PYROLYSIS PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A process and apparatus for the continuous pyrolitic decomposition of a feed material having an organic and an inorganic component and recovery of the inorganic component, carbon-free, for reuse in essentially the same material as from which it originally emanated. The apparatus includes a reactor assembly for receiving and pyrolitically decomposing the organic component of the feed material. The reactor assembly includes a screw-type conveyer assembly wherein the flights which convey the residue through a housing have openings therein to allow gaseous decomposition products to pass therethrough to preclude pressurization of the housing by the decomposition products. The inorganic residue has carbon thereon and is cooled to an oxidation temperature in a non-oxidizing manner in a first cooling assembly. Without admitting ambient air into the cooling assembly the cooled residue is transferred to an oxidation assembly where the carbon is oxidized to form gaseous carbon dioxide and is liberated from the inorganic residue. The inorganic residue is then cooled in a second cooling assembly and thereafter collected for reuse. The decomposition products are further processed in a condenser assembly wherein all condensable material is removed and the gaseous products are collected for reuse. The gaseous products are preferably used to fire the reactor assembly.