Feeding systems for a continuous pyrolysis and gasification process and apparatus

A process for the continuous pyrolysis and gasification of waste particulate materials comprising feeding a waste material batchwise by ram action into at least one reactor tube arranged substantially horizontally in a furnace duct, pyrolyzing said waste material in said reactor tube to produce a solid residue and pyrolysis gases, discharging the solid residue and the pyrolysis gases into at least one vertical reactor, gasifying the solid residue in the vertical reactor to produce ash and gasification gases, removing the ash from the bottom of the vertical reactor, oxidizing and holding the pyrolysis and gasification gases at at least 1250.degree. C. for two seconds, passing the oxidized pyrolysis and gasification gases to the furnace duct which is maintained at 1000.degree. C. by the passage of the oxidized gases and, thereafter, passing the oxidized gases to a boiler, wherein air is prevented from entering and pyrolysis gases are prevented from escaping from the reactor tube by backing each batch of waste material in the reactor tube with a separate ablative seal positioned between the waste material and the ram and forcing said ablative seal ram action on the waste material into the reactor tube whilst in sealing engagement with the internal walls of the reactor tube, said seal being made of a material which will resist the high temperature and chemical conditions in the reactor for as long a period as is required for the seal to prevent air from entering into and pyrolysis gases from escaping from the reactor tube and said seal thereafter being thermally decomposed into products which are not detrimental to the pyrolytic process or to the pyrolytic gases produced by the reactor and wherein jamming of the packed waste material in the reactor tube is prevented or overcome by forming an at least temporary void or cavity in the packed waste material.