plate 171. The elements 168, 170 and 171 may simply be mild steel in sheet form or suitably welded. The platform
24 preferably comprises four legs 173 as well as horizontal elements designated by the reference 174 and supports 175 between the legs and the horizontal elements. This structure can be simply formed from suitably welded angle bars.

  
A spiral vibration conveyor, generally designated by the reference 177, is located inside the cylindrical cooling chamber 21. The shape of the conveyor 177 is precisely analogous to the conveyor 87 of the heating unit 12 ; it similarly presents a spi-

  
  <EMI ID = 35.1>

  
the same number of individual turns 180 as the conveyor 87.

  
  <EMI ID = 36.1>

  
sheet 181 of enlarged diameter which is spaced at a small distance above the floor 171 of the chamber 21 and from which the spirals of the plate 178 extend upward in the form of helicoid.

  
In an advantageous experimental embodiment

  
of the new device, the transporter 177 has precisely the same construction as that used for the transporter 87. The transfer channel 18 supplies the materials coming from the chamber

  
17 in the tray 181. These materials are entrained

  
to move up along the length of the plate 178,

  
which provides a total possible cooling distance which is extremely long even if the chamber 21 is relatively compact, in order to allow the materials to be cooled inside the closed volume 183 of the chamber 21 before being delivered by the highest turn 180 'of the transporter at an extension 184

  
of the discharge channel 23.

  
A short 186 necklace protrudes upwards from

  
of the upper end plate 170 and provides a loose fit around the column 27, in essentially the same manner as the collar 139 around the column .26 of the heating unit. The collar 187 of a larger diameter coaxially surrounds the collar 186 so as to form a bowl 188 in which is arranged a bed of sand 190. A flange hanging
192 which is an extension of a ring 193, which is tightly engaged at the periphery of the column 27, projects downward into said sand. This structure provides a gas-tight fluid seal around the column 27 to prevent any passage of gas inside the cooling container 21 or any entry of air around the column 27, by allowing the column to vibrate. 27 inside the necklace 186

  
  <EMI ID = 37.1>

  
vibratory 36 which is of a construction identical to the unit 35 and therefore is not described in detail. However, the motor units 38, 38 ′ can be adjusted in angular relation in the same manner as that used in the vibrating unit 35 to vary the speed of feeding by vibration of the materials along the length of the plate 178 of the conveyor. , by varying the time during which these materials are transported from the bottom plate 181 to the upper plate 180 'for discharge through the channel 23.

  
In a practical experimental embodiment of the embodiment, motor units 38.38 ′ of 1,491.4 J / s are used in the vibratory unit 36. In this experimental apparatus, the dimensions of the cooling chamber 21 are approximately 0.96 m in diameter and 1.95 m in height.

  
For several uses of the invention, it has been found that it is suitable for cooling the materials heated inside the heating chamber 17 to use a cooling chamber 21, of a configuration such as illus-

  
  <EMI ID = 38.1>

  
effectively air-cooled. However, for certain operations of the device in which extremely high temperatures can be achieved inside the heating chamber 17, it may be preferable to surround the cooling chamber 21 with a double-walled enclosure through which cooling water can be passed to more efficiently transfer heat from the cooling chamber
21 for the cooling of the materials. In any case, the ma-

  
  <EMI ID = 39.1>

  
so that the materials on the conveyor 87, driven to move randomly along the length of the conveyor with the result that each piece of material is uniformly and deeply exposed to the cooling medium inside the volume 183, while that, as with the heating unit

  
  <EMI ID = 40.1>

  
despite the extraordinary length of the spiral tray 178. Precisely in the way that occurs in the heating unit, each piece of material shows a random movement both along the horizontal extent of the tray and in the vertical direction upwards and downwards, by virtue of the constant agitation of the materials resulting from the vibratory action imparted to them by the operation of the vibratory unit 40 and transmitted to the plate
178 through column 27.

  
Without intending to limit the many possible facets of the invention, the methods of treating different types of organic matter by the use of the new

  
  <EMI ID = 41.1>

  
third parties, such as sawdust, wood shavings, planes, bark fragments and various forms of lignocellulosic material, which are ordinarily the waste products of sawmills, into high quality charcoal with a large percentage fixed carbon, conversion of tire residue to carbon black, conversion of coal to coke, and extraction of oil in the form of kerogen or bitumen from various shales or oil sands.

  
In addition, different materials from biomass, including animal and bird fertilizer, straw, mushroom compost and different other waste materials such as garbage and the like, can be converted to charcoal high quality or carbonated.

