Process for separating and recovering liquid products from solid and liquid substances

Claim 2

A process for educating and removing useful products from a substance, said process comprising, forming said substance into a substantially horizontal bed on a perforate support, said bed having a thickness of up to about 1 inch; providing a substantially closed space of substantially constant volume above said bed, said space containing a substantially inert atmosphere which is in contact with said bed and will not support combustion of the materials in said bed; heating the substance to progressively increasing temperatures by means of a radiant heat source located at the top of said closed space and spaced above the upper surface of said substance a distance of up to about 11/2 inches, said temperatures being no greater than will progressively cause liquid and gaseous products to form substantially at the substance, while maintaining said atmosphere in said closed space in a substantially static condition; and removing the liquid and gaseous products, substantially as and when produced, from the bottom side of said bed through said perforated support to a collection chamber located below said bed, with any gases withdrawn from said bed being released from said collection chamber to substantially atmospheric conditions, and with the release opening to said atmospheric conditions being located below the bottom side of said bed.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiant heat source is located at the top of the closed space from about 3/8 inch to about 11/2 inches above the upper surface of the bed.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substance on the perforated support is formed into an elongate bed and the bed is progressively passed through an elongate closed space containing the radiant heat source, whereby the substance progressively absorbs heat and has its temperature progressively increased as it travels through said elongate space.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substance is selected from the group of the decomposable organic materials consisting of coal, oil-bearing shale, oil sand, oil-bearing diatomaceous earth, asphalt and asphalt-bearing materials, tars and tar-bearing material, crude oils, elaterite, gilsonite, rosselite, peat, ignite, wood, saw dust, cocoa nut shells, vegetable matter, animal manure, sewage, and sewage sludge.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substance is combustible waste materials which have been compacted to form a dense layer of not greater than 1/2 inch thick.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substance is a heat decomposable liquid which is capable of being supported on a perforated plate or screen.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of petroleum, petroleum fractions, gilsonite, tar and the decomposition oils obtained from heat treatment of coal, oil shale, and oil sands.

Claim 9

Apparatus for educting and recovering useful products from a substance, said apparatus comprising, an elongate, substantially air tight enclosure having side walls and a top; means for removable coupling said top to said side walls for a substantially air tight seal therebetween; radiant heating means mounted in said enclosure adjacent said top for directing heat downwardly; a continuous, elongate, perforated belt mounted in said enclosure for movement in a substantially horizontal direction past said heating means; feed means for supplying said substance onto said belt; means for forming said substance into a bed of adjustable, predetermined thickness on said belt whereby said bed of said predetermined thickness moves in a substantially horizontal direction past said heating means and is heated by the heat being directed downward from said heating means; means for adjusting the distance between the top surface of said bed and the heating means; collecting means below the portion of said belt upon which said bed is supported for collecting liquids and any gases which are released from said bed during the heat treatment; means for conducting said liquid products from the collecting means to storage facilities; and means for releasing said gases from the collecting means to substantially atmospheric conditions, with said means for releasing said gases being located below the bottom side of said bed.

Claim 10

Apparatus for educting and recovering useful products from a substance, said apparatus comprising, an elongate, substantially air tight enclosure having side walls and a top; means for removable coupling said top to said side walls for a substantially air tight seal therebetween; radiant heating means mounted in said enclosure adjacent said top for directing heat downwardly; a continuous, elongate, perforated belt mounted in said enclosure for movement in a substantially horizontal direction past said heating means; feed means for supplying said substance onto said belt; means for forming said substance into a bed of adjustable, predetermined thickness on said belt whereby said bed of said predetermined thickness moves in a substantially horizontal direction past said heating means and is heated by the heat being directed downward from said heating means; means for adjusting the distance between the top surface of said bed and the heating means; collecting means below the portion of said belt upon which said bed is supported for collecting liquids and any gases which are released from said bed during the heat treatment; means for conducting said liquid products from the collecting means to storage facilities; and means for releasing said gases from the collecting means to substantially atmospheric conditions, with said means for releasing said gases being located below the bottom side of said bed.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said belt comprises a woven screen having openings of about 0.5 mm or less.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided for forming upturned edges on the belt as it travels past the heating elements.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the substance to be treated is a liquid and means are provided for forming a thin layer of the liquid substance on said belt.