Patent GB-778723-A (GB)
Title: A method for separating oil from minerals containing oil and water
IPC: C10G1/00
Filed: 1954-05-06
Abstract: <PICT:0778723/III/1> <PICT:0778723/III/2> In a process for the separation of oil from minerals such as lignite, peat and shale, which contain water, wherein the granular mineral is heated in an oil bath at a temperature of at least 400 DEG C. and under pressure (e.g. 10 to 15 atm.) so that watervapour and light and medium oil vapours are evolved from the mineral, the vapours are used for the production of mechanical energy.  In the apparatus shown the heavy oil is circulated by pump 8 (Fig. 1) through heater 3, distiller 1, conduit 6, multi-cyclone separator 4, and conduit 7, the system being maintained under a pressure of 10 to 15 atm.  The granular mineral (grain size up to 5 mm.) is mixed with heavy oil (see later) in chamber 20; and the suspension is pumped into the circulating oil through conduit 22.  The hot oil enters the distiller through nozzle-rings 10; and a gyratory motion is thereby maintained in the distiller.  The larger granules of mineral circulate a number of times through heating zone 24 before they enter zone 25 where water is evaporated.  After circulating in zone 25, the granules enter zone 26 where the distillation of light and medium oils is effected.  The solid-residues collect in conical chamber 2; and the circulating oil passes through slits in hollow cylinder 18, and then on to conduit 6. The solid-residues are compressed into the lower extremity of chamber 2 by vibrator 30, and is conducted through grid 31 and lock 32 into atmospheric-chamber 33, where the remaining heavy oil flashes off. The fine-residues separated in cyclones 4 is compressed by vibrator 39, and is fed through grid 37 and lock 38 into chamber 33 where the oil flashes off.  Coke is discharged through outlet 34.  The flashed vapours are conducted through conduit 40 into chamber 20 where they give up heat to the granular mineral, and are condensed.  The vapours which have been evolved in the distiller flow through pressure-regulator 41 and conduit 42 into the first oil-filled column 5.  This consists of two vertical tubes 43 (Fig. 3) connected top and bottom by U-bends.  Wheels 45 are mounted in these bends and guide two parallel wire-ropes to which cylindrical vessels 47, closed at the top, are attached.  The vapours enter these vessels, displacing heavy oil flashes off.  The fine-residues expand therein.  The vessels and ropes are thereby maintained in circulation, and power is transmitted by wheels 45 on to shafts, which drive a generator (not shown).  The vapours leaving the first column 5 are passed via an oil separator 50, to a second and similar column, and thence to a third. The condensed oil is withdrawn, as three fractions, through outlets 51.  The light oils remaining in the gas-steam mixture are conducted into an oil-washer at outlet 52, and there separated from the gas-steam mixture.  The steam is then condensed; and the remaining gases are fed through conduit 53 to burner 54 and utilized for heating the circulating oil.  The hot gas flows through heater 3 in counterflow to the oil, a portion of the waste gases being passed through conduit 55 to bring the hot gases to the permissible metal-temperature of the heater.