  
In charcoal production, the entire character of the pieces of the starting material is not lost in

  
  <EMI ID = 42.1>

  
of the present invention. That is to say that if the form of the material consists of chips, pellets, fragments, grains, particles, dust, planes, powder, flakes, large pieces, or in any other form which can be regarded as having a bulk or aggregate character, and all the forms referred to here simply as pieces of the material concerned, the processing of the pieces of material takes place in such a way that the original character of the material is preserved because the Pieces of material are not subjected to maceration, physical crushing or crushing and they are not exposed to physical forces of destruction or excessive physical forces while undergoing treatment.

   For example, when starting from wood shavings, the invention is used to treat wood shavings with high carbon charcoal in the form of shavings. However, the operation of the device can be carried out under conditions such that it results in the conversion of the material into beads or dust. For example, when rubber tire chips are treated by the invention, the new device results in the conversion of the chips to carbon black, advantageously in the form of beads or dust.

  
Broadly speaking, the methodology of the present invention includes the treatment of organic matter in a more useful state, which broadly includes the phase of enclosing the material in the form of aggregate inside 'a room with a vertical extent; it should be understood that the present heating and cooling chambers are given rather by way of illustration and that they do not limit the shape of the chambers in which the treatment according to the present invention can be carried out. In addition, the method of the invention comprises at least partially closing the chamber from the air to adjust the amount of oxygen contained therein, and transporting the pieces of aggregate material through the vertical extent of the chamber in a predetermined time interval

  
  <EMI ID = 43.1> vibratory action causes the individual pieces to be agitated so as to effect a random movement of the latter and a thorough exposure to ambient temperatures inside the chamber. This transport is carried out while the chamber is heated to a preselected temperature sufficient to convert the volatile hydrocarbon constituents of the material to a gaseous state, which provides exhaust gases from the material. As previously observed, these exhaust gases are eliminated from the chamber to be used, and they are preferably returned by a fan 59 and a duct 60 to the combustion chamber to be burned there and to obtain , at least in part, the heating of the heating chamber.

   In the case of several materials which are capable of being <EMI ID = 44.1> fisants are obtained so that this combustion can be total

  
  <EMI ID = 45.1>

  
gas which can be treated for another use, such as industrial or domestic heating or to generate electricity, or which can be condensed, distilled, subjected to cracking, etc.

  
  <EMI ID = 46.1>

  
limited or maintained at least to an atmosphere containing an initial quantity of oxygen, the heating of the chamber to a predetermined elevated temperature is, according to the process according to the invention, sufficient to cause at least a partial decomposition of the organic matter in view to produce the required volatilization of its constituents. This decomposition efficiently converts matter to a relatively higher percentage of carbon because the volatile constituents are released and converted

  
into a gaseous state, then removed from the heating chamber.

  
According to a preferred continuous process of the invention, the pieces of organic material are supplied continuously by a supply channel 15 to the heating chamber 17, are transported upwards by the spiral conveyor 87, are continuously transferred through transfer channel 18 to the unit

  
cooling 20 and are there cooled in the cooling chamber 21 again by being transported upwards through this chamber 21 by the spiral conveyor 177, by being continuously discharged through the channel 23.

  
In the implementation of the conversion of some of the abovementioned organic materials into charcoal, the following are chosen:

  
  <EMI ID = 47.1>

  
plus a mesh opening of a few centimeters, but preferably of the granular dimension to approximately a mesh opening of 3.81 cm. Bulk or aggregate material, i.e. here separate or distinct or individual pieces of material of a body or a mass of the material which will be easily separable from the body or the mass, without the use of force , is preferably supplied continuously (although one can envisage

  
a discontinuous feed) through the feed chute in

  
  <EMI ID = 48.1>

  
and with the heating chamber having been previously heated to a predetermined temperature, as measured by the device 150 and as produced by the combustion of liquefied petroleum, propane, petroleum, natural gas, or even of 'alcohol. Without taking account of the fuel, the latter is injected by the nozzle 70 of the burner inside the combustion chamber 14. The material thus charged in the heating chamber is not supplied at a greater flow rate than what will produce the filling of the conveyor plate 90.

  
Although not shown, a so-called coniferous burner can replace burner 66 if it is suitable for burning sawdust, wood shavings, bark, pods, etc. These coniferous burners are commercially available and can be operated under suitable conditions to obtain complete combustion of sawdust, for example, without visible emissions at the level of the chimney.

  
The temperature inside the heating chamber
17 at the location of the probe end 151 between the turns 88 of the plate can vary between approximately 149 [deg.] C and approximately 1093 [deg.] C, but it is preferably between approximately 371 [deg.] C and 871 [deg.] C. A representative range of operating temperatures for converting lignocellulosic materials, such as wood chips, to charcoal is between 427 and 649 [deg.] C.

   At this temperature at probe end 151, it should not be expected that the temperature difference inside the chamber
17 exceeds 93 to 149 [deg.] C but it should be expected that the temperature at the top of the chamber 17 is in any case somewhat lower than that at the bottom of the chamber, and this is considered desirable since the incoming pieces of material are exposed to a higher temperature than the outgoing pieces of material.

