US2012138422A1PendingUtilityA1

High performance retort structure

42
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 23, 2010Filed: Jan 11, 2012Published: Jun 7, 2012
Est. expiryMar 23, 2030(~3.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Todd Dana
C10G 1/02C10G 1/00C10B 53/06B01D 1/14C10B 1/04C10G 1/10C10B 49/06
42
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A high-temperature retort structure enclosing an inner retort volume. The high-temperature retort structure includes a floor forming a lower boundary of the inner volume, a ceiling forming an upper boundary of the inner volume, and a wall forming a lateral boundary of the inner volume. The floor has at least one discharge opening for discharging of material, and the ceiling has at least one intake opening for intake of material. The wall is comprised of an inner layer of high-temperature resistant, fast curing material, an intermediate layer of high-temperature concrete, and a permeability barrier disposed external to the intermediate layer.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A high-temperature retort structure enclosing an inner volume, the high-temperature retort structure comprising:
 a floor forming a lower boundary of the inner volume, the floor having at least one discharge opening;   a ceiling forming an upper boundary of the inner volume, the ceiling having at least one intake opening;   a wall forming a lateral boundary of the inner volume, the wall comprised of:
 an inner layer of high-temperature resistant, fast curing material; 
 an intermediate layer of high-temperature concrete; and 
 a permeability barrier disposed external to the intermediate layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the wall substantially encompasses a circular shape having an inside diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The high-temperature structure of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is self-supporting. 
     
     
         4 . The high-temperature structure of  claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature, fast curing material is a quick curing, high-temperature cement. 
     
     
         5 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 4 , wherein the quick curing, high-temperature cement is a magnesium-phosphate cement. 
     
     
         6 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature concrete contains an additive selected from the group consisting of: fly ash, igneous material, granite,
 sand, pozzolan, lava rock, ceramic material, cement, Portland cement, steel, nickel alloy steel, carbon, carbon black, spent shale, reef material, refractory clay, refractory gunnite, magnesium phosphate cement, and mixtures of the same.   
     
     
         7 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is monolithic in construction. 
     
     
         8 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein a cavity is present between the intermediate layer and the permeability barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 8 , wherein the cavity contains a gas with a positive pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 8 , wherein a vacuum is applied to the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 9 , wherein the gas comprises an inert gas. 
     
     
         12 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature concrete is post-tensioned reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         13 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertically extending column extending from the floor towards the ceiling. 
     
     
         14 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 13 , further comprising a first bridge extending from the vertically extending column to the wall. 
     
     
         15 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 14 , wherein the first bridge has an internal passageway. 
     
     
         16 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 14 , further comprising a second bridge extending from the vertically extending column to the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 16 , further comprising a first grate between the first bridge and the second bridge, wherein the first grate is supported by the first bridge and the second bridge. 
     
     
         18 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 17 , further comprising a first rake supported by the first grate. 
     
     
         19 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 18 , wherein the first rake is adapted to push material off of the first grate. 
     
     
         20 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 19 , further comprising a first auger disposed above the first grate. 
     
     
         21 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 20 , wherein the first auger is configured to sweep in a plane substantially horizontal to the floor. 
     
     
         22 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 18 , wherein the first grate includes a gas injection unit adapted to change the temperature of material proximate the first grate. 
     
     
         23 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 2 , further comprising a second auger disposed substantially horizontal relative to the floor within the inner volume adjacent to the floor, the second auger configured to rotate about a central axis of the auger and to sweep about a substantially vertical axis relative to the floor, the second auger having flights sized and shaped to move material towards the discharge opening. 
     
     
         24 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 23 , wherein the second auger flights are sized and shaped to provide a substantially uniform vertical flow of material above the second auger. 
     
     
         25 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 23 , wherein the second auger substantially inhibits channeling of material above the second auger. 
     
     
         26 . The high-temperature retort of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is comprised of a cementious material having at least 5% igneous material by weight. 
     
     
         27 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling is comprised of a cementious material having at least 5% igneous material by weight. 
     
     
         28 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 23 , further comprising a third auger disposed above the grate. 
     
     
         29 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is supported by a plurality of pilings. 
     
     
         30 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is sloped. 
     
     
         31 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 30 , wherein the floor is sloped at an angle between 1 and 5 degrees. 
     
     
         32 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 30 , wherein the floor is sloped sufficient for gravity to cause liquid hydrocarbons to flow downward. 
     
     
         33 . The high-temperature retort structure of  claim 32 , wherein the floor has a baffle substantially perpendicular to the flow.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2012138422A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.