Apparatus and method for processing organic materials into more useful states

A method for processing various organic materials such as lignocellulosics or biomass into more useful states, such as charcoal, carbon black, and coke, and other processed products while producing useful off-gases, includes feeding aggregate pieces of the material to a vertically extending heating chamber and, preferably, closing the chamber to air to control oxygen therein. The pieces are conveyed upwardly through the chamber in a predetermined time by spiral vibratory conveyor. The chamber is heated to a preselected temperature sufficient for gaseous conversion of volatile hydrocarbon constituents of the material. Resultant off-gases are removed from the chamber for further use such as burning thereof for heating the chamber or condensing volatiles, etc. Apparatus for carrying out the method includes preferably first and second such chambers, there being continuous spiral vibrator tray in each chamber carried by a central, vertical support column. Vibration generators secured to the support column impart vibratory forces to the tray for conveying the material by vibratory action. Heating of the material is carried out in the first chamber preferably by burning off-gases generated therein. After heating, material is transferred to the second chamber, also closed to air, for cooling as pieces are carried by vibration along a spiral conveyor therein. If drying of material is desired to reduce moisture content prior to carbonization, the material may first be conveyed through another chamber, heated with combustion gases from heating of the first chamber, by vibratory action.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to processing of various organic or organic-bearing 
materials and more particularly to such processing by highly effective and 
energy efficient heating of the materials while confined under controlled 
conditions for converting materials into more useful states. 
Heretofore, various apparatus has been proposed for the processing of 
materials by the use of head wherein the materials are either batch fed or 
continuously supplied to a retort, or heating vessel. For example, the 
carbonization of various organic materials, including the conversion of 
such materials into charcoal, has heretofore been carried out in either 
drum or cylindrical retorts of the type having the principal axis of the 
retort oriented either horizontally or at an angle to the horizontal. 
Typically, one of two principal techniques is employed in these prior art 
arrangements to move material through the retort or vessel as it is 
heated. In a first approach, a screw, auger, worm or other conventional 
mechanical conveyor is used to physically carry the material along the 
length of the retort. In the other type of arrangement, the retort itself 
is mounted for being rotated, as upon rollers, and vanes or other 
projections within the retort are used to carry material along therein as 
the retort rotates, in the manner of a cement mixer. Both of these 
approaches suffer from a number of disadvantages, among which may be noted 
mechanical complexity and the use of complicated or expensive machinery 
which with all of the consequent and requisite shafts, gearing, chains, 
belts, transmissions or other conventional machinery used for imparting 
rotation either to the auger, or conveyor or to the retort itself. 
Regardless of the objectionable nature of such burdensome, complicated and 
maintenance-requiring mechanical arrangements, it is also difficult to 
provide, within the confined space of the retort, a sufficient processing 
length for thorough exposure of materials to be heated as they travel 
through the retort. Furthermore, it has been exceedingly difficult, in any 
event, to provide through and uniform exposure of material to be processed 
in such prior art apparatus due to the fact that agglomerations of the 
material preclude exposure of at least some of the material to the heating 
environment, and due to various hot spots or temperature gradients within 
the retort or heating vessel, some of the material may be exposed to 
different temperatures than other parts of the material. The processing 
is, therefore, nonuniform and nonhomogeneous within the body of material. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of 
improved apparatus and methods for processing of materials by heating, 
both organic and inorganic. 
Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel apparatus 
and methods for processing of various organic materials, or materials 
containing organic constituents, into more useful forms, such as into 
carbon, charcoal, coke, carbon black, or into gaseous constituents 
thereof. 
A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods for producing extremely high quality charcoal or carbon from wood 
or other lignocellulosic materials, including forest products, such as 
wood waste, wood chips, sawdust, wood dust, bark, shavings, wood pellets, 
including various biomass materials including bagasse, grasses, various 
cuttings, crops and crop wastes, coffee grounds, leaves, straw, pits, 
hulls, shells, stems, husks, cobs, and waste materials including animal 
manure, and whereby such various materials are converted into one of the 
foregoing desired forms. 
A still further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus 
and methods which are capable of processing organic, as well as inorganic 
materials, which are in various aggregate, or bulk, forms including chips, 
small pieces, pellets, fragments, grains, particles, dust, shavings, 
powder, flakes, chunks, etc. 
Another object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods which can be used to obtain various industrial fuels, including 
low or high BTU gases usable as an industrial fuel, from such forest 
products or biomass materials. 
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods for converting rubber tire scrap into carbon black or other high 
carbon converted material. 
A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods for processing of charcoal to obtain activated charcoal. 
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods for making coke from coal. 
A related further object of the invention is the provision of such 
apparatus and methods useful for gasifying coal. 
A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus and 
methods for extracting kerogen, i.e., organic oil-yielding matter, from 
oil shales or bitumen from oil sands. 
A still further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus 
which can be used not only for heating, but also for drying and mixing, of 
various different materials. 
Among other objects of the invention may be noted the provision of such 
apparatus which, in addition to being useful for the processing of various 
different materials and for carrying out various processes as hereinabove 
noted, which allows such materials to be exposed to a predetermined 
environment in a highly uniform manner; which permits heating of such 
materials in piece or particle aggregate form with extraordinary 
uniformity and controllability; which handles material pieces of various 
different sizes, mesh, grade and textures ranging from powders through 
large chunks, and which permits a very high degree of precision and 
control over a wide range of processing times and rates. 
Among still other objects of the invention may be noted the provision of 
such apparatus which is relatively very compact while achieving the 
processing materials along a relatively very long path; which is highly 
efficient in operation, achieving processing of materials with a relative 
minimum of power, and with such low, almost miniscule power being used 
only for handling and transferring of materials to and from apparatus of 
the invention. 
Additional objects include the provision of such apparatus and methods 
which do not require use of conventional rotating shafts, screws and 
augers; which obviate the use of maintenance-prone complicated or 
expensive machinery; which permit the use of a stationary processing 
chamber; and which allow processing along a vertical extent of the 
chamber. 
Various other objects and features of the invention will be in part 
apparent and in part pointed out hereinbelow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is 
illustrated generally at reference numerall 11 a system or apparatus of 
the present invention for carrying out a method of processing various 
organic materials into more useful states by the process of heating of the 
materials for the purpose of converting volatile hydrocarbon constituents 
thereof to a gaseous state. Apparatus 11 comprises a cylindrical heating 
unit 12 below which is situated a combustion chamber 14 adapted for being 
fueled by combustible fuel gases, as more fully explained hereinbelow. 
