Pre-depolymerization Hollow Shaft Feed Screw

A hollow shaft feed screw for feeding a material in a process, comprising:

• an auger received within an auger housing and configured to rotate to convey material along the auger housing to a compression zone, the auger having a hollow central shaft;
• an insulation material along an interior of the hollow central shaft of the auger;
• and
• a pump configured to convey a high-temperature fluid along the hollow central shaft of the auger to the compression zone;
• wherein the insulation material limits heat transfer from the fluid to the auger and to the material while the fluid and the material are conveyed to the compression zone.

A method of pre-depolymerizing a polymer material, comprising:

• introducing a mixed polymer material into an auger housing of a feed screw;
• rotating an auger received within the auger housing to convey the mixed polymer material along the auger housing to a compression zone, the auger having a hollow central shaft;
• pumping a high-temperature depolymerization fluid along the hollow central shaft of the auger to the compression zone;
• and
• limiting heat transfer from the depolymerization fluid to the auger and to the mixed polymer material by providing an insulation material along an interior of the hollow central shaft;
• wherein the mixed polymer material contacts the depolymerization fluid in or proximate the compression zone to begin depolymerization prior to introduction into a downstream depolymerization reactor.