A biochar apparatus has a firebox for containing biomass to be incinerated to produce biochar, a pair of biomass supporting panels arranged in the firebox in a V-shaped configuration and separated by an extraction gap between lower edges of the panels, a roller system arranged to support at least one of the panels for rolling movement relative to the firebox, an actuator operable to move at least one of the panels relative to the firebox upon the roller system, and a conveyor system under the extraction gap, wherein pieces of the biochar pass through the extraction gap to the conveyor system, and the conveyor system is operable to convey and discharge the pieces of biochar. The panels may include refractory material capable of withstanding high temperatures associated with incineration of biomass in the firebox. These panels also protect the conveyor system and its components from incineration heat.

A thermal processing apparatus (2) is furnished with a loading device, a cremation chamber (10), a heating device (14) for heating the cremation chamber (10), a fresh air supply device, an exhaust gas manifold (18a) for discharging the exhaust gas from the cremation chamber (10), a post-combustion chamber (28), and an exhaust air processing device (38). In order to provide a thermal processing apparatus with which a cremation process with minimal CO.sub.2 emissions can be carried out and an acceleration of the cremation process is achieved, it is proposed that the heating device (14) is designed to burn hydrogen.

A process for carbonization and pyrolyzation of hydrocarbons containing, non-fluid materials is characterized by a continuous plug stream in shafts within a refractory structure. Within the shafts, the materials are heated by the hot inner surface of the shafts without air admitted to enter the shafts. Furthermore, the developing pyrolyze gas is led directly to combustion channels around the carbonization shafts within the refractory structure where a controlled amount of air or oxygen is added, partially combusting the gas, providing the heat for the process. Aim of the process is to convert different waste streams into reusable elements without CO2 emissions, to take away hazardous materials, to produce syngas, to extract hydrogen and to create a carbon rich residue fit for mining of, among others, metals, CaO and phosphor.

The present invention relates to a thermal treatment device comprising a primary chamber (204) for receiving waste material (230) to be combusted, the primary chamber having a hearth (207), a transport system (206) arranged for transportation of waste material across the hearth, a mixing chamber (220) in fluid communication with the primary chamber (204); a secondary chamber (208) in fluid communication with the mixing chamber (220), and material introducing means (229) for introducing waste material (230) into the primary chamber, wherein the material introducing means (229) comprises a valve (202) for controlling air flow there-through.

The invention provides a system for reducing the volume of bulk material, comprising a transportable container; a single chamber adapted to receive said transportable container; a means for establishing a plurality of controlled atmospheres within said chamber; a plurality of electrically-charged heating elements capable of heating said chamber to at least 1200 F; and an waste heat generator in fluid communication with the chamber. A method for simultaneously thermally degrading different waste differently in a single chamber, comprising filling each container within a plurality of containers with preselected waste and placing each container within the chamber at preselected positions; establishing a controlled atmosphere within the chamber and applying heat to the waste for a time and at a temperature sufficient to gasify the waste; collecting thermal degradation data during gasification; and applying the collected data to an algorithm to adjust the temperature and oxygen concentrations for each preselected position.