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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an apparatus for isolating oil from oilsand, oil shale, or contaminated soil, and for treating contaminated waste oil, and particularly relates to such an apparatus which is portable and the use of which is non-polluting.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Vast amounts of hydrocarbon fuels are stored within geological structures known as oilsands and oilshale. As more easily extracted sources of hydrocarbon fuels are depleted, increasing attention is paid to methods for extraction of oil from oilsands and oilshale.[0003]Oilsand, also known as tarsand, is a naturally occurring mixture of sand or clay and bitumen, a dense hydrocarbon. The bitumen may be processed into usable oil. Worldwide reserves of oil from oilsand are estimated to exceed 3 trillion barrels.[0004]Oil shale is a fine-grain sedimentary rock containing a solid mixture of chemical compounds, known as kerogen, from which hydrocarbons may be extracted. Processing ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]According to one embodiment of the present invention, 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 m

Problems solved by technology

This system is specifically a low-temperature system, and therefore is incapable of effectively isolating oil from oilsands or oilshale.

Once used, such oil is often contaminated with metals and other contaminants which may be harmful to and inefficient for machinery.

The prior art methods of oil isolation from oil-rich materials or oil decontamination may require use of water, require addition of harmful chemicals, or cause air pollution or accumulation of toxic waste.

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