Tecam’s pyrolysis technology

Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen. The process usually takes place at temperatures between 450 °C – 600 °C at negative pressure, and aims to break the long hydrocarbon chains into shorter ones. During this process, syngas (or synthesis gas) is generated by the volatile compounds that would normally be sent to a combustion chamber for oxidation. The process also generates a solid, carbon-rich waste material known as char. Pyrolysis is the first stage in the gasification phase for combustion.

It can be carried out in two types of kiln: rotary and static. Rotary kilns are recommended for large volumes of waste (1-5 t/h) and static kilns for smaller volumes.

What treatment processes are they used in, and what waste do they treat?

  • They are used to treat plastic polymers, which generate a syngas upon decomposition that can be subsequently condensed, distilled and used as a fuel.
  • Charring of wood to produce fixed carbon (char), which is used to improve soil productivity for agriculture. For this particular application, it is important that the wood and biomass do not contain heavy metals, as these are hazardous to the soil.
  • Sewage sludge: this must be dried beforehand, and can also be pyrolysed. Similarly, the aim is to generate fixed carbon for use in agricultural soil.

Main components of the system

Rotary kiln:

  • Input device: this usually comprises a set of valves that allow for the controlled feeding of the waste, while simultaneously preventing air from entering the kiln from outside.
  • Rotary kilns have a cylindrical, horizontally positioned body that rotates on an axle, thereby allowing the solid waste inside to decompose.
  • Muffle, or external chamber for heating. In order to maintain their high temperatures, these kilns usually have external heating jackets through which a hotter liquid is passed; in turn, this liquid transfers its heat to the kiln, thereby keeping the interior of the kiln hot.
  • Rotation devices: these enable the kiln to rotate.
  • Ash and fixed carbon extraction device: the waste material contains a certain amount of compounds that cannot be gasified, and generate ash and fixed carbon (char) as a result. Furnaces must be fitted with a device to extract these waste materials, cool them and send them on to be treated. These devices usually take the form of screw conveyors

Static kiln:

Static kilns operate on a non-continuous basis, i.e. the kiln is fed with the waste, which is then heated, pyrolysed, and left to cool so that the ash can be extracted.

In static systems the kiln does not rotate, which means the waste has to be fed into it.


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