  
During material heating, weight and size are lost when volatilization occurs. Therefore, the transportation or transit time to move the pieces from the bottom to the top of the conveyor 87 may be less than that required for the conveyor 177 so that the cooling may take longer than the heating of the the material without excessive filling or overload

  
  <EMI ID = 49.1>

  
first of all to make an adjustment of the motor units 38, 38 ′ of the vibratory unit 35 so that they are each pre-adjusted at an appropriate angle to provide a duration of transport or

  
transit for carrier 87 in the widely preferred range of

  
  <EMI ID = 50.1>

  
30 minutes and preferably around 5 to 7 minutes.

  
The adjustment of the 38.38 'drive units of the vi-

  
  <EMI ID = 51.1>

  
transit within the cooling chamber 21, broadly, within the approximate range of 3 to 30 minutes and preferably with the same transit time or with a time greater than that pre-adjusted for the heating chamber

  
17. The cooling time can also be planned according to the temperature of the cooled materials supplied to the channel
23, assuming that this temperature is measured after the

  
  <EMI ID = 52.1>

  
until the thermal equilibrium stability has been reached. In the treatment of charcoal, it is preferred that the temperature of the discharged charcoal does not exceed about 38 to
52 [deg.] C or that it is simply warm to the touch, and in any case this temperature must be lower than a temperature at which the resulting charcoal automatically ignites in the atmosphere, that is to say say about 65.5 [deg.] C. Therefore, for charcoal treatment, the heating temperature, the heating time and the flow rates can be appropriately changed to obtain continuous operation so that the material treated, after delivery, does not exceed 65.5 [deg.] C.

  
The materials supplied by the feed chute 15 to the heating chamber 17 do not need to be prepared in a specific manner and, in fact, they can be either dry or fully moist, but the degree of humidity will understandably influence the desired transit time and the preferred temperature for processing in chamber 17. For example, dry straw can be easily converted to charcoal at lower temperatures (eg about
204 [deg.] C) and for a short transit time (for example about 3 to 5 minutes) while wet sawdust, well decomposed, can be easily converted using higher temperatures (for example 538 [ deg.] C) and treatment times

  
longer (eg 7 minutes).

  
When used to produce charcoal, the present invention is widely concerned with pyrolysis or carbonization, the temperatures used being suitable for the formation of charcoal having the degree and quality targeted for use. Charcoal with a high fixed percentage of carbon is easily produced by the invention and is of high quality for various industrial uses.

   But without taking into account the use or the quality of the charcoal to be produced, the invention provides an extremely effective and infinitely variable adjustment of the treatment times, temperatures, flow rates and movement, any one of these numerous parameters which can be modified selectively at will to obtain the desired result, and this in marked contrast to the known prior technology.

  
The present invention also contemplates the gasification of organic materials, rather than their conversion to charcoal. Therefore, woody materials and various cellular, lignocellulosic, biomass, and organic waste materials, including manure, bagasse, leaves, straw, cockles, pods, and other agricultural waste

  
  <EMI ID = 53.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 54.1>

  
good, can all be gasified by heating to sufficient and appropriate gasification temperatures in the heating unit 12 and with only ash, coke or mineral residues remaining, which are discharged by transport
87 via channel 18. Ash, coke or

  
  <EMI ID = 55.1>

  
cooling 20. For gasification, the temperatures above

  
  <EMI ID = 56.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 57.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 58.1>

  
from about 5 minutes or more, and up to about 20 minutes, a typical treatment time being 11 minutes. By

  
  <EMI ID = 59.1>

  
Longer ones, for example up to about 20 to 30 minutes can be used.

  
For gasification, the exhaust gases from the heating chamber 17 can be burned in the combustion chamber 14 for self-supporting operation, and the excess gases are intended for another use, for example storage. , machining, electricity formation or external heating.

  
Even if the invention is used for the production of charcoal, the lignocellulosic materials supplied to the heating chamber provide, after heating, excess combustible gases. For example, if wood chips with a

  
  <EMI ID = 60.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 61.1>

  
lions of J of exhaust gas is produced, while only only 1 billion 55 million to 2 billion 110 million J of gas can necessarily be consumed by burning in the combustion chamber. The differences of 6 to 7 billion J are recoverable for another use, being the equivalent of approx.

  
  <EMI ID = 62.1>

  
larger and eventually provide more than 21 billion 100 mil-

  
  <EMI ID = 63.1>

  
Under certain circumstances, the materials to be converted. Charcoal can have such a high moisture content that, before heating to carbonization temperatures, drying of the materials is desirable. For this purpose, the provision <EMI ID = 64.1>

  
preheating materials such as sawdust and damp wood chips, before exposing them to the required charring temperatures at which efficient conversion to charcoal

  
wood can be quickly made.

