Retort heating apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A baffle for use in heating and mixing a feed material within a retort, the baffle comprising:
- an elongated body having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, at least a portion of the top surface having an inverted substantially V-shape configuration; and
means mounted at least partially on, within, or directly adjacent to the elongated body for selectively heating the elongated body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.
58 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A baffle for use in heating and mixing a feed material within a retort, the baffle comprising:
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an elongated body having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, at least a portion of the top surface having an inverted substantially V-shape configuration; and
means mounted at least partially on, within, or directly adjacent to the elongated body for selectively heating the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A retort heating apparatus for processing feed material, the retort heating apparatus comprising:
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a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall, the side wall having a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced apart apertures formed thereon so as to provide fluid communication through the side wall;
a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced apart baffles at least partially disposed within the heating chamber, each baffle comprising an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface having an inverted substantially V-shape configuration; and
a plurality of collection channels disposed within the heating chamber, each collection channel being aligned with a corresponding aperture, the collection channels being adapted to collect vapors and channel the vapors to the corresponding apertures. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A retort heating apparatus for processing feed material, the retort heating apparatus comprising:
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a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall;
a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced apart baffles at least partially disposed within the heating chamber, each baffle comprising an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface comprising a substantially planar first side face and a substantially planar second side face that are disposed in diverging planes; and
means for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.
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34. A retort heating apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein the top surface of each body includes an elongated narrow ridge disposed between the first side face and the second side face.
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35. A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material, the retort heating apparatus comprising:
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a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall;
a plurality of baffles at least partially disposed within the heating chamber, each baffle comprising an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched, the plurality of baffles being vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles; and
means for heating the feed material within the heating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for processing a feed material, the method comprising:
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passing a feed material down through a heating chamber of a retort, the heating chamber having a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced apart baffles disposed therein;
heating the baffles such that as the feed material passes down through the heating chamber the feed material is heated so as to emit an oil vapor, the oil vapor rising within the heating chamber and entering into one of a plurality of collection channels;
gathering the oil vapor from the collection channels; and
condensing the oil vapor into an oil. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for processing a feed material, the method comprising:
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passing a feed material down through a heating chamber of a retort, the heating chamber having a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced apart baffles disposed therein such that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes down through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles;
heating the feed material within the heating chamber such that the feed material emits an oil vapor;
collecting the oil vapor from within the heating chamber; and
condensing the oil vapor into an oil.
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Specification