Pyrolysis or gasification apparatus and method

Abstract

A pyrolysis apparatus having a heating system adapted to heat a first gas enclosure, wherein a gas path within the heated enclosure is helical or spherical. Pyrolysis is used to destroy oils, tars and/or PAHs in a gaseous mixture.

1 . A pyrolysis apparatus having a heating system adapted to heat a first gas enclosure, wherein a gas path within the heated first gas enclosure is helical or spiral. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas enclosure is a tube having a spiral insert. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas enclosure includes a frustoconical shell having a gas input pipe connected thereto, the input pipe being inclined at a radius of the first gas enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first gas enclosure includes an extension portion having parallel, or substantially parallel, walls extending from a widest circumference of the frustoconical shell. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the frustoconical shell has a smaller diameter end positioned below a larger diameter end. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pyrolysis unit having pyrolysis region and a gas exit passage, wherein the first gas enclosure is coupled to the gas exit passage. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the heating system is adapted to heat the pyrolysis region. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas enclosure is located within the heating system. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gas enclosure, wherein a gas path within the second gas enclosure is helical or spherical and a gas output of the first gas enclosure is connected to a gas input of the second gas enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating system comprises a thermally insulated chamber and one or more heat sources arranged to heat the inside of the thermally insulated chamber. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating system comprises a plurality of heating units, wherein each heating unit comprises a thermally insulated chamber and a heat source arranged to heat the inside of the thermally insulated chamber. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first gas enclosure is within the thermally insulated chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the thermally insulated chamber has an exit aperture through one wall, and the first gas enclosure is positioned between the heat source and the exit aperture. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating system is adapted to heat an exterior surface of the first gas enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cracking hydrocarbons comprising heating a gaseous mixture containing hydrocarbons, the gaseous mixture travelling around an axis of a gas enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the gaseous mixture follows a spiral or helical path about said axis. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 16 , further comprising pyrolysing a feedstock to create the gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 18 , further comprising using a single heating system to pyrolyse the feedstock and to heat said gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the heating system comprises a thermally insulated chamber and one or more heat sources arranged to heat the inside of the thermally insulated chamber. 
     
     
         21 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the heating system comprises a plurality of heating units, wherein each heating unit comprises a thermally insulated chamber and a heat source arranged to heat the inside of the thermally insulated chamber. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)