  
FIG. 9 represents such a configuration which comprises a preheating unit 195 presenting a drying chamber 196 for receiving the materials to be treated and a chute 198 or another feeding means. The chamber 196 can be of similar or identical construction and dimensions to the heating chamber 17, and similarly include a vibration conveyor 200 having a spiral (i.e. helical) plate 201 to which vibrational forces are coupled <EMI ID = 65.1>

  
type as that described above, the materials being by this means transported upwards (or downwards) through a

  
  <EMI ID = 66.1>

  
pre-selected processing, after which they are transferred

  
to a transfer channel 203, preferably closed like channel 18, for the transfer of preheated, partially dried materials

  
  <EMI ID = 67.1>

  
Bedroom. drying 196 is surrounded by a shirt

  
  <EMI ID = 68.1>

  
heated from the combustion chamber 14 of the heating unit 12, through the space 124 surrounding the chamber 17. Somewhat cooled,. these combustion gases 8. 'flow. down around the chamber 196 in a space 208 where they are subjected to a draft by a flue 209 in the direction of the chimney 126 thanks to the internal fan 127. an input 211 and an output 212 allow

  
the circulation of dry air through the chamber 196. However, other ventilation arrangements are possible, for example the supply of exhaust gases from the chamber 196 to the chamber

  
combustion, via the burner 16, using a fan, etc., in the same way as I duct 57 provides the

  
exhaust gas to the burner, from chamber 17.

  
For illustrative purposes, the cooling unit

  
20 is shown to have a modified cooling chamber
21 ′ in which a vibration conveyor 177 ′ is oriented to transport the material downwards rather than upwards,

  
in response to the operation of its vibration training unit

  
  <EMI ID = 69.1>

  
The device as illustrated in FIG. 9 can also be used for mixing different materials. Therefore, an additive or a substance to be mixed with the material supplied to be heated can be introduced at point X, after which the vibratory action of the conveyor 87 provides a rapid, deepened action, when the material is transported upwards. in the room

  
  <EMI ID = 70.1>

  
point Y to the material entering before drying, after which mixing occurs when the material is being preheated in the drying chamber 196.

  
At all times during the processing of different materials, and in particular with regard to the conversion of ma-

  
  <EMI ID = 71.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 72.1>

  
heating 17 and cooling chamber 21 for controlling

  
  <EMI ID = 73.1>

  
obtained by appropriate operation of controls 51, 51 ′ but the use of different forms of air valves and drawers is envisaged.

  
The present invention is useful for converting tire waste to high quality carbon black in the form of beads or powder, for further use and treatment. Broadly, the temperatures used for such conversion can be the same as or slightly higher, and a specifically preferred range of temperatures is between
538 and 760 [deg.] C with a duration of treatment or transit in the heating chamber 17 of 7 minutes. Tire waste can be in the form of rags, small pieces or tire chips. The exhaust gases are recovered and are further processed, converted or burned.

  
Coal can easily be treated by the invention in various ways, by being gasified to recover the useful volatile materials contained therein, at temperatures which can be of the order of 538 to 1093 [deg.] C and in particular of 760 [deg.] C. Representative heating and cooling times can be on the order of 5 to 30 minutes. The size of the pieces of charcoal to be carbonated can range from dust to a mesh size of 7.62 cm, and preferably 3.81 cm or less.

  
  <EMI ID = 74.1> high in coke of different qualities, including the qualities usable in blast furnaces. For this purpose, heating temperatures can advantageously be of the order of approximately 649

  
  <EMI ID = 75.1>

  
conversion into pieces having a glassy, essentially crystalline or coral-like state.

  
The invention furthermore comprises the extraction of volatile materials from what are called bituminous shales or sands. Bituminous shale is a sedimentary rock with a high percentage of volatile matter and fixed carbon which can be extracted in the form of what is called kerogen which constitutes a crude olefinic oil which is found

  
  <EMI ID = 76.1>

  
ble, tar sands contain an oil analogous to tar called bitumen which can consist of more than 10% by weight and include more than 50% of oil. These various oils can be extracted by volatilization by heating the shales or particulate bituminous sands in the heating chamber 17 at temperatures and treatment times comparable to those used for gasification or conversion of coal. Even what is called scrap oil shale can be treated with the invention. Temperatures can be around

  
  <EMI ID = 77.1>

  
about 3 minutes to about 20 minutes or more. The preferred heating temperature is 599 ° C. with a nominal heating and cooling time of 5 minutes each.

  
The volatile materials extracted by the use of the invention from shales and oil sands are treated in accordance with known techniques, for example by condensation, fractional distillation and cracking, etc.

