Abstract: A reactor assembly is provided for heating plastic material. The reactor assembly includes: a reactor vessel including a central axis; and an agitator mounted within the reactor vessel. The agitator includes: one or more blade(s) distal from the central axis for mixing contents of the reactor vessel in use; and one or more wearing parts mounted to the blade(s) to extend from the blade(s).

Abstract: A method for pyrolysing plastic material. The method comprises the steps of: heating and densifying plastic material; transporting the plastic material to one or more reactors; and pyrolysing the plastic material in the one or more reactors. The plastic material is maintained in a heated state during the transporting step. A system for pyrolysing plastic material is also provided.

Abstract: A reactor assembly is provided for heating plastic material. The reactor assembly includes: a reactor vessel including a central axis; and an agitator mounted within the reactor vessel. The agitator includes: one or more blade(s) distal from the central axis for mixing contents of the reactor vessel in use; and one or more wearing parts mounted to the blade(s) to extend from the blade(s).

Abstract: A pyrolysis reactor system includes a reactor and a contactor mounted above the reactor. The reactor has a shell, an inlet and an outlet. A central shaft runs along its axis and supports agitation blades in a counter-helical arrangement, and an auger. Rotation of the auger in one direction feeds feedstock into the vessel, and in the opposite direction removes char at the end of a batch. The contactor includes four elements with a frusto-conical part supported on vertical support arms, and being connected to a disc by legs. The contactor elements allow short chains to pass through apertures while long chains condense on their surfaces or on the vessel wall surface. There is dynamic tuning of carbon number of gases flowing downstream by active temperature and pressure control at the contactor.

Abstract: A process is described for treating waste plastics material to provide at least one on-specification fuel product. Plastics material is melted and then pyrolyzed in an oxygen-free atmosphere to provide pyrolysis gases. The pyrolysis gases are brought into contact with plates in a contactor vessel so that some long chain gas components condense and return to be further pyrolyzed to achieve thermal degradation. Short chain gas components exit the contactor in gaseous form and proceed to distillation to provide one or more on-specification fuel products. A pipe directly links the pyrolysis chamber to the contactor, suitable for conveying upwardly-moving pyrolysis gases and downwardly-flowing long-chain liquid for thermal degradation.