FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A PYROLYTIC REACTOR

Abstract

A Feeding apparatus for a pyrolytic reactor, comprising a rotatable inclined drum, a motor for rotating the drum, a hopper by which aggregatable feedstock pieces introduced to the interior of said drum, and a feed tube extending from the drum to a pyrolytic reactor. The rotation of the drum applies forces of sufficient magnitude and varying direction to an aggregated mass of feedstock pieces that constituent feedstock pieces are separated from said aggregated mass and are discharged from the drum via the feed tube to the pyrolytic reactor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to feeding apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for feeding tire pieces, or any other aggregatable feedstock pieces, to a pyrolytic reactor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the recovery of discarded tires remains a serious problem, despite certain achievements in this field. Some discarded tires are utilized in civil engineering and in road construction, as well as in the manufacturing of different goods. Nevertheless about 30% of discarded tires, and in some countries, up to 80%, are still disposed in stockpiles. A large number of tires are located outside of the stockpiles, and pollute the surrounding area. On the other hand the non-utilized discarded tires may present a valuable raw material being a source of chemical energy due to the organic and carbonized components contained in this material.

Most of the known methods for converting the rubber containing materials of tires into useful product gases are based on pyrolysis. A pyrolysis process generally operates at temperatures of about 500° C. in a low oxygen atmosphere and results in producing hydrogen-hydrocarbon gas, a liquid hydrocarbon product, and a solid material. The solid material comprises a carbonized part and the steel cord of the tire.

Prior art feeding apparatus has dealt with different methods for feeding small tire pieces, i.e. less than 200 mm, to a pyrolytic reactor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,044 discloses gravity fed comminuted pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,329 discloses a rotatable feed cylinder having a first end coupled to the feed chamber and a second end coupled to the pyrolysis section. The feed cylinder has a continuous screw-like flight extending radially inward from an inner wall of the feed cylinder, for directing tire pieces from the first end to the second end of the feed cylinder as the feed cylinder rotates.

Some drawbacks are associated with these prior art methods. Firstly, high pre-processing costs are involved in shredding tires to small pieces. Secondly, the prior art methods are not suitable for feeding larger sized tire pieces as the tire pieces become aggregated, impeding movement of the tire pieces being fed as well as forming a large mass which would reduce exposure to heat carrier gases during the pyrolytic process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding apparatus which is suitable for feeding relatively large sized, non-aggregated tire pieces to a pyrolytic reactor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a feeding apparatus which ensures that product gases will not escape from the pyrolytic reactor when tire pieces are fed thereto so as not to pollute the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to feeding apparatus for a pyrolytic reactor, comprising a rotatable inclined drum; motor means for rotating said drum; hopper means by which aggregatable feedstock pieces are introduced to the interior of said drum; and feed tube means extending from said drum to a pyrolytic reactor, wherein rotation of said drum applies forces of sufficient magnitude and varying direction to an aggregated mass of feedstock pieces that constituent feedstock pieces are separated from said aggregated mass and are discharged from said drum via said feed tube means to the pyrolytic reactor.

Preferably, a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced plates radially extend from the inner surface of the drum, an aggregated mass of feedstock pieces supported by one of said plates being upwardly rotated thereby for a sufficiently large angular distance from a drum bottom region to an ending angle whereat said mass falls, causing one or more feedstock pieces to become separated from said mass as a result of the impact of the fall. More than one layer of aggregated masses is supportable and upwardly rotatable by a plate.

In one aspect, substantially all feedstock pieces discharged from the drum are non-aggregated pieces.

The feeding apparatus is sufficiently sealed to prevent the passage therefrom, during a feeding mode, of gaseous and vaporous products of pyrolysis (hereinafter “gaseous products” for brevity) flowing through the feed tube means.

In one aspect, the feeding apparatus further comprises means for preventing any gaseous products of pyrolysis from escaping from the drum or hopper means to the environment during a loading mode. As referred to herein, the term “loading mode” refers to operation of adding feedstock pieces to the hopper means for the first time, or for any other additional times.

