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 process for fracturing and devolatilizing coal particles rapidly exposes coal particles to a high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a sufficient time period to cause volatile matter within the coal particles to vaporize and fracture the coal particles. The work zone has a temperature in the range from 600° C. to 2000° C. The coal particles are exposed to the high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a time period less than 1 seconds, and preferably less than 0.3 second. The vaporized volatile matter is condensed and recovered as microcarbon particles.

A process for fracturing and devolatilizing coal particles rapidly exposes coal particles to a high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a sufficient time period to cause volatile matter within the coal particles to vaporize and fracture the coal particles. The work zone has a temperature in the range from 600° C. to 2000° C. The coal particles are exposed to the high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a time period less than 1 seconds, and preferably less than 0.3 second. The vaporized volatile matter is condensed and recovered as microcarbon particles.

A biochar production system includes a reactor body, a central rod disposed within the reactor body, a leveling arm extending from the central rod and configured to rotate about the central rod, and a bed level sensor system. The bed level sensor system includes a float configured to move from a resting position on a biomass in the reactor to an ending position upon contact with the leveling arm, and a level sensor coupled to the float via a connector. The level sensor is configured to correspondingly move with the float. A controller is configured to detect bed levels of the biomass within the reactor body, and determine a plurality of sample readings based on the detected bed levels.

A continuous system for gasification of a biomass feedstock comprising: a fuel conditioning zone, a gasification zone and a char cooling area.

A continuous system for gasification of a biomass feedstock comprising: a fuel conditioning zone, a gasification zone and a char cooling area.

A process for fracturing and devolatilizing coal particles rapidly exposes coal particles to a high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a sufficient time period to cause volatile matter within the coal particles to vaporize and fracture the coal particles. The work zone has a temperature in the range from 600° C. to 2000° C. The coal particles are exposed to the high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a time period less than 1 seconds, and preferably less than 0.3 second. The vaporized volatile matter is condensed and recovered as microcarbon particles.

A process for fracturing and devolatilizing coal particles rapidly exposes coal particles to a high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a sufficient time period to cause volatile matter within the coal particles to vaporize and fracture the coal particles. The work zone has a temperature in the range from 600° C. to 2000° C. The coal particles are exposed to the high temperature, oxygen-depleted work zone for a time period less than 1 seconds, and preferably less than 0.3 second. The vaporized volatile matter is condensed and recovered as microcarbon particles.

The proposed method relates to the processing of carbon-containing raw material and may be used to obtain products containing amorphous silica and amorphous carbon of varying degrees of purity. The technical result consists in simplifying the production of a product containing amorphous silica and increasing the yield efficiency for such a product by decreasing the temperature to which the carbon-containing raw material is exposed. The method of producing a product containing amorphous silica and amorphous carbon includes the steps in which a carbon-containing raw material is dried at a temperature of 150-200° C. and the dried raw material is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 400-600° C., wherein the heat treatment is performed in the presence of an activator made of a readily fusible alloy. A device for carrying out the method is also proposed.