Thermodepolymerization of plastic using induction heating

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to depolymerize plastic to create fuel are provided. Plastic feedstock is heated to a molten state. The molten plastic is further heated by electromagnetic induction to a vapor state. The plastic vapor is collected and the temperature of the plastic vapor is lowered to produce liquid fuel. The molten plastic can be heated by electromagnetic induction to a vapor by placing the molten plastic in a plurality of trays and traversing the trays over a plurality of induction coils wherein each of the induction coils produce a magnetic field to heat the trays.

1 . A method to depolymerize plastic to create fuel, comprising:
 heating plastic feedstock to a molten state;   heating the molten plastic by electromagnetic induction to a vapor state; and   collecting the plastic vapor and lowering the temperature of the plastic vapor to produce liquid fuel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heating the molten plastic by electromagnetic induction to a vapor state comprises:
 placing the molten plastic in a plurality of trays; and 
 traversing the trays over a plurality of induction coils wherein each of the induction coils produces a magnetic field to heat the trays. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising controlling an induction coil based on one or more characteristics of the plastic in a tray. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the characteristics of the plastic is the state of the plastic and/or the type of plastic. 
     
     
         5 . A system to depolymerize plastic to create fuel, comprising:
 an extruder to heat plastic feedstock to a molten state;   a plurality of trays to hold the molten plastic; and   an induction system to heat the trays by electromagnetic induction to heat the molten plastic to a vapor state.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a condenser to collecting the plastic vapor and lower the temperature of the plastic vapor to produce liquid fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the trays comprise a plurality of rods extending from the bottom of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  further including a processor to control the induction system based on one or more characteristics of the plastic in the trays. 
     
     
         9 . A system to depolymerize plastic to create fuel, comprising:
 means for heating plastic feedstock to a molten state;   means for heating the molten plastic by electromagnetic induction to a vapor state; and   means for collecting the plastic vapor and lower the temperature of the plastic vapor to produce liquid fuel.