A retort including a drum, an electric induction coil, a motor, and first and second jacks. The drum includes an inlet port at an inlet end, an outlet port at an outlet end, and a cylindrical tube extending between the inlet end and the outlet end. The electric induction coil is proximate the cylindrical tube for heating the cylindrical tube. The motor is operably and rotatably coupled to the cylindrical tube of the drum. The first jack is coupled to the drum proximate the inlet end, and is configured to raise and lower the inlet end of the drum. And the second jack is coupled to the drum proximate the outlet end, and is configured to raise and lower the outlet end of the drum.

A method for the pyrolysis of raw materials, especially raw materials deriving from tires or bitumen, includes the steps of feeding the material to be subjected to the pyrolysis process to a reactor; heating the material in the reactor at a temperature needed to establish the pyrolysis process; collecting the final products of the pyrolysis reaction; separating the gaseous, liquid and solid phases of the reaction products; and storing, for further treatment, the reaction products separate one from another. The heating in the pyrolysis process to the activation temperature is obtained by irradiating the raw material with laser radiation, concentrated or focused on a localized area of a pre-established surface area on the mass of raw material of the focusing area, and progressively moved along the entire surface of the mass of raw material to activate the pyrolytic reaction on all the mass of raw material.

A method for the pyrolysis of raw materials, especially raw materials deriving from tires or bitumen, includes the steps of feeding the material to be subjected to the pyrolysis process to a reactor; heating the material in the reactor at a temperature needed to establish the pyrolysis process; collecting the final products of the pyrolysis reaction; separating the gaseous, liquid and solid phases of the reaction products; and storing, for further treatment, the reaction products separate one from another. The heating in the pyrolysis process to the activation temperature is obtained by irradiating the raw material with laser radiation, concentrated or focused on a localized area of a pre-established surface area on the mass of raw material of the focusing area, and progressively moved along the entire surface of the mass of raw material to activate the pyrolytic reaction on all the mass of raw material.

This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

A system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge includes a non-conductive housing having a longitudinal axis, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening, a first electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a second electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap, a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, and the electric glow discharge is created whenever the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap.

A system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge includes a non-conductive housing having a longitudinal axis, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening, a first electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a second electrically conductive screen disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap, a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, and the electric glow discharge is created whenever the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap.

This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.

An open system pyrolysis of a first hydrocarbon source rock sample obtained from a natural system is performed within a pyrolysis chamber by maintaining the pyrolysis chamber at a substantially constant temperature. Hydrocarbons are recovered from the pyrolysis chamber released by the first hydrocarbon source rock sample. A thermo-vaporization is performed within the pyrolysis chamber on the pyrolyzed sample at a substantially constant temperature. A first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of hydrocarbon source rock is determined. A second hydrocarbon rock sample is ground to a grain size less than or equal to or less than 250 micrometers. A second pyrolysis is performed on the ground hydrocarbon source rock sample by maintaining the chamber at a substantially constant temperature. A second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of the hydrocarbon source rock in the natural system is determined. The first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency is verified using the second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency.