# US 8,784,616 B2 · Pyrolysis systems, methods, and resultants derived therefrom > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,616 B2 - Document ID: US8784616B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/795,790 - Filed: 2010-06-08 - Published: 2011-06-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-14 - Assignees: Tucker Engineering Associates, Inc. - Applicants: Richard D. Tucker - Inventors: Richard D. Tucker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784616B2 ## CPC - C10B 47/30: in rotary ovens or retorts - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures - C01B 32/05: Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30 - C01B 32/15: Nano-sized carbon materials - C01B 32/30: Active carbon - C10B 47/44: with conveyor-screws - C10B 53/00: Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form (wet carbonising of peat C10F) - C10B 53/02: of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00) - C10B 53/04: of powdered coal - C10G 1/002: {in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes} - C10G 1/02: by distillation - C10G 1/10: from rubber or rubber waste - C10G 2300/1003: Waste materials - C10G 2300/1011: Biomass - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines - Y02P 30/20: using bio-feedstock - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A process for the controlled gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock includes pyrolizing the feedstock by conveying the feedstock through a retort surrounded by a plurality of successive heating chambers each comprising an axially adjustable chamber separation wall and each operated at a predetermined temperature, wherein a predetermined dwell time of the feedstock in each of the plurality of successive heating chambers is controlled by a conveyance rate of the feedstock through the retort and a position of each of the axially adjustable chamber separation walls to produce a gas product and a solid product. The gas product includes methane and noxious chemicals and the solid product includes carbon, and the pyrolizing step is controlled using feedback related to constituents of the gas product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the controlled gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock, comprising: pyrolizing the feedstock by conveying the feedstock through a retort surrounded by a plurality of successive heating chambers each comprising an axially adjustable chamber separation wall and each operated at a predetermined temperature, wherein a predetermined dwell time of the feedstock in each of the plurality of successive heating chambers is controlled by a conveyance rate of the feedstock through the retort and a position of each of the axially adjustable chamber separation walls to produce a gas product and a solid product, wherein the gas product comprises methane and noxious chemicals and the solid product comprises carbon; and controlling the pyrolizing step using feedback related to constituents of the gas product, thereby providing a predictable and stable gas product from the feedstock. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising removing at least some of the noxious chemicals from the gas product using activated carbon as a filtering medium, wherein the removing step occurs at a controlled temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising injecting steam into or about the feedstock prior to or concurrent with the pyrolizing step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3, wherein the steam injecting step is performed responsive to and controlled based on the constituents of the gas product. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising injecting viscous/liquid organic material into or about the feedstock prior to or concurrent with the pyrolizing step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5, wherein the viscous/liquid organic material injecting step is performed responsive to and controlled based on the constituents of the gas product. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the gas product for BTU collective value per cubic foot and modifying the pyrolizing step accordingly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising injecting a sequestration agent into or about the feedstock prior to or concurrent with the pyrolizing step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the sequestration agent injecting step is performed responsive to and controlled based on the constituents of the gas product. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising injecting a “non-wetting” agent into or about the feedstock prior to or concurrent with the pyrolizing step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10, wherein the “non-wetting” agent injecting step is performed responsive to and controlled based on an analysis of the solid product. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, wherein the removing step comprises removing at least some of the noxious chemicals from the gas product using activated carbon as the filtering medium in a plurality of steps, wherein the removing step occurs at a plurality of controlled temperatures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the activated carbon is obtained from the pyrolizing step. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the pyrolizing step comprises conveying the feedstock through the plurality of chambers using one or more common augers disposed within the retort. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the retort is rotated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the retort is rotated in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the one or more augers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a positive pressure in the retort. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, further comprising collecting carbon nanostructures from the solid product prior to the removing step. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The process of claim 18, wherein the carbon nanostructures are collected by imposing an electrostatic charge on them and gathering them using an electrically-charged plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising running a low-temperature liquefaction process using waste heat from the pyrolizing step.