Various kinds of organic (or conceivably also inorganic) material are 
supplied to heating unit 12 in aggregate form, i.e., as chips, small 
pieces, pellets, fragments, grains, particles, dust, shavings, powder, 
flakes, chunks, and the like, by means of a supply chute 15. The latter 
may be connected to a suitable hopper, bin, conventional conveyor or the 
like for conveying the aggregate or bulk material to chute 15 for being 
processed in heating unit 12. 
Within heating unit 12 there is a heating chamber 17 (see FIG. 2) which is 
to be described in much greater detail hereinbelow. Materials fed through 
supply chute 15 are processed through a vertical extent of chamber 17, 
being conveyed therethrough in accordance with a novel arrangement, 
explicated hereinbelow, and are then delivered by means of a transfer 
chute 18 from the top of the heating unit to a point at the lower end of a 
cooling unit 20 having a cooling chamber 21. 
In the cooling chamber, the materials are cooled while being maintained in 
the closed environment of cooling chamber 21 while being conveyed upwardly 
through a vertical extend of the latter by an arrangement similar to that 
employed in heating unit 11. The cooled materials, having been converted, 
or otherwise processed, are then delivered by a discharge or delivery 
chute 23 which may feed such materials into a suitable hopper or to a 
conventional conveyor for storage or further handling and processing. 
Cooling unit 20 is supported on a suitable platform 24 whereby the height 
of the cooling unit is commensurate with that of heating unit 11. A 
viewing port 22 in a front wall of cooling unit 20, permits observation of 
hot processed material being supplied by chute 23 to the cooling unit. 
Generally speaking, heating unit 12 and cooling unit 20 each contain a 
vibratory conveyor, to be described fully hereinbelow, with such vibratory 
conveyor providing metal columns 26,27 projecting upwardly out of the 
units and carrying respective flanges 29,30 which are suspended from 
respective platforms 32,33 upon which are mounted vibratory units 
designated generally 35,36. Said units 35,36 are identical, each having a 
pair of electric motor units 38,38' secured to opposite sides of support 
structures 39,40 of the conveyor and which extend upward from the 
corresponding platforms 32,33 for imparting vibration thereto about the 
vertical axis of columns 26,27. 
Said platforms 32,33 are each resiliently supported by springs 42 upon 
brackets 43 carried at their opposite ends by suitable beams as 
illustrated in phantom at 45. The beams are carried between posts 46,47. 
Thus, it will be seen that the weight of each of the vibratory units 35,36 
is supported by the beam and post structure rather than the respective 
heating and cooling units 12,20, yet are free to vibrate with respect to 
the beam and port structure. 
Suitable AC power is provided to the electric motor units 38,38' of the 
vibratory units 35,36 from a conventional AC utility power line. Switching 
of the power is controlled by power control means 49 which may be a 
conventional switchgear for controlling energization of the electric motor 
units 38,38' of either or both of vibratory units 35,36. 
Heating chamber 17 is configured for controlling the amount of oxygen 
contained therein, being substantially closed to prevent combustion air 
from being supplied thereto. For this purpose, supply chute 15 may, as 
illustrated, be provided with a valve control 51 for closing off the 
airway through chute 15 to prevent air from entering the heating chamber, 
there being a similar control 51' for closing chute 23. 
During heating of materials within chamber 17, volatile components of 
organic materials supplied through chute 15 are released by the heat 
supplied to the heating chamber by combustion within combustion chamber 
14. Such volatile components are extracted as hot off-gases by a conduit 
52 which may be noted as being connected through a valve 53 to a further 
conduit 54. The latter may communicate with the atmosphere for simply 
venting the off-gases to atmosphere if such is necessary. But more 
preferably, conduit 54 is connected to a conventional flare 55 (see FIG. 
2), burning any off-gases which might have to be released. 
Also connected with conduit 52 is a conduit 57 which permits the volatile 
components to be directed to a fan 59 (FIG. 2) for pressurizing the 
off-gases which are then supplied by conduit 60 for being directed through 
a nozzle 62 into combustion chamber 14. Thus, it will be understood that 
the off-gases are fuel gases which can be burned within chamber 14 for 
continued heating of materials within heating chamber 17 in a 
self-supporting continuous manner. 
Still referring to FIG. 2, it will be apparent that heating chamber 17 is 
surrounded by an annular space 64 whereby the hot gases rising from 
combustion chamber 14 are directed around the periphery of the heating 
chamber and are then passed through a flue 65 to be released to the 
atmosphere. Such takes place as materials are fed into chamber 17, travel 
upward therein, as shown by arrows, for processing and then leave the 
chamber. 
Preferably, a burner 66 of a commercially available type is utilized for 
providing pressurized air and combustible gaseous fuel to firebox 14. 
Although the off-gases from chamber 17 are used to support combustion 
therein, LP, oil, natural propane gas may be used for initial heating 
purposes or for supplemental heat. 
For this purpose a conduit 67 and valve 68 contained therein are used to 
provide the LP or propane gas through a nozzle 70 of the burner. Air is 
provided through a conduit 72 to a fan 73 for being supplied under 
pressure through a further conduit 74 to an airbox 76 of burner 66. The 
air is then supplied to combustion chamber 14 under pressure through a 
burner tube 77 surrounding nozzles 62 or 70 and extending into combustion 
chamber 14. The orientation of nozzles 62 and 70 is representatively shown 
in FIG. 1 wherein it is seen that nozzle 70 is supported by a bracket 79 
extending outwardly from combustion chamber 14. 
As will be apparent, the hot fuel gas provided by fan 59 via conduit 60 may 
be delivered directly by nozzle 62 for being burned in combustion chamber 
chamber 14. However, certain types of organic materials, when processed 
according to the invention, create sufficient quantities of low BTU fuel 
gas that more gas is created than can be effectively burned within 
combustion chamber 14. Accordingly, there is provided a further conduit 81 
connected with conduit 60 which receives the pressurized, hot fuel gas 
from the top of heating chamber 17. Conduit 81 includes a valve 82 which 
may be open to deliver at least a portion of the hot fuel gas for further 
processing, such as by being burned for heating in an auxiliary apparatus, 
being condensed for storage, or for treatment to remove certain components 
therein before being used for other purposes. Connecting conduit 81 and 
flare 55 is a further conduit 84, including a pressure relief valve 85 
adapted to open in the event of unusual or excessive pressure in conduit 
81 to provide communication between conduit 81 and flare 55. Dependent 
upon the type of organic material heated within chamber 17, various low or 
high BTU fuel gases may be constituted by the off-gases released during 
volatilization of constituents of the organic materials being heated. 