  
It should be noted that, in the treatment of different organic materials according to the invention, the materials are usually heated only once in the heating chamber 17 and then cooled in the cooling chamber 21. However, it is envisaged that such materials may be resubmitted to treatment once or more. For example, charcoal with a high fixed carbon content, for example 70% or more, can be produced by a single treatment of organic material, such as wood chips, using the new device.

   After further processing of the converted material, the fixed carbon content can be increased to more than 90%, thereby achieving a high quality form of activated charcoal having high carbon content and high porosity, without degradation. substantial structural.

  
The processing of materials through the use of the new device may also include the use of a large number of heating chambers and a large number of cooling chambers, or both. Multiple heating and / or cooling chambers may be in series or in parallel or in combination of arrangements in series and in parallel. In addition, certain treatments according to the present invention can avoid the use of the cooling unit 20, when the gasification of certain organic materials is carried out and the only treated material remaining after the passage through the heating unit 12 is ash or hot residue which should not require adjusted or restricted cooling.

  
Although the device according to the invention is initially intended for the treatment of organic materials of the types previously noted, it can advantageously be used for heating, or for heating and cooling, of different compounds and mixtures and including of different inorganic materials . For example, the invention can be used for heat treatment or annealing of different materials, as well as for gas treatment or diffusion processes.

  
Another use of the device according to the invention is the drying of different materials not only of the aforementioned minerals and other minerals but also of various crops such as grains, beans, and other crops, drying for

  
  <EMI ID = 78.1>

  
res of about 10 to 149 [deg.] C in a thorough and uniform manner which results from the vibratory treatment of the materials to be dried. Air can be introduced into a preheating or processing chamber of the device to further adjust the temperatures. For other materials, drying temperatures

  
  <EMI ID = 79.1>

  
It is envisaged that two heating units according to the invention may each supply heated material to a single cooling unit. In addition, different units of

  
  <EMI ID = 80.1>

  
be stacked on the same axis. In addition, although both

  
  <EMI ID = 81.1>

  
Since each has been described as being constructed to transport materials from the bottom up, the movement can be expected in the opposite direction. For example, as suggested in FIG. 9, material can be transported by the vibratory action upwards in the heating unit 12 and downwards in the cooling unit 20. In addition, different shapes of chambers for either heating or cooling are possible, including the use of natural or artificial geological cavities or passages.

  
The invention is described in more detail using the following examples.

Example 1

  
The invention is used for the conversion of chips

  
  <EMI ID = 82.1>

  
1.9 cm mesh and have a humidity rate of around 40%.

  
The device as shown in the drawings is adjusted to provide a heating treatment or transit time of 7 minutes, a cooling transit time of 10 minutes and a heating temperature of 649 [deg.] C. Copals are provided

  
  <EMI ID = 83.1>

  
chip size traction is about 33% and the chip pulling character is preserved. A charcoal yield of 20 to 30% is obtained. After analysis, a dry matter analysis
- charcoal reveals that it includes: -
  <EMI ID = 84.1>
   <EMI ID = 85.1>

  
briquette with a fixed carbon content suitable for industrial quality.

Example II

  
The invention is used to convert a mixture of hardwood chips, bark, planes, and sawdust with a moisture content of about 25%. The durations and tempera-

  
  <EMI ID = 86.1>

  
dry matter of charcoal reveals that it includes:

  

  <EMI ID = 87.1>


  
  <EMI ID = 88.1>

  
briquette. The yield is estimated to be 20 to 30%.

Example III

  
The invention is used to convert oak chips as described in Example I, including pieces of smaller dimensions, to charcoal. Temperature

  
  <EMI ID = 89.1>

  
  <EMI ID = 90.1>

  
only the small pieces were converted into a good wooden chariot.

Example IV

  
The table below summarizes the conversion of different materials into charcoal under different conditions according to the invention, by the use of the device and of the process.

  

  <EMI ID = 91.1>

Example V

  
The invention is used to gasify wood. Oak shavings with a mesh opening dimension

  
  <EMI ID = 92.1>

  
continuously to the heating unit which is at a temperature of 1093 [deg.] C: The device is adjusted to provide a heating time and a cooling time of 5 minutes each. The chips are completely carbonated, with only white ash or a white ash residue which is discharged from the unit

  
  <EMI ID = 93.1> <EMI ID = 94.1>

  
similar to the output of the cooling unit.

Example VI

  
Tire fragments are converted to carbon black by the use of the invention. Tire shreds. automobile are fed to the heating chamber 17 with a temperature inside of 593 [deg.] C and with a heating time and a cooling time of 7 and 10 minutes respectively. The volatiles from the tattered tire material are completely separated and removed from the heating chamber -17 for further processing. The cooling unit provides carbon black in the form of a fine powder and small &#65533; <3tlë5.