In one aspect, the escaping preventing means comprises means for purging the drum and hopper means from the gaseous products. The purging means comprises a gas supply device for supplying a purging gas not reactable with the feedstock pieces or with the gaseous products. The purging gas, e.g. carbon dioxide or purified flue gases, may be introduced into the hopper means and delivered together with the gaseous products to the reactor.

In one aspect, the escaping preventing means comprises a knife valve operatively connected to the feed tube means, for isolating the reactor from the drum during the loading mode.

In one aspect, the hopper means comprises cover elements through which feedstock pieces are introducible during the loading mode, and which may be automatically openable and closable.

In one aspect, the feeding apparatus further comprises a controller for commanding initiation of a purging operation prior to initiation of a loading operation, and possibly a gas analyzer in data communication with the controller, for transmitting a signal when the hopper means and drum has been purged, the controller operable, following transmission of said signal, to command termination of the purging operation; command actuation of a knife valve operatively connected to the feed tube means, for isolating the reactor from the drum of the feeding apparatus; command to open the cover elements; and command operation of a conveying system whereby feedstock pieces are deposited into the hopper means.

In one aspect, the controller is in communication with a limit switch for transmitting a signal when the height of feedstock pieces within the hopper means falls below a predetermined value, the controller operable to initiate a loading operation following transmission of said signal.

In one aspect, the drum is frusto-conical such that the diameter of the drum is smaller at its outlet end than at its inlet end.

The present invention is also directed to a method for feeding aggregatable feedstock pieces a pyrolytic reactor, comprising the steps of loading a plurality of aggregatable feedstock pieces to a drum; rotating said drum, whereby any aggregated mass of loaded feedstock pieces is upwardly rotated within said drum for a sufficiently large angular distance from a drum bottom region to an ending angle whereat said mass falls, to cause one or more feedstock pieces to become separated from said mass as a result of the impact of the fall; and discharging substantially only non-aggregated feedstock pieces from said drum via feed tube means to a pyrolytic reactor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of feeding apparatus and a pyrolytic reactor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the feeding apparatus of FIG. 1, showing cover elements of a hopper in an opened position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of Detail A of FIG. 2, showing the drive means for rotating the drum;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the feeding apparatus, cut about plane A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the drum cut at plane B-B of FIG. 2, showing a plurality of radially extending plates;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the drum cut at plane B-B of FIG. 2, showing a plurality of aggregated masses of feedstock pieces that are being rotated about the inner surface of the drum;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a conveying system by which feedstock pieces are introduced to a hopper;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system associated with the feeding apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the feeding apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The novel feeding apparatus of the present invention is suitable for feeding relatively large sized tire pieces, or any other aggregatable (hereinafter “feedstock pieces”), to a pyrolytic reactor without aggregation. The feeding apparatus is operable in two modes. The primary mode is the feeding mode during which feedstock pieces are transferred from the feeding apparatus to a pyrolytic reactor. The second mode is a loading mode during which feedstock pieces are loaded into the feeding apparatus without interfering with the operation of the pyrolytic reactor. The feedstock pieces that are loaded are generally relatively large sized pieces cut by conventional equipment, so that the high pre-processing costs involved in shredding feedstock pieces to smaller pieces are avoided. In both modes, gaseous products are prevented from escaping the reactor and feeding apparatus and from polluting the atmosphere.

The Feeding Mode

FIG. 1 illustrates a feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is generally designated by numeral 10. Feedstock pieces are loaded in hopper 15, whereupon they are introduced into drum 6. The feedstock pieces discharged from drum 6 are introduced via feed tube 2 to pyrolytic reactor 40. The gaseous products are discharged from the reactor through exit pipe 50, and the solid residue is discharged through exit tube 56 to transportable bin 57.

