Fluidised bed pyrolysis apparatus and method

A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus, comprising:

• a combustion reactor configured to contain a first fluidized bed of hot particles, the first fluidized bed containing a combustion zone;
• a pyrolysis reactor configured to contain a second fluidized bed of hot particles, the second fluidized bed containing a pyrolysis zone;
• one or more positive displacement apparatus configured for transfer of hot particles from a base portion of the pyrolysis reactor to a base portion of the combustion reactor;
• and
• one or more non-mechanical “Z” valves having an angle of between 120° and 150° and situated between the combustion reactor and the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the one or more non-mechanical “Z” valves are configured such that, in operation, hot particles flow from the combustion zone at a temperature of from 400° C. to 1100° C. to the pyrolysis zone while impeding a flow of gas in an opposite direction.