Rotary Retort System

Abstract

A rotary retort system includes a pressurized furnace vessel configured to be operated within a desired elevated pressure range and within a desired elevated temperature range, and a rotary retort positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel and configured to be operated within the substantially the same elevated pressure range as the pressurized furnace vessel. The rotary retort is configured for mixing and advancing a material disposed therein.

1 . A rotary retort system comprising:
 i) a pressurized furnace vessel configured to be operated within a desired elevated pressure range and within a desired elevated temperature range;   ii) a rotary retort positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel and configured to be operated within substantially the same pressure range as the pressurized furnace vessel;   the rotary retort being mounted in a radially spaced apart relationship from an interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel and defining an annular space between the rotary retort and the interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel;   the rotary retort being configured for mixing and advancing a material disposed therein; and   iii) a heating system configured to heat the annular space and the rotary retort while maintaining a cool exterior to the pressurized furnace vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The rotary retort system of  claim 1 , further including:
 i) at least one delivery system configured for supplying a quantity of the material to the rotary retort at an elevated pressure; and   ii) at least one drive mechanism configured for rotating the rotary retort within the pressurized furnace vessel.   
     
     
         3 . A system for pyrolysis of a material comprising:
 i) at least one pressurized furnace vessel;   ii) at least one rotary retort positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel;   the rotary retort being configured for mixing and advancing the material through a pyrolization chamber within the rotary retort;   iii) at least one heating system configured to heat the rotary retort within the pressurized furnace vessel;   iv) at least one delivery system configured for supplying a quantity of the material to the rotary retort at an elevated pressure; and   vi) at least one drive mechanism configured for rotating the rotary retort within the pressurized furnace vessel.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort is positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel in a radially spaced apart relationship from an interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel,
 and an annular space is defined between the rotary retort and the interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the rotary retort and the annular space are configured to be operated at substantially the same elevated pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the rotary retort is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort is configured to move successive supplies of the material in a generally upward and generally spiral direction from a charge end to a discharge end of the rotary retort. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort includes at least one outlet port configured for allowing at least one product to be removed from the rotary retort. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort includes at least one discharge assembly configured for allowing disposal of at least one by-product to be removed from the rotary retort. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort contains one or more flights positioned along an interior surface of the rotary retort; the flights being configured for mixing and advancing the material through the rotary retort. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the flights are removably mounted within the rotary retort. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating system is configured for supplying heat to the rotary retort and to the annular space between the rotary retort and the furnace vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the heating system is configured to deliver a varying amount of heat to one or more zones within the annular space. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating system includes a plurality of radiant heating members which extend into the annular space. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more of the radiant heating members are configured for supplying different amounts of heat to the rotary retort and to the annular space. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating system is configured to accept more than one type of energy for generating the heat being supplied. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the drive mechanism is configured to allow for adjustment to a speed of axial rotation of the rotary retort. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the delivery system is configured to deliver the material into the rotary retort under an elevated pressure, whereby pressures within the annular space and the rotary retort are not lowered below desired operating ranges. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the delivery system includes a pressurizing system having a pressurizing chamber and a pair of opposing first and second gate valves; the first and second gate valves being configured for delivering a supply of the material at an elevated pressure into the rotary retort. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary retort includes a plurality of openings positioned around a circumference thereof; the openings being disposed such that, when the rotary retort is rotated, the openings are alternately upper openings and lower openings, wherein gas product can exit from at least one upper opening and wherein solid product can exit from at least one lower opening. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a heat exchanger system configured to capture heat from the system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort is positioned within the pressurized furnace vessel in a radially spaced apart relationship from an interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel,
 and an annular space is defined between the rotary retort and the interior surface of the pressurized furnace vessel.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the rotary retort and the annular space are configured to be operated at substantially the same elevated pressure. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the rotary retort is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort is configured to move successive supplies of the material in a generally upward and generally spiral direction from a charge end to a discharge end of the rotary retort. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort includes at least one outlet port configured for allowing at least one product to be removed from the rotary retort. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort includes at least one discharge assembly configured for allowing disposal of at least one by-product to be removed from the rotary retort. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort contains one or more flights positioned along an interior surface of the rotary retort; the flights being configured for mixing and advancing the material through the rotary retort. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein one or more of the flights are removably mounted within the rotary retort. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the heating system is configured for supplying heat to the rotary retort and to the annular space between the rotary retort and the furnace vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heating system is configured to deliver a varying amount of heat to one or more zones within the annular space. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the heating system includes a plurality of radiant heating members which extend into the annular space. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more of the radiant heating members are configured for supplying different amounts of heat to the rotary retort and to the annular space. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heating system is configured to accept more than one type of energy for generating the heat being supplied. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotary retort includes a plurality of openings positioned around a circumference thereof; the openings being disposed such that, when the rotary retort is rotated, the openings are alternately upper openings and lower openings, wherein gas product can exit from at least one upper opening and wherein solid product can exit from at least one lower opening. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 3 , further including a heat exchanger system configured to capture heat from the system.