Example VII

  
Bituminous shale is treated by heating in a device as illustrated in the drawings, this heating being

  
  <EMI ID = 95.1>

  
heating and cooling each being 5 minutes. Two different qualities are tested, the so-called high quality waste shale and the low quality waste shale

  
  <EMI ID = 96.1>

  
Bedding ", approximately 6 kg are recovered from the cooling unit 20, and for the shale of 'low quality scrap", approximately 5.55 kg. In each case, the difference in

  
  <EMI ID = 97.1>

  
from the shale when heating in the heating unit 12.


    

Claims (1)

Example VIII Coal is gasified by calcining volatiles in the device as illustrated, which is adjusted to maintain a heating temperature of 760 [deg.] C, a heating time of 5 minutes and a cooling time of 5 to 10 minutes. An amount of approximately 44 1, weighing approximately 31.7 kg, pieces of coal with a sieve opening of 1.27 to 7.62 cm, preferably about 3.81 cm, is loaded into the heating unit 12. Approximately only 9 kg of coke-like pieces are recovered from the cooling unit 20 The difference in weight is explained by the volatilization of the constituents of coal. The recovered pieces can be characterized in a porous and coral-like form as being relatively light in weight by comparison <EMI ID = 98.1> carbon is analyzed and there are 27865 J / g. The calorific value of the pieces recovered is analyzed and we find 25,550 J / g. It should be understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications can be made without leaving of the scope of this patent. 1. Device for treating pieces of material by heating, characterized in that it comprises means forming a treatment chamber produced to control the quantity of oxygen contained therein, transport means forming an elongated tray for treating material which has a vertical extent inside the chamber, means for imparting vibration forces to the tray to move the pieces along this tray for processing by heating inside the chamber during the movement of one end of the plate towards its other end by vibration, and means for heating bedroom. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for imparting vibrational forces cause agitation by vibration of the pieces to achieve a random movement thereof. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the random movement of the pieces produces a total exposure of the pieces to ambient temperatures inside the chamber for non-discriminatory, uniform heating of each of the pieces. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the material processing plate comprises a continuous spiral. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means intended to impart vibratory forces to the plate comprise an elongated column, oriented vertically, a means of elastic suspension of this column inside of the chamber, and vibration forming means coupled to the column to cause a vibratory movement thereof around its longitudinal axis. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the chamber has an apex, said column projecting through an orifice in this apex, and in that means <EMI ID = 99.1> are provided, these means allowing a vibratory movement of the column relative to the top. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means forming a gas-tight seal comprise elements at the top of the chamber, which form an annular tank surrounding the column, a flowable sealing material in this tank, and a a rim-shaped sealing element surrounding the periphery of the column and extending inside the sealing material. 8. Device according to claim 4, characterized in <EMI ID = 100.1> bles to cause movement of the pieces of material from one end of the plate to the other in a predetermined transit time. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means which give vibratory forces to the plate comprise an elongated column, oriented vertically, means resiliently supporting the column inside the chamber, and means generating vibrations which comprise at least one adjustable vibration motor unit, coupled to the column to cause its vibration about its longitudinal axis, this column extending in the chamber, the means forming the vibrations being located outside the chamber, and means providing a gas-tight relationship between the column and the chamber. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the plate is wound spirally, in the form of a helix, around the data. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the plate has a radially horizontal floor and a lip which extends along the edge of this plate which is radially distant from the column. 12. Device according to claim 4; characterized in that the means for heating the treatment chamber comprise a combustion chamber situated below a bottom of the treatment chamber. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the treatment chamber and the combustion chamber are enclosed on their sides by a refractory housing, this refractory housing forming a space which surrounds the treatment chamber, which is in communication with the combustion chamber, the heat from the combustion chamber being supplied to the bottom and to the sides of the treatment chamber. 14. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the treatment chamber is cylindrical and in that it has a floor forming the bottom of the chamber, this floor being convex. 15. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises means for eliminating the exhaust gases from the treatment chamber for subsequent use. 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for eliminating the exhaust gases comprise a first fan for extracting the exhaust gases from the treatment chamber, a gas burner for the combustion chamber and means for supplying at least a portion of the exhaust gases to said burner. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a second fan for supplying forced combustion air to the burner and means for supplying combustible gas to the burner from an independent gas source . 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises means for receiving the excess exhaust gas which comes from the first fan and which is not burned in the combustion chamber, a torch, a safety valve, and ducts which connect the first fan, the valve and the torch to allow the burning of excess exhaust gas if a predetermined gas pressure is exceeded, which causes the valve to open. 19. