Condensation and recovery of oil from pyrolysis gas

A system for recovering oil from the pyrolysis of material containing hydrocarbons, comprising:

• a source of pyrolysis gases containing water vapor, hydrocarbon fuel gases, condensable oil and particulate matter;
• a primary oil condenser for separating said source of pyrolysis gases into a primary oil fraction containing oil and particulate matter, and a primary vapor fraction containing oil, hydrocarbon fuel gases and water vapor, said primary oil condenser operating at a temperature above the dew point of the water vapor in said source of pyrolysis gases, said primary oil condenser including an inlet for receiving said pyrolysis gases, a first outlet for collecting the primary oil fraction, and a second outlet for collecting the primary vapor fraction;
• wherein said primary oil condenser is a packed tower having an upper end, a lower end and a central portion filled with packing, and further including at least one upper spray nozzle disposed above said packing and directed to spray oil downwardly onto said packing, at least one lower spray nozzle disposed beneath said packing and directed to spray oil upwardly toward said packing, and a pump for pumping a portion of said primary oil fraction from said first outlet of said primary oil condenser to said upper and lower spray nozzles;
• and
• a secondary oil condenser for separating said primary vapor fraction into a secondary oil fraction containing oil and water, and a secondary vapor fraction containing hydrocarbon fuel gases, said secondary oil condenser operating at a temperature below the dew point of the water vapor in said primary vapor fraction, said secondary oil condenser including an inlet for receiving said primary vapor fraction, a first outlet for collecting the secondary oil fraction, and a second outlet for collecting the secondary vapor fraction.