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.

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.

A pyrolysis device (1; 200) comprising an elongated tubular structure (2; 201) which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and includes a first tubular body (3; 202) which defines an initial washing or drainage chamber, in which a shaped carriage (5; 204) containing a polymeric material to be subjected to pyrolysis thermal treatment is received, and provided with a movable front shutter (8; 207), arranged at an axial inlet mouth (9) through which the shaped carriage (5; 204) is introduced into the initial chamber (4; 203), and cooperating with first actuating means (10; 209) which alternately move them at least between a first position, in which the front shutter (8; 207) closes the initial chamber (4; 203) from the outer side (4a), and a second position, in which the front shutter (8; 207) opens the initial chamber (4; 203) from such an outer side (4a) putting it into communication with the external environment. The pyrolysis device (1; 200) further comprises a second tubular body (11; 210), located downstream of the first tubular body (3; 202) and provided at a first end (11a) with closing means (12; 211), defining a pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) which receives the shaped carriage (5; 204) to be subjected to the pyrolysis treatment, interface chimneys (6, 7; 225) for replacing the air present in the initial chamber (4; 203) and/or in the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) with an inert gas, one or more microwave heating sources (14; 213) coupled to the second tubular body (11; 210) and facing the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) in which they activate the pyrolysis treatment on the polymeric material present in the shaped carriage (5; 204), and a movable center shutter (15; 214) interposed between the first tubular body (3; 203) and the second tubular body (11; 210) and cooperating with second actuating means (16) which alternately move it between a closing position, in which the center shutter (15; 214) keeps the initial chamber (4; 203) and the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) mutually isolated, and an opening position in which the center shutter (15; 214) puts the initial chamber (4) into communication with the pyrolysis chamber (13), thus allowing the passage of the shaped carriage (5; 204).

A pyrolysis device (1; 200) comprising an elongated tubular structure (2; 201) which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and includes a first tubular body (3; 202) which defines an initial washing or drainage chamber, in which a shaped carriage (5; 204) containing a polymeric material to be subjected to pyrolysis thermal treatment is received, and provided with a movable front shutter (8; 207), arranged at an axial inlet mouth (9) through which the shaped carriage (5; 204) is introduced into the initial chamber (4; 203), and cooperating with first actuating means (10; 209) which alternately move them at least between a first position, in which the front shutter (8; 207) closes the initial chamber (4; 203) from the outer side (4a), and a second position, in which the front shutter (8; 207) opens the initial chamber (4; 203) from such an outer side (4a) putting it into communication with the external environment. The pyrolysis device (1; 200) further comprises a second tubular body (11; 210), located downstream of the first tubular body (3; 202) and provided at a first end (11a) with closing means (12; 211), defining a pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) which receives the shaped carriage (5; 204) to be subjected to the pyrolysis treatment, interface chimneys (6, 7; 225) for replacing the air present in the initial chamber (4; 203) and/or in the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) with an inert gas, one or more microwave heating sources (14; 213) coupled to the second tubular body (11; 210) and facing the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) in which they activate the pyrolysis treatment on the polymeric material present in the shaped carriage (5; 204), and a movable center shutter (15; 214) interposed between the first tubular body (3; 203) and the second tubular body (11; 210) and cooperating with second actuating means (16) which alternately move it between a closing position, in which the center shutter (15; 214) keeps the initial chamber (4; 203) and the pyrolysis chamber (13; 212) mutually isolated, and an opening position in which the center shutter (15; 214) puts the initial chamber (4) into communication with the pyrolysis chamber (13), thus allowing the passage of the shaped carriage (5; 204).

A shale pyrolysis system includes a retort with a first side and a second side. The second side is opposite the first side and 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. Corners of the retort that change direction of the shale are rounded. The system includes steam distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale from the first side to the second side, and a steam temperature control subsystem coupled to the steam distributors and configured to deliver higher-temperature steam to one or more upper sections of the retort and lower-temperature steam to one or more lower sections of the retort.

A shale pyrolysis system includes a retort with a first side and a second side. The second side is opposite the first side and 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. Corners of the retort that change direction of the shale are rounded. The system includes steam distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale from the first side to the second side, and a steam temperature control subsystem coupled to the steam distributors and configured to deliver higher-temperature steam to one or more upper sections of the retort and lower-temperature steam to one or more lower sections of the retort.

A method of processing of shredded rubber-containing waste involves its preliminary preparation, thermal decomposition in a furnace, separation of decomposition products into vapor-gas mixture and solid residue, and separation of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction from the vapor-gas mixture. Preliminary preparation of the waste is carried out by its blowing with water vapor until a waste temperature reaches 100 C., and thermal decomposition is carried out in residual oil in the starting phase, and afterwards in the atomized generated heavy hydrocarbon fraction and superheated water vapor, their weight ratio being (0.1-0.5):1. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction is separated from the vapor-gas mixture with water by atomizing it into the vapor-gas mixture flow at the rate of 5-15% of the mass flow rate of the mixture, while metal is extracted from the solid residue by magnetic separation, after which a product containing zinc oxide is separated by dielectric separation.

A method of processing of shredded rubber-containing waste involves its preliminary preparation, thermal decomposition in a furnace, separation of decomposition products into vapor-gas mixture and solid residue, and separation of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction from the vapor-gas mixture. Preliminary preparation of the waste is carried out by its blowing with water vapor until a waste temperature reaches 100 C., and thermal decomposition is carried out in residual oil in the starting phase, and afterwards in the atomized generated heavy hydrocarbon fraction and superheated water vapor, their weight ratio being (0.1-0.5):1. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction is separated from the vapor-gas mixture with water by atomizing it into the vapor-gas mixture flow at the rate of 5-15% of the mass flow rate of the mixture, while metal is extracted from the solid residue by magnetic separation, after which a product containing zinc oxide is separated by dielectric separation.