EP4353801A1 - Reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material and to a method for producing a pyrolysis product using such a reactor device. The reactor device has a reactor chamber and a plurality of heating elements. The reactor chamber has one or more feed openings for feeding the starting material in a first region of the reactor chamber and one or more removal openings for removing thermochemically treated material in a second region of the reactor chamber. The heating elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the reactor chamber and extend from the first region into the second region of the reactor chamber. The reactor device is designed to move the material to be treated from the first region of the reactor chamber along the heating elements into the second region during the thermochemical treatment and to heat material to be treated in the first region of the reactor chamber to a first temperature by means of the heating elements and at the same time to heat material to be treated in the second region of the reactor chamber to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the thermochemical conversion of carbonaceous starting materials into pyrolysis products, in particular biofuels, and provides a reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product and an associated production process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carbonaceous starting materials such as sewage sludge or biomass can be converted using thermochemical conversion processes such as pyrolytic decomposition. Such processes are known, for example, from EN 10 2014 105 340 A1 , the EN 10 2015 108 552 A1 and the EN 10 2016 115 700 A1 known. Products of such a process, which is usually carried out essentially in the absence of oxygen, can be, for example, liquid pyrolysis oil, solid pyrolysis coke and gaseous pyrolysis gas. The relative proportions of these pyrolysis products and their composition can be influenced by selecting process parameters such as the pyrolysis temperature and/or the duration of the pyrolysis. The pyrolysis products obtained in this way can be used, for example, as fuel, in particular as biofuel, and/or as fertilizer.

Due to the high temperatures required for pyrolytic decomposition and the associated strong temperature gradients, the components of systems used to carry out such a conversion process are exposed to considerable thermal stress. These thermal stresses can lead to damage such as leaks, which is why the service life of such systems is often inadequate. Although the design of such a system can be optimized with regard to the thermal stresses that occur, this is often only possible for certain dimensions and/or configurations. The systems known from the state of the art therefore have the disadvantage that the systems are generally hardly scalable. This has so far prevented the use of such conversion processes on a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material, which is scalable in size and has a sufficient service life.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a reactor device having the features of claim 1 and a method for producing a pyrolysis product using such a reactor device having the features of claim 13. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A reactor device is provided for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material, which has a reactor chamber and a plurality of heating elements which are arranged at a distance from one another in the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber has a first region and a second region. In the first region, one or more feed openings for feeding the starting material are arranged. In the second region, one or more removal openings for removing thermochemically treated material are arranged. The heating elements each extend from the first region into the second region of the reactor chamber. The reactor device is designed to move the material to be treated from the first region of the reactor chamber along the heating elements into the second region during the thermochemical treatment. The reactor device is also designed to heat material to be treated located in the first region of the reactor chamber to a first temperature by means of the heating elements and at the same time to heat material to be treated located in the second region of the reactor chamber to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

The reactor device can be used, for example, to produce a pyrolysis product by means of the production method according to the invention. The pyrolysis product can be, for example, a pyrolysis oil, a pyrolysis gas, a pyrolysis coke or a combination thereof. As explained in more detail below, the production of the pyrolysis product can, for example, comprise a conversion of a starting material that has not yet been pyrolyzed and/or a post-treatment of a starting material that has already been pyrolyzed and/or an intermediate material obtained by pyrolysis of the starting material. The Carbon-containing starting material can, for example, be a biogenic starting material such as sewage sludge, biomass, liquid manure, dung, straw, paper and/or cardboard.

A thermochemical treatment in the sense of the present disclosure can, for example, comprise one or more chemical reactions which are initiated and/or driven by the supply of heat. The thermochemical treatment can comprise a thermochemical conversion of the starting material into one or more conversion products, in particular the partial or complete pyrolysis (pyrolytic decomposition) of the starting material into one or more pyrolysis products. Alternatively or additionally, the thermochemical treatment can comprise a thermochemical post-treatment, for example a refinement or reforming, of a partially or fully pyrolyzed material, for example an already partially or fully pyrolyzed starting material and/or a partially or fully pyrolyzed intermediate material (e.g. a conversion product) obtained from the starting material by means of the thermochemical treatment. The thermochemical treatment can take place completely or largely in the absence of oxygen.

The reactor chamber is designed to carry out the thermochemical treatment of the starting material in a reaction volume enclosed by the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber can be designed to withstand the temperatures and/or pressures required for the thermochemical treatment.

The first and second regions can be, for example, sections or segments of the reactor chamber. The first and second regions can be adjacent to one another and in particular can merge continuously into one another. In other words, the first and second regions do not necessarily have to be structurally or structurally separated from one another. The first and second regions can, for example, only be sections or segments of the reactor chamber that are notionally separated from one another (e.g. sections or segments that are separated from one another by an imaginary or "virtual" dividing plane). In some embodiments, the first region of the reactor chamber can be arranged above the second region, i.e. the first region can be an upper region (e.g. an upper half) of the reactor chamber and the second region can be a lower region (e.g. a lower half) of the reactor chamber.

The first and second regions of the reactor chamber may have the same dimensions perpendicular to a direction from the first region to the second region (for example perpendicular to the direction of movement of the material to be treated and/or to a longitudinal direction of the heating elements, hereinafter also referred to as lateral dimensions), for example the same width, the same inner diameter and/or the same cross-sectional area. The reactor chamber can, for example, have the same lateral dimensions throughout in the first region, between the first and the second region and in the second region. In some examples, the reactor chamber has the same lateral dimensions throughout between the feed openings and the removal openings, in one example over its entire length or height.

The one or more feed openings can be arranged, for example, in a side wall and/or a top wall (e.g. a lid) of the reactor chamber. The one or more removal openings can be arranged, for example, in a side wall and/or a bottom wall (e.g. a floor) of the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber can, for example, enclose a volume between 0.1 m ² and 1000 m ² , in some examples between 1 m ² and 100 m ² , in one example between 2 m ² and 50 m ² . A height of the reactor chamber in the direction from the first region to the second region can, for example, be between 0.5 m and 20 m, in some examples between 1 m and 10 m, in one example between 1.5 m and 8 m, in one example between 2 m and 5 m.

The heating elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the reactor chamber, i.e. the heating elements are separated from one another by gaps. The gaps between the heating elements can form the reaction volume for the thermochemical treatment of the starting material. In other words, the gaps between the heating elements are designed such that the gaps can accommodate the material to be treated (e.g. the (untreated) starting material and/or (partially treated) intermediate material obtained from the starting material) and/or the thermochemically treated material. The gaps can in particular be designed such that the heating elements (i.e. the parts of the heating elements located in the reactor chamber) are completely surrounded by material to be treated and/or thermochemically treated material when the reactor chamber is filled with material to be treated and/or thermochemically treated material. The heating elements can be arranged in a regular structure, for example in one or more rows. The reactor device can, for example, have at least two, at least three or at least four heating elements. For example, the reactor device may have between 5 and 500 heating elements, in some examples between 5 and 200 heating elements, in one example between 10 and 100 heating elements, and in one example between 40 and 100 heating elements.

