Apparatus for a circulating bed transport fast pyrolysis reactor system

An upflow, entrained bed, transport reactor system for the fast-pyrolysis of carbonaceous material in the relative absence of oxygen in combination with an inorganic particulate heat carrier comprising:

• a) a mixing section having a first inlet means for the introduction of inorganic particulate heat carrier and secondary inlet means for the introduction of carbonaceous feedstock;
• b) an upflow reactor section situated above the mixing section;
• c) separation means at the outlet of the reactor section to separate the gaseous and liquid pyrolysis products from the heat carrier;
• d) a gravity fed recirculation line between the separation means and mixing section, the gravity fed recirculation line for returning the inorganic heat carrier to the mixing section;
• e) condensing means for cooling and condensing liquid pyrolysis products after exiting the separation means;
• and
• f) an amount of inorganic particulate heat carrier sufficient to provide in the reactor section during operation a ratio of mass of heat carrier:mass of carbonaceous feedstock greater than 12:1, said heat carrier is sand, sand and catalytic solids or alumina-silica catalyst with a mean particle size of between about 40 .mu.m and about 500 .mu.m.

An upflow, entrained bed, transport reactor for the fast-pyrolysis of carbonaceous material in the relative absence of oxygen comprising:

• a) a mixing section having a first inlet means for the introduction of inorganic particulate heat carrier and secondary inlet means for the introduction of carbonaceous feedstock;
• b) an upflow reactor section situated above the mixing section;
• c) separation means at the outlet of the reactor section to separate the gaseous and liquid pyrolysis products from the heat carrier;
• d) a gravity fed recirculation line between the separation means and mixing section, the gravity fed recirculation line for returning the inorganic heat carrier to the mixing section;
• e) condensing means for cooling and condensing liquid pyrolysis products after exiting the separation means;
• and
• f) an amount of inorganic particulate heat carrier such that the average number of particles of said heat carrier within the mixing and reactor section is between about 4.5.times.10.sup.6 and about 18.6.times.10.sup.6 particles per ft.sup.3 of reactor volume.