Method and apparatus for converting solid organic material to fuel oil and gas

Patent · Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6534218

Capener, E L; Low, J M

Method and means for converting organic materials, such as garbage, sewage sludge, wood and agricultural products, and the like, to fuels are disclosed which include pre-drying the organic feed material and feeding the same to a reactor for the pyrolysis thereof. Pyrolytic off-gases are fed to a condenser where a condensable fraction comprising, generally, oil and water is removed. The gas phase from the condenser is scrubbed by means of a scrubber, passed through an activated charcoal filter, and burned to supply heat for at least partially drying the reactor feed material. First gravity separating means separates the liquid phase from the condenser into oil and water fractions. Similarly, second gravity separating means, to which scrubber liquid is supplied, separates the scrubber liquid into oil and water fractions. The water fraction from the second gravity separating means is supplied as scrubbing liquid for scrubbing the gas phase. If desired, the oil fractions from said first and second gravity separators may be passed through distillation means for removal of water which may be included therein. In accordance with the present invention, the water fraction from at least one of the first and second gravity separating means is distilled for the separation of pyrolytic oil therefrom, which heavy oil is combined with the light oil fractions from the first and second gravity separating means to lower the viscosity thereof and to add energy to the fuel. After such distillation, excess water is dumped, after first cleaning by passing the same through activated charcoal filter means. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, fuel oil obtained by pyrolysis may be blended with methyl alcohol for esterification thereof to lower the viscosity of the oil, decrease its acidity, and increase its btu content.

• Assignee: Wilwardco Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4344770
• OSTI ID: 6534218
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 4 Nov 1977; Other Information: PAT-APPL-848444
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CONVERSION
PYROLYSIS
FUEL OILS
PRODUCTION
ORGANIC WASTES
WOOD
CHARCOAL
DRYING
GRAVITATION
METHANOL
PYROLYTIC GASES
SCRUBBERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
VISCOSITY
WATER REMOVAL
ADSORBENTS
ALCOHOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS
REMOVAL
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
420900* - Engineering- Waste Processing Plants & Equipment- (-1989)
090100 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- (-1989)