A system for producing needle coke and a method for producing needle coke using the system are provided. The system includes a coke tower, a pressure stabilization tower, a buffer tank and a coking fractionation tower. A pressure controller is provided at the top of the pressure stabilization tower for adjusting the pressure at the top thereof. An oil gas outlet of the coke tower is in communication with an oil gas inlet of the pressure stabilization tower through a pipeline. No pressure controller for adjusting the pressure at the top of the coke tower is provided in the coke tower or on the oil gas pipeline connecting the coke tower to the pressure stabilization tower.

A system for producing needle coke and a method for producing needle coke using the system are provided. The system includes a coke tower, a pressure stabilization tower, a buffer tank and a coking fractionation tower. A pressure controller is provided at the top of the pressure stabilization tower for adjusting the pressure at the top thereof. An oil gas outlet of the coke tower is in communication with an oil gas inlet of the pressure stabilization tower through a pipeline. No pressure controller for adjusting the pressure at the top of the coke tower is provided in the coke tower or on the oil gas pipeline connecting the coke tower to the pressure stabilization tower.

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.

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.

A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel from a soapstock includes supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave absorbent bed susceptible to microwave irradiation, applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave absorbent bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy, supplying the soapstock to the microwave absorbent bed, and condensing a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the soapstock sufficient to collect the hydrocarbon fuel.

A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel from a soapstock includes supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave absorbent bed susceptible to microwave irradiation, applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave absorbent bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy, supplying the soapstock to the microwave absorbent bed, and condensing a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the soapstock sufficient to collect the hydrocarbon fuel.

A system for processing a material includes a pre-processing module configured to receive the material, mechanically stress the received material, and output the mechanically stressed material. The system also includes a pyrolysis module communicatively coupled to the pre-processing module and downstream of the pre-processing module. The pyrolysis module is configured to receive the mechanically stressed material from the pre-processing module and to perform a pyrolysis process on the received mechanically stressed material, thereby to produce one or more pyrolysis products.

A control system for automatic operation of a coker, the control system. The control system includes a drum feeder operable to modulate a feed of oil into a coke drum of the coker. The control system further includes a controller with a processing circuit. The processing circuit obtains a target coke rate indicating a target rate at which to accumulate coke within the coke drum. The processing circuit further uses a neural network model to generate a target coker feed rate predicted to result in the coke accumulating within the coke drum at the target coke rate. The target coker feed rate indicates a target rate at which to feed the oil into the coke drum. The processing circuit further operates the drum feeder using the target coker feed rate to modulate the feed of oil into the coke drum.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.