Oil Isolation and Decontamination Apparatus

Abstract

There is provided a portable oil isolation and decontamination system comprising a plurality of high heat energy generators that supply high heat energy to an oil isolation and decontamination unit. Each heat energy generator comprises a chamber for gasifying used rubber tires, waste oil, coal or other combustible materials for the production of volatile gases and high energy heat. The oil extractor unit comprises a pair of parallel, elongate rotating cylinders that each rotate within a common closed housing. Oil-rich material such as oilsands, oilshale, contaminated soil or used oil is introduced into one end of each rotating cylinder and is caused to migrate to the opposite end in cascading fashion as the cylinder rotates. High energy heat from the generators is directed at the rotating cylinders to indirectly heat the oil-rich material therein to vaporize the hydrocarbons as the rotating drum migrates the oil-rich material towards its collection end. Vacuum pressure withdraws the vaporized hydrocarbons from the cylinder, and the cleaned sand or other solid material exits the collection end of each rotating cylinder and housing. The vaporized hydrocarbons condense and are collected within a forced-air condenser for recycling. An optional second stage refrigeration unit condenses any residual vaporized hydrocarbons that may be missed by the forced-air condenser.

1 . An oil isolation and decontamination apparatus for processing oil-rich material, comprising:
 (a) at least one heat energy generator, each heat energy generator comprising
 (i) a vaporization chamber for receiving and holding waste materials to be vaporized; 
 (ii) air supply means for supplying air under slight pressure into the vaporization chamber; 
 (iii) fuel supply means for supplying fuel into the vaporization chamber; 
 (iv) a volatile gas withdrawal manifold communicating with the vaporization chamber for withdrawing volatile gases from the vaporization chamber; 
 (v) a mixing chamber having a volatile gas inlet communicating with the volatile gas withdrawal manifold, air pressure means for introducing pressurized air thereinto, a fuel injector, and ignition means for igniting a gas fuel air mixture, and an outlet; and 
 (vi) a combustion chamber that communicates with the mixing chamber outlet, the combustion chamber having an outlet; 
   (b) an oil extractor, comprising:
 (i) a housing communicating with the combustion chamber outlet, whereby ignited gas/fuel/air mixture acts directly into the interior of the housing; 
 (ii) a first rotary drum mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis within the housing, the drum having an inlet and an outlet adjacent opposite ends thereof; 
 (iii) a second rotary drum parallel to the first rotary drum mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis within the housing, the drum having an inlet and an outlet adjacent opposite ends thereof; 
 (iv) vane means within the rotary drum for migrating an introduced oil-rich material within the drum as the drum rotates; 
 (v) a discharge outlet formed in the housing adjacent the drum outlet for discharging the oil-rich material from the housing; and 
 (vi) a vapor discharge outlet for withdrawing volatile vapors from the oil-rich material; and 
   (c) a hydrocarbon recovery system comprising:
 (i) a housing having a hydrocarbon vapor inlet communicating with the vapor discharge outlet, and an exhaust gas outlet; and 
 (ii) condensing means for condensing the hydrocarbon vapor from exhaust gases. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is mounted on a wheeled vehicle for portability, and wherein each heat energy generator and the hydrocarbon recovery system are mounted on skids for portability. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dust collector intermediate the oil extractor and hydrocarbon recovery system for filtering the vaporized hydrocarbon and exhaust gases prior to condensation and separation of the hydrocarbons from the exhaust gases. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second-stage hydrocarbon recovery system comprising a water-cooled condensor and refrigeration heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat energy generator comprises four heat energy generators. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy generator vaporization chamber and the oil extractor housing include linings of a refractory material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational longitudinal axis of each oil extractor rotary drum is inclined relative to horizontal, with the drum inlet adjacent the higher end and the drum outlet adjacent the lower end. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporization chamber further comprises a plurality of openings in at least one wall for ingress of air. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the openings has a diameter of between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings comprises 12 openings. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the volatile gas withdrawal manifold of each heat energy generator is disposed at an elevation higher than the elevations of the air supply means and fuel supply means. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply means of each heat energy generator is adjustable for controlling the amount of air being supplied into the vaporization chamber for combustion. 
     
     
         13 . Use of the apparatus of  claim 1  to produce useable oil from an oil-rich material. 
     
     
         14 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the oil-rich material is oilsand. 
     
     
         15 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the oil-rich material is oil shale. 
     
     
         16 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the oil-rich material is waste oil.