Where the material is constituted by wood or various other cellulosic or 
lignocellulosic, there are various pyroligneous gases which are released 
during heating of the material, including methanes, aldehydes, formic 
acid, formaldehydes, as well as various other condensible and 
noncondensible gases of many different kinds, including ethylene, 
propylene, butylene, not to mention carbon dioxide and monoxide, hydrogen 
and other compositions and fractions. 
Additionally, in the heating of wood and various other organic materials, 
water vapor is present in the off-gases and such can be readily condensed 
or separated from the gaseous stream. 
Reference is directed now to FIG. 3, illustrating details of heating unit 
12 and the vibratory conveyor arrangement provided therein. More 
specifically, there is provided within heating chamber 17 a spiral 
vibratory conveyor indicated generally at 87. Said conveyor has a 
plurality of turns or pitches 88 constituted by a continuous spiral tray 
90 which may be of steel, various alloys, or more preferably, a stainless 
steel. Said tray 90 is lipped around its outer edges as indicated at 91, 
the entire tray 90 spiraling around and being secured to column 26 which, 
from reference to FIG. 6, may be seen to be of hollow cylindrical form and 
constituting a continuous length of material extending downwardly from the 
flange 29 which is secured to the lower side of platform 24 and upon which 
vibratory unit 35 is mounted. Said column 26 extends downwardly throughout 
the vertical extent of heating chamber 17 but does not contact the bottom 
wall or floor 93 of the heating chamber. At the lower end of spiral 
conveyor 87, an enlarged diameter tray 94 is provided, being secured to 
the bottom end of the column 26. Supply chute 15 is provided with a 
tapered configuration, having an end 96 within heating chamber 17 which 
extends over a lip 97 of the enlarged diameter bottom tray 94 for causing 
material to be supplied to said tray, it being apparent that spiral tray 
88 spirals upwardly from the bottom tray 94. 
Similarly, an uppermost turn or pitch 97 of tray 90 communicates with an 
inner end 99 of a chute 101 which in turn communicates with transfer chute 
18, there being for this purpose (see FIG. 1) a housing 102 at the upper 
end of the outer surface of heating unit 12 and a further housing 103 
extending outwardly therefrom and to which is connected transfer chute 18. 
Said housing 103 may preferably be provided with a viewing window 105 for 
observation of heated materials being delivered to transfer chute 18 and 
including at its upper end a trap door or hatch 106 permitting sampling of 
materials which flow from chute 101 into housing 103 for testing and 
measuring purposes. 
In a practical embodiment of the apparatus, spiral tray 90 is constituted 
by approximately twenty-two turns, the spiral tray being pitched at 
approximately seven degrees and with the approximate diameter of the tray 
being of the order of 2.5 feet and with the diameter of column 26 being 
approximately one foot. Assuming a diameter of the tray as being 2.5 feet, 
a total length of the tray 90 from the bottom of the top along the spiral 
path constituted by the tray provides an effective conveying distance of 
approximately 173 feet from the bottom to the top of the spiral tray, as 
measured along the length of a continuous path proximate the other 
periphery of the tray. Moreover, the diameter of heating chamber 17 is 
relatively compact, being approximately 38 inches in a practical 
embodiment of the invention and with the total height of the spiral tray 
section of the conveyor being only slightly greater than six feet. In such 
embodiment, the lip 91 around the outer periphery of spiral tray 88 is 
approximately two inches. Accordingly, a most compact apparatus is 
achieved but providing in such compact space an extraordinarily long 
process length for movement of materials which are delivered to the 
conveyor 87 by supply chute 15 and which are discharged from the conveyor 
by chute 101. 
Heating chamber 17 is seen to be of a cylindrical form having a vertical 
side wall 108 and being fully closed at the bottom by the floor 93 of the 
chamber which, to prevent distortion, is convex configuration. Extending 
radially outwardly around the periphery of side wall 108 is a peripheral 
flange 109 which secures the side wall 108 with floor 93, as an integral 
unit 110, concentrically within a cylindrical refractory housing 
designated generally 111. Said housing 111 is defined by a cylindrical 
outer wall 113 which is preferably of steel and a concentric inner wall 
114, which may be of steel or stainless steel and with there being 
suitable refractory material 115 therebetween. 
Said inner wall 114 extends vertically upward from a planar, horizontal 
plate 117 forming the floor of combustion chamber 14, there similarly 
being a metal plate 118 closing the entire bottom of refractory housing 
111 and with there being refractory material 120 located between plates 
117 and 118. A cylindrical or retangular outer wall 121 is provided around 
the exterior of combustion chamber 14, being located a few inches 
outwardly of outer wall 113 to provide a relatively thicker region 123 of 
refractory materials surrounding combustion chamber 14. 
There is thus seen to be provided surrounding vessel 110 an annular space 
124 of a few inches in width between the inner wall 114 of refractory 
housing 111 and wall 108 of heating vessel 110. Said space is closed at 
the top by peripheral flange 109 whereby, in effect, the combustion 
chamber 14 is permitted to communicate with annular space 124 for 
providing for flow of hot gases from the combustion chamber upwardly and 
around vessel 110 for thorough heating of materials as they are conveyed 
by conveyor 87 within vessel 110. 
Flue 65 communicates with annular space 124 proximate its upper end whereby 
hot rising swirling gases from combustion within combustion chamber 14 are 
drawn upwardly around vessel 110 and out through flue 65. For enhanced 
draft, flue 65 may communicate with a stack 126 having a fan 127 mounted 
within the inside diameter (I.D.) of stack 126 for providing a forced 
draft of the hot combustion gases. 
The upper end of refractory housing 111 is closed by a flat, horizontal 
inner plate 129 such as of steel or stainless steel which, with housing 
inner wall 114, effectively encloses the upper end of heating vessel 110. 
A flat, horizontal outer plate 130 extends also across the top of 
refractory housing 111, being spaced upwardly of plate 129 and with there 
being refractory material 131 between plates 129 and 130. Outer wall 113 
may extend upwardly beyond plate 130 for providing a flange 133 for 
receiving additional refractory material 134. 
A novel arrangement for providing a sealing relationship between the upper 
end of refractory housing 111 and conveyor column 26 may be noted as 
including a well 136 constituted by a collar 137 extending upwardly from 
plate 130 in concentric relationship to column 26 and also by a medal 
sleeve 139 which closely surrounds column 26 and extends between plates 
129 and 130 and upwardly beyond plate 30. Provided in said well 136 is a 
bed of sand 140. Extending downwardly in said sand 140 is a depending 
flange 142 which is an extension of a collar 143 which is clampingly 
engaged to the periphery of column 26. Accordingly, there is provided a 
relatively gas-tight seal around column 26 for preventing the escape of 
gases generated within heating vessel 17 around column 26. Said gases are 
instead drawn off through conduit 52 which extends through refractory 
housing wall 113 and 114 and communicates with a space 145 at the upper 
end of the conveyor. 