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a second treatment chamber <EMI ID = 101.1> this second chamber being suitable for cooling the material it contains, transport means forming an elongated material processing tray having a vertical extent inside the second chamber, means for conferring <EMI ID = 102.1> third in the second chamber by cooling during its movement from one end of the latter plate to its other end, by vibration, these means intended to impart vibratory forces to each of said plates causing random movement of the pieces of material along the respective tray, means for supplying pieces of material at one end of the first tray for heating in the first chamber, means for receiving the heated pieces at the other end of the first tray, means for transferring the heated pieces to one of the ends of the second tray for cooling in the second chamber, and means for receiving the cooled pieces at the other end of the second tray. 20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the means for imparting vibratory forces to each of the plates comprise vibration generating means which are selectively adjustable to cause movement of the pieces of material on the respective plates with a view to their movement from one end of the respective tray to the other, in a predetermined transit time. ' 21. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that each plate has a spiral shape, respective columns resiliently supported inside the respective chambers, means which generate vibrations containing at least one vibrating motor unit coupled with adjustable to each of the columns, the means generating the vibrations being located outside the respective chamber, each plate being wound in a spiral in the form of a helix around the respective column. <EMI ID = 103.1> in that the means generating vibrations comprise a support having at least one vertical face, at least one vibration drive unit, clamping means for tightly engaging the drive unit on said face, the drive unit being adapted for be selectively oriented around a pivot axis arranged angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the column and being held by these clamping means in a predetermined angular orientation to adjust the value of the vibratory forces imparted to the plate in order to carry out the movement of the pieces of material from one end of the plate towards the other, in a predetermined transit time. 23. Device according to claim 22, characterized <EMI ID = 104.1> gitudinal of the column, and in that two drive units are provided, each being located on either side of the said longitudinal axis and each being adapted to be selectively oriented around the pivot axis. 24. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises a third treatment chamber <EMI ID = 105.1> preheating, means of transport forming an elongated material treatment plate which has a vertical extent inside the third chamber, means for imparting vibratory forces to this last plate in order to move the. <EMI ID = 106.1> intended to confer vibratory forces causing random movement of the pieces along this last plate during preheating, means for bringing the pieces of material &#65533; one end of the tray, means for transferring the preheated pieces from the other end of the tray to one <EMI ID = 107.1> transferring heat to the third chamber from the heating means of the first chamber, the materials being preheated in the third chamber before their treatment in the first bedroom. 25. Process for treating an organic material into a more useful product, characterized in that it comprises the action of enclosing the organic material in the form of aggregated pieces inside a treatment chamber having a vertical extent, at least partial closure of this air chamber <EMI ID = 108.1> carrying pieces through this chamber and along the vertical extent by a vibratory action, while heating the chamber to a preselected temperature sufficient to convert the volatile constituents of this material into a gaseous state, which provides exhaust from this material, and removal of exhaust gases from the chamber for later use. 26. The method of claim 25, characterized in that the at least partial closure of the chamber comprises providing at least at the start of an atmosphere containing oxygen inside the chamber. 27. The method of claim 26, characterized in that it comprises closing the chamber to the atmosphere located outside the chamber, the pieces of material being fed to said chamber by a small opening in this last. 28. The method of claim 25, characterized in that it further comprises the burning of at least part of the exhaust gas to heat the room. 29. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the heating is carried out by the burning of gas in a combustion chamber situated below the treatment chamber. 30. The method of claim 29, characterized in that the burning of gases in the combustion chamber is carried out so as to provide heating below a floor of the chamber and around the walls of this chamber. 31. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the elimination of the exhaust gases from the chamber is carried out by the use of a fan having a suction inlet placed in communication with this chamber. 32. The method of claim 31, characterized in that the heating of the chamber is at least initially carried out by burning in the combustion chamber of fuel from an independent fuel source. 33. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the transport of the pieces is carried out by a continuous vibratory action with a view to causing the displacement of the pieces material through the chamber in a predetermined time interval. 34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that the vibratory action causes each individual piece of material, during its transport, to be subjected to a random movement with a view to a non-discriminatory and uniform exposure of each of the pieces at ambient temperatures expected inside the chamber. 35. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that the transport of the pieces of material is effected by the use of a spiral vibratory conveyor with a view to driving each of the pieces to follow a spiral path in the chamber, this spiral path crossing the vertical extent of the room. 36. The method of claim 34, characterized in that it further comprises providing a second chamber adapted to cool the material, the transfer of the pieces of material to the second chamber which follows the heating of the pieces in the treatment, and the transport of the pieces through the second chamber along a vertical extent of the latter by a continuous vibratory action intended to cause the pieces of material to move through this second chamber in another predetermined time interval. . 37. Method according to claim 36, characterized in that the vibratory action used to transport the pieces in the second chamber causes the individual pieces of material to be subjected to a random movement for the purpose of a non-discriminatory and uniform exposure of each pieces at room temperature inside the second chamber. 