Low energy method of pyrolysis of hydrocarbon materials such as rubber

Abstract

A low energy method of pyrolysis of rubber or other hydrocarbon material is provided. The hydrocarbon material is heated while maintaining a vacuum, using a clay catalyst. In an additional embodiment, also under a vacuum and optionally with or without the catalyst, the temperature of the reaction chamber and corresponding fuel input is varied either over time or spatially within the reaction chamber, to take advantage of the exothermic properties of the reaction. With the method of the present invention, an improved solid reaction product can be achieved.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for reclamation and recovery of constituents of discarded vehicle tires and other hydrocarbon based materials including organic and inorganic materials for reuse or environmentally safe disposal, said apparatus comprising: 
 a feed system for transferring rubber products and a catalyst into an inlet of a reactor;    one or more elongated reactor chambers having activation, decomposition, and completion zones, wherein said one or more reactor chambers each have a helicoid auger for transferring material from the inlet through said reactor and solid product from said reactor to an outlet;    an inlet and an outlet bin positioned at each end of the reactor chambers for input, reaction initiation, product decomposition, reaction completion, and extraction of the into vapor and solid material; and    a solid material recovery system.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a vapor recovery system for recovering vapors from a decomposition zone of said one or reactor chambers, wherein said vapor recovery system comprises: 
 a heat exchanger for condensing vapors from said one or more reactor chambers;    a liquid/gas separator for separating liquids condensed in said heat exchanger; and    a vacuum pump for removing vapors from the decomposition chamber of said one or more low temperature reactor chambers through said heat exchanger and said liquid/gas separator, while maintaining a vacuum in said one or more low temperature reactor chambers.    
     
     
         24 . An apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the feed system is a helicoid auger.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein an outlet conveyor is a helicoid auger.  
     
     
         26 . A process for reclamation and recovery of constituents of discarded vehicle tires and other rubber products cut into pieces for reuse or environmentally safe disposal, comprising: 
 transferring tire pieces from a feed supply by a conveyor into a feeder bin; and    transferring the tire pieces from the feeder bin to the inlet of a low temperature reactor chamber by a helicoid auger.