Ralph Lee Coates
Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT

8298406, Oct 30, 2012

May 21, 2009

12/470423

Ralph L. Coates - Salt Lake City UT, US
L. Douglas Smoot - Provo UT, US
Kent E. Hatfield - Salt Lake City UT, US

Coates Engineering, LLC - Salt Lake City UT

C10B 47/18, C10B 47/30

208407, 201 32

An apparatus and method for achieving improved throughput capacity of indirectly heated rotary kilns used to produce pyrolysis products such as shale oils or coal oils that are susceptible to decomposition by high kiln wall temperatures is disclosed. High throughput is achieved by firing the kiln such that optimum wall temperatures are maintained beginning at the point where the materials enter the heating section of the kiln and extending to the point where the materials leave the heated section. Multiple high velocity burners are arranged such that combustion products directly impact on the area of the kiln wall covered internally by the solid material being heated. Firing rates for the burners are controlled to maintain optimum wall temperatures.

2008020, Aug 28, 2008

Feb 23, 2007

11/710389

Kent E. Hatfield - Salt Lake City UT, US
Ralph L. Coates - Salt Lake City UT, US
L. Douglas Smoot - Provo UT, US

Combustion Resources, L.L.C. - Provo UT

C10G 1/06

208403

A continuous, efficient surface method for thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a solid feedstock is described that includes a self-contained process that produces hydrogen for upgrading the hydrocarbons to produce motor fuel. The hydrogen also is used as a clean burning fuel for the thermal processing. The hydrogen is produced as a component of synthesis gas formed by gasification of coal. The synthesis gas is processed to remove and dispose of carbon dioxide and by-product sulfur. Combustion of the hydrogen to provide indirect heating of the solid feedstock maximizes hydrocarbons that can be upgraded and reduces or eliminates the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

2012006, Mar 15, 2012

Sep 7, 2011

13/227044

Ralph L. Coates - Salt Lake City UT, US
Benjamin R. Coates - Highland UT, US
Joshua L. Coates - Holladay UT, US

B01J 19/28

422164

Described herein are systems and methods for achieving fast pyrolysis of wood and other carbonaceous solids in rotary reactors. Novel heating, feeding and condensing methods result in high oil yields near those currently achieved with more complicated fast pyrolysis systems. High intensity burners are arranged and controlled to produce high heating rates and uniform temperature of the rotating cylindrical walls of the reactors. The feeding system delays the onset of pyrolysis until the solids fall onto the heated kiln walls. The pyrolysis gases and vapors are rapidly withdrawn and quenched with recycled liquids. The first condenser incorporates a clean out nozzle. Char products are readily separated and discharged into a heat exchanger where heat is recovered and used together with heat from reactor flue gas to dry the solids prior to being fed to the reactor.

2012029, Nov 22, 2012

Aug 2, 2012

13/565664

Ralph L. Coates - Salt Lake City UT, US
L. Douglas Smoot - Provo UT, US
Kent E. Hatfield - Salt Lake City UT, US

C10G 1/00

208400

An apparatus and method for achieving improved throughput capacity of indirectly heated rotary kilns used to produce pyrolysis products such as shale oils or coal oils that are susceptible to decomposition by high kiln wall temperatures is disclosed. High throughput is achieved by firing the kiln such that optimum wall temperatures are maintained beginning at the point where the materials enter the heating section of the kiln and extending to the point where the materials leave the heated section. Multiple high velocity burners are arranged such that combustion products directly impact on the area of the kiln wall covered internally by the solid material being heated. Firing rates for the burners are controlled to maintain optimum wall temperatures.

4272255, Jun 9, 1981

Jul 19, 1979

6/058764

Ralph L. Coates - Salt Lake City UT

Mountain Fuel Resources, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

C10J 320

48 63

The apparatus of U. S. Pat. No. 3,988,123 is improved by constructing the heat recovery stage as a relatively elongated water-wall type of heat exchanger within a pressure shell, rather than of shell and tube type. The heat exchanger is advantageously formed from contiguous, externally finned, vertical tubes that are rigidly joined together to form a laterally closed, heat recovery chamber, the fin portion of one being welded along its tip to the tube portion of another adjoining such fin portion. The heat exchanger tubes preferably continue vertically throughout substantially the entire height of the gasification reaction i. e. combustion chamber of the first stage of the apparatus, completely eliminating the intermediate quench stage of the patented apparatus and serving to recover heat from the combustion stage as well as from the heat recovery stage by a heat exchange fluid, such as water, flowing through the tubes. The pressure shell may closely encircle the water-wall, except along the lower end portion thereof, where diameter is such as to provide an annular outflow channel abruptly reversing flow of the downflowing gases within the heat recovery chamber and thereby effecting separation of solids from the product gas. A quench stage of residual solids is below the open lower end of the heat exchanger and constitutes the third, rather than the second, stage of the apparatus.