Also extending between the outer wall 113 and inner wall 114 of the 
refractory housing 147 is a tube 147 in which is extended the probe 148 of 
a pyrometer or other temperature measuring device 150. Said probe 148 has 
a temperature measuring tip 151 which extends through a suitable aperture 
in wall 108 of the heating vessel and which is located between two turns 
or pitches 88 of spiral tray 87 for accurate measurement of temperatures 
within heating vessel 17. Although it is preferred that at least one such 
temperature measuring device 150 be located as illustrated in FIG. 3, 
additional temperature measuring devices similarly may be installed at 
locations upwardly along the vertical extent of conveyor 87 for 
measurement of temperatures at various locations along its length. 
The conveyor arrangements for both the heating unit 12 and cooling unit 20 
are substantially identical. Accordingly, the description of the conveyor 
87 within heating vessel 17 suffices for explaining a substantially 
identical conveyor arrangement within cooling chamber 21. Similarly, 
vibrator units 35, 36, being identical, are each described by reference to 
vibrator unit 35 which is located atop heating unit 12. Thus, referring 
still to FIG. 3, support structure 39 simply comprises a rectangular 
box-like or rectangular welded unit which is located directly above column 
26 so that the support 39 is esentially coaxial with the longitudinal axis 
or center line of column 26, as illustrated by reference numeral 152. 
Electric motor units 38,38' are simply vibration generators of the 
motor-weight type available commercially from FMC Corporation of Homer 
City, Pennsylvania, and sold under the registered trademark SYNTRON, being 
described according to their preferred manner of usage in Spurlin U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,053,380, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such units 
employed in a practical experimental embodiment of the present invention 
are each of two horsepower size. Each such unit includes a pair of legs 
154,155 which extend radially outwardly from a cylindrical body portion 
156 of the respective unit and which are bolted to a plate 158 which is 
clampingly engaged by bolt-secured clamp members 160,161 to a respective 
face 163 of support structure 39 whereby the motor unit simply be rotated 
on an axis 164 which extends at a right angle to axis 152 and at right 
angles with respect to it. The rate at which materials may be caused to be 
conveyed along the length of conveyor tray 90 may be varied by loosening 
clamps 160,161 and rotating the motor unit by an appropriate amount to 
vary the rate of vibratory feeding of materials between appropriate 
minimum and maximum but with the motor units 38,38' being oppositely 
oriented under any set of circumstances as generally depicted in FIG. 3. 
As will be apparent, variation of the angles of the motor units 38,38' in 
the manner described above will directly determine the amount of time 
during which material can be caused to travel from the bottom to the top 
of conveyor 87 for being discharged by chute 101. Thus, the motor angles 
determine the amount of processing time of materials within the heating 
chamber 17 and, similarly, within the cooling chamber 21. 
The actual conveying of the materials is the result of vibratory action 
about the axis 152 of column 26 by the individual motor units 38,38' 
acting in cooperation. Thus, the purpose of springs 42 will be seen to 
permit platform 24 to undergo vibration. Further, the presence of sand 140 
in well 136 permits relative movement of column 26, as it undergoes 
vibration, with respect to the tubular extension 139 which extends between 
plates 129,130 and without permitting any substantial amount of gas 
released within heating chamber 17 to be vented around the periphery of 
column 26 and without permitting air to enter heating chamber 17. 
The vibratory action imparted to pieces 166 being conveyed by conveyor 87 
is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. The distribution of typical pieces of the 
material upon a single turn 88 of tray 90 is depicted in FIG. 5 wherein it 
is seen that the pieces typically are uniformly distributed across the 
surface of tray 90, there being as much probability that any piece will be 
as close to column 26 as there is that it will be close to lip 91 of the 
tray. In FIG. 7, pieces 166' of material entering heating chamber 17 by 
means of chute 15 are shown to be deposited on the larger diameter bottom 
tray 97. Through vibratory action conveyed to the pieces by rotation about 
the axis 152 of column 26, the pieces of material are gradually caused to 
vibrate upward and along the path of tray 90 until they are distributed 
uniformly as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 across the surface of the tray, which 
is radially normal to axis 152 and, therefore, is horizontal. Due to the 
vibratory movement imparted to the pieces, they each follow a randam path, 
as depicted in FIG. 8. Moreover, observation of pieces of material upon 
the surface of the tray, when the material is in sufficient quantity that 
there is a layer or thickness of the material at any given point on the 
tray, is seen to similarly be random in a vertical sense whereby material 
is constantly being turned over, stirred, and essentially is caused to 
vibrate so that the same sense of randomized movement of the material 
occurs in a vertical sense as well as along the arcuate extent of tray 90. 
Accordingly, material is thoroughly exposed to the heated environment 
within chamber 17 whereby processing of the material is carried in 
nondiscrimatory, extraordinarily uniform manner without any of the 
material being exposed to hot spots or in any other manner permitted to 
travel along the length of the conveyor in a manner differently from any 
other piece of material. Consequently, there is an extraordinarily high 
probability that any given piece of material will have been exposed to 
precisely the same conditions within heating chamber 17 as any other piece 
of material undergoing processing. Perforce, the same is true of material 
being conveyed through cooling chamber 21. 
In a practical experimental realization of the present apparatus, it is 
found that two horsepower motor units 38,38' are adequate to convey 3,000 
pounds of material per hour through either the heating unit or cooling 
unit. 
Reference is directed to FIG. 4 illustrating details of cooling unit 20 and 
the vibratory conveyor arrangement provided therein. Cooling chamber 21 
comprises a cylindrical housing having a vertical wall 168 surrounding the 
chamber and closed at the top by flat, horizontal upper and lower plates 
170,171. Elements 168,170 may be simply of mild steel in sheet form and 
appropriately welded. Platform 24 comprises preferably four legs 173, as 
well as horizontal members as indicated at 174 and with bases 175 between 
the legs and horizontal members. Such structure may be simply formed of 
angle stock appropriately welded. 
A spiral vibratory conveyor indicated generally at 177 is located within 
the cylindrical cooling chamber 21. The form of conveyor 177 is precisely 
like conveyor 87 of heating unit 12, similarly having a continuous lipped 
spiral tray 178 and preferably with the same number of individual turns or 
pitches 180 as conveyor 87. 
Similarly also, there is an enlarged diameter tray 181 which is spaced a 
small distance above floor 171 of chamber 21 and from which tray 178 
spirals upwardly in helical form. 
In a practical experimental embodiment of the new apparatus, said conveyor 
177 is precisely the same construction as that employed for conveyor 87. 
