Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

This process comprises quenching and washing with water a gas stream derived from pyrolysis, and separating an aqueous phase from a washed gas stream; compressing, then cooling a washed gas stream; washing the compressed gas stream under pressure; passing the washed gas stream through at least one acid removal unit; drying the acid-depleted gas stream; passing the dry gas stream through at least one impurity removal unit; and feeding the purified gas stream into a cryogenic absorption unit and supplying the cryogenic absorption unit with a hydrocarbon cryogenic solvent to obtain a light gas residue, and a fraction of C.sub.2.sup.+ hydrocarbons.

Systems and methods for processing waste plastics are provided. One method includes mixing, heating and compacting a supply of the waste plastic based feedstock having an appreciable amount of halide compounds or heteroatoms from one or more sources of contamination; providing an amendment comprising alkaline earth oxides and/or hydroxides, oxides of iron, and/or oxides of aluminum to be mixed, heated and compacted with the waste plastic based feedstock to form a densified melt of plastic material including the amendment; and pyrolyzing the densified melt of plastic material including the amendment within a pyrolysis reactor. Another method includes pyrolyzing a supply of the waste plastic feedstock within a pyrolysis reactor to generate a hydrocarbon gas stream and a solids residue stream; condensing out a tars product from the hydrocarbon gas stream output from the pyrolysis reactor with a quenching apparatus; and pyrolyzing the tars product within a supplemental pyrolysis reactor.

A pyrolysis gas reforming system is provided. The pyrolysis gas reforming system includes a pyrolysis unit configured to perform pyrolysis of waste, an oil-gas separation unit configured to separate a product generated by the pyrolysis unit into oil and gas, a pyrolysis gas purification unit configured to refine pyrolysis gas generated through the separation by the oil-gas separation unit, a pyrolysis gas reforming unit configured to generate synthesis gas by reforming the pyrolysis gas purified by the pyrolysis gas purification unit, a hydrogen gas shift reaction unit configured to convert carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas generated by the pyrolysis gas reforming unit into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and a hydrogen separation unit configured to separate hydrogen from the synthesis gas discharged from the hydrogen gas shift reaction unit, wherein combustion gas generated by a burner of the pyrolysis gas reforming unit and used to supply heat to the pyrolysis gas reforming unit is used to supply heat to the pyrolysis unit.

Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

A drag chain carbonizer is provided with a system and methods for anaerobic thermal transformation processing to convert waste into various solid carbonized products and varied further co-products. The drag-chain carbonizer includes an adjustable bed depth mechanism, a heating mechanism, a pressure management mechanism, and a chain tensioning mechanism containing at least one position sensor for communication of an actuator position to at least one programmable logic controller (PLC). Carbonaceous waste is transformed into useful co-products that can be re-introduced into the stream of commerce at various economically advantageous points. Depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters, the system adjusts co-products output to reflect changing market conditions.

A drag chain carbonizer is provided with a system and methods for anaerobic thermal transformation processing to convert waste into various solid carbonized products and varied further co-products. The drag-chain carbonizer includes an adjustable bed depth mechanism, a heating mechanism, a pressure management mechanism, and a chain tensioning mechanism containing at least one position sensor for communication of an actuator position to at least one programmable logic controller (PLC). Carbonaceous waste is transformed into useful co-products that can be re-introduced into the stream of commerce at various economically advantageous points. Depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters, the system adjusts co-products output to reflect changing market conditions.

The invention pertains to a method for processing a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas wherein Fischer-Tropsch off-gas is contacted with a wash fluid in a scrubber, and wherein the wash fluid is recycled in a closed loop with a dedicated scrubber, stripper and splitter. The wash fluid preferably is kerosene or LDF. The C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons that are recovered from the off-gas are, together with other Fischer-Tropsch product, subjected to hydrocracking or hydrocracking/hydroisomerization. Additionally, hydrogen is recovered from the off-gas.

The invention pertains to a method for processing a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas wherein Fischer-Tropsch off-gas is contacted with a wash fluid in a scrubber, and wherein the wash fluid is recycled in a closed loop with a dedicated scrubber, stripper and splitter. The wash fluid preferably is kerosene or LDF. The C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons that are recovered from the off-gas are, together with other Fischer-Tropsch product, subjected to hydrocracking or hydrocracking/hydroisomerization. Additionally, hydrogen is recovered from the off-gas.

A system for the pyrolysis of a pyrolysis feedstock utilizes a pyrolysis reactor for producing pyrolysis products from the pyrolysis feedstock to be pyrolyzed. An eductor condenser unit in fluid communication with the pyrolysis reactor is used to condense pyrolysis gases. The eductor condenser unit has an eductor assembly having an eductor body that defines a first flow path with a venturi restriction disposed therein for receiving a pressurized coolant fluid and a second flow path for receiving pyrolysis gases from the pyrolysis reactor The second flow path intersects the first flow path so that the received pyrolysis gases are combined with the coolant fluid. The eductor body has a discharge to allow the combined coolant fluid and pyrolysis gases to be discharged together from the eductor. A mixing chamber in fluid communication with the discharge of the eductor to facilitates mixing of the combined coolant fluid and pyrolysis gases, wherein at least a portion of the pyrolysis gases are condensed within the mixing chamber.