The heating elements extend from the first region into the second region of the reactor chamber. The heating elements may extend through the entire reactor chamber (for example from one wall of the reactor chamber to an opposite wall) or through a part of the reactor chamber. The heating elements (e.g. a first end of the heating elements) may, for example, each be arranged on (e.g. in contact with or attached to) a wall of the reactor chamber (e.g. on an upper wall/lid) and spaced from an opposite wall of the reactor chamber (e.g. a lower wall/floor) (i.e. a (second) end of the heating elements may be spaced from the opposite wall). The heating elements may be arranged entirely or partially in the reactor chamber (i.e. parts of the heating elements may also be located outside the reactor chamber). The heating elements may, for example, have a length in the direction from the first region to the second region of the reactor chamber between 1 m and 20 m, in some examples between 1 m and 10 m, in one example between 2 m and 5 m. A width or a diameter (e.g. an outer diameter) of the heating elements may, for example, be between 1 cm and 50 cm, in some examples between 2 cm and 30 cm, in one example between 5 cm and 15 cm.

The heating elements are designed to be heated and to supply heat to the reactor chamber, for example to heat the starting material for the thermochemical treatment. The heating elements can be passive heating elements that are designed to be heated by supplying a heated heat transfer medium (e.g. a heat transfer fluid), for example to transfer heat from the heat transfer medium into the reactor chamber. The passive heating elements can, for example, be designed such that the heat transfer medium can move through the heating elements (e.g. can pass through or flow through the heating elements). Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the heating elements can be active heating elements that are designed to generate heat themselves, for example electrical heating elements.

The reactor device is designed to move the material to be treated (i.e. the starting material and/or (partially treated) intermediate material obtained therefrom) during the thermochemical treatment from the first region of the reactor chamber along the heating elements into the second region. In other words, the material to be treated does not remain static in the reactor chamber during the thermochemical treatment, but is moved by the reactor device in the reactor chamber, in particular through the reactor device. The movement of the material to be treated can be continuous or step-by-step (e.g. by repeated movement in several steps). The movement of the material to be treated can be directed or unidirectional, i.e. the material to be treated Material can essentially only move towards the second area without being transported back towards the first area.

The reactor device can be designed to actively move the material to be treated, for example to push or press it from the first area towards the second area. For this purpose, the reactor device can have one or more conveying devices such as conveyor screws. The conveying devices are preferably arranged in front of or behind the heating elements in the direction of movement of the material to be treated, for example in front of or behind the reactor chamber. In other words, no conveying devices can be arranged along the heating elements, for example parallel to the heating elements. The movement of the material to be treated is preferably at least partially passive, in particular as explained in more detail below at least partially due to gravity, for example by continuous or step-by-step (e.g. repeated) removal of thermochemically treated material from the reactor chamber.

The reactor device is further configured to use the heating elements to heat material to be treated located in the first region of the reactor chamber to a first temperature (e.g. while the material to be treated is being moved from the first region to the second region during the thermochemical treatment) and to simultaneously heat material to be treated located in the second region of the reactor chamber to a second temperature. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The different temperatures of the material to be treated can result, for example, from the movement of the material to be treated (e.g. from the different length of time it spends in the reactor chamber) and/or from different temperatures of the heating elements in the first and second regions of the reactor chamber. In other words, the reactor device can be configured to heat the heating elements in the first and second regions of the reactor chamber to different temperatures while the material to be treated is being moved. In some embodiments, the reactor device may be configured to heat the material to be treated in the reactor chamber such that the temperature of the material to be treated increases substantially linearly from the first region to the second region, in one example along the entire reactor chamber.

The heating elements can be designed in such a way that the heating elements can be heated to different temperatures in the first and second regions of the reactor chamber (ie so that the heating elements in the first and second regions have different temperatures at the same time), for example in order to heat the to heat material located in different areas of the reaction chamber to different temperatures.

In the case of passive heating elements, this can be achieved, for example, by suitably guiding the heat transfer medium, for example as explained below, in that the heated heat transfer medium is introduced at a (second) end of the heating element in question facing away from the first region and, after passing through the heating element, is discharged at a (first) end of the heating element in question facing away from the second region. Alternatively, the heated heat transfer medium can be introduced from the first to the second end inside the heating element in question, as also explained in more detail below, and then returned in countercurrent in an outer region of the heating element in question from the second to the first end. In the case of active electrical heating elements, this can be achieved, for example, by a suitable arrangement and/or design of the heating coils.

The heating elements may be configured to be heated to a first heating element temperature in the first region and simultaneously heated to a second heating element temperature in the second region that is greater than the first heating element temperature. The first heating element temperature may be equal to or greater than the first temperature of the material to be treated. The second heating element temperature may be equal to or greater than the second temperature of the material to be treated. In some examples, the heating elements are configured to be heated such that the temperature increases substantially linearly along the heating element, for example from the first heating element temperature to the second heating element temperature.

In some embodiments, the reactor device can be configured to conduct a heated heat transfer medium (e.g. a heated heat transfer fluid) through the heating elements against the direction of movement of the material to be treated, i.e. in countercurrent to the material to be treated from the second region of the reactor chamber into the first region. The reactor device can, for example, be configured to conduct the heat transfer medium from the second ends of the heating elements to the first ends of the heating elements. The heat transfer medium (and thus the heating elements) can have a higher temperature in the second region of the reactor chamber than in the first region.

The heating elements can each have a double-walled tube comprising an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner and outer tubes can be designed as cylindrical tubes, for example. The inner tube can have at least be partially accommodated in the outer tube, for example inserted or inserted into it. There can be a gap (for example a gap) between the inner tube and the outer tube. In other words, the outside of the inner tube can be spaced from the inside of the outer tube. The gap can extend completely around the inner tube in the circumferential direction. In some embodiments, the inner tube can not be in contact with the outer tube. Preferably, the inner tube is thermally insulated from the outer tube, for example by providing an insulation layer on an inside and/or outside of the inner tube. In some embodiments, the inner tube can be designed as a double-walled tube and, for example, have an inner inner tube and an outer inner tube, wherein the inner inner tube is at least partially accommodated in the outer inner tube and the outer inner tube is at least partially accommodated in the outer tube (ie the heating elements can each have a three-walled tube). The insulation layer can be arranged between the inner inner tube and the outer inner tube.

The inner tube can have an inlet opening for introducing the heated heat transfer medium (e.g. a heated heat transfer fluid) at a first end of the heating element in question, in particular at a first (e.g. upper) end of the heating element in question facing away from the second region of the reactor chamber. The inner tube can be open at the first end, for example. The space between the inner and outer tubes can be in fluid communication with the inner tube at a second end of the heating element in question opposite the first end, in particular at a second (e.g. lower) end of the heating element in question facing away from the first region of the reactor chamber. As a result, the heat transfer medium introduced through the inner tube can be guided back through the space from the second end of the heating element in question in the direction of the first end (and thus against the direction of movement of the material to be treated). The inner tube can be open at the second end, for example. The outer tube can have an outlet opening for discharging the heat transfer medium, for example at the first end of the heating element in question. This means that the heat transfer medium can, for example, be introduced and discharged on the same side of the reactor chamber.

