Fast pyrolysis apparatus and method

Abstract

A fast pyrolizer includes an elongated tubular housing having a feed inlet to receive material, an outlet, and a flow path. The flow path has an internal contact surface extending from the inlet to the outlet. The inlet is to be oriented to a non-vertical relative elevation with respect to the outlet. At least a portion of the internal contact surface directly contacts the material. A heater heats the internal contact surface such that the material is heated via direct thermal transfer from the internal contact surface.

1 . A fast pyrolizer, comprising:
 an elongated tubular housing having a feed inlet to receive material, an outlet, and a flow path with an internal contact surface extending from the inlet to the outlet, the inlet to be oriented to a non-vertical relative elevation with respect to the outlet to allow a flow of the material via gravity and/or vibration, at least a portion of the internal contact surface to directly contact the material; and   a heater to generate heat for the internal contact surface such that the material is heated via direct thermal transfer from the internal contact surface such that pyrolysis occurs in the flow path.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the raised non-vertical elevation corresponds to a critical free-sliding angle. 
     
     
         4 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the raised non-vertical elevation corresponds to an angle that is less than a critical free-sliding angle, and wherein the pyrolizer further includes a material driver to cooperate with gravity to direct the material through the tubular housing. 
     
     
         5 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 4 , wherein the material driver comprises a pressure source to pressurize the inlet with respect to the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is to be oriented to a lowered relative elevation with respect to the outlet, and wherein the pyrolizer further includes a vibrator disposed outside of the flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular housing includes a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the tubular housing includes a rectangular cross-section, and a second portion of the tubular housing includes a non-rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing is straight. 
     
     
         10 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing further includes plural internal elements disposed transverse to the flow path and connecting oppositely disposed internal walls of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing takes the form of one from the group comprising:
 a zig-zagged shape, a curved shape, or a spiral shape.   
     
     
         12 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises at least one heater element surrounding a cross-sectional portion of the tubular housing. 
     
     
         13 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 12 , wherein plural heater elements are distributed along the length of the elongated tubular housing. 
     
     
         14 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 an elevator coupled to the housing to orient the inlet to the non-vertical relative elevation with respect to the outlet.   
     
     
         15 . The fast pyrolizer according to  claim 14 , wherein the elevator includes a pivot disposed proximate the outlet, and a support to maintain the feed inlet at a non-vertical angle with respect to the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . A method of pyrolizing material, the method comprising:
 providing a fast pyrolizer, the fast pyrolizer including an elongated tubular housing with a feed inlet, an outlet, and an internal contact surface extending from the inlet to the outlet;   elevating the inlet with respect to the outlet sufficient to allow gravity flow of the material through the housing;   transferring heat to at least the internal contact surface; and   feeding the material into the inlet where contact between the material and the heated internal contact surface pyrolizes the material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the elevating includes:
 elevating the inlet sufficient to allow gravity flow of the material through the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the elevating includes:
 elevating to a critical flow-through angle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the elevating includes:
 elevating to a non-critical flow-through angle; and   assisting gravity to drive the material through the housing without internal moving parts.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein assisting gravity comprises:
 vibrating the housing.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein assisting gravity comprises:
 pressurizing the inlet with respect to the outlet.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein elevating includes lowering the inlet with respect to the outlet, and the method further comprises:
 vibrating the housing to drive the material through the housing.   
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 a fast pyrolizer to pyrolize material;   a condenser coupled to the fast pyrolizer to receive the pyrolized material and condense pyrolized gas into a liquid;   an oil extractor to extract bio-oil from the condensed liquid; and   wherein the fast pyrolizer includes
 an elongated tubular housing having a feed inlet to receive material, an outlet, and a flow path with an internal contact surface extending from the inlet to the outlet, the feed inlet oriented to a non-vertical relative elevation with respect to the outlet to allow a flow of the material via gravity and/or vibration, at least a portion of the internal contact surface to directly contact the material; and 
   a heater to heat the internal contact surface such that the material is heated via direct thermal transfer from the internal contact surface such that pyrolysis occurs in the flow path.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising an elevator to raise the feed inlet to a relative elevation with respect to the outlet. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the relative elevation comprises lowering the inlet with respect to the outlet, and the system further comprises a vibrator disposed external to the flow path to drive the material through the housing.