Transfer chute 18 delivers materials from heating chamber 17 into tray 
181. Said materials are caused to be conveyed upwardly along the length of 
tray 178, providing a total possible cooling distance which is extremely 
long even though chamber 21 is relatively compact for permitting materials 
to be cooled within the enclosed interior 183 of chamber 21 before being 
delivered by an uppermost turn 180' of the conveyor to an extension 184 of 
delivery chute 23. 
Extending upwardly from the upper end plate 170 is a short collar 186 
providing a loose fitting relationship around column 27 in a manner 
essentially the same as collar 139 around collar 26 of the heating unit. 
Collar 187 of larger diamter coaxially surrounds collar 186 to provide a 
well 188 in which is located a bed of sand 190. Extending downwardly into 
said sand is a depending flange 192 which is an extension of a collar 193 
which is clampingly engaged to the periphery of column 27. Such structure 
provides a gas-tight fluid seal around column 27 for preventing escape of 
gases within cooling vessel 21 or entry of air around column 27 while 
permitting vibratory movement of column 27 within collar 186 in response 
to operation of the motor units 38,38' of vibrator unit 36, which is of 
construction identical with unit 35 and hence is not described in detail. 
However, motor units 38,38' may be adjusted in angular relationship in the 
same manner as those employed in vibrator unit 35 for varying the rate of 
vibratory feeding of materials along the length of conveyor tray 178, 
thereby to vary the time during which such materials are conveyed from 
bottom tray 181 to the upper tray 180' for delivery by chute 23. 
In a practical experimental realization of the embodiment, two horsepower 
motor units 38,38' are employed in vibrator unit 36. In such experimental 
apparatus, the dimensions of cooling chamber 21 are approximately 3.2 feet 
in diameter and 6.5 feet in height. 
For many uses of the invention, it is found adequate for cooling of 
materials heated within heating chamber 17 to employ cooling chamber 21 
configured as shown in a free standing manner whereby the cooling chamber 
is effectively air cooled. However, for certain operation of the apparatus 
wherein extremely high temperatures may be realized within heating chamber 
17, it may be preferred to surround cooling chamber 21 with a double 
walled enclosure through which cooling water may be passed to more 
effectively transfer heat from cooling chamber 21 for cooling of materials 
therein. In either event, materials conveyed on spiral conveyor 177 are, 
in the same manner as the materials on conveyor 88, caused to be randomly 
moved along the length of the conveyor with the result that each piece of 
material is uniformly and thoroughly exposed to the cooling environment 
within volume 183 whereby, as with the heating unit, extremely uniform 
handling of the materials is possible notwithstanding the extraordinary 
length of the spiral tray 178. Precisely in the manner occurring in the 
heating unit, each piece of material exhibits randomized movement both 
along the horizontal extent of the tray, as well as in the vertical or up 
and down sense by virtue of the constant agitation of the materials 
resulting from the vibratory action imparted to them by operation of 
vibrator unit 40 as imparted to the tray 178 by column 27. 
Without intending to limit the numerous possible facets of the invention, 
methods of processing of various different kinds of organic materials 
through use of the new apparatus include the conversion of forest products 
waste, such as sawdust, wood chips, shavings, bark chips and various 
different forms of lignocellulosic material which is ordinarily the wate 
product of sawmills, into high quality charcoal having a high percentage 
of fixed carbon; the conversion of tire scraps into carbon black; the 
conversion of coal to coke; and the extraction of oil in the form of 
keragen or bitumen from various oil-bearing shales or sands. 
Additionally, various biomass materials, including animal and fowl manure, 
straw, spent mushroom compost, and various other waste materials such as 
garbage and the like can be converted into high quality charcoal or 
gassified. 
In the production of charcoal, the overall character of the pieces of 
starting material are not lost in being processed through the present 
apparatus in accordance with the teachings of this invention. That is, 
whether the form of the material be chips, pellets, fragments, grains, 
particles, dust, shavings, powder, flakes, chunks, or any other form which 
may be regarded as having a bulk or aggregate character, and all such 
forms being referred to herein simply as pieces of the respective 
material, processing of the pieces of material takes place in such a way 
that the original character of the material is preserved since the pieces 
of material do not undergo masceration, physical crushing, grinding, and 
are not exposed to destructive or excessive physical forces while 
undergoing processing. For example, when starting with wood chips, the 
invention is utilized to process the wood chips into high carbon charcoal 
in chip form. However, operation of the apparatus may be conducted under 
such conditions as to cause the material to be converted into beads or 
dust. For example, when rubber tire shavings are processed with the 
invention, the new apparatus causes conversion of the shavings into carbon 
black advantageously in the form of beads or dust. 
Broadly, methodology of the present invention involves the processing of 
organic material into a more useful state, broadly comprising the steps of 
enclosing the material in the form of aggregate within a chamber having a 
vertical extent, it being understood that the present heating and cooling 
chambers are intended merely to be ilustrative and not to limit the form 
of chambers in which processing according to the present method can be 
conducted. Further, the method of the invention includes at least partly 
closing the chamber to air to control the amount of oxygen contained 
therein, and conveying the aggregate pieces of material through the 
vertical extent of the chamber within a predetermined interval of time by 
continuous vibratory action. As noted, said vibratory action causes 
agitation of individual ones of the pieces to effect randomized motion 
thereof and thorough exposure to ambient temperatures within the chamber. 
Such conveying is carried out while the chamber is heated to a preselected 
temperature sufficient for converting volatile hydrocarbon constituents of 
the material to a gaseous state thereby to provide off-gases from the 
materials. As previously observed, such off-gases are removed from the 
chamber for their use, being preferably returned by fan 59 and conduit 60 
for being burned in combustion chamber to achieve, at least in part, the 
heating of the heating chamber. In the case of many materials which are 
capable of being processed in accordance with the invention, sufficient 
off-gases are achieved that such combustion may be entirely 
self-supporting while, at the same time, providing for an excess of gas 
which can be processed for further use, such as for industrial or domestic 
heating or for cogeneration of electricity, or may be condensed, 
distilled, cracked, etc. 
With the atmosphere in the heating chamber being limited or maintained at 
least at an atmosphere containing an original amount of oxygen, heating of 
the chamber to the predetermined elevated temperature therein is, accordin 
to the new method, sufficient for causing at least partial decomposition 
of the organic material to produce the requisite volatilization of 
constituents thereof. Such decomposition effectively converts the material 
to a higher relative percentage of carbon content as the volatile 
constituents are liberated, being converted to a gaseous state which is 
removed from the heating chamber. 
