Systems and methods of production for consistently sized and shaped optically anisotropic mesophase pitch 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 physically shaping the consistently sized and shaped mesophase pitch at the outlet of the extruder for production of carbon fibers.

Systems and methods of production for consistently sized and shaped optically anisotropic mesophase pitch 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 physically shaping the consistently sized and shaped mesophase pitch at the outlet of the extruder for production of carbon fibers.

A retractable center feed injection device can be employed to feed residual oil into a coke drum as part of a delayed coking process. The retractable center feed injection device can include a housing within which the injection nozzle slides between an extended and a retracted position. A feed inlet is positioned on an opposite side of the coke drum from the retractable center feed injection device. When in the extended position, the injection nozzle can couple with the feed inlet and thereby form an extension of the feed inlet into the center of the coke drum. In this way, the residual oil never flows through the housing.

A retractable center feed injection device can be employed to feed residual oil into a coke drum as part of a delayed coking process. The retractable center feed injection device can include a housing within which the injection nozzle slides between an extended and a retracted position. A feed inlet is positioned on an opposite side of the coke drum from the retractable center feed injection device. When in the extended position, the injection nozzle can couple with the feed inlet and thereby form an extension of the feed inlet into the center of the coke drum. In this way, the residual oil never flows through the housing.

A process for pyrolyzing biomass comprises pyrolyzing cellulosic biomass in a fast pyrolysis chamber by heating the cellulosic biomass to a pyrolyzation temperature to generate a pyrolysis vapor flow therefrom. The pyrolysis vapor flow is directed from the fast pyrolysis chamber along a vapor flow conduit to a condensation trap at a temperature sufficient to condense the vapor to liquid and generate a thermal gradient along the vapor flow conduit between the pyrolysis chamber and condensation trap. A majority of the pyrolysis vapor flow along the vapor flow conduit to the condensation trap is achieved by natural convection. Systems that can practice this process are also disclosed.

A process for pyrolyzing biomass comprises pyrolyzing cellulosic biomass in a fast pyrolysis chamber by heating the cellulosic biomass to a pyrolyzation temperature to generate a pyrolysis vapor flow therefrom. The pyrolysis vapor flow is directed from the fast pyrolysis chamber along a vapor flow conduit to a condensation trap at a temperature sufficient to condense the vapor to liquid and generate a thermal gradient along the vapor flow conduit between the pyrolysis chamber and condensation trap. A majority of the pyrolysis vapor flow along the vapor flow conduit to the condensation trap is achieved by natural convection. Systems that can practice this process are also disclosed.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.