A thermochemical energy conversion unit includes a heat expansion assembly including a reactor configured to receive a biomass and convert the biomass into a burnable gas having undesirable materials therein and a biochar. The heat expansion assembly also includes a heat expansion discharge pipe configured to discharge the burnable gas from the heat expansion assembly. The thermochemical energy conversion unit also includes a gas scrubber assembly operatively connected to the heat expansion assembly and configured to receive the burnable gas therefrom and to remove the undesirable materials from the burnable gas. The gas scrubber assembly includes a scrubber discharge pipe configured to discharge the burnable gas from the gas scrubber assembly. The heat expansion assembly and the gas scrubber assembly are configured to be continuously fluidly connected from the heat expansion discharge pipe to the scrubber discharge pipe for generating a continuous flow of the burnable gas therealong.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing reusable fuel wherein the apparatus comprises a support body and a plurality of augers disposed within the support body. The augers may be configured to rotate against a vapor flow to clean carbon char from vapors comprising condensable and non-condensable hydrocarbons. A drive system may be connected to drive and control the plurality of augers. An exhaust system is connected to the support body. A gearbox housing is connected to the exhaust system, wherein the drive system is accommodated in the gearbox housing. A ventilation system is disposed within the gearbox housing. Additionally, a thermal expansion system may be connected to the support body.

Systems and methods for production for consistently sized and shaped petroleum coke from vacuum residue, one method including supplying processed vacuum residue to an extruder; heating the processed vacuum residue throughout a horizontal profile of the extruder from an inlet to an outlet of the extruder; venting hydrocarbon off-gases from the extruder along the horizontal profile of the extruder from the inlet to the outlet of the extruder; and cutting consistently sized and shaped petroleum coke at the outlet of the extruder.

A continuous pyrolysis system including a pyrolysis chamber, a heating chamber, a feeding chamber having a pressure input, an output coupled to the pyrolysis chamber, and a feeding opening opened to ambient atmosphere, a flame injector injecting ambient air and combustible material into the heating chamber, a pumping device with an input coupled to the heating chamber, and an output coupled to the pressure input of the feeding chamber, a O.sub.2 sensor within the heating chamber, and/or a pressure transducer within the feeding chamber, and a controller coupled to the O.sub.2 sensor, the pressure transducer, the flame injector, and the pumping device, for controlling the flame injector to inject ambient air and/or combustible material to maintain within the heating chamber O.sub.2 concentration between 8% and 10%, and/or for controlling the pumping device to maintain pressure in the feeding chamber above ambient pressure.

A continuous pyrolysis system including a pyrolysis chamber, a heating chamber, a feeding chamber having a pressure input, an output coupled to the pyrolysis chamber, and a feeding opening opened to ambient atmosphere, a flame injector injecting ambient air and combustible material into the heating chamber, a pumping device with an input coupled to the heating chamber, and an output coupled to the pressure input of the feeding chamber, a O.sub.2 sensor within the heating chamber, and/or a pressure transducer within the feeding chamber, and a controller coupled to the O.sub.2 sensor, the pressure transducer, the flame injector, and the pumping device, for controlling the flame injector to inject ambient air and/or combustible material to maintain within the heating chamber O.sub.2 concentration between 8% and 10%, and/or for controlling the pumping device to maintain pressure in the feeding chamber above ambient pressure.

Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

A biomass pyrolysis device and a biomass pyrolysis method is for optimal matching of thermal energy and microwave energy, wherein the device comprises a power generation system, a drying device and a microwave pyrolysis device; wherein the drying device is a cylinder nested with a flue gas layer and a material layer, a material inlet of the drying device is connected with a feeding device, and a volatile outlet is connected with a condensing unit; the microwave pyrolysis device is connected with a material outlet of the drying device, and a pyrolysis gas outlet of the microwave pyrolysis device is connected with the condensing unit; the condensing unit is connected with the power generation system, and waste gas generated by the power generation system is introduced into the flue gas layer of the drying device.

A biomass pyrolysis device and a biomass pyrolysis method is for optimal matching of thermal energy and microwave energy, wherein the device comprises a power generation system, a drying device and a microwave pyrolysis device; wherein the drying device is a cylinder nested with a flue gas layer and a material layer, a material inlet of the drying device is connected with a feeding device, and a volatile outlet is connected with a condensing unit; the microwave pyrolysis device is connected with a material outlet of the drying device, and a pyrolysis gas outlet of the microwave pyrolysis device is connected with the condensing unit; the condensing unit is connected with the power generation system, and waste gas generated by the power generation system is introduced into the flue gas layer of the drying device.

A system for producing biocoal and biochar includes at least one rotary compression unit (RCU) having a barrel, a compression screw housed within the barrel, a feed for receiving biomass and at least one exit for releasing biochar and gasses formed in the RCU. A first exit stream is produced that includes biochar and a portion of the remaining gasses, and a second exit stream is produced that includes biocoal. A gas crossover is provided that connects the first and second exit stream having a mechanism for transporting gasses from the first exit stream to the second exit stream thereby condensing a portion of the remaining gasses into the biocoal. In one form two RCUs are included connected to two condensers.

A system for producing biocoal and biochar includes at least one rotary compression unit (RCU) having a barrel, a compression screw housed within the barrel, a feed for receiving biomass and at least one exit for releasing biochar and gasses formed in the RCU. A first exit stream is produced that includes biochar and a portion of the remaining gasses, and a second exit stream is produced that includes biocoal. A gas crossover is provided that connects the first and second exit stream having a mechanism for transporting gasses from the first exit stream to the second exit stream thereby condensing a portion of the remaining gasses into the biocoal. In one form two RCUs are included connected to two condensers.