A pyrolysis apparatus having a heating system adapted to heat a first gas enclosure, wherein a gas path within the heated enclosure is helical or spherical. Pyrolysis is used to destroy oils, tars and/or PAHs in a gaseous mixture.

The present invention provides a microwave pyrolysis reactor (1) comprising an inner pipe element (2) and a housing (4), wherein the inner pipe element (2) is made of a microwave transparent material and is arranged within the housing and comprises a first open end (5) and a second open end (6); the housing (4) comprises a first inner surface, enclosing an annular space (7,44) around the inner pipe element (2), a waste inlet (10), a solids outlet (11), a gas outlet (12), and a port (13) for a microwave waveguide (14), the waste inlet and the solids outlet are in communication with the first open end and the second open end of the inner pipe element, respectively, and the port for a microwave waveguide is in communication with the annular space; the inner pipe element, the waste inlet and the solids outlet of the housing form parts of a conduit not in fluid communication with the annular space around the inner pipe element and wherein the inner pipe element is clamped within the housing via a cylinder-shaped resilient assembly (54) arranged at at least one of the first open end (5) and the second open end of the inner pipe element, the resilient assembly is adapted to allow longitudinal expansion of the inner pipe element (2) and comprises a central through-going passage (57) having a centerline in line with a centerline (C) of the inner pipe element.

The present invention provides a microwave pyrolysis reactor (1) comprising an inner pipe element (2) and a housing (4), wherein the inner pipe element (2) is made of a microwave transparent material and is arranged within the housing and comprises a first open end (5) and a second open end (6); the housing (4) comprises a first inner surface, enclosing an annular space (7,44) around the inner pipe element (2), a waste inlet (10), a solids outlet (11), a gas outlet (12), and a port (13) for a microwave waveguide (14), the waste inlet and the solids outlet are in communication with the first open end and the second open end of the inner pipe element, respectively, and the port for a microwave waveguide is in communication with the annular space; the inner pipe element, the waste inlet and the solids outlet of the housing form parts of a conduit not in fluid communication with the annular space around the inner pipe element and wherein the inner pipe element is clamped within the housing via a cylinder-shaped resilient assembly (54) arranged at at least one of the first open end (5) and the second open end of the inner pipe element, the resilient assembly is adapted to allow longitudinal expansion of the inner pipe element (2) and comprises a central through-going passage (57) having a centerline in line with a centerline (C) of the inner pipe element.

An apparatus for the continuous production of biochar by pyrolysis of biomass under exclusion of oxygen is provided. The apparatus includes a vertically mounted reactor having a reactor interior which is defined by a reactor shell and which has an upper feed region, a lower removal region and a process space located therebetween, a feed device for feeding biomass to the upper feed region, a removal device for removing biochar from the lower removal region, and a heating device positioned in the reactor interior. The heating device comprises includes a plurality of outer heating rods vertically arranged in the vicinity of the reactor shell and distributed around the circumference of the reactor, and at least one inner heating rod vertically arranged in or in the vicinity of the center of the reactor interior. A control device is provided for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control device controls the actuation of the feed device and the removal device and regulates the temperature of the heating rods in dependence on temperatures measured at distributed locations in the reactor interior in order to adjust the holding time and pyrolytic conversion of the biomass in dependence on the respective operating conditions, ambient conditions and the particular biomass used.

An apparatus and process for thermally de-manufacturing tires and other materials. The apparatus is a retort chamber with various zones in which tires are combusted to provide energy for the thermal depolymerization reaction, depolymerization takes place, and products leave the retort chamber. In one embodiment, the process reacts water with iron present in steel-belted tires to produce hydrogen, which helps to break sulfur-sulfur bonds in vulcanized materials. The water also helps control the temperature of the reaction, which allows for control over the types and relative amounts of the various depolymerization products.

An apparatus and process for thermally de-manufacturing tires and other materials. The apparatus is a retort chamber with various zones in which tires are combusted to provide energy for the thermal depolymerization reaction, depolymerization takes place, and products leave the retort chamber. In one embodiment, the process reacts water with iron present in steel-belted tires to produce hydrogen, which helps to break sulfur-sulfur bonds in vulcanized materials. The water also helps control the temperature of the reaction, which allows for control over the types and relative amounts of the various depolymerization products.

An apparatus and process for thermally de-manufacturing tires and other materials. The apparatus is a retort chamber with various zones in which tires are combusted to provide energy for the thermal depolymerization reaction, depolymerization takes place, and products leave the retort chamber. In one embodiment, the process reacts water with iron present in steel-belted tires to produce hydrogen, which helps to break sulfur-sulfur bonds in vulcanized materials. The water also helps control the temperature of the reaction, which allows for control over the types and relative amounts of the various depolymerization products.

A controlled dispersion module includes a distal end coupled to an effluent feed. A proximal end having at least one baffle is disposed within the controlled dispersion module. The proximal end is fluidly coupled to the coke drum. In various embodiments, the proximal end is curved to match a curvature of the coke drum. In various embodiments, the at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles.

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.