Sabrina X Chen

US Patent:

54117143, May 2, 1995

Filed:

Feb 3, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/012911

Inventors:

Arthur C. Wu - Foster City CA
Sabrina C. Chen - Foster City CA

International Classification:

B01J 808
F23K 310
C10B 160

US Classification:

422232

Abstract:

A thermal conversion pyrolysis reactor system (10) is provided for use in providing a continuous flow type pyrolysis reaction for conversion of carbonizable input materials ("MW") (12). The reactor system (10) utilizes a diffusion material ("MD") (14) which is preheated and admixed with the MD (12) in order to facilitate pyrolysis and to partially catalyze reactions. Subsystems are provided to receive gaseous (30), liquid (32) and solid (32) phase outputs. The reactor system (10) includes further component subsystems for waste material MW input (22), MD input (26), reactor chamber (24), and heating (28). The MD (14) is preheated by being carried through the reactor chamber (64) prior to admixing with the MW (12) and further by exhaust gases (94) from the furnace space (88) being directed through a heat exchanger (126). The system (10) provides for recycling of MD (14) and is substantially self powered as a result of using combustible hydrocarbon gases produced by the pyrolysis reaction as fuel for turbulent burners (72). Input materials are evacuated of oxygen and a positive internal pressure is maintained in the reactor chamber (66) in order to maximally facilitate oxygen free pyrolysis.