GB476427A - Improvements in or relating to the distillation of mixtures of carbonaceous materialand oil - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0476427/III/1> A self-contained process for the production of a solid smokeless fuel and a hydrocarbon distillate, containing a substantial fraction of low boiling point, comprises in combination (a) a distillation process of the kind in which a coal-oil mixture is distilled in a slightly inclined, externally heated, rotating cylindrical retort, e.g. as described in Specifications 393,602, 421,556, 426,645, 427,960, 429,757; and 430,649, [Group XII], and (b) a low-temperature carbonization process producing a solid smokeless fuel and a distillate, the two processes being carried out simultaneously in apparatus so arranged that at least a part of the said distillate from the low-temperature process is introduced into the inclined rotating retort in order to maintain the proportion of oil in the coal-oil mixture at the required amount. A retort 11 of the type described in Specification 393,601 is connected with one or more low-temperature carbonization retorts 12 which may be of the type described in Specification 14365/06, [Class 50], so that the vapours evolved therefrom are passed into the lower end of the retort. The combined vapours are taken off from the top end of the retort 11 and fractionated in a tower 15, the heavy distillate being passed to a mixer 14 for making up a further batch of the coal-oil mixture. In a modification, the vapours from the retort 12 are mixed with the vapours from the retort 11 after these have left the retort and the combined vapour stream passed to the tower 15. In a further modification, the vapours from each retort are condensed separately and the condensates mixed and supplied to the mixer 14. The permanent gases produced in the process may be used to heat the retorts. Specification 457,971 also is referred to.