The invention relates to an apparatus and method for extracting oil from a substrate via vaporization.
Processes for extracting oil from a substrate via vaporization are known. In particular, many such apparatuses and methods have been used in the recycling of used oil filters and the oil therein.
Due in part to environmental and economic factors, used oil filters and other oil laden products and materials are generally not buried in landfills; rather, they typically undergo a process whereby the used oil is separated from the used filter. Traditionally, the used oil filters are shredded and the oil is removed from the shredded metal via incineration or a washing process. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,176 to Barber; U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,844 to Schmidt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,165 to Jackman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,079 to Guymon; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,136 to McCarty et al. The washing process can result in large amounts of contaminated wastewater, while the incineration process can result in environmentally unfriendly exhaust gases and ash. Accordingly, both processes potentially raise complicated and expensive issues regarding compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.
More environmentally friendly processes and, consequently, less regulated processes for recycling used oil filters involve the step of vaporizing the used oil in the filters and then subsequently condensing and/or incinerating the vapors. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,293 to Gardner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,034 to McRae et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,957 to McRae. Though oil vaporization processes are known, the currently known processes, including those described in the above-listed patents, are inefficient and typically involve managing an exhaust gas stream that is contaminated with oil vapors. Accordingly, streamlined oil vaporization apparatuses and methods that further decrease the energy and environmental impact associated with the oil vaporization process are needed.
In addition, methods and apparatuses are needed that further decrease the requisite energy consumption and environmental impacts associated with vaporizing spent oil from used oil filters. More specifically, an apparatus and method that provides flexibility for use in other applications, such as to more efficiently extract oil from foods, is needed. For example, oil is typically extracted from soybeans via a relatively complicated chemical process. Accordingly, such a method should provide for simply vaporizing the oil to remove it from the soybeans and then later condense the oil, thereby decreasing production costs. More generally, an apparatus and method for separation of a substrate from a vaporizable material for purification is needed. The vaporizable material can be vaporized out of the substrate, leaving both a purer substrate and a purer vaporizable material. The present invention addresses these problems and others.
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for vaporizing a vaporizable material that involves indirectly heating a substance such that the vaporizable material therein is vaporized. For example, in one embodiment, the apparatus includes a chamber that is constructed to house oil-laden substrates such as filters. Heat is applied to the outer surface of the chamber such that the oil therein is vaporized. The vaporized oil escapes through a vent and is channeled to a condenser. Once the chamber is sufficiently cooled, it is opened and oil-free substrates are removed. The chamber is then recharged with oil-laden substrates and the process is restarted.
These features of novelty and various other advantages that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings that form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference numbers indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views:
Referring to
According to the invention, the heating arrangement 14 indirectly heats the chamber 12 causing the gases therein to expand and the vaporizable material therein to vaporize. The expansion of the gases combined with the constant flow of vapor out of the chamber 12 forces enough of the oxygen out of the chamber 12 to prevent combustion inside the chamber 12 even when the chamber 12 is heated to high temperatures. Accordingly, even after all the vaporizable material in the chamber 12 is vaporized, the contents within the chamber 12 remain unburned. In the depicted embodiment where the chamber 12 is filled with oil-laden substrates 30 such as used oil filters, the components of the oil filters (i.e., steel, paper filter media, plastic, rubber, glue and paint) remain essentially intact after the vaporization process. This feature of the invention can be beneficial because the unburned components can be used in a variety of ways including, for example, recycling components for use in the manufacture of other devices or used as fuel to run other processes or machinery. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the rubber gasket seals of the used oil filters can be crushed and used as solid fuel (note that rubber becomes more brittle after the oil therein is vaporized). It should also be understood that indirectly heating the contents in the chamber 12 according to the present invention can provide additional advantages. The term “indirectly heating” as used herein means that the exhaust stream 35 (gas or liquid) of the heating arrangement 14 does not mix with the oil vapors from the chamber 12. This feature is advantageous because the exhaust stream 35 can be vented to the atmosphere or used in other processes without the need to separate the oil vapors 33 therefrom.
In the embodiment shown, the chamber 12 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a first opening 16 located at a first end 18 and a second opening 20 located at a second end 22. The first opening 16 is commonly referred to as the top opening and the second opening 20 is commonly referred to as the bottom opening. In the depicted embodiment, the first opening 16 is sized and constructed to be used for loading used oil filters or other substrate materials into the chamber 12 and the second opening 20 is sized and configured to unload used oil filters once the vaporization process is completed. Lids 24 and 26 are shown that seal the first opening 16 and second opening 20, respectively. In particular, the lid 26 is shown attached by a hinge 28 to the chamber 12 and the lid 24 is shown attached to the chamber 12 via standard bolts. Both the lids 24 and 26 can include a heat resistant sealing gasket (not shown). The sealing gasket can include, for example, a graphite construction. It should, however, be appreciated that the lids 24 and 26 are not necessarily connected to the chamber 12 via hinges or bolts. In well-known alternative embodiments, the lids 24 and 26 can, for example, be slidably received by the chamber 12 in tracks or grooves.
The chamber 12 further includes a vapor vent 32 that is constructed to allow the oil vapors 33 to escape the chamber 12. The vapor vent 32 is shown located at the first end 18 of the chamber. It should be appreciated that the vapor vent 32 can be disposed in many other locations on the chamber 12. For example, in alternative embodiments, the vapor vent 32 could be disposed on the lid 24. Now referring to
In the embodiment shown in
Referring back to
As referenced above, the heating arrangement 14 of the depicted embodiment includes a hot gas jacket 36 adjacent to the outer surface of the chamber 12. The hot gas jacket 36 preferably surrounds a substantial portion or even the entire chamber 12 to provide a consistent temperature within the chamber 12. An exhaust vent 38 is also provided that enables the exhaust stream 35 that passes over the exterior surface of the chamber 12 to escape and be replaced with fresher and hotter gas from the burner 34. Disposed around the hot gas jacket 36 is an insulator 40. The insulator 40 is constructed to maintain the temperature of the gases around the chamber 12 to prevent heat waste. In the depicted embodiment, the insulator 40 defines the shape of the hot gas jacket 36 and thereby aids in channeling the flow of the exhaust stream 35 so that the exhaust stream 35 is not mixed with the oil vapors 33.
Though in the depicted embodiment, the hot gas jacket 36 and the insulator 40 are show connected to the chamber 12, it should be appreciated that many other configurations are possible. For example, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the method also includes some additional steps. Some embodiments include the steps of collecting and condensing the vapors 3 and/or incinerating 4 the vapor stream 33. Other embodiments include the steps of cooling 5 the chamber 12 or 15, unloading 6 the chamber 12 or 15, and recharging chamber 12 or 15 with new substrates having vaporizable material therein.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.