A system and method for performing pyrolysis comprises a reactor through which organic material is conveyed from an upstream end toward a downstream end and within which said pyrolysis will occur; a combustion chamber fluidically connected to the downstream end of the reactor; an output pipe fluidically connected to the downstream end of the reactor; a capsule surrounding a first part of the reactor and into an internal portion of which heated thermal fluids are disposed for heating the first part of said reactor; and a plurality of electrical resistors disposed around a second part of the reactor for heating the second part of the reactor; whereby, as a result of the pyrolysis occurring within the reactor, the syngas is conducted toward the combustion chamber while the carbonized material is conducted outwardly from the reactor through the output pipe.

A system and method for performing pyrolysis comprises a reactor through which organic material is conveyed from an upstream end toward a downstream end and within which said pyrolysis will occur; a combustion chamber fluidically connected to the downstream end of the reactor; an output pipe fluidically connected to the downstream end of the reactor; a capsule surrounding a first part of the reactor and into an internal portion of which heated thermal fluids are disposed for heating the first part of said reactor; and a plurality of electrical resistors disposed around a second part of the reactor for heating the second part of the reactor; whereby, as a result of the pyrolysis occurring within the reactor, the syngas is conducted toward the combustion chamber while the carbonized material is conducted outwardly from the reactor through the output pipe.

An internally cooled microwave stub tuner assembly with stubs having hollow ducts for receiving circulating cooling fluid while in operation. The microwave stub tuner assembly for a pyrolysis reactor includes at least one elongated hollow body plunger projecting into a waveguide cavity. Each of the hollow body portion of the plungers has at least one internal cooling duct for receiving a circulating cooling fluid and is adapted to be cooled by the circulating cooling fluid as the circulating cooling fluid enters the plunger, courses through each the internal cooling ducts and exits the plunger. Each plunger has a position adjuster for adjusting the position of the plunger within the waveguide cavity.

A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

A pyrolysis reactor and process for processing or recycling waste material. The pyrolysis reactor defines an internal cavity, and includes an inlet for the transfer of feedstock material into the internal cavity and an outlet for the transfer of processed material out of the internal cavity. The pyrolysis reactor also includes an induction heating apparatus comprising up to three induction heaters arranged outside of the internal cavity and an induction susceptor within the internal cavity e.g. granules up to 50 mm diameter and/or a helical stirrer including an induction susceptor material. The induction heating apparatus is configured to heat feedstock material within the internal cavity.

A pyrolysis reactor and process for processing or recycling waste material. The pyrolysis reactor defines an internal cavity, and includes an inlet for the transfer of feedstock material into the internal cavity and an outlet for the transfer of processed material out of the internal cavity. The pyrolysis reactor also includes an induction heating apparatus comprising up to three induction heaters arranged outside of the internal cavity and an induction susceptor within the internal cavity e.g. granules up to 50 mm diameter and/or a helical stirrer including an induction susceptor material. The induction heating apparatus is configured to heat feedstock material within the internal cavity.

Herein disclosed are apparatus and associated methods related to producing an enhanced surface area biochar product with a desired activation level based on receiving biochar into a processing vessel configured with multiple independently temperature-controlled chambers and counter-flow steam injection, controlling activation levels of the biochar by moving the biochar through the processing vessel and adjusting the temperature of the biochar by injecting steam into at least one temperature-controlled chamber of the processing vessel, recovering volatiles driven off through dehydration using a thermal oxidizer, cooling the biochar to a desired discharge temperature using steam and retention time, and discharging the activated biochar product. The processing vessel may be a calciner, a rotary calciner, or a kiln. Biochar may be heated or cooled to a desired thermochemical processing temperature depending on the temperature of the received biochar. Counter-flow saturated steam may sweep volatile gases to a thermal oxidizer using a vacuum system.

Herein disclosed are apparatus and associated methods related to producing an enhanced surface area biochar product with a desired activation level based on receiving biochar into a processing vessel configured with multiple independently temperature-controlled chambers and counter-flow steam injection, controlling activation levels of the biochar by moving the biochar through the processing vessel and adjusting the temperature of the biochar by injecting steam into at least one temperature-controlled chamber of the processing vessel, recovering volatiles driven off through dehydration using a thermal oxidizer, cooling the biochar to a desired discharge temperature using steam and retention time, and discharging the activated biochar product. The processing vessel may be a calciner, a rotary calciner, or a kiln. Biochar may be heated or cooled to a desired thermochemical processing temperature depending on the temperature of the received biochar. Counter-flow saturated steam may sweep volatile gases to a thermal oxidizer using a vacuum system.

A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.