US1323681A

US1323681A - David e

Info

Publication number: US1323681A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1936-12-02

Description

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

D. E. DAY. 'TREATMENT OF SHALES AND COALS.

AP LICATION FiLED MAR. 4, I918 m agamo UNITED STATE% DAVID E. DAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TREATMENT OF SHALES AND GOALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

lation process and apparatus for treating such material.

, The invention provides for the generation of gases of combustion, substantially devoid'of oxygen, and the treatment of the oil bearing material with the hot gases to effect the distillation of the oil. The process involves'the agitation of the shale during the heat treatment in a particular type of retort or still and includes also the treatment of the material in the presence of steam.

The invention makes it possible to dis- .pense with the heating of the exterior of the apparatus andthus avoids the trouble incident to the use of such apparatus and the resultant coking of the interior of the treatment chamber and the expense incidental to the deterioration of that structure. The invention also makes it possible to use higher temperatures for the treatment of the shale than were possible from the use of steam alone or with the application of external heat to the container. The present process by mingling the hot gases in direct contact with the particles of shale containing the oil provides for a maximum elliciency for a given amount of heat.

The invention also provides for the generation of the gases of combustion in one chamber and the introduction of these gases of combustion .into a second chamber in which the shale undergoes a continuous agitating treatment.

The above features together with other details of the invention are described and claimed in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, representing diagrammatically the chamber for the production of the gases of combustion and the position of the agitator members within the main retort.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 indicating. the staggered and spiral arrangement of the agitator arms within the retort.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates the outer casing of a main cylindrical retort which is shown as slightly inclined to facilitate the movement of material through the same. The retort 1 is supported by suitable posts or walls 2 which may be of any suitable fire-proof material. The retort 1 is lined on its interior with fire brick 3 to protect the metal casing from deterioration. A central axial shaft 4 extends the length of the retort l and is journaled in the ends of the retort. Agitator arms 5 are secured rigidly to the shaft 4 and are provided at their extremities with blades 5 which are designed to pass in close proximity to the fire brick and inner surface of the retort. The agitator arms 5 are positioned in staggered relation on the shaft 4 and provide an interrupted spiral arrangement which has an important function in agitatingthe shale and passing the same through the retort. On one .quantities of the shale and to substantially close the inlet passage 9. The valve 10 may be of any suitable construction so long as it accomplishes the results indicated as de= sired. Meansfor operating the valve 10 is indicated by a drive pulley 11 connected by a belt 12 with a pulley 13 secured to the shaft 4. It is not necessary that the valve operating mechanism be directly connected to the shaft 4, but it is important that the speed of rotation of the valve 10 be in a fixed ratio with the capacity of the retort, that is, the speed of the material through the retort. An outlet valve for the retort is provided by the downwardly projecting part 14 having a rotary valve 15 illustrated as of similar construction to the valve 10.

A drive pulley 15 is indicated as provided to operate at a particular time with respect to the pulley 11.

.A cylindrical chamber 16 is provlded for the generation of the gases of combustion and suitable fire-proof supports are indicated at 17. Within the chamber 16 is a combustion nozzle 18 to which there is connected an oil or gas pipe 19 and air pipe 20.

The oil or gas is ignited at the nozzle 18 and is provided with sufficient oxygen to burn by means of the adjustment of a valve in the pipe 20. A powerful flame may be thus provided within the combustion chamber 16 and the gases passing from the combustion chamber are directed through the large pipes 21 from the top of the combustion'chamber 16 to a manifold 22 positioned approximately alongside of the main retort 1 and on a levelwith the shaft 4, that is midway of the height of the retort. The gases are conducted from the manifold 22 through the intake pipes 23 into the interior of the retort Where they mingle with the shale which is undergoing agitation.

Thesupply of steamis provided by a pipe system which includes a water or steam pipe 2 1 connected to a coil 25 which is positioned within the combustion chamber for the production of steam or the superheating of steam. Leading from the coil 25 is a pipe 26 which terminates within the lower end of the shaft 4 which'is provided with a hollow central bore for at least a portion of its length. Steam discharged from the pipe 26 passes from the shaft 4 through the openings 27 and together with the gases of combustion assist in the treatment of the shale.

Outlet passages for the vapors and the gases are indicated'at 28 in the top of the retort 1 and upwardly extending pipes 29 are connected to a common manifold 30.-

It is preferable that this manifold 30 be slightly inclined so that any products which may condense will run downwardly through the pipes 29 and back into the retort for further treatment. a

In the operation of the process, the material containing the hydrocarbon. oil which is to be distilled is introduced into the upper end of the retort 1 at which point the temperature may be possibly 300 F. and upward. The direction of rotation of the shaft 4 causes the arms 5 and the blades 5* to. impel the shale toward the lower end of the structure and at the same time to thoroughly agitate and mix the shale so that the gases of combustion and the steam may have free access to every particle of shale. It is desirable that the material conveyed by the member 7 be treated in a crusher so that it will come to the retort in substantially a granular condition and will be of such a mesh that a-ll parts may be readily treated, by the gases of combustion and steam. The temperature at the outlet end of the retort will be at least 1000 F. and possibly 1500 F. The steam entering the retort through the openings 27 will probably be ata temperature of 1000 F. The gases of combustion are substantially extinguished flame and may have temperatures ranging from 800 F. to 3000 F. at their point of entry into the retort 1. The possibilities of treating shale containing the desired hydrocarbons can be readily appreciated when such temperatures mav be safely used. By this direct contact treatment of the hot gases on the materials to be distilled it is evident that unusual results can bustion into a second chamber, subjecting the material containing the desired hydrocarbon material within said second chamber to an agitating traveling movement from the entry end to the discharge end of said sec- 0nd chamber and to a heat treatment by I contact with said gases to drive off the desired hydro-carbon material, and introducing steam into the middle of said'second chamber during said agitating traveling movement.

2. The process of extracting hvdrocarbon oil material from oil, bearing shale which cpnsists of generating hot gases of combustion substantially devoid of oxygen in one chamber, introducing said hot gases of combustion into a second chamber, subjecting the material containing the desired hydrocarbon material within said second chamber to an agitating traveling movement from the entry end to the discharge end of said second chamber and to a heat treatment of at least 1000 F. by contact with said gases to drive off the desired hydrocarbon material, and introducing steam into the middle of said second chamber during said agitating traveling movement.

DAVID E. DAY.