The heated heat transfer medium can be led from the inlet opening at the first end of the heating element through the inner tube to the second end of the heating element and then led through the outer tube (eg through the gap between the outer and inner tubes) back to the first end of the heating element. When led back through the outer tube, the heat transfer medium can transfer heat via the outer tube into the reactor chamber. The heat transfer medium returned in the outer tube can have a higher temperature in the second area of the reactor chamber than in the first area of the reactor chamber. The heat transfer medium can heat the outer tube in the second area to the second heating element temperature and in the first area to the (lower) first heating element temperature.

The reactor device may further comprise a discharge chamber for discharging the heat transfer medium. The discharge chamber may, for example, be arranged on a side of the reactor chamber adjacent to the first region of the reactor chamber (e.g. a top side and/or a front side). In some examples, the discharge chamber may directly adjoin the corresponding side (e.g. wall) of the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber and the discharge chamber may, for example, be separated from one another by a common partition wall. In some examples, further elements may be arranged between the discharge chamber and the reactor chamber, for example a thermal insulation layer. In some examples, the reactor and the discharge chamber may be arranged in a common reactor housing, which may, for example, be divided into the reactor and the discharge chamber by one or more partition walls. The discharge chamber may be in fluid communication with the heating elements, for example to receive the heat transfer medium after it has passed through the heating elements. For example, the outer tubes of the heating elements (e.g. the spaces between the inner tubes and the outer tubes) can each be in fluid communication with the discharge chamber at the first end of the heating element in question, for example via a corresponding outlet opening. The outer tubes of the heating elements can, for example, be open towards the discharge chamber.

The heating elements, in particular the outer tubes of the heating elements, can each be attached to a wall between the reactor chamber and the discharge chamber, for example to a wall of the reactor chamber facing the discharge chamber, to a wall of the discharge chamber facing the reactor chamber and/or to a common intermediate wall between the reactor and discharge chambers. The heating elements (e.g. the outer tubes) can, for example, be welded to the relevant wall. Preferably, the heating elements (e.g. the outer tubes) are connected to the wall in a gas-tight manner, for example to prevent gas from escaping from the reactor chamber into the heating elements and/or the discharge chamber or vice versa.

The inner tubes of the heating elements can each extend through the discharge chamber to the respective inlet opening. For this purpose, the discharge chamber can have corresponding openings to accommodate the inner tubes. The inner tubes can be thermally insulated from the discharge chamber, for example by providing an insulating layer on an inner and/or outer side of the inner pipes.

The inner tubes of the heating elements can each have a holding element for holding the respective inner tube in the reactor chamber. The inner tubes can, for example, be removably (or detachably) suspended and/or placed on a side of the discharge chamber facing away from the reactor chamber by means of the holding element, for example on/on the discharge chamber itself (for example on/on a corresponding wall of the discharge chamber) or on/on another element of the reactor device arranged on the respective side of the discharge chamber. In some embodiments, the inner tubes cannot be connected to the outer tube of the respective heating element, but can be arranged in it, for example, so as to be free-floating or movably mounted. This can, for example, facilitate separate replacement of the inner tubes of the heating elements and/or enable independent thermal expansion of the inner and outer tubes.

The holding element can be arranged, for example, on an outer side of the respective inner tube. The holding element can be, for example, a circumferential collar and/or one or more projections (e.g. pins or collar segments) or can comprise such elements. The holding element can be designed to be hooked into and/or placed on a corresponding counterpart. The counterpart can be, for example, part of a wall (e.g. an upper wall) of the discharge chamber, for example a border of an opening for receiving the inner tube in the respective wall. In one example, the wall of the discharge chamber can have a projection surrounding the opening for receiving the inner tube and the holding element can be designed to engage with the projection in order to hang the inner tube on the wall of the discharge chamber. The holding element can be, for example, an angled circumferential collar that is designed to be hooked onto the projection.

A seal can be arranged between each of the inner tubes and the discharge chamber, for example to seal the opening for receiving the inner tube. The seal can be a stuffing box seal, for example. The seal can be designed to completely or partially prevent the heat transfer medium from escaping from the discharge chamber (for example into the combustion chamber described below and/or into the inner tube) or from entering the discharge chamber (for example from the combustion chamber and/or from the inner tube).

The reactor device can be configured to generate the heated heat transfer medium for the heating elements. For this purpose, the reactor device can have means for generating the heated heat transfer medium, for example means for heating an already existing heat transfer medium (such as a liquid heat transfer medium, for example a heat source and a heat exchanger) and/or means for generating a hot heat transfer medium (such as a gaseous heat transfer medium). The reactor device can, for example, be configured to provide the heated heat transfer medium at a temperature between 500°C and 1200°C, in some examples between 650°C and 1000°C, in one example between 750°C and 900°C. The temperature mentioned can, for example, be the temperature at an inlet opening of the heating elements.

The reactor device can in particular have a combustion chamber which is designed to burn a fuel such as gas, in particular pyrolysis gas. The combustion chamber can for example be arranged on a side of the discharge chamber facing away from the reactor chamber, i.e. the discharge chamber can be arranged between the reactor chamber and the combustion chamber. The discharge chamber and the combustion chamber can for example be separated from one another by a common partition wall. In some examples, further elements can be arranged between the discharge chamber and the combustion chamber, for example a thermal insulation layer. In some examples, the reactor, the discharge and/or the combustion chamber can be arranged in a common reactor housing, which can for example be divided into the corresponding chambers by one or more partition walls.

The combustion chamber can be in fluid communication with inlet openings of the heating elements, in particular with the inlet openings of the inner tubes of the heating elements, for example in order to supply the heated heat transfer medium to the heating elements. In one example, the heated heat transfer medium can be a combustion product, in particular a flue gas, from the combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber can be in fluid communication with the heating elements in such a way that the combustion product can escape from the combustion chamber into the heating elements. Alternatively or additionally, the combustion chamber can also be designed to heat an already existing heat transfer medium by means of a heat exchanger.

The second (eg lower) ends of the heating elements facing away from the first region of the reactor chamber can each be arranged freely floating and/or movably mounted in the reactor chamber, in particular so that an unhindered thermal Longitudinal expansion of the heating elements (e.g. in the longitudinal or axial direction of the double-walled tube) is possible. The second ends of the heating elements can, for example, be arranged at a distance from other elements of the reactor device, in particular from the walls of the reactor chamber, and/or can be in contact with one or more other elements in such a way that movement or expansion of the heating elements in the longitudinal direction is possible. The distance between the second ends of the heating elements and the wall of the reactor chamber opposite them can, for example, be between 5 cm and 50 cm. In some examples, the reactor chamber can have a guide device that is designed to guide the heating elements (e.g. their second ends) laterally. The guide device can, for example, be designed to prevent and/or limit lateral movement of the heating elements (e.g. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). The guide device can be in contact with the second ends of the heating elements laterally, but allow movement or expansion of the heating elements in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the first region of the reactor chamber is arranged above the second region of the reactor chamber, i.e. the first region can be an upper region (for example an upper third, an upper half or an upper second third) of the reactor chamber and the second region can be a lower region (for example a lower third, a lower half or a lower two thirds) of the reactor chamber. The first and second regions can be arranged relative to one another in such a way that the material to be treated can move between the heating elements at least partially, in some examples solely due to gravity (i.e. without additional means for active transport) from the first region to the second region. The heating elements can run in the reactor chamber in sections or along their entire length in a vertical direction (i.e. parallel to the direction of gravity), for example in such a way that the material to be treated can sag, slide, flow and/or fall vertically downwards in the spaces between the heating elements.

