Method and apparatus for cleaning solids for pollution free disposal

Patent · Tue May 22 04:00:00 EDT 1973

OSTI ID:5373374

Culpepper, Jr, G O; Kendall, J W; Pitts, J W

Solids, such as sand, are often entrained in the oil flow from an oil well. In such a case, it is conventional to pass the oil flow to a desander which consists of a cone wherein the oil flow is conducted through the cone in a whirling motion allowing the clean oil to exit through the top of the cone and the sand to fall by weight to the bottom of the cone. The sand is held in a receiver at the bottom of the cone and is dumped under pressure as the sand accumulates. However, this sand still has a coating of oil or hydrocarbon on the surface and, as such, constitutes a pollutant. A system is described for burning an oil coating from the surface of particulate solid material such as sand in a pressurized firing zone or firing chamber. The solids are introduced under pressure into the firing zone. An air-fuel mixture is introduced into the firing zone and burned therein. Immediately downstream of the firing chamber is a doughnut restriction which confines the combustion to the firing chamber. The ratio of air to fuel in the air-fuel mixture is always such that the fuel will be completely burned. (3 claims)

• Assignee: EDB-82-120201
• Patent Number(s): US 3734774
• OSTI ID: 5373374
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020800* -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
FUEL-AIR RATIO
MANAGEMENT
OIL WELLS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTANTS
PROCESSING
SAND
SOLID WASTES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE OILS
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WELLS