According to a preferred continuous process of the invention, the pieces of 
organic material are continuously supplied by supply chute 15 to heating 
chamber 17, are conveyed upward therein by the spiral conveyor 87, are 
continuously transferred by transfer chute 18 to cooling unit 20, and are 
there cooled in cooling chamber 21 again by being conveyed upwardly 
through said chamber 21 by spiral conveyor 177 contained therein, being 
continuously discharged by chute 23. 
In carrying out the conversion of various of the foregoing organic 
materials to charcoal by the new invention, pieces of the material are 
selected which are broadly in the range from granular through at most a 
few inches mesh but more preferably from granular through approximately 
11/2 in. mesh. The bulk or aggregate material, i.e., herein meaning 
discrete or distinct and individual pieces of a body or mass of the 
material which will, without use of force, be readily separable from the 
body or mass, is preferably continuously fed (althrough it may be batch 
fed) through supply chute into heating chamber 17 with vibratory unit 39 
thereof operative and with said heating chamber having been preheated to a 
predetermined temperature, as measured by device 150, produced by 
combustion of LP, propane, oil, natural gas, or even alcohol. Regardless 
of the fuel, it is injected by burner nozzle 70 within combustion chamber 
14. The material thus charged to heating chamber is not fed at a greater 
rate than will produce filling of conveyor tray 90. 
Although not shown, a so-called conifer burner may replace burner 66, being 
suited for burning sawdust, wood chips, bark, husks, etc. Such conifer 
burners are commercially available and may be operated under conditions 
for achieving complete combustion of sawdust, for example, without visible 
stack emissions. 
Broadly, the temperature within heating chamber 17 at the location of probe 
tip 91 between the tray turns 88 may be from about 300.degree. F. to about 
2000.degree. F., but more specifically preferred, from about 700.degree. 
F. to 1600.degree. F. A representative range of operating temperatures for 
conversion of lignocellulosic materials, such as wood chips, into charcoal 
is 800.degree.-1200.degree. F. At such temperature at probe tip 151, it is 
not expected that the temperature differential within chamber 17 will 
exceed 200.degree. F.-300.degree. F. but it is expected that the 
temperature at the top of chamber 17 will, in any event, be somewhat less 
than at the bottom of the chamber, and such is belived desirable since 
incoming pieces of material are exposed to a greater temperature than 
exiting pieces of material. 
During heating of materials, weight and size is lost as volatilization 
occurs. Hence, the conveying, or transit, time for travel of pieces from 
the bottom to the top of conveyor 87 may be less than that for conveyor 
177 so that cooling may take a greater time than heating of the material 
without overfilling or overloading conveyor 177. For this reason, it is 
desired first to carry out adjustment of motor units 38,38' of vibrator 
unit 35 so that they are each preset at an angle to provide a conveying or 
transit time for conveyor 87 within the broadly preferred range of less 
than approximately 3 min. to as much as approximately 30 min. and, more 
specifically preferred, within the range of about 5-7 min. 
Adjustment of motor units 38,38' of vibrator unit 36 is then preset for a 
conveying, or transit, time within cooling chamber 21 or broadly within 
the approximate range of 3-30 min. and, more preferably, the same transit 
time or more than preset for heating chamber 17. Cooling time may also be 
predicated upon the temperature of cooled materials delivered by chute 23, 
assuming that such temperature is measure after the system is operated as 
a continuous process until thermal stability of equilibrium is attained. 
In the processing of charcoal, it is preferred that the temperature of the 
discharged charcoal not be in excess of about 100.degree.-125.degree. F., 
or simply warm to the touch, but in any event below a temperature at which 
the resultant charcoal would self-ignite in the atmosphere, or about 
150.degree. F. Accordingly, for charcoal processing, heating temperature, 
heating time and flow rates may be changed appropriately to achieve 
continuous operation so that the processed material, upon delivery, will 
not exceed 150.degree. F. 
Materials fed by supply chute 15 to heating chamber 17 need not be 
specifically prepared and, in fact, may be either dry or quite wet but the 
degree of moisture recognizedly will effect the desired transit time and 
preferred temperature for processing in chamber 17. For example, dry straw 
can be readily converted to charcoal at lower temperatures (e.g., about 
400.degree.) and short, transit times (e.g., about 3-5 min.) while damp, 
well rotted sawdust can be readily converted using higher temperatures 
(e.g., 1000.degree. F.) and longer processing times (e.g., 7 min.). 
As used to produce charcoal, the present invention is broadly concerned 
with pyrolysis or carbonization, with temperatures used being appropriate 
to the formation of charcoal of grade and quality for the use intended. 
Charcoal having a high percentage of fixed carbon is readily produced by 
the invention and of high quality for various industrial uses. But 
regardless of the use or quality of charcoal to be produced, the invention 
provides extremely effective and infinitely variable control over process 
times, temperatures, rates and movement whereby any one of these several 
parameters can be selectively varied at will to achieve a desired result, 
in sharp contrast with known, old technology. 
Concerning the relationship of the present invention to converting organic 
materials to charcoal, it is noted that Disclosure Document 076842, 
entitled "Charcoal Producing Equipment and Method for Producing Charcoal", 
was filed on behalf of the present inventors on Jan. 2, 1979, continued 
preservation of said Disclosure Document by the U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office being requested. 
The present invention also contemplates the gassification of organic 
materials, rather than converting them to charcoal. Thus, wood and various 
cellulosic, lignocellulosic, biomass, and organic waste materials, 
including manure, bagasse, leaves, straw, pits, hulls, shells, and other 
agricultural and forest and sawmill wastes, such as sawdust, trimmings, 
cuttings, tailings, etc., as well as coal, can all be gassified by heating 
to sufficient and appropriate gassification temperatures within heating 
unit 12, and with only has, coke or mineral residues remaining and being 
delivered by conveyor 87 via chute 15. The ashes, coke or residues may be 
cooled, if desired, by cooling unit 20. For gassification, higher 
temperatures, typically up to 2000.degree. F., but more preferably 
1000.degree.-1400.degree. F., may be used in heating chamber 17, while 
processing times may be of the order of about 5 min. or more, and up to 
about 20 min., a representative process time being 11 min. Alternatively, 
lower temperatures with longer processng times, e.g., up to about 20-30 
min., being used. 
For gassification, off-gases from heating chamber 17 may be burned in 
combustion chamber 14 for self-sustaining operation, and the excess gases 
being provided for further use, e.g., storage, processing, generation of 
electricity or external heating. 
Even when the invention is used for charcoal production, lignocellulosic 
materials fed to heating chamber, upon heating, provide excess fuel gases. 