The reactor device can be designed to remove thermochemically treated material from the reactor chamber through the one or more removal openings. For this purpose, the reactor device can, for example, have a correspondingly designed removal device. The removal device can, for example, be designed to open the one or more removal openings completely or partially in order to remove thermochemically treated material from the reactor chamber and/or to close them completely or partially in order to prevent the removal (for example the falling out and/or flowing out) of thermochemically treated material. control. Alternatively or additionally, the removal device can also have one or more conveyor devices to remove (for example transport) material through the one or more removal openings. The removal device can in particular have one or more clearing devices (as an example of a conveyor device), each of which is arranged in and/or adjacent to a removal opening. The clearing devices can each be set up to remove and/or clear (e.g. remove and/or move away) thermochemically treated material in such a way that further thermochemically treated material can follow (e.g. sink, slide or flow) into and/or through the corresponding removal opening. The removal device can be set up to feed the removed material to a separation device as described below.

Preferably, the reactor device is configured to remove the thermochemically treated material such that the material to be treated moves between the heating elements at least partially, in some examples solely due to gravity, from the first region to the second region. The reactor device can, for example, be configured to remove the material to be treated in the lower (second) region of the reactor chamber, whereby the material remaining in the reactor chamber can sag, slide, flow and/or fall downwards in the reactor chamber and can thereby move from the first region towards the second region. The reactor device can be configured to remove thermochemical material continuously and/or step by step, for example at a substantially constant removal rate or by removing material (e.g. from a certain amount of material) at different times (e.g. at regular intervals).

The reactor device may comprise one or more conveyor devices, each of which is configured to transport starting material from one of the one or more feed openings into the spaces between the heating elements in the reactor chamber, for example in the first region of the reactor chamber. The conveyor devices may, for example, extend from the respective feed opening into the spaces between the heating elements. The conveyor devices may each comprise a conveyor screw for transporting the starting material. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor devices may, for example, comprise a belt conveyor device, a roller conveyor device, a chain conveyor device and/or a conveyor pipe. In some examples, the heating elements may be arranged in several rows and each of the conveyor devices may extend into the space between two adjacent rows of heating elements, preferably along the entire length of the rows concerned.

The reactor device is designed to heat the material to be treated to temperatures, in particular to the first and second temperatures, which are suitable for the starting material to be treated and the thermochemical treatment to be carried out. In particular, the reactor device can be designed to heat the material to be treated during the thermochemical treatment according to a (spatial and/or temporal) temperature profile that is suitable for the starting material to be treated and the thermochemical treatment to be carried out. For example, the heating elements can be designed such that the temperature profile along the heating elements, in particular the first and second heating element temperatures, are suitable for the starting material to be treated and the thermochemical treatment to be carried out.

The second temperature can be selected, for example, to post-treat (for example, to refine or reform) a pyrolysis product located in the second region of the reactor chamber. The corresponding temperature can also be referred to as post-treatment temperature. The second temperature (post-treatment temperature) can be, for example, between 450°C and 950°C, in some examples between 450°C and 800°C, in some examples between 500°C and 750°C, in one example between 550°C and 700°C. For this purpose, the heating elements in the second region of the reactor chamber can be heated, for example, to a second heating element temperature which is equal to or greater than the second temperature, for example to a second heating element temperature between 450°C and 1050°C, in some examples between 450°C and 900°C, in some examples between 500°C and 850°C, in one example between 550°C and 800°C.

The first temperature can be selected, for example, to at least partially, in some examples completely or essentially completely pyrolyze starting material located in the first region of the reactor chamber. The corresponding temperature can also be referred to as pyrolysis temperature. In other examples, the first temperature can be selected to pretreat (for example heat) and/or post-treat starting material located in the first region of the reactor chamber. The first temperature can be, for example, between 200°C and 600°C, in some examples between 200°C and 550°C, in some examples between 350°C and 550°C, in one example between 400°C and 500°C. For this purpose, the heating elements in the first region of the reactor chamber can be heated, for example, to a first heating element temperature that is equal to or greater than the first temperature, for example to a first heating element temperature between 250°C and 650°C, in some examples between 250°C and 600°C, in some examples between 400°C and 600°C, in one example between 450°C and 550°C.

The second temperature may be at least 20°C, in some examples at least 50°C, preferably at least 100°C, in one example at least 150°C and in one example at least 200°C higher than the first temperature. The first and second temperatures may, for example, be the temperature of the solid components of the material. Gaseous components of the material may possibly have a different temperature, in particular a lower temperature. The heating elements may be configured to be heated to the first and second heating element temperatures while the reactor chamber is in operation, for example while the reactor chamber is filled with starting material and/or thermochemically treated material, while the starting material is being thermochemically treated in the reactor chamber and/or while the starting material and/or the thermochemically treated material is moving through the reactor chamber.

The reactor device can have a separation device that is designed to separate solid and gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material from one another. The separation device can be connected to the one or more removal openings, for example to supply thermochemically treated material to the separation device. The gaseous components can comprise condensable and/or non-condensable components. In some embodiments, the separation device can also be designed to separate condensable components (e.g. liquid components and/or gaseous but liquefiable (e.g. liquid under normal conditions) components) and non-condensable components (e.g. gaseous components under normal conditions) of the thermochemically treated material from one another.

The separation device can have a separation chamber. A solids removal device can be arranged in a lower region of the separation chamber for removing solid components of the thermochemically treated material from the lower region (e.g. from the floor) of the separation chamber. The solids removal device can have conveying/transport means such as a screw conveyor, a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor and/or a chain conveyor for removing the solid components. A gas removal device can be arranged in the upper region of the separation chamber for removing gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material from the upper region (e.g. below an upper boundary/lid) of the separation chamber. The gas removal device may, for example, comprise an outlet pipe which is designed to lead the gaseous components out of the reactor device and/or the reactor housing.

The separation device can, for example, be arranged on a side of the reactor chamber adjacent to the second region of the reactor chamber. In some examples, the separation device or one or more parts thereof can be arranged with the reactor chamber, the discharge chamber and/or the combustion chamber in a common reactor housing.

A method for producing a pyrolysis product using a reactor device according to any of the examples described herein is further provided. The method comprises feeding a carbonaceous starting material, in particular a biogenic starting material, into the first region of the reactor chamber through the one or more feed openings. The starting material is thermochemically treated by heating the starting material by means of the plurality of heating elements to produce the pyrolysis product. During the thermochemical treatment, the starting material moves from the first region to the second region of the reactor chamber.

The production of a pyrolysis product within the meaning of the present disclosure can, for example, comprise a conversion, in particular a partial or complete pyrolysis, of a starting material that has not yet been or has not yet been fully pyrolyzed. Alternatively or additionally, the production of a pyrolysis product can also comprise a post-treatment, for example a refinement or reforming, of a partially or fully pyrolyzed material. The partially or fully pyrolyzed material can, for example, be the starting material (i.e. the production of the pyrolysis product can, for example, comprise or be the refinement or reforming of the starting material). Alternatively, the partially or fully pyrolyzed material can, for example, be an intermediate material obtained by converting the starting material as part of the process according to the invention (i.e. the production of the pyrolysis product can, for example, comprise both pyrolysis and refinement/reforming).