Pyrolytic reactor 40 may be any pyrolytic reactor well known to those skilled in the art for pyrolyzing the feedstock pieces and generating gaseous, liquid and solid products. Alternatively, pyrolytic reactor 40 may be the reactor described in the copending international patent application bearing Attorney's Docket No. 26656/WO/10 and entitled “A PYROLYTIC REACTOR”, comprising an inner drum circumferential wall formed with a plurality of apertures through which heat carrier gases flow and are directable to a selected region of the inner drum interior for an improved rate of heat transfer, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

With respect to prior art feeding apparatus, relatively large feedstock pieces, and particularly tire pieces, having a size, e.g. thickness, greater than 20 mm and generally on the order of 200 mm or greater, tend to aggregate together to form a large mass, e.g. the greatest dimension of which being on the order of 0.5 m or more. Without being bound to any theory, the cut surface of freshly cut tire pieces, or of any other aggregatable feedstock in random directions due to the irregular shape of the feedstock pieces and has a characteristic adhesiveness that promotes aggregation with other feedstock pieces. An aggregated mass of surprisingly high structural strength is formed when a plurality of freshly cut feedstock pieces become aggregated together. When the feedstock pieces are tire pieces, the pieces also become entangled due to the presence of steel cords which extend in many different directions and may pierce a tire piece. This aggregated mass tends to clog feed tube 2, reducing the rate by which feedstock pieces are fed to reactor 40, and therefore the reactor output. Even if it were successfully introduced into reactor 40, an aggregated mass would have limited movement within the reactor, reduce the exposure of the feedstock piece to heat carrier gases during the pyrolytic process, and would therefore significantly reduce the pyrolytic performance of the reactor.

Feeding apparatus 10 of the present invention is adapted to ensure that the feedstock pieces delivered via feed tube 2 to pyrolytic reactor 40 will be prevented to aggregate together to form such a large mass of feedstock pieces, or if already aggregated together within hopper 15 or within the interior of drum 6, will be forced to separate from adjacent feedstock pieces, as will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of feeding apparatus 10. Apparatus 10 comprises a rotatable drum 6 to which feedstock pieces are introduced via stationary inlet port 3 and from which feedstock pieces are discharged to the feed tube via stationary outlet port 8. Drum 6 may be frusto-conical, tapering from a relatively large diameter at inlet end 21 to a relatively small diameter at outlet end 22. Drum 6 may be slightly inclined at an angle, e.g. ranging from 0.5-10 degrees, such that the inlet end 21 is above outlet end 22. Inlet port 3 is in communication with hopper 15.

With reference also to FIG. 3, rings 4 and 7 are fixedly attached to, or integral with, the outer surface of drum 6 adjacent to its inlet and outlet ends, respectively. Each of rings 4 and 7 is supported by a pair of rollers 16 rotatably mounted to a base, e.g. a crossbeam 33 connected to a support beam 39. A gear wheel 5 is also fixedly attached to, e.g. by welding, to the outer surface of drum 6 so that gear wheel 5, rings 4 and 7, and drum 6 are concentric. Teeth 17 of gear wheel 5 are in kinematic relation with the output gear 18 of a motor 14, causing drum 6 to rotate, e.g. at a predetermined or controlled speed, which may be synchronized with the speed of pyrolytic reactor 40. A typical speed of drum ranges from 0.2-2 rpm.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the frusto-conical drum 6 is provided with a plurality, e.g. four, of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced plates 28, for supporting the aggregated masses of feedstock pieces during their upward rotation within the interior of the drum. Plates 28 may have a rectangular cross section as shown, or may be configured with any other desired cross section that is suitable for supporting an aggregated mass of feedstock pieces.

Each plate 28 radially extends from the inner surface 26 of drum 6 for a small fraction of the diameter of the drum. The applicants have surprisingly found that the use of relatively radially-short plates will dramatically increase the angular distance to which an aggregated mass can be upwardly rotated.

For example, aggregated masses having a thickness of 150-200 mm may be upwardly rotated by a drum without plates for an angular displacement of 30 degrees. However, by providing four circumferentially spaced plates 28 having a radial length L of 30 mm for an ending drum diameter D of 1 m, the radial fraction L/D that each plate occupies being only 3%, the angular displacement was increased to 100 degrees.

