Extruder for processing hydrocarbon-containing materials

An extruder system for processing hydrocarbon-containing material comprising:

• a motor;
• a gear box that is connected or interconnected to said motor;
• an auger barrel, said auger barrel including a fluid port located between front and rear ends of said auger barrel, said fluid port configured to enable one or more fluids to be removed from an interior of said auger barrel prior to said hydrocarbon-containing material exiting said rear end of said auger barrel;
• a screw rotatably positioned in said auger barrel, said screw connected or interconnected to said gear box such that said gear box causes said screw to rotate when said motor is activated, said screw configured to cause said hydrocarbon-containing material to move through said auger barrel when said screw rotates, said screw comprising a core having an outer surface, said screw including a flight positioned on said outer surface of said core, said flight extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of said screw, said flight having a flight spacing, said screw includes a root depth that is defined by a distance between an outer surface of said core of said screw and a top surface of said flight on said screw, said screw including first and second portions, a first end of said first portion connected or interconnected to said gear box, a second end of said first portion connected to a first end of said second portion, a flight spacing of said first portion decreasing from said first end to said second end of said first portion, said root depth of said first portion decreasing from said first end to said second end of said first portion, said first and second portions of said screw separated by a first flight break;
• and,
• a heating system positioned about at least a portion of said auger barrel, said heating system configured to heat said hydrocarbon-containing material as said hydrocarbon-containing material moves through said auger barrel as said screw rotates.

An extruder system for processing hydrocarbon-containing material comprising:

• a motor;
• a gear box that is connected or interconnected to said motor;
• an auger barrel, said auger barrel including a fluid port locate between front and rear ends of said auger barrel, said fluid port configured to enable one or more fluids to be removed from an interior of said auger barrel prior to said hydrocarbon-containing material exiting said rear end of said auger barrel;
• a screw rotatably positioned in said auger barrel, said screw connected or interconnected to said gear box such that said gear box causes said screw to rotate when said motor is activated, said screw configured to cause said hydrocarbon-containing material to move through said auger barrel when said screw rotates, said screw comprising a core having an outer surface, said screw including a flight positioned on said outer surface of said core, said flight extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of said screw, said flight having a flight spacing, said screw includes a root depth that is defined by a distance between an outer surface of said core of said screw and a top surface of said flight on said screw, said screw including a first, second and third portions, a first end of said first portion connected or interconnected to said gear box, a second end of said first portion connected to a first end of said second portion, a second end of said second portion connected to a first end of said third portion, a flight spacing of said first portion decreasing from said first end to said second end of said first portion, said first and second portions of said screw separated by a first flight break, said second and third portions of said screw separated by a second flight break;
• and,
• a heating system positioned about at least a portion of said auger barrel, said heating system configured to heat said hydrocarbon-containing material as said hydrocarbon-containing material moves through said auger barrel as said screw rotates, said heating system including a heating jacket, a heating band, or combinations thereof.