38. Method according to claim 37, characterized in that the transport of the pieces of material through each of the chambers is effected by the use of a spiral vibratory transport means intended to drive each of the pieces to follow a spiral path in each chamber, this spiral path crossing a vertical extent in the respective chamber. 39. The method of claim 38, characterized in that the pieces of material are driven to follow a spiral path in each chamber, path formed by a helical conveyor plate. 40. Method according to claim 39, characterized in that it comprises the elastic suspension of the helical conveyor plate by a vertical column, the vibratory action being applied to said column by means generating vibrations located outside the respective room, and the application vibratory forces from the above generating means to the conveyor plate by said column. 41. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the exposure of the pieces of material to heating in the chamber causes volatilization of the constituents of this material. 42. A method according to claim 41, characterized in that the exposure of the pieces of material to heating in said chamber results in conversion of the material to a higher relative percentage of the carbon content. 43. Method according to claim 42, characterized in that the exposure of the pieces of material to heating in the chamber results in a conversion of the material into charcoal. 44. The method of claim 43, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of about 149 [deg.] C to about 1093 [deg.] C. 45. Method according to claim 43, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of about 371 [deg.] C to 871 [deg.] C. 46. Method according to claim 43, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of about 427 [deg.] C to 649 [deg.] C. 47. Method according to claim 43, characterized in that the vibratory action is applied continuously to <EMI ID = 109.1> a predetermined heating time interval. 48. Method according to claim 47, characterized in that the predetermined duration is approximately 3 minutes approximately 30 minutes. 49. Method according to claim 47. characterized in that the predetermined duration is of the order of approximately 5 to 7 minutes. 50. Method according to claim 43, characterized in that the material is chosen from the group comprising cellulosic, lignocellulosic, biomass and organic waste materials. 51. The method of claim 46, characterized in that it further comprises providing a second chamber adapted for cooling the material, the transfer of the pieces of material to the second chamber following the heating of the pieces in the processing chamber, and the transport of the pieces through this second chamber along a vertical extent by a continuous vibratory action intended to cause the pieces to move through this chamber in another predetermined cooling time interval intended for the cooling to an outlet temperature. 52. The method of claim 51, characterized in that the other predetermined time interval is from about 3 minutes to about 30 minutes. 53. Method according to claim 52, characterized in that the other predetermined time interval is the same as the predetermined time interval for heating. 54. Method according to claim 51, characterized in that the outlet temperature is less than 66 [deg.] C. 55. The method of claim 41, characterized in that the exposure of the pieces of material to heating in the chamber results in a gasification of the material. 56. Method according to claim 55, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of 538 [deg.] C at- <EMI ID = 110.1> 57. Method according to claim 56, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of 538 [deg.] C to 760 [deg.] C. 58. Method according to claim 41, characterized in that the material is carbon, and in that the exposure of the pieces of coal to heating in the chamber results in a conversion of the latter into coke. 59. Method according to claim 58, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of 538 [deg.] C to about 1316 [deg.] C. 60. Method according to claim 41, characterized in <EMI ID = 111.1> in that the exposure of the pieces of tire residue to the heating in the chamber results in a conversion of this material to carbon black. 61. Method according to claim 60, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of 538 [deg.] C to 7600C. 62. Process according to claim 41, characterized in that the material is chosen from the group comprising shales and oil sands, and in that the exposure of the pieces of material to heating in said chamber causes volatilization of the oils from matter in the form exhaust gases, and in that it further comprises recovering volatilized oils from the exhaust gases. 63. Method according to claim 62, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is of the order of approximately 427 [deg.] C to 1093 De. 64. The method of claim 41, characterized in that the vibratory action is applied continuously to transport the pieces of material through the chamber in a predetermined heating time interval of the order of about 3 minutes to about 30 minutes. 65. A method of heat treatment of material in the form of aggregated pieces, characterized in that it comprises supplying the pieces to at least one first chamber, transporting these pieces through this chamber by vibratory action in a first interval of predetermined time, and maintaining this chamber at a preselected temperature, this vibratory action entangling each of the pieces to be subjected to a random movement for a non-discriminatory and uniform exposure of the material to the conditions inside this chamber. 66. Method according to claim 65, characterized in that the transport is effected by the application of vibratory forces to the pieces of material along a path wound in the chamber. 67. Method according to claim 65, characterized in that the vibratory forces are applied along a spiral path in the chamber. 68. Method according to claim 67, characterized in that the spiral path is formed by a spiral plate and in that the vibratory forces are applied to the pieces of material by coupling. Of vibratory forces to the plate in order to generate vibrations at from outside the room. 69. The method of claim 68, characterized in that it comprises providing a large number of chambers, maintaining each chamber at a respective preselected temperature, the pieces of material being transported through each chamber in an interval of respective predetermined time, and the continuous transfer of the pieces of material successively between the chambers, the vibratory action being maintained in a continuous manner.