The following description is related to the separation of relatively large sized tire pieces from an aggregated mass. The manner of separation may be different when the feedstock pieces are of other types.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation of drum 6, for example in direction R, facilitates the separation of an aggregated mass of feedstock pieces into individual pieces. For purposes of clarity, three aggregated masses 35, 36 and 37 of feedstock pieces are shown to be disposed within the interior 25 of drum 6, after having been introduced therein by means of the hopper. It will be appreciated, however, that many more aggregated masses may be found at given moment within drum 6, and the separation method described hereinbelow will simultaneously take place in many different zones within interior 25.

Since drum 6 is slightly downwardly inclined, aggregated masses 35-37 will be conveyed gravitationally to the outlet end of drum 6. In addition to being conveyed gravitationally, aggregated masses 35-37, or the constituent feedstock pieces 32, are also conveyed by means of the rotation of drum 6. Mass 35 is shown to be located in the vicinity of drum bottom B. Mass 36 is shown to be upwardly rotated with respect to bottom B while being in contact with inner surface 26 and supported by a corresponding plate 28. Mass 37 is shown to be falling towards bottom B, after having been upwardly rotated throughout an angular distance D from the drum bottom B to an ending angle E corresponding to the height above bottom B at which an aggregated mass separates from inner surface 26. The value of angular distance D depends upon the speed of drum 6, the coefficient of friction of the feedstock pieces, and the ratio of the inlet diameter to the outlet diameter of drum 6. Angular distance D is advantageously increased by virtue of the gradual decrease of the drum diameter from the inlet end to the outlet end.

As a result of the impact resulting from the fall of mass 37 onto drum surface 26 or onto other feedstock pieces, some feedstock pieces, e.g. pieces 32A-B, become separated from the aggregated mass. The aggregated masses located at a downstream portion of the drum 6 continue the cycle of upwardly rotating and falling, while continuously decreasing in size due to the separation of constituent feedstock pieces, until they are displaced to the outlet end. Those separated feedstock pieces that have fallen to the drum bottom will continue to be upwardly rotated and be thereby advanced to outlet end 22, and from there to outlet port 8 (FIG. 4). Surprisingly, all constituent feedstock pieces of the formerly aggregated masses are non-aggregated pieces at the outlet end, and therefore can be discharged into feed tube 2 (FIG. 1) without concern of feed tube clogging, which would result in poor reactor output and performance.

A rear region 41 of an aggregated mass 35 located in the vicinity of drum bottom B will generally be contacted and supported by a forward planar side surface 29 of plate 28, all of which indicated with respect to the rotational direction R of drum 6. The aggregated masses are generally, but not necessarily, characterized by a triangular formation that has relatively thin forward and rear regions and a relatively thick central region terminating at apex 47. Although rear region 41 of the triangular mass is in abutting relation with plate 28 and apex 47 generally protrudes from plate 28, the high structural strength of the aggregated mass retains the constituent feedstock pieces as a single entity and resists separation of the feedstock pieces while they are being upwardly rotated. The impact upon falling, however, generates forces that cause a plurality of feedstock pieces 32 to become separated from the aggregated mass.

A plurality of aggregated mass layers may be caused to be upwardly rotated. In the illustrated example, the apex of mass 37 may fall on the central region of mass 35 and then change its orientation due to the temporary instability of mass 37 upon establishing falling contact with mass 35. Feedstock pieces 32 become separated from mass 37 upon impact with mass 35 and as a result of a change in orientation. A reshaped aggregated mass 37′ is thereby formed and settles on forward region 46 of mass 35.

Although mass 37′ is not in abutting contact with a plate 28, the former will be caused to be upwardly rotated since it is stably supported by mass 35, which in turn will be supported by plate 28A during the subsequent rotation of drum 6. When additional masses fall on mass 35 or 37′, a portion of the additional masses, whether forwardly or rearwardly from plate 28A, may apply a force onto a corresponding portion of an outwardly disposed aggregated mass portion, i.e. in a direction towards the circumferential wall of drum 6, which urges the outwardly disposed portion towards the inner surface of drum 6. The force applied by a first layer onto a second layer at different angles may retain the feedstock pieces in contact with inner surface 26 of drum 6, or in contact with adjacent feedstock pieces, thereby increasing the angular displacement of an aggregated mass within the drum, the depth of fall within the drum interior, and therefore the rate of separation.