The starting material may be a solid material. The starting material may be supplied in lumpy form, for example as granules and/or pellets. The piece or particle size (e.g. the average piece or particle size) of the starting material may be, for example, between 1 mm and 20 mm, in some examples between 3 mm and 10 mm. The starting material may be a biogenic material, i.e. be of biological origin in whole or in part. The starting material can in particular comprise or consist of sewage sludge, biomass (eg plant biomass), liquid manure, dung, straw, paper and/or cardboard. The starting material can not yet be pyrolysed (ie not comprise any pyrolysed material). Alternatively, the starting material can already be fully or partially pyrolysed. The starting material can be fed, for example, by means of one or more conveying devices as described above.

The starting material in the reactor chamber is heated by means of the plurality of heating elements. The heating elements can be heated, for example, by supplying a heated heat transfer medium as described above. This can comprise the combustion of a fuel in a combustion chamber as described above, wherein the fuel preferably comprises or consists of a pyrolysis product produced by means of the method according to the invention, in particular pyrolysis gas.

The starting material (or the material to be treated) is heated to a temperature which is sufficient to carry out the thermochemical treatment, e.g. to a temperature which is sufficiently high to initiate and/or allow the chemical reactions associated with the thermochemical treatment to proceed. The residence time of the starting material in the reactor chamber, e.g. the residence time in the first region and/or the residence time in the second region, is also selected such that the residence time is sufficient for the thermochemical treatment, for example to thermochemically treat all of the starting material or at least part of it, for example to pyrolyze it in whole or in part and/or to reform it in whole or in part. The starting material or the material to be treated can be heated continuously as it moves from the first to the second region of the reactor chamber, for example such that the temperature of the material increases monotonically over the course of the thermochemical treatment.

The thermochemical treatment of the starting material can comprise heating the starting material to a pyrolysis temperature in the first region of the reactor chamber in order to completely or partially pyrolyze the starting material (in particular a starting material that has not yet been pyrolyzed or components of the starting material that have not yet been pyrolyzed). This makes it possible to obtain a completely or partially pyrolyzed intermediate material. The pyrolysis can take place in the first and/or second region of the reactor chamber. The thermochemical treatment can further comprise heating the at least partially pyrolyzed (intermediate) material in the second region of the reactor chamber to a post-treatment temperature in order to obtain a material in the at least partially pyrolyzed material. to post-treat (eg refine or reform) a pyrolysis product (eg a pyrolysis oil, a pyrolysis gas and/or a pyrolysis coke) contained therein. The post-treatment temperature may be higher than the pyrolysis temperature, for example at least 20°C, in some examples at least 50°C, in one example at least 100°C higher than the pyrolysis temperature.

Pyrolysis and post-treatment can merge continuously, i.e. take place in a common process that cannot be clearly divided. For example, the material to be treated can be heated continuously as it moves through the reactor chamber, e.g. so that it first reaches the pyrolysis temperature in the first area and is then heated further so that it then reaches the post-treatment temperature in the second area. In the first part of the thermo-chemical treatment, which can, for example, make up the first two thirds of the treatment time or residence time in the reactor chamber, the pyrolysis of the starting material can predominantly take place. Then, in the second part of the thermo-chemical treatment, which can, for example, make up the last third of the treatment time or residence time in the reactor chamber, the post-treatment of the material pyrolyzed in the first part can predominantly take place. Accordingly, for example, the upper two thirds of the reactor chamber (which may correspond, for example, to the first region) may form a "pyrolysis zone" in which predominantly pyrolysis takes place, and the lower third of the reactor chamber (which may correspond, for example, to the second region) may form a "post-treatment zone" in which predominantly post-treatment takes place.

In some examples, the starting material comprises material that has already been completely or partially pyrolyzed. This may, for example, have previously been pyrolyzed in another reactor device. The thermochemical treatment of the starting material may comprise heating the partially pyrolyzed material in the first region and/or in the second region of the reactor chamber to a post-treatment temperature in order to post-treat a pyrolysis product contained in the at least partially pyrolyzed material. The method may further comprise pyrolyzing constituents of the starting material that have not yet been pyrolyzed, for example as described above.

The pyrolysis temperature and/or the post-treatment temperature can be selected depending on the starting material to be treated and the thermo-chemical treatment to be carried out. The pyrolysis temperature can be, for example, between 200°C and 600°C, in some examples between 200°C and 550°C, in some examples between 350°C and 550°C, in one example between 400°C and 500°C. The post-treatment temperature can be, for example, between 450°C and 950°C, in some examples between 450°C and 800°C, in some examples between 500°C and 750°C, in one example between 550°C and 700°C. The temperatures mentioned can, for example, indicate the temperature of the solid components of the material. Gaseous components of the material can have a different temperature, in particular a lower temperature.

The residence time of the material in the reactor chamber (e.g. the time from feeding the starting material to removing the pyrolysis product from the reactor chamber) can also be chosen depending on the starting material to be treated and the thermochemical treatment to be carried out. The residence time can, for example, be between 30 minutes and 10 hours, in some examples between 1 hour and 5 hours, in one example between 1 hour and 3 hours and in one example between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours. The pyrolysis temperature, the post-treatment temperature and/or the residence time of the material can be used as parameters to change the composition and/or the quality of the thermochemically treated material and/or the pyrolysis product, for example to change the relative proportions of solid, condensable and/or non-condensable fractions and/or the quality and/or chemical composition of these fractions.

The thermochemical treatment can comprise a thermocatalytic treatment using a catalyst. In particular, the post-treatment can be or comprise a thermocatalytic post-treatment. In some embodiments, the at least partially pyrolyzed material, in particular a solid component of the at least partially pyrolyzed material (e.g. a pyrolysis coke) can serve as a catalyst. This can, for example, be present in a porous form and/or structure (e.g. a bed) in the second region of the reactor chamber and can, for example, serve as a catalyst for a thermocatalytic post-treatment of gaseous components of the at least partially pyrolyzed material.

During the thermochemical treatment, the starting material moves from the first region of the reactor chamber to the second region. In other words, the material (eg its solid and/or gaseous components) moves from the first region to the second region during its conversion from the starting material to the pyrolysis product. The movement can be continuous or stepwise, for example as described above for the device according to the invention.

