System and Process for Degassing of Pyrolysis Plastics

An apparatus for heating a halogen containing plastics material to pyrolysis temperature, the device comprising:

• a heating and melting section arranged to heat and melt a halogen containing solid plastic feedstock to a temperature in the range of about 200 C. to about 325 C., wherein the heating and melting section is provided with an inlet for said plastic feedstock, at least one gas outlet for release of gases emergent from the plastic feedstock during heating and melting, and an outlet for molten plastics material;
• a first heating zone arranged to be fed molten plastics material from the heating and melting section, and further arranged to heat melted plastics material to a temperature in the range of about 220 C. to about 350 C. producing a liquid phase and a gas phase, the gas phase being dispersed in the first heating zone;
• a degassing zone provided with an inlet arranged to be fed said liquid phase and dispersed gas phase from the first heating zone, the degassing zone being arranged to allow said dispersed gas phase and said liquid phase to separate into a body of predominantly gas phase material and a body of liquid phase plastics material;
• the degassing zone further comprising an gas outlet for release of said separated gas phase and a liquid outlet for release of said separated liquid phase, preferably wherein the gas outlet is higher than the liquid outlet;
• at least one subsequent heating zone arranged to receive said liquid phase from the degassing zone liquid outlet, the heating zone being arranged to heat the liquid phase to a higher temperature, preferably to a pyrolysis temperature.

A process for lowering halogen, preferably chlorine, content of a waste-plastics material, comprising the steps of:

• heating a body of halogen containing melted plastics in a first heating zone to a temperature within the range of about 220 C. to about 350 C., producing a mixed body of liquid phase and a gas phase, the gas phase being dispersed within the liquid phase;
• passing the mixed body of dispersed gas and liquid via an outlet of the first heating zone to a degassing chamber, allowing the dispersed gas phase to separate from the liquid phase in the degassing chamber to provide a body of predominantly gas phase material comprising halogen containing compounds, preferably comprising hydrogen chloride, and a body of liquid phase plastics material;
• releasing at least a portion of the gas phase from the degassing chamber via a gas outlet in the degassing chamber;
• and
• passing the liquid phase material via a liquid outlet in the degassing chamber, to one or more subsequent heating zones and further heating the liquid phase to a higher temperature that is a pyrolysis temperature.