The plates 28 need not be of the same longitudinal length. For example as shown in FIG. 4, plate 28A may longitudinally extend throughout drum 6A, from inlet end 21 to outlet end 22, while plates 28B and 28C extend only from a central region of drum GA, e.g. in the vicinity of gear wheel 5, to outlet end 22. The provision of plate 28A at inlet end 21 allows feedstock pieces introduced to drum 6A directly from hopper 15 to become engaged with plate 28A and to begin the cyclical process of upward rotation and falling. Drum 6 may protrude within the interior of outlet port 8, so that plate 28A may also extend to the end of the drum to convey feedstock pieces to the outlet port.

The rate of feedstock piece separation from an aggregated mass will generally increase when fewer feedstock pieces have been introduced to the drum; however, the economical viability of the feeding apparatus will be impaired. Controller 81 (FIG. 8) may control the operation of motor 14 and therefore the speed of the drum, in order to optimize both the rate of feedstock piece separation from an aggregated mass and the rate of feeding feedstock pieces to the pyrolytic reactor.

Stationary outlet port 8 has a tubular periphery 26 defining a hollow interior 31, and is provided with an opening 27 at its inlet, to allow the separated feedstock pieces to be introduced into interior 31. An aperture 34 in which is fitted vertical tube part 10 is formed at the bottom of periphery 26.

The feedstock pieces introduced to outlet port 8 are gravitationally delivered to the feed tube, which may comprise vertical tube part 10 and elbow part 11 mounted to a support beam or to any other support element suitable for fixating the elbow part. Elbow part 11 has a greater diameter than vertical tube part 10 and is combined therewith by means of sealing means 12 and packing material 16, to provide a single curving passageway through which the feedstock pieces are delivered from outlet port 8 to the pyrolytic reactor without being subjected to excessive stress. Alternatively, elbow 11 may be an integral portion of feed tube 2 (FIG. 1).

Since feed tube 2 is in communication with the interior of reactor 40, as shown in FIG. 1, some of the gaseous products, including hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and possibly sulfur and oxygenated organic substances, may flow via feed tube 2 to drum 6 and hopper 15. To prevent the escape of the gaseous products from feeding apparatus 10 to the surrounding environment during normal feeding and pyrolyzing operations, pivotable cover elements 72 of hopper 15 are provided on the underside thereof with sealing elements 79 (FIG. 2), only a portion of the latter being schematically illustrated. Additionally, sealing means 51 and 52 associated with stationary inlet port 3 and outlet port 8 (FIG. 4), respectively, which is provided with packing material, interfaces with the rotating drum 6 to prevent escape of the gaseous products.

As further shown in FIG. 4, a knife valve 9 may be operatively connected to vertical part 10, to isolate the gaseous products within the reactor interior during the loading mode. When knife valve 9 is actuated, the planar valve element and the surrounding sealing element sufficiently occludes vertical part 10 so that the gaseous products will be prevented from flowing from the reactor interior to the interior of drum 6, flowing to hopper 15, and damaging the environment.

Outlet port 8 has a hatch 37, which can be opened in order to access the interior of drum 6 during periods of emergency.

The Loading Mode

As shown in FIG. 7, feedstock pieces 32 may be conveyed to hopper 15 by a conventional conveyor belt system 60, whereby a plurality of feedstock pieces are received in each hook-shaped receiving element 62 attached to an inclined endless belt 64, are conveyed to an uppermost portion of the belt that is supported by roller 67, and are deposited into hopper 15 while the receiving elements are rotated to the underside of belt 64. Inclined surface 69 of hopper 15 helps to gravitationally direct the deposited feedstock pieces to drum 6A. It will be appreciated that any other conveyor system well known to those skilled in the art may likewise be employed.

As shown in FIG. 2, hopper 15 is provided with a plurality of cover elements 72 that can be pivoted upwardly when feedstock pieces are to be deposited into the interior of the hopper and that can be pivoted downwardly when the conveying process is to be terminated.