The movement is preferably at least partially passive, in particular at least partially due to gravity. For example, the first region of the reactor chamber can be arranged above the second region. The material (in particular its solid components) can move downwards in the reactor chamber during the thermochemical treatment, e.g. sag, slide, flow and/or fall. For this purpose, thermochemically treated material (e.g. the finished pyrolysis product) can be removed from the reactor chamber (e.g. from its bottom), in some examples continuously. Alternatively or additionally, the movement can also occur at least partially due to a pressure difference, whereby the pressure difference can be caused, for example, by the formation of gaseous components. In some examples, the movement of the material can alternatively or additionally also occur at least partially actively, for example by one or more conveying/transport devices inside and/or outside the reactor chamber.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

• Fig. 1a: eine Reaktorvorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Pyrolyseprodukts mittels thermochemischer Behandlung eines kohlenstoffhaltigen Ausgangsmaterials gemäß einem Beispiel in einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 1b: die Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 1a in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 2a: eine Reaktorvorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Pyrolyseprodukts mittels thermochemischer Behandlung eines kohlenstoffhaltigen Ausgangsmaterials gemäß einem weiteren Beispiel in einer ersten Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 2b: die Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a in einer zweiten Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 3: ein Heizelement der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b in einer vergrößerten Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 4: die Abführkammer der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b in einer vergrößerten Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 5: den ersten Bereich der Reaktorkammer der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 6: den zweiten Bereich der Reaktorkammer der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 7a: die Entnahmevorrichtung der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 7b: die Entnahmevorrichtung aus Fig. 7a in einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 7c: die Entnahmevorrichtung aus Fig. 7a in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• Fig. 8: ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung eines Pyrolyseprodukts gemäß einem Beispiel;
• Fig. 9a: eine Entnahmevorrichtung der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b mit linear beweglichen Abräumschiebern gemäß einem weiteren Beispiel in einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 9b: die Entnahmevorrichtung aus Fig. 9a in Draufsicht;
• Fig. 10a: eine Entnahmevorrichtung der Reaktorvorrichtung aus Fig. 2a, 2b mit einem rotierbaren Abräumarm gemäß einem weiteren Beispiel in einer Seitenansicht; und
• Fig. 10b: die Entnahmevorrichtung aus Fig. 10a in Draufsicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures show schematically:

• Fig. 1a : a reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material according to an example in a side view;
• Fig. 1b : the reactor device from Fig. 1a in top view;
• Fig. 2a : a reactor device for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material according to a further example in a first side view;
• Fig. 2b : the reactor device from Fig. 2a in a second side view;
• Fig.3 : a heating element of the reactor device made of Fig. 2a , 2 B in an enlarged side view;
• Fig.4 : the discharge chamber of the reactor device Fig. 2a , 2 B in an enlarged side view;
• Fig.5 : the first area of the reactor chamber of the reactor device Fig. 2a , 2 B in top view;
• Fig.6 : the second region of the reactor chamber of the reactor device Fig. 2a , 2 B in top view;
• Fig. 7a : the removal device of the reactor device from Fig. 2a , 2 B in top view;
• Fig. 7b : the removal device from Fig. 7a in a side view;
• Fig. 7c : the removal device from Fig. 7a in a perspective view;
• Fig.8 : a flow chart of a process for producing a pyrolysis product according to an example;
• Fig. 9a : a device for removing the reactor device from Fig. 2a , 2 B with linearly movable clearing slides according to another example in a side view;
• Fig. 9b : the removal device from Fig. 9a in top view;
• Fig. 10a : a device for removing the reactor device from Fig. 2a , 2 B with a rotatable clearing arm according to another example in a side view; and
• Fig. 10b : the removal device from Fig. 10a in top view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1a and 1b show schematic representations (not to scale) of a reactor device 100 for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material according to an example. The reactor device 100 (hereinafter also referred to as device 100) is in Fig. 1a in a side view (e.g. along the y-axis in Fig. 1b ) and in Fig. 1b in plan view (e.g. along the z-axis in Fig. 1a ). In some examples, the device 100 is arranged so that the z-axis in Fig. 1a corresponds to the vertical (ie coincides with the direction of gravity). The device 100 can, for example, be used to carry out a method for producing a pyrolysis product according to one of the examples described herein be used, for example, to carry out the process described below in relation to Fig.8 described method 800.

The device 100 comprises a reactor chamber 102 made of a temperature-resistant material such as metal, for example steel. The reactor chamber 102 may also comprise one or more thermal insulation layers (not shown) (e.g. on its outside and/or inside) to thermally insulate the interior of the reactor chamber 102.

The reactor chamber has a feed opening 104 and a removal opening 106. The feed opening 104 is in a first region 102-I of the reactor chamber, in the example of the Fig. 1a in an upper region of the reactor chamber 102. The first/upper region 102-I can comprise, for example, an upper half, an upper third or the two upper thirds of the reactor chamber 102. Carbonaceous starting material 108A can be fed to the reactor chamber 102 through the feed opening 104, for example as described below for the method 800. The removal opening 106 is in a second region 102-I of the reactor chamber, in the example of the Fig. 1a arranged in a lower region (eg in a lower half) of the reactor chamber 102. The second/lower region 102-I can, for example, comprise the parts or regions of the reactor chamber 102 not contained in the first region 102-I, for example a lower half, the two lower thirds or a lower third of the reactor chamber 102. Thermochemically treated material 108B (which can be or contain the pyrolysis product to be produced) can be removed from the reactor chamber 102 through the removal opening 106.

The device 100 further comprises a plurality of elongate heating elements 110 which are arranged in the reactor chamber 102 at a distance from one another by gaps 112. The device 100 can comprise, for example, between 10 and 100 heating elements. The heating elements 110 each extend from the upper region 102-I into the lower region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102, namely from an upper wall or boundary (e.g. lid) of the reactor chamber 102 downwards towards the lower wall (e.g. floor) of the reactor chamber 102. The lower ends of the heating elements 110 are arranged freely floating in the reactor chamber 102 so that the heating elements 110 can thermally expand unhindered in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the lower ends of the heating elements are arranged at a distance from at least the lower wall of the reactor chamber 102.

The heating elements 110 are designed to be heated. The heating elements 110 can, for example, be designed to receive (eg, conduct) a heated heat transfer medium in order to be (passively) heated thereby, for example as in the reactor device 200 described below from Fig. 2a to 7b Alternatively or additionally, the heating elements 110 can also be designed to heat themselves actively and for this purpose can have, for example, one or more electrical filaments (not shown).

The device 100 is designed to move the material to be treated (i.e. the starting material 108A and intermediate material that has not yet been completely thermochemically treated) from the upper region 102-I along the heating elements 110 into the second region 102-II during the thermochemical treatment. The material to be treated is heated to a first temperature in the upper region 102-I by means of the heating elements 110 and to a second temperature in the lower region 102-II, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. In other words, the material to be treated in the reactor chamber 102 has a temperature gradient from bottom to top, i.e. it becomes successively hotter as it moves through the reactor chamber from top to bottom. The first temperature can be, for example, between 350° and 550°C and the second temperature between 500°C and 750°C.

In order to move the material to be treated, the device 100 can, for example, be set up to feed further starting material through the feed opening 104, for example to push or press the material to be treated through the reactor chamber 102. Alternatively or additionally, the device can also be set up to remove thermochemically treated material from the removal opening, for example so that the material remaining in the reactor chamber 102 can gradually sink, slide, flow and/or fall further downwards. The feeding and/or removal of material can take place continuously or step by step.

The heating elements 110 can be configured to be heated to different temperatures in the upper region 102-I and in the lower region 102-II at the same time, for example to a first heating element temperature in the upper region 102-I and to a second heating element temperature 102-II in the lower region, wherein the second heating element temperature can be higher than the first temperature, e.g. at least 50°C, in some examples at least 100°C higher than the first temperature. Depending on the starting material and the thermochemical treatment to be carried out, the first heating element temperature can be, for example, between 400°C and 600°C and the second heating element temperature between 500°C and 850°C. In some embodiments, the heating elements 110 may have a substantially linear temperature gradient along their length.