For example, if wood chips having 50% moisture are processed in heating 
chamber 17 at the rate of 3000 lb./hr., approximately 8 million BTU of 
off-gas is produced, whereas only about 1-2 million BTU of the gas may 
necessarily be consumed by burning in combustion chamber. The differences 
of 6-7 million BTU is recoverable for further use, such being equivalent 
to about 1.7-2 KWH. The heat value of dry wood may be even greater, and 
possibly yielding up to more than 20 million BTU at the above-mentioned 
continuous feed rate of 3000 lb./hr. 
Under some circumstances, materials to be converted into charcoal may be of 
such high moisture content that, prior to heating to carbonization 
temperatures, drying of the materials is desirable. For this purpose, 
apparatus of the invention may be configured to provide preheating of 
materials such as damp sawdust or wood chips prior to exposure to 
requisite carbonization temperatures at which efficient conversion to 
charcoal may be rapidly carried out. 
FIG. 9 represents such a configuration having a preheating unit 195 
including drying chamber 196 for receiving materials to be processed or a 
chute 198 or other feed means. Chamber 196 may be of construction and 
dimensions similar or identical to heating chamber 17, including similarly 
a vibratory conveyor 200 with a spiral (i.e., helical) tray 201 to which 
vibratory forces are coupled by vibration generator means (not shown) of 
the same kind as described hereinabove and by which materials are conveyed 
upwardly (or downwardly) through a vertical extent of chamber 196 in a 
preselected transit, or processing time, whereupon they are transferred to 
a transfer chute 203, preferably closed like chute 18, for transferral of 
the preheated, partly dried materials to heating chamber 17. 
Drying chamber 196 is surrounded by a jacket or outer housing 205 to which 
a flue 206 supplies heated gases arising from combustion chamber 14 of 
heating unit 12 through space 124 surrounding chamber 17. Somewhat cooled, 
these combustion gases flow upwardly around chamber 196 in a space 208, 
being then withdrawn through a flue 209 to stack 126 by I.D. fan 127. An 
inlet 211 and outlet 212 permit circulation of drying air through chamber 
196. But other venting arrangements are possible, including supplying 
off-gases from chamber 196 to combustion chamber via burner 16 by use of a 
fan, etc., in the same way as conduit 57 supplies off-gases to the burner 
from chamber 17. 
For purposes of illustration, cooling unit 20 is shown as having a modified 
cooling chamber 21' wherein a vibratory conveyor 177' is oriented for 
conveying material downwardly, rather than upwardly, in response to 
operation of its vibratory generator (not shown). 
Apparatus as shown in FIG. 9 can be used also for the mixing of various 
materials. Thus, a additive or substance to be mixed with a feed material 
to be heated can be introduced at point X, whereupon the vibratory action 
of conveyor 87 will provide rapid, thorough mixing as matter is conveyed 
upwardly in heating chamber 17. Or, the added matter may be introduced at 
point Y to the incoming material before drying, whereupon mixing occurs as 
the material is being preheated in drying chamber 196. 
At all times during processing of the various materials, and particularly 
for conversion of materials to charcoal, and for coking, the presently 
disclosed process requires at least partly closing the heating chamber 17 
and cooling chamber 21 to control the amount of oxygen contained therein. 
Such control may be achieved by proper operation of controls 51,51' but 
the use of various forms of known airlocks and dampers is envisioned. 
The invention is useful for converting tire scrap into high quality carbon 
black in the form of beads or powder and thus readily amenable to further 
use and handling. Broadly, the temperatures used for such conversion may 
be the same as for charcoal production or somewhat higher, and a 
specifically preferred range of temperatures being 
1000.degree.-1400.degree. F. with a processing or transit time in heating 
chamber 17 being representatively 7 min. The tire scrap may broadly be in 
the form of shreds, small pieces or shavings of scrap tires. Off-gases are 
recovered and are further processed, converted or burned. 
Coal may readily be processed by the invention in different ways, such as 
by being gassified to recover useful volatiles contained therein, at 
temperatures which broadly may be about 1000.degree.-2000.degree. F., and 
representatively 1400.degree. F. Representative heating and cooling times 
may run from 5-30 min. Size of the pieces of coal to be gassified may 
range from dust to as large as about 3 in. mesh, but preferably 11/2 in. 
or less. 
Alternatively, or additionally, coal may be converted to coke of various 
grades, including grades useful for use in blast furnaces. For this 
purpose heating temperatures representatively may be from about 
1200.degree.-2400.degree. F., to approach liquification of the coal for 
conversion to pieces having a glassy, essentially crystalline or 
coral-like state. 
The invention encompasses additionally the extraction of volatiles from 
so-called oil shale and oil sands. Oil shale is a sedimentary rock having 
a high percentage of volatile matter and fixed carbon which can be 
extracted as so-called kerogen constituting an olefinic crude oil, there 
being up to about 50 gal. per ton of shale. Similarly, oil sands contain a 
tar-like oil termed bitumen which may constitute more than 10 percent by 
weight and comprising more than 50 percent oil. These various oils are 
extractable by volatization in heating of the particulate oil-bearing 
shales or sands in heating chamber 17 at temperatures and process times 
comparable to those used for gassification or conversion of coal. Even 
so-called reject oil-bearing shale can be processed with the invention. 
Broadly, temperatures may range from about 800.degree.-2000.degree. F., 
with processing times from less than about 3 min. to as much as about 20 
min. or more. Representative heating temperature is 1100.degree. F. with 
heating and cooling being nominally 5 min. each. 
Volatile extracted by use of the invention from oil shales and sands are 
processed in accordance with known techniques, including condensation, 
fractional distillation and cracking, etc. 
It is to be noted that in processing of various organic materials in 
accordance with the invention, materials ordinarily are heated a single 
time in heating chamber 17 and subsequently cooled in cooling chamber 21. 
However, it is envisioned that such materials may be reprocessed one or 
more times. For example, charcoal having a high, fixed percentage of 
carbon, e.g., 70 percent or more, can be produced by a single processing 
of organic material such as wood chips through the new apparatus. Upon a 
subsequent processing of the converted material, the fixed carbon content 
can be increased to more than 90 percent, whereby a form of high quality 
activated charcoal is attained having a high carbon content, and high 
porosity without substantial structural degradation. 
Also, processing of materials by use of the new apparatus can include the 
use of a plurality of heating chambers or a plurality of cooling chambers, 
or both. Multiple heating and/or cooling chambers can be in series or 
parallel or series-parallel combinations. Furthermore, some processing in 
accordance with the invention may obviate use of the cooling unit 20, as 
where gassification of certain organics is carried out and where the only 
processed material remaining after passing through heating unit 12 is hot 
ash or residue, which may not require controlled or confined cooling. 
