GB454185A - Methods and apparatus for the destructive distillation of solid or pasty carbonaceous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

454,185. Retorts for destructive distillation. PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY RESEARCH CO., 100, West 10th Street, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. Aug. 19, 1935, No. 33240. Convention date, Feb. 21. [Class 55 (i)] In the destructive distillation of solid or pasty carbonaceous materials such as schists, lignites, peats, bitumens and mixtures of oils with solid carriers, such as clay or powdered coke, in which the material passes in separate portions in a continuous manner through an externally heated chamber, the evolved gases being continuously removed in countercurrent to the travel of the material, the gaseous products from one separate portion are evacuated from the chamber after having traversed at least one neighbouring cooler portion of the charge and out of contact with the heated walls of the chamber. The material is kept in separate portions by a number of linked discs 6 arranged within a conduit 1, preferably in the form of a horizontal or oblique U, the material to be distilled being fed in at 3 and removed at the other end of the U at 5. The endless chain of discs is driven by a wheel 9 provided with radial blades 11 of radial distance apart equivalent to the spaces between the discs and contacting therewith. The apparatus is sealed to the atmosphere by immersing the ends of the retort and the driving wheel in liquid seals 19, 20. The retort is heated by combustion gases circulating through a surrounding jacket 13 in countercurrent to the material being distilled, from burners 14 arranged near the discharge end of the retort and evacuating into a chimney 15 near the inlet of the retort. Electric heating by resistances may also be used. The retort is also internally heated by the evolved gases which pass through central apertures 6‹ in the discs to off-takes 16 located nearer the inlet end of the retort. Volatiles are recovered in a condenser 18. A retort of internal diameter of 0À15-0À20 metres, length 5-6 metres and distance between the discs of 20 cms. is specified. In a modification, Fig. 6, the retort is arranged as a helix with large spirals, the axis being vertical, horizontal or oblique.