By means of the heating elements 110, the starting material 108A can be heated and thermochemically treated in order to produce the thermochemically treated material 108B. During this process, the material to be treated is moved through the reactor chamber 102. Due to the movement of the material (and possibly due to the locally different temperature of the heating elements 110), the material to be treated can be heated to different temperatures in the upper region 102-I and in the lower region 102-II, for example in order to successively undergo different process steps of the thermochemical treatment. For example, thermochemically treated material can be continuously removed through the removal opening 106, so that the starting material 108A fed through the feed opening 104 slowly sinks downwards in the reactor chamber 102 (ie from the upper region 102-I to the lower region 102-II). During this time, the material is continuously heated and thereby thermochemically treated, so that the starting material 108A is successively converted into the thermochemically treated material 108B. This is in Fig. 1a illustrated by the dotted pattern, with the dot size increasing from top to bottom indicating the progressive treatment process.

Fig. 2a and 2 B show schematic representations of a reactor device 200 for producing a pyrolysis product by means of thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material according to a further example. The reactor device 200 (hereinafter also referred to as device 200) is in Fig. 2a in cross-section in a first side view (e.g. along the y-axis in Fig. 2b ) and in Fig. 2b in cross-section in a second side view (e.g. along the x-axis in Fig. 2a ). In some examples, the device 200 is arranged so that the z-axis in Fig. 2a and 2 B corresponds to the vertical (ie coincides with the direction of gravity). The device 200 can, for example, be used to carry out a process for producing a pyrolysis product according to one of the examples described herein, for example the process described below with reference to Fig.8 described method 800.

The device 200 is similar to the device 100 of Fig. 1a, 1b formed, wherein corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The device 200 also has a reactor chamber 102 and a plurality of heating elements 110 which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the reactor chamber 102 and extend from a first/upper region 102-I of the reactor chamber 102 into a second/lower region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102.

In the example of Fig. 2a , 2 B the reactor chamber 102 is arranged in a reactor housing 200A, which is divided by partition walls into a combustion chamber 202, a discharge chamber 204, the reactor chamber 102 and a separation chamber 206A of a separation device 206. The reactor housing 200A is made of a temperature-resistant material such as metal, for example steel. The reactor housing 200A can be made of several pieces. The reactor housing 200A can be made of several walls and have, for example, an inner and an outer wall. The reactor housing 200A can also have one or more thermal insulation layers 200B, eg as in Fig. 2a , 2 B shown between an inner wall and an outer wall of the reactor housing 200A. The thermal insulation layers 200B may be formed, for example, from a high temperature wool such as alkaline earth silicate wool, aluminum silicate wool or polycrystalline wool.

The reactor chamber 102 has a plurality of feed openings 104 in a first/upper region 102-I through which starting material can be fed to the upper region 102-I of the reactor chamber 102, for example by means of a feed device 220 as described below with reference to Fig.5 described in more detail.

For removing thermochemically treated material, the reactor chamber 102 has a removal opening 106 in a second/lower region 102-II, namely in the example of Fig. 2a , 2 B a bottom open towards the separation chamber 206A. Above the removal opening 106 is as below with respect to Fig.6 In more detail, a guide device 602 is arranged for the heating elements 110. In the removal opening 106, a removal device 208 is arranged, which is designed to remove solid components of the thermochemically treated material from the bottom of the reactor chamber 102 and to supply them to the separation device 206. The removal device 208 can be driven, for example, by a motor 210 and is described below with reference to Fig. 7a-7c described in more detail. The device 200 is designed to move material located in the reactor chamber 102 from the upper region 102-I to the lower region 102-II by removing material from the bottom of the reactor chamber 102 by means of the removal device 200, so that material located above can sink, slide, flow and/or fall downwards under the influence of gravity.

The device 200 has a separation device 206, which is designed to separate solid and gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material from one another. The separation device 206 comprises the separation chamber 206A arranged below the reaction chamber 102. In the lower region of the separation chamber 206A, a conveyor screw 212 is arranged, which can be driven, for example, by a further motor 214. can be driven. The conveyor screw 212 is designed to convey solid components of the thermochemically treated material from the bottom of the separation chamber 206A out of the reactor housing 200A. The separation device 206 also has an outlet pipe 216, the inlet opening of which is arranged in the upper region of the separation chamber 206A. Gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material, which can collect, for example, in the upper region of the separation chamber 206A, can escape from the reactor housing 200A through the outlet pipe 216. In some examples, the separation device 206 can be designed to further separate gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material that escape through the outlet pipe 216 into condensable and non-condensable components.

A plurality of sensors 218 are arranged distributed over the device 200, which can be used, for example, to monitor and/or control the device 200. The sensors 218 can, for example, each have a pressure sensor and/or a temperature sensor, for example to measure a pressure or a temperature in the reactor chamber 102, the combustion chamber 202 and/or the separation chamber 206A.

Fig.3 shows one of the heating elements 110 of the reactor device of Fig. 2a , 2 B according to an example in an enlarged side view, wherein for the sake of simplicity only the upper and lower ends of the heating element 110 are shown, while the middle part of the heating element 110 has been omitted as indicated by the broken lines.

The heating element 110 is designed as a double-walled tube and has an inner tube 302 which is surrounded by an outer tube 304. The inner tube 302 and the outer tube 304 are also made of a heat-resistant material. The inner tube 302 and the outer tube 304 can be cylindrical tubes, for example, i.e. have an elliptical and in particular circular cross-section perpendicular to their axis. The inner tube 302 can have an inner diameter of between 2 cm and 20 cm, in one example between 4 cm and 10 cm. The outer tube can have an inner diameter of between 4 cm and 40 cm, in one example between 6 cm and 20 cm. A length of the heating element 110 (along the z-direction in Fig. 2a and 3 ) can be, for example, between 1 m and 10 m, in some examples between 2 m and 5 m, in one example between 3 m and 4 m. The length of the heating elements 110 can be selected, for example, depending on the thermochemical treatment to be carried out. If only a post-treatment of already pyrolyzed material is to be carried out, a shorter length can be selected, for example between 1 m and 2 m. If, in addition to the After treatment, the starting material is first pyrolyzed, a longer length can be chosen, for example between 2 m and 5 m.

The inner tube 302 is open at its upper end, thereby forming an inlet opening 302A. Through this, a heat transfer medium, for example a heat transfer fluid such as a hot gas or a hot liquid, can be introduced to heat the heating element 110, for example from the combustion chamber 102 as described below with reference to Fig.4 described. An insulation layer 306, for example made of high-temperature wool, is arranged on the outside of the inner tube 302 in order to thermally insulate the inner tube 302 from the outer tube 304. Between the insulation layer 306 and the outer tube 304 there remains a gap (e.g. a gap) 308 which runs from the lower end of the inner tube 302 to the upper end of the outer tube 304. In some embodiments, a further layer (for example made of metal) can be arranged on the outside of the insulation layer 306 in order to separate the insulation layer 306 from the gap 308 and the heat transfer medium located therein. The further layer can also be designed as a tube. In other words, the inner tube 302 can be as in Fig.3 shown as a double-walled tube, wherein the insulation layer 306 is arranged between an inner tube and an outer tube of the inner tube 302.

