HERMETICALLY SEALED FLOW-THROUGH REACTOR FOR NON-OXIDATIVE THERMAL DEGRADATION OF A RUBBER CONTAINING WASTE

摘要

A hermetically sealed flow-through reactor for non-oxidative thermal degradation of a rubber containing waste into a char product, the reactor having an internal cylindrical surface, and the reactor including: one or more thermal reaction zones arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each zone is provided with: one or more heating elements controllable to heat the zone to an operating temperature, and one or more gas outlets for withdrawing gas or gases evolved during the degradation of the rubber; and a screw auger located within the reactor, the screw augur configured to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions to agitate and transport the rubber containing waste to the outlet, wherein fighting on the screw auger tracks the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor in close relationship to minimise or prevent the transport of material through a clearance space between outer edges of the fighting and the internal cylindrical surface of the reactor.