Method and apparatus for maximizing throughput of indirectly heated rotary kilns

A method for processing materials comprising:

• selecting a rotary kiln having a generally horizontally disposed cylindrical body, an inlet disposed at a first end of the body, and an outlet disposed at a second end of the body;
• feeding organic material into the kiln inlet without adding an inorganic heating medium to the organic material;
• rotating the kiln body about the axis of the cylindrical body to move the organic material through the kiln body such that, when viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis, the organic material is disposed in a single body of matter in the kiln;
• and
• heating the kiln with a burner producing a flame which directly contacts the kiln body at a location on the kiln body which is also in contact with the organic material to thereby decompose the organic material and produce condensable hydrocarbon gasses from the organic material;
• and
• wherein the method comprises heating the kiln with a burner which produces a flame having a flame axis and wherein a line extending from the flame axis intersects a center of mass of the organic material in the kiln and which intersects the axis of the kiln body.

A method of processing materials comprising:

• selecting a kiln having a kiln wall, and inlet, and an outlet;
• feeding organic material into the kiln inlet and moving the material along the kiln wall to the outlet;
• and
• heating the material by heating the kiln wall with a burner such that the burner flame directly contacts the kiln wall in an area of the kiln wall which is in contact with the material such that the organic material decomposes to thereby produce hydrocarbon gasses;
• wherein the kiln is a rotary kiln having a generally horizontal cylindrical body;
• and
• wherein, when viewed in cross section along a cylindrical axis of the kiln body, the organic material is disposed in a single body of matter and the burner flame has a centerline which intersects a center of mass of the organic material.

A method of processing materials comprising:

• selecting a kiln having a kiln wall, and inlet, and an outlet;
• feeding organic material into the kiln inlet and moving the material along the kiln wall to the outlet;
• and
• heating the material by heating the kiln wall with a burner such that the burner flame directly contacts the kiln wall in an area of the kiln wall which is in contact with the material such that the organic material decomposes to thereby produce hydrocarbon gasses;
• wherein the kiln is a rotary kiln having a generally horizontal cylindrical body;
• and
• wherein, when viewed in cross section along a cylindrical axis of the kiln body, the organic material is disposed in a single body of matter and the burner flame has a centerline which is aimed at a kiln axis and which passes through a center of mass of the organic material.