As shown in FIG. 8, the feeding apparatus may be provided with a controller 81, in order to facilitate the automatic loading of feedstock pieces into the hopper. Controller 81 may be in communication with a limit switch 83 positioned in the hopper. Limit switch 83 is adapted to transmit a signal to controller 81 when the height of feedstock pieces within the hopper falls below a predetermined value, whereupon the controller initiates a loading operation.

The applicants have found that an effective pyrolytic performance can be achieved by operating the pyrolytic reactor continuously, while the drum of the feeding apparatus is also operated continuously, with the exception of an approximate three minute interval per hour during which feedstock pieces are loaded into the hopper.

Since some of the gaseous products may flow from the reactor interior to the drum interior of the feeding apparatus as described hereinabove, the gaseous products are liable to escape from the feeding apparatus to the environment when hopper cover elements 72 are opened prior to a loading operation. During the three minute loading operation interval, or any suitable interval determined necessary for the efficient operation of the feeding apparatus and of the pyrolytic reactor, controller 81 commands to initiate a purging operation whereby feeding apparatus is purged from the gaseous products and delivered to the reactor interior. A gas analyzer 86, or alternatively a plurality of sensors, in data communication with controller 81 determines when a sufficient amount of the gaseous products has been removed, whereupon knife valve 9 is actuated and occludes vertical part 10 (FIG. 4) in order to load hopper 15 with feedstock pieces while preventing the passage of gaseous products to hopper 15.

Prior to the purging operation, controller 81 commands the purging gas supply device 76, e.g. a blower or a control valve, to become activated. With reference also to FIG. 4, purging gas G is introduced during a period of one to two minutes to hopper 15 via inlet chamber 66 of the hopper, or through any other selected inlet in communication with the feeding apparatus. Purging gas G may be a gas such as carbon dioxide that does not react with the feedstock pieces, or alternatively, may be purified flue gases, e.g. gases exhausted from a combustion process wherein one or more of its reactants are the gaseous products of pyrolysis. The pressure and flowrate of purging gas G are sufficiently high to urge the gaseous products located within the drum interior or within the hopper interior to flow towards the reactor interior. The controller also commands knife valve 9 to occlude the tube part with which it is operatively connected while drum motor 14 rotates very slowly, e.g. 0.1 rpm, so that the feedstock pieces remaining in the drum will be deposited on the planar element of knife valve 9.

Purging gas supply device 76 is then commanded to be deactivated and conveying system 60 is then commanded to deposit feedstock pieces into the hopper. Slightly after commencement of the conveying operation, controller 81 commands cover elements 72 to open and purging gas supply device 76 to become deactivated. When the purging gas is carbon dioxide which has a density greater than air, the carbon dioxide remains in the hopper until the feedstock pieces are loaded.

Upon conclusion of the loading operation, the steps are reversed, namely conveyor system 60 is deactivated, cover elements 72 are closed, knife valve 9 is set to an opened position, drum motor 14 is activated to its normal operating speed.

In one embodiment, the drum motor may be operated continuously, at a normal or a near normal speed. To prevent excess accumulation of feedstock pieces, two independently operable knife valves 9A and 9B may be operatively connected to vertical part 10 of the feed tube, as shown in FIG. 9. When the purging operation is terminated, hopper cover elements are opened and the gas supply pump is deactivated. The controller then commands lower knife valve 9B to occlude vertical tube part 10. After a predetermined time during which a predetermined amount of feedstock pieces have accumulated on lower knife valve 9B, the controller commands upper knife valve 9A to occlude tube segment 10 and lower knife valve 9B to be opened. The feedstock pieces then fall into the reactor, after which knife valve 9B is set to an occluded position and knife valve 9A is set to an opened position. Upon conclusion of the loading operation, knife valves 9A and 9B are set to an opened position, to allow the feedstock pieces to be freely delivered to the pyrolytic reactor. Thus doses of feedstock pieces may be fed to the reactor by means of the two independently operable knife valves.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for continuously feeding aggregatable feedstock pieces without aggregation to a pyrolytic reactor, comprising: a) a rotatable inclined drum;b) a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced plates which radially extend from the inner surface of said drum, at least one of said plurality of plates longitudinally extending from an inlet end of said drum which is located above an outlet end of said drum;c) stationary inlet port means through which aggregatable feedstock pieces are introduced to the inlet end of said drum;d) motor means for rotating said drum;e) hopper means in communication with said inlet port means, said hopper means comprising an inclined surface for gravitationally directing the feedstock pieces via said inlet port means to the interior of said drum and directly to said at least one plate longitudinally extending from the inlet end of said drum;f) stationary outlet port means for discharging the feedstock pieces from the outlet end of said drum; andg) feed tube means extending from said outlet port means to a pyrolytic reactor,

