Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing charcoal. It is characterized in that: first hot gases are generated by at least one heating means; its first gases are mixed with second gases in order to form a gas mixture; this mixture is sent into a charge of wood in order to generate therein a pyrolysis front; an overpressure is created between the upstream end and the downstream end of the charge so as to force this front to pass through it in one direction, namely from the upstream end to the downstream end; and third gases are recovered downstream of the charge, at least a first portion of said third gases, in the form of a stream of said second gases, is conveyed by a conveying means. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method.

Abstract: A multi-zone carbon converter for converting processed feedstock to syngas and slag is provided comprising a chamber comprising a carbon conversion zone in communication with a slag zone for melting ash into molten slag and/or for maintaining slag in a molten state by the application of plasma heat. The carbon conversion zone and the slag zone are separated by the inter-zonal region that comprises an impediment for restricting or limiting the movement of material between the two zones. The inter-zonal region may also provide for the initial melting of the ash into molten slag by affecting the transfer of plasma heat from the slag zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of charcoal, comprising a unit having walls defining a primary combustion chamber, and a material inlet for allowing a feed of wood chips though said material inlet into said apparatus. A trough is located at a lower height than said material inlet such that material passing through said material inlet is able to fall into the trough. An air inlet is located below the material inlet such that, when wood chips are located within the trough piled up to said material inlet, air passing from said air inlet passes through said wood-chips and into the primary combustion chamber.

Abstract: A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A process for the separation of close boiling compounds comprising distilling a hydrocarbon mixture of said compounds in the presence of a high boiling diluent liquid and a solid adsorbent. The high boiling diluent is withdrawn from the bottom of the distillation column and recycled to the column. The process is particularly suitable for the separation of straight-chain isomers from isomerate mixtures, the separation of benzene from hydrocarbon mixtures and the separation of paraffins from olefins.

Abstract: A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a practical and efficient method and apparatus for thermally processing organic based raw materials of either primary or secondary (recycled) origin, in order to extract volatile organic vapors and to selectively produce either condensable hydrocarbon gases or, more preferably, non-condensable synthesis gases that are rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide for use as a raw material in chemical processes, or as a fuel. In particular, the invention provides a single rotary reactor having two contiguous hearth reaction areas, i.e., a drying and volatizing area and a reformation area, the areas being separated from each other by a bed-retaining refractory weir. The weir has an aperture for fluidly connecting the two hearth reaction areas of the single reactor.

Abstract: A recycling apparatus for obtaining oil from waste plastic by thermal decomposition has a thermal decomposition tank 2 comprising a tank proper 3. The inside of the tank proper 3 is divided by a partition 7 into a thermal decomposition chamber at its front and a melting chamber at its rear, with a communicating space to connect the thermal decomposition and melting chambers and provided below the partition. Heating pipes are disposed in the tank proper so that hot air travels from the thermal decomposition chamber through the communicating spaces to the melting chamber. This arrangement permits keeping the thermal decomposition chamber, communicating spaces and melting chamber at temperatures suited for thermal decomposition and melting, thereby realizing design simplification and size reduction, permitting substantial cost savings and ease of maintenance, and increasing productivity and economy.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of:(a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16);(b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilization of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char);(c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20);(d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24);(e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24);(f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and(g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).

Abstract: Pyrolytic apparatus for recycling discarded rubber tires and the like that includes an auto clave shell that is closed at both ends to provide a closed vessel and has an interior refractory lining enclosing a reactor chamber and in conjunction with the vessel forms a gas-oil separation chamber surrounding the lining, heat exchangers within the lining, burners exterior of the vessel for conducting heat to the heat exchangers, a compressor for withdrawing pyrolytic gas given off by the pyrolytic decomposition of tires in the reactor chamber and conducting it to a recovered gas storage tank and a line for conducting oil given off by the decomposition of tires in the reactor chamber to an oil storage tank. The vessel walls are of a sufficiently lower temperature than that in the reactor chamber that the oil condenses on the vessel walls.

Abstract: The processing of liquid chlorinated hydrocarbon residues, which may contain solids and which form viscous to solid deposits during the separation of readily boiling components, into(1) distillable organic components,(2) hydrogen chloride, and(3) solid matter with a low chlorine content,is improved by gently concentrating the residues in a first step and, in a second step, decomposing the residues at temperatures of about 200.degree.-400.degree. C., preferably 270.degree.-330.degree. C., with a continuous separation of the vapor phase components from the solid components.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of rubber and plastic wastes, comprising in series an extruder for heating and melting rubber and plastic wastes to extrude the molten wastes, a decomposing section for heating the molten wastes to prepare decomposed products while optionally separating residues therefrom, a dry-distilling section for gasifying the decomposed products by dry-distillation, and a cooling section for cooling the dry-distilled products to separate gaseous materials from liquid materials.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of rubber and plastic wastes, comprising in series the steps of1. heating and melting rubber and plastic wastes at a temperature (T.sub.1) to extrude the molten wastes with one or a plurality of extruders into one or a plurality of decomposing zones,2. heating the molten wastes in the decomposing zone at a higher temperature (T.sub.2) than the heating temperature (T.sub.1) in the extruder to prepare decomposed products while optionally separating residues therefrom,3. introducing the decomposed products into a dry-distilling zone while optionally heating the separated residues in a residue removal zone at an even higher temperature (T.sub.3) than the heating temperature (T.sub.2) in the decomposing zone to remove the residues from the residue removal zone when residues are separated in the decomposing zone,4. heating the decomposed products in the dry-distilling zone at a lower temperature (T.sub.4) than the heating temperature (T.sub.