A fast pyrolysis heat exchanger system for economically and efficiently converting biomass and other combustible materials into bio-oil. The system employs multiple closed loop tubes situated inside the heat exchanger. As a granular solid heat carrier is deposited at the top of the heat exchanger and caused to move downwardly therethrough, heat is transferred from the tubes to the heat carrier which is then transferred to a reactor where it is placed in contact with the combustible materials.

Disclosed herein is a hermetically sealed flow-through reactor for non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste into a char product, the reactor having an internal cylindrical surface, and the reactor including: an inlet and an outlet; one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each thermal reaction zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the thermal reaction zone to an operating temperature for mediating the non-oxidative thermal degradation of rubber in the rubber containing waste, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing gas or gases evolved during the non-oxidative thermal degradation of the rubber; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the one or more thermal reaction zones in both the forward and reverse directions and to the outlet, wherein flighting on the screw auger tracks the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor in close relationship to minimise or prevent the transport of material through a clearance space between outer edges of the flighting and the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor.

Disclosed herein is a hermetically sealed flow-through reactor for non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste into a char product, the reactor having an internal cylindrical surface, and the reactor including: an inlet and an outlet; one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each thermal reaction zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the thermal reaction zone to an operating temperature for mediating the non-oxidative thermal degradation of rubber in the rubber containing waste, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing gas or gases evolved during the non-oxidative thermal degradation of the rubber; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the one or more thermal reaction zones in both the forward and reverse directions and to the outlet, wherein flighting on the screw auger tracks the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor in close relationship to minimise or prevent the transport of material through a clearance space between outer edges of the flighting and the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor.

A process for the non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste including: transporting the rubber containing waste along a horizontal axis of a hermetically sealed cylindrical reactor including: an inlet and an outlet, one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each thermal reaction zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the thermal reaction zone to an operating temperature for mediating the non-oxidative thermal degradation of rubber in the rubber containing waste, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing volatile gas or gases evolved during the non-oxidative thermal degradation of the rubber; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the one or more thermal reaction zones in both the forward and reverse directions and to the outlet; heating the rubber containing waste, in the one or more thermal treatment zones, to a temperature above the degradation temperature of rubber for a time sufficient to produce the volatile gas or gases and the char product; operating the screw auger in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate the rubber containing waste within the reactor; and advancing the rubber containing waste along the horizontal axis to the outlet.

A process for the non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste including: transporting the rubber containing waste along a horizontal axis of a hermetically sealed cylindrical reactor including: an inlet and an outlet, one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each thermal reaction zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the thermal reaction zone to an operating temperature for mediating the non-oxidative thermal degradation of rubber in the rubber containing waste, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing volatile gas or gases evolved during the non-oxidative thermal degradation of the rubber; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the one or more thermal reaction zones in both the forward and reverse directions and to the outlet; heating the rubber containing waste, in the one or more thermal treatment zones, to a temperature above the degradation temperature of rubber for a time sufficient to produce the volatile gas or gases and the char product; operating the screw auger in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate the rubber containing waste within the reactor; and advancing the rubber containing waste along the horizontal axis to the outlet.

Biomass processing devices, systems and methods used to convert biomass to, for example, liquid hydrocarbons, renewable chemicals, and/or composites are described. The biomass processing system can include a pyrolysis device, a hydroprocessor and a gasifier. Biomass, such as wood chips, is fed into the pyrolysis device to produce char and pyrolysis vapors. Pyrolysis vapors are processed in the hydroprocessor, such as a deoxygenation device, to produce hydrocarbons, light gas, and water. Water and char produced by the system can be used in the gasifier to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which may be recycled back to the pyrolysis device and/or hydroprocessor.

Biomass processing devices, systems and methods used to convert biomass to, for example, liquid hydrocarbons, renewable chemicals, and/or composites are described. The biomass processing system can include a pyrolysis device, a hydroprocessor and a gasifier. Biomass, such as wood chips, is fed into the pyrolysis device to produce char and pyrolysis vapors. Pyrolysis vapors are processed in the hydroprocessor, such as a deoxygenation device, to produce hydrocarbons, light gas, and water. Water and char produced by the system can be used in the gasifier to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which may be recycled back to the pyrolysis device and/or hydroprocessor.

A process for the non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste including: transporting the rubber containing waste along a horizontal axis of a hermetically sealed cylindrical reactor including: an inlet and an outlet, one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the zone to an operating temperature, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing volatile gas or gases evolved during the thermal degradation; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the reaction zones and to the outlet; heating the said waste, in the one or more thermal zones, to a temperature above the degradation temperature of rubber for a time sufficient to produce the volatile gas or gases and the char product.

A process for the non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste including: transporting the rubber containing waste along a horizontal axis of a hermetically sealed cylindrical reactor including: an inlet and an outlet, one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the zone to an operating temperature, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing volatile gas or gases evolved during the thermal degradation; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste through the reaction zones and to the outlet; heating the said waste, in the one or more thermal zones, to a temperature above the degradation temperature of rubber for a time sufficient to produce the volatile gas or gases and the char product.

This disclosure relates to a processing that includes a first shell and a second shell disposed within the first shell. The second shell includes a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end. The second shell also defines a cavity and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis includes a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.