2. (canceled)

3. The feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein more than one layer of aggregated masses is supportable and upwardly rotatable by a plate.

4. (canceled)

5. The feeding apparatus according to claim 1, which is sufficiently sealed to prevent the escape to the environment therefrom, during a feeding mode, of gaseous products of pyrolysis discharged from the reactor via the feed tube means.

6. The feeding apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for preventing any gaseous products of pyrolysis from escaping from the drum or the hopper means to the environment during a loading mode.

7. The feeding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the escaping preventing means comprises means for purging the drum and hopper means from the gaseous products.

8. The feeding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the purging means comprises a gas supply device for supplying a purging gas not reactable with the feedstock pieces or with the gaseous products.

9. The feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the purging gas is introducible into the hopper means and is deliverable together with the gaseous products to the reactor.

10. The feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the purging gas is carbon dioxide.

11. The feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the purging gas comprises purified flue gases.

12. The feeding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the escaping preventing means further comprises a knife valve operatively connected to the feed tube means, for isolating the reactor from the drum of the feeding apparatus during the loading mode.

13. The feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hopper means comprises cover elements through which feedstock pieces are introducible during the loading mode.

14. The feeding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cover elements are automatically openable and closable.

15. The feeding apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a controller for commanding initiation of a purging operation prior to initiation of a loading operation.

16. The feeding apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a gas analyzer in data communication with the controller, for transmitting a signal when the hopper means and drum has been purged, the controller operable, following transmission of said signal, to: a) command termination of the purging operation;b) command actuation of a knife valve operatively connected to the feed tube means, for isolating the reactor from the drum of the feeding apparatus;c) command to open the cover elements; andd) command operation of a conveying system whereby feedstock pieces are deposited into the hopper means.

17. The feeding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is in communication with a limit switch for transmitting a signal when the height of feedstock pieces within the hopper means falls below a predetermined value, the controller operable to initiate a loading operation following transmission of said signal.

18. The feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum is frusto-conical such that the diameter of the drum is smaller at its outlet end than at its inlet end.

19. Method for feeding aggregatable feedstock pieces to a pyrolytic reactor, comprising the steps of: a) loading a plurality of feedstock pieces containing organic matter to an inclined drum comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced plates which radially extend from the inner surface of said drum, at least one of said plurality of plates longitudinally extending from an inlet end of said drum;b) rotating said drum, whereby any aggregated mass of loaded feedstock pieces is conveyed gravitationally to an outlet end of said drum while continuously decreasing in size as a result of cyclical upwardly rotating and falling motion, wherein for each cycle said mass is supported by one of said plates such that it is upwardly rotated within said drum for a sufficiently large angular distance from a first drum bottom region to an ending angle whereat said mass falls, to cause one or more feedstock pieces to become separated from said mass as a result of the impact of a fall onto a second drum bottom region; andc) discharging substantially only non-aggregated feedstock pieces from said drum via feed tube means to a pyrolytic reactor.

20. The feeding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the escaping preventing means during the loading mode comprises: a) means for purging the drum and hopper means from the gaseous products prior to loading the hopper means;b) a gas supply device for supplying a purging gas not reactable with the feedstock pieces or with the gaseous products;c) a knife valve operatively connected to the feed tube means, for isolating the pyrolytic reactor from the drum of the feeding apparatus during the loading mode;d) a plurality of pivotable cover elements for releasably covering the hopper means, sealing elements being provided on the underside of each of said cover elements; ande) controller means for automatically opening and closing said plurality of cover elements.