The lower end of the inner tube 302 is also open and is in fluid communication with the interior of the outer tube 304, more precisely with the gap 308 between the inner tube 302 and the outer tube 304. The gap 308 can, for example, have a width between 1 cm and 10 cm, in one example 2 cm and 5 cm. The upper end of the outer tube 304 is also open, thereby forming an outlet opening 304A. Through this, the heat transfer medium can escape from the gap 308 after passing through the heating element 110, for example into the discharge chamber 104 as described below with reference to Fig.4 described.

The heat transfer medium introduced through the inner tube 302 enters the intermediate space 308 at the lower end of the heating element 110 and runs through it back to the outlet opening 304A. The heat transfer medium can transfer heat to the outer tube (and from there to material located in the reactor chamber 102), for example by thermal radiation and/or thermal conduction. The hot heat transfer medium first comes into contact with the lower region or section of the outer tube 304. While the heat transfer medium runs back through the intermediate space 308, the heat transfer medium can cool down due to the heat transfer to the outer tube 304. The heat transfer medium can therefore have a lower temperature in the upper region or section of the intermediate space 308 than in the lower region of the intermediate space 308. As a result, the lower region of the outer tube 304 can be heated to a higher temperature than the upper region of the outer tube 304. The temperature difference of the heat transfer medium between the lower and upper regions of the intermediate space 308 can be, for example, at least 50°C, in some examples at least 100°C, in one example at least 200°C (eg while the device 200 is in operation, eg while material is being moved through the reactor chamber 102).

The inner tube 302 can be as in Fig.3 shown can be arranged freely floating in the outer tube 304, wherein the lower end of the inner tube 304 is arranged at a distance from the outer tube 304. In some embodiments, the inner tube 302 and the outer tube 304 are not firmly connected to one another, for example in such a way that the inner tube 302 can be removed from the outer tube 304. For example, as in Fig.3 As shown, neither the inner tube 302 nor the insulation 306 are in contact with the outer tube 304. This can, for example, enable a separate replacement of the inner tube 302 and an independent thermal expansion of the tubes 302, 304.

In some examples, one or more flow guide means (not shown) can be arranged in the intermediate space 308, in particular in the upper region of the intermediate space 308, for example in order to change a flow path (in particular a length of the flow path), a flow velocity and/or a turbulence behavior of the heat transfer medium and/or a contact area for the heat transfer medium. This can, for example, influence the residence time of the heat transfer medium in the intermediate space 308 and/or the heat transfer between the heat transfer medium and the outer tube. The flow guide means can, for example, be designed to change the flow path, the flow velocity and/or the turbulence behavior of the heat transfer medium and/or the contact area for the heat transfer medium in such a way that a decrease in the temperature and/or the volume of the heat transfer medium along the intermediate space 308 is fully or partially compensated in order to achieve a more homogeneous or constant heat transfer along the heating element 110. In one example, the flow guiding means are configured to maintain (e.g. keep constant) the flow velocity of the (e.g. gaseous) heat transfer medium along the gap 308.

The flow guide means can be, for example, a spiral or helical turbulator, for example a spiral-shaped guide plate. The turbulator can, for example, have between 1 and 50 turns, in one example between 2 and 10 turns In some examples, a slope of the swirlator can decrease in the flow direction of the heat transfer medium (ie from bottom to top), for example continuously or step by step. The swirlator can have a first slope, for example in a first region of the intermediate space 308 (for example a middle region, for example a middle third) and a second slope in a second region of the intermediate space 308 downstream of the first region (for example in an upper region, for example an upper third), wherein the first slope is greater than the second slope. The first slope can be, for example, between 120% and 200%, in one example between 130% and 170% of the second slope. The first slope can be, for example, between 0.5 m and 1.0 m per turn, in one example between 0.7 m and 0.8 m per turn. The second pitch can be, for example, between 0.25 m and 0.75 m per turn, in one example between 0.4 m and 0.6 m per turn. The pitch of the swirlator can be constant across the first and second regions. In some examples, the swirlator can be formed as separate components in the first region and in the second region, or in other words, a first swirlator with the first pitch can be arranged in the first region and a second swirlator with the second pitch can be arranged in the second region.

In some embodiments, a plurality of azimuthally (in the circumferential direction) offset flow guide means, in particular a plurality of azimuthally offset turbulators, can be arranged in the intermediate space 308, for example between 3 and 20 flow guide means, in one example between 5 and 15 flow guide means. The flow guide means or turbulators can, for example, be designed to divide the intermediate space 308 into a plurality of channels. The flow guide means or turbulators can each run parallel to one another.

For mounting in the reactor device 200, the inner tube 302 has a holding element at its upper end, namely a circumferential, angled collar 310, by means of which the inner tube 302 can be held as described below with reference to Fig.4 described in an intermediate wall 204A between the combustion chamber 202 and the discharge chamber 204. The outer tube 304 can also be used as described below with respect to Fig.4 described at its upper end to an intermediate wall 204B between the discharge chamber 204 and the reactor chamber 102. At its lower end, the outer tube 304 has a guide element 312 in order to guide the heating element 110 laterally by means of the guide device 602 arranged in the lower region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102, as described below with reference to Fig.6 described in more detail.

Fig.4 shows an enlarged side view of the reactor device 200 in the region of the discharge chamber 204 according to an example. The discharge chamber 204 is separated from the combustion chamber 202 by an upper partition 204A in the reactor housing 200A, with a thermal insulation layer 402 arranged on the partition 204A. The discharge chamber 204 is separated from the reactor chamber 102-I by a lower partition 204B in the reactor housing 200A. The discharge chamber 204 can, for example, have a height (e.g. a distance between the lower and upper partitions 204A, 204B) between 10 cm and 50 cm, in one example between 20 cm and 30 cm. A discharge pipe 404 leads from the discharge chamber 204 out of the reactor housing 200A.

The discharge chamber 204 has openings in the upper and lower intermediate walls 204A, 204B in which the upper ends of the heating elements 110 are arranged. The inlet openings 302A of the inner tubes 302 are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber 202 in order to introduce a heated heat transfer medium into the inner tubes 302, for example in such a way that a hot flue gas produced during combustion of a fuel (for example a gaseous fuel such as pyrolysis gas) in the combustion chamber 202 can be introduced into the inner tubes 302 as a heat transfer medium. To hold the inner tubes 302, the circumferential collar 310 is placed on a counterpart, namely a circumferential annular projection around the corresponding opening in the intermediate wall 204A. The collar 310 is as in Fig.3 angled downwards so that the inner tubes 302 can be hung in the intermediate wall 204A. A seal 406, for example a stuffing box seal, is arranged between the collar 310 and the annular projection. This can be designed to prevent the heat transfer medium from escaping from the combustion chamber 202 into the discharge chamber 204 and vice versa. Preferably, the inner tubes 302 are not attached to the intermediate wall 204A, but are simply placed or hung on it so that the inner tubes 302 can be easily removed.

The outer tubes 304 are attached to the lower intermediate wall 204B so that the intermