Method for regeneration of granular activated carbon

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS OF REGENERATING SPENT GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON EMPLOYING A MULTIPLE HEARTH FURNACE, THE STEPS OF: PROGRESSIVELY PASSING SAID CARBON FROM TOP TO BASE OF SAID FURNACE BY RABLING FROM HEARTTH TO HEARTH AND IN AN ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING WATER VAPOR AND CARBON DIOXIDE, AND WHILE SO DOING, SUPPLYING HEAT TO MORE THAN ONE HEARTH, AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS SPACED ABOUT EACH SUCH HEARTH, AND AT CONTROLLED REATES AT SAID POINTS, RESPECTIVELY, ADJUSTED TO BURN OFF THE CARBONACEOUS IMPURITIES OF SAID SPENT GRANULAR CARBON BY REACTION PRINCIPALLY WITH SAID WATER VAPOR AND CARBON DIOXIDE, SUPPLYING COOL AIR TO MORE THAN ONE HEARTH, AT A PLURALLITY OF POINTS SPACED ABOUT EACH SUCH HEARTH, AT CONTROLLED RATES AT SAID POINTS, RESPECTIVELY, ADJUSTED TO COMBINE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE COMBUSTIBLE GASES OF THE HEARTH ATMOSPHERE THREAT, DISSAPATING THERMAL ENERGY BY HEAT ABSTRACTION FROM SAID FURNACE AT A RATE SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEEDING THAT EFFECTED BY THE NITROGEN OF SAID COOL AIR AND AT RATES SUCH AS TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF SAID FURNACE AND TO MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT OF BOUT 900 TO 1900*F. FROM TOP TO BASE OF SAID FURNACE, AND WHILE SUBJECTING THE CARBON GRANULES TO RAPID AND REPEATED EXPOSURE OF THE HEARTH ATMOSPHERE.