US 6,653,517 B2 · Hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and method

Abstract

Presented is a method and apparatus for converting both organic and inorganic materials into more desirable products by the expedient of breaking down these materials into their stable molecular constituents and reforming them into more desirable substances. The process involves the use of two chambers. Blended solid and fluid wastes are augered into the first chamber and agitated, preferably by rotating the chamber so that the waste tumbles over internal fins, while a heat gradient is applied. Carbon and inorganic solid wastes are removed from the system and fluid wastes passed to a second chamber where they are again subjected to a heat gradient. Effluents are recovered and condensed. Electromagnetic radiation, preferably from microwaves, and/or lasers, masers or ultrasonic energy is applied to the wastes in both chambers. Liberal use of catalysts is made in the chambers. In addition, the augering system is based on the use of two, counter-rotating, inter-lapped, symmetric augers for positive feed of materials.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for processing waste materials having volatizable constituents, said method comprising the steps of:

feeding waste materials having volatizable constituents into a chamber;
adding abrasive materials to said waste materials;
stirring said waste materials and said abrasive materials;
heating said waste materials in said chamber so that volatizable constituents in said waste materials volatize;
separating said volatized constituents;
exposing only said volatized gases directly to electromagnetic radiation in order to selectively dissociate molecules within said volatized gases to produce selected byproducts;
and
recovering said byproducts.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10