Arnold E Harak

US Patent:

48805289, Nov 14, 1989

Filed:

May 4, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/188324

Inventors:

James D. Westhoff - Laramie WY
Arnold E. Harak - Laramie WY

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C10G 102

US Classification:

208409

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for utilizing tar sands having a broad range of bitumen content is disclosed. More particularly, tar sands are pyrolyzed in a cyclone retort with high temperature gases recycled from the cyclone retort to produce oil and hydrocarbon products. The spent tar sands are then burned at 2000. degree. F. in a burner to remove residual char and produce a solid waste that is easily disposable. The process and apparatus have the advantages of being able to utilize tar sands having a broad range of bitumen content and the advantage of producing product gases that are free from combustion gases and thereby have a higher heating value. Another important advantage is rapid pyrolysis of the tar sands in the cyclone so as to effectively utilize smaller sized reactor vessels for reducing capitol and operating costs.

US Patent:

43404634, Jul 20, 1982

Filed:

Mar 13, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/243307

Inventors:

Arnold E. Harak - Laramie WY

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C10G 100
C10G 102

US Classification:

208 11R

Abstract:

A system is provided for utilizing fines of carbonaceous materials such as particles or pieces of oil shale of about one-half inch or less diameter which are rejected for use in some conventional or prior surface retorting process, which obtains maximum utilization of the energy content of the fines and which produces a waste which is relatively inert and of a size to facilitate disposal. The system includes a cyclone retort (20) which pyrolyzes the fines in the presence of heated gaseous combustion products, the cyclone retort having a first outlet (30) through which vapors can exit that can be cooled to provide oil, and having a second outlet (32) through which spent shale fines are removed. A burner (36) connected to the spent shale outlet of the cyclone retort, burns the spent shale with air, to provide hot combustion products (24) that are carried back to the cyclone retort to supply gaseous combustion products utilized therein. The burner heats the spent shale to a temperature which forms a molten slag, and the molten slag is removed from the burner into a quencher (48) that suddenly cools the molten slag to form granules that are relatively inert and of a size that is convenient to handle for disposal in the ground or in industrial processes.