Apparatus and process for the treatment of a material under pyrolytical conditions, and use thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for the treatment of a material under pyrolytical conditions, the apparatus comprising a housing for processing the material. In the housing an extrusion screw is provided. Also disclosed is a process for the treatment of a material under pyrolytical conditions, and to the use of the apparatus and the process.

1 . A method of use of an apparatus for treatment of a material, 
 the apparatus comprising a housing,    wherein in the housing a counter rotating intermeshing double extrusion screw is provided,    wherein the intermeshing double extrusion screw is defined as an extrusion screw of which two approximately parallel screws have blades such that the thickness of a blade is at least half the distance between two neighboring blades,    wherein the two screws fit closely in the housing such that the material undergoing the treatment has to stay between the blades of the screws,    comprising the step of treating the material wherein the treating comprises processing the material in the housing under pyrolytical conditions.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw has a hollow shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the blade or blades on the hollow shaft are hollow as well.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw has a double blade over at least part of its length.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw has a blade with a variable pitch.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw has a blade with sections of alternating short pitch and long pitch.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the extrusion screw has a blade having one section having a short pitch, and one section having a long pitch.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein before each section of the extrusion screw having a blade with a long pitch a kneading element is present between the shaft of the extrusion screw and the housing.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has one or more outlets for gasses formed and/or one or more outlets for products formed.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing has one or more outlets for gasses formed and/or one or more outlets for products formed wherein for at least each section of the extrusion screw having a blade with a long pitch an outlet for the gasses formed is present in the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the shaft of the screw and the housing is at least of the same order as the distance between two successive blades.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw has a shaft on which internals are provided.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is double walled.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing and/or the extrusion screw have been made from cast iron, preferably nodular cast iron.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a length between 1 and 25 meters.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is coal and the treatment is directed at making char.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the treatment of the coal under pyrolytical conditions takes place in three phases, a heating phase of the material, a reaction phase in which the material may become at least partially plastic and a third phase in which one or more processed products are formed, 
 wherein the processed products are formed in the housing while the material and the products in the housing are transported by means of the counter rotating intermeshing double extrusion screw.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the extrusion screw is self-cleaning during the transport of the material and the processed products.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the material and the processed products are kneaded during transport.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw rotates with a velocity of at most 25 rounds per minute.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the material and the processed products are heated to a maximum temperature of 300° C. to 1000° C.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the transporting time of the material and the processed products in the housing is between 10 and 60 minutes.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the material and the processed products are treated under a pressure of 0.5 to 5 bar in the solid/liquid/gas phase.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is iron ore or metal oxide and the treatment is making steel or metal in the presence of a reducing agent.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is tar and/or oil and the treatment is making petrol, diesel fuel and/or other chemicals.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is biomass, tires or waste and the treatment is making oil and gas.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the extrusion screw has a blade having one section having a short pitch, one section having a long pitch, also having an end section having an end pitch.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the shaft of the screw and the housing is at least of the same order as the distance between two successive blades, the distance between the shaft and the housing being larger than the distance between two successive blades.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing and/or the extrusion screw have been made from nodular cast iron.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a length between 8 and 15 meters.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a length approximately 12 meters.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion screw rotates with a velocity of approximately 1 round per minute.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the material and the processed products are heated to a maximum temperature of 400° C. to 700° C.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the material and the processed products are heated to a maximum temperature of approximately 600° C.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw has a shaft on which internals selected from the group consisting of paddles and/or rods are provided.