Feed device and feed method for a pyrolysis apparatus

Abstract

A feed device of a pyrolysis apparatus and a feed method through which material processed in the pyrolysis apparatus, such as plastic and/or rubber waste, can be fed into the pyrolysis apparatus. In the feed device there is a feed opening for the material to be processed, a feed chamber, closing members in conjunction with the feed chamber and a discharge opening, through which the material to be processed can be conveyed to the pyrolysis apparatus's pyrolysis chamber. A vacuum pump has been adjoined in conjunction with the feed device's feed chamber to achieve a vacuum or sufficient underpressure in the feed chamber after the material to be processed has been fed into the feed chamber and the feed chamber's closing members have been closed. After the closing member of the feed chamber's discharge opening has been opened, the material to be processed, from which the oxygen harmful to the pyrolysis process has been removed, is conveyed into the pyrolysis chamber.’

1 . A feed device of a pyrolysis apparatus, through which material to be processed in the pyrolysis apparatus, such as plastic and/or rubber waste, can be fed into the pyrolysis apparatus, in which feed device there is a feed opening for the material to be processed, a feed chamber, closing members in conjunction with the feed chamber and a discharge opening, through which the material to be processed can be conveyed to a pyrolysis chamber of the pyrolysis apparatus wherein a vacuum pump has been attached in conjunction with the feed device's feed chamber in order to achieve a vacuum or sufficient underpressure in the feed chamber after the material to be processed has been fed into the feed chamber and the feed chamber's closing members have been closed. 
     
     
         2 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is attached to the feed chamber with a pipe which has a valve and a vacuum or sufficient underpressure is achieved in the feed chamber by starting up the vacuum pump and opening the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein a sensor or meter has been attached in conjunction with the feed chamber in order to measure the value of the vacuum or underpressure that the vacuum pump has created in the feed chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein one closing member of the feed chamber's in conjunction with the feed device's feed opening comprises a gate valve equipped with a seal and the second closing member of the feed chamber contains a closing plate that can be pressed tightly against the end of the feed chamber and when the material to be processed has been fed into the feed chamber and both the gate valve and the closing plate are closed, a vacuum or sufficient underpressure can be achieved in the feed chamber using the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         5 . The feed device according to  claim 4 , wherein the feed chamber containing the material to be processed which has a vacuum or sufficient underpressure can be opened by opening the closing plate of the feed device's closing member, in which case the feed chamber is connected with the feed device's discharge chamber and further with the pyrolysis chamber of the pyrolysis apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a discharge member in conjunction with the feed device's feed chamber for transfer of material from the feed chamber to the discharge chamber of the feed device, from where the material is conveyed through the discharge chamber's discharge opening into the pyrolysis chamber of the pyrolysis apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The feed device according to  claim 6 , wherein the feed device of the pyrolysis apparatus is located above the pyrolysis apparatus's pyrolysis chamber in which case the material to be processed can be dropped through the discharge opening into the pyrolysis chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed device of the pyrolysis apparatus is located under the pyrolysis chamber of the pyrolysis apparatus or at side of the pyrolysis chamber, in which case a gas-tight conveyor has also been attached to the feed device for transporting the feed material from the feed device to the pyrolysis chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A feed method for feeding material to be processed in a pyrolysis apparatus, such as plastic and/or rubber waste, into a feed device of the pyrolysis apparatus and onward into the pyrolysis chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
 feeding the material to be processed into the feed device's feed chamber, through a feed opening   closing a closing member of the feed opening whereby both closing members of the feed chamber are closed;   opening the closing member of the feed chamber's discharge opening and conveying the material ( 12 ) to be processed into the pyrolysis chamber ( 61 ); wherein   a vacuum or sufficient underpressure is achieved using the vacuum pump in the feed chamber into which the material to be processed has been fed and both of whose closing members are closed, such that air and the oxygen it contains, which is harmful to the pyrolysis process, are removed from the feed chamber and from the material to be processed;   after which, when the closing member of the feed chamber's discharge opening has been opened, the material to be processed, from which the oxygen harmful to the pyrolysis process has been removed, is conveyed into the pyrolysis chamber.