Although apparatus of the invention is primarily intended for processing of 
organic materials of the kinds representatively noted, it may be 
advantageously used for heating, or heating and cooling of various 
compounds and mixtures and including various inorganic materials. For 
example, the invention may be useful for heat treating or annealing of 
various materials, as well as for gaseous treatment or diffusion 
processes. 
Another use of apparatus of the invention is for drying of various 
materials not only such as said and other minerals but also various crops 
such as grains, beans, and other crops, for which crops typically drying 
may be carried out at temperatures of about 50.degree.-300.degree. F. with 
thoroughness and uniformity resulting from the vibratory handling of 
materials being dried. Air may be introduced in a preheating or processing 
chamber of the apparatus to additionally control temperatures. For other 
materials, drying temperatures may range upwardly from 300.degree. F. to 
as much as 2000.degree. F. 
It is contemplated that two heating units of the invention may each supply 
heated material to a single cooling unit. In addition, various heating 
and/or cooling units of the invention can be stacked on the same axis. 
Further. although both heating unit 12 and cooling unit 20 have been 
depicted as each constructed for conveying materials from bottom to top, 
movement may be instead in the reverse direction. For example, as 
suggested in FIG. 9, material may be conveyed by vibratory action upward 
in heating unit 12 and downward in cooling unit 20. Additionally, various 
forms and shapes of chambers for either heating or cooling are possible, 
including the use of artificial or natural geologic cavities or passages. 
The following examples are illustrative of the invention: 
EXAMPLE I 
The invention is utilized for conversion of oak chips into charcoal. The 
chips are 3/4 in. mesh having approximately 40% moisture content. 
Apparatus as configured in the drawings is adjusted to provide a heating 
process or transit time of 7 min., a cooling transit time of 10 min., and 
a heating temperature of 1200.degree. F. The chips are fed to heating 
chamber 17 at the rate of about 2000 lb./hr. Shrinkage of the size of the 
chip pieces is about 33% and chip character is preserved. A charcoal yield 
of 20-30% results. Upon analysis, dry basis analysis of the charcoal 
reveals that it comprises: 
______________________________________ 
volatiles 27.7% by wt. 
ash 7.6 
fixed carbon 64.7 
100.00 
______________________________________ 
The resultant charcoal is a good briquet grade having a fixed carbon 
percentage adequate for industrial grade. 
EXAMPLE II 
The invention is used to convert a mixture of hardwood chips, bark, 
shavings and sawdust having about 25% moisture. Process times and 
temperatures as in Example I are used. Dry basis analysis of the charcoal 
reveals that it comprises: 
______________________________________ 
volatiles 22.1% by wt. 
ash 23.0 
fixed carbon 54.9 
100.00 
______________________________________ 
The resultant charcoal is of good briquet quality. Yield is estimated to be 
20-30%. 
EXAMPLE III 
The invention is used to convert oak chips as described in Example I, 
including some smaller size pieces, into charcoal. The process temperature 
is 900.degree. F., heating time 7 min., cooling time 10 min. Only the 
smaller size pieces are found to have been converted to charcoal. 
EXAMPLE IV 
The following table summarizes conversion of various materials into 
charcoal under various conditions in accordance with the invention by use 
of the apparatus and method disclosed herein: 
______________________________________ 
MATERIAL HEATING HEATING COOLING 
DESCRIPTION 
TEMPERATURE TIME TIME 
______________________________________ 
Straw 400.degree. F. 
7 min. 7 min. 
Sawdust 300 30 10 
Rotten 
Oak Sawdust 
(age 25 yr.) 
1000 7 10 
Green Pine Shav- 
1000 7 10 
ings 
Green Oak Bark 
1000 7 10 
Green Oak Chips 
1150-1200 7 10 
Green 
Oak Sawdust 
and Shavings 
800 7 10 
Green Pine Chips 
1100 7 10 
Chicken Manure 
1100 7 10 
Horse Manure 
1100 7 10 
Oak Chips 1800 5 8 
Sawdust 700 7 10 
Sawdust 1600 3 5 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE V 
The invention is used to gassify wood. Oak chips having a size of about 3/4 
in. mesh and moisture content of about 50% are supplied continuously to 
the heating unit, which is at a temperature of 2000.degree. F. and set to 
provide a heating and cooling time of 5 min. each. The chips are 
completely gassified, with only a white ash or ashy residue being 
discharged by the cooking unit. In other runs at heating temperatures of 
1200.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F. and heating times each of 11 min., a 
similar white ash or ashy residue is discharged by the cooling unit. 
EXAMPLE VI 
Scrap tires are converted into carbon black by use of the invention. Scrap 
automotive tire shreds are fed to heating chamber 17 with the temperature 
therein at 1100.degree. F. and with the heating time and cooling time 
being 7 and 10 min., respectively. Volatiles of the shredded tire material 
are completely stripped and drawn off the heating chamber 17 for further 
treatment. The cooling unit provides carbon black in the form of fine 
powder and small beads. 
EXAMPLE VII 
Oil-bearing shale is treated by heating in apparatus configured according 
to the drawings, as adjusted to maintain a heating temperature of 
1100.degree. F., and heating and cooling times of 5 min. each. Two 
different grades are tested, so-called high quality reject shale and low 
quality reject shale. For each grade, approximately 16.25 lb. of the shale 
are processed through the apparatus. For the "high quality reject" shale, 
approximately 13.25 lb. are recovered from cooling unit 20, and for the 
"low quality reject," approximately 12.25 lb. In each case, the difference 
in weight is accounted for by the stripping of volatiles from the shale by 
heating in heating unit 12. 
EXAMPLE VIII 
Coal is gassified by roasting out volatiles in apparatus configured as 
shown, adjusted to maintain a heating temperature of 1400.degree. F., 
heating time of 5 min. and cooling time of 5-10 min. each. An 
approximately 10 gal. quantity, weighing about 70 lb., of lumps of size 
1/2-3 in., preferably about 11/2 in., mesh coal is charged to heating unit 
12. Approximately only 20 lb. of Coke-like pieces or lumps are recovered 
from cooling unit 20. The different in weight is accounted for by 
volatilization of constituents of the coal. The recovered pieces may be 
characterized as porous and coral-like, being relatively light in weight 
as compared with the coal charged to the heating unit. The heat value of 
the coal is analyzed and found to be 11,900 BTU/lb. The heat value of the 
recovered pieces is analyzed and found to be 10,994 BTU/lb. 
Although the foregoing includes a description of the best mode contemplated 
for carrying out the invention, various modifications are contemplated. 
As various modifications could be made in the constructions herein 
described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the 
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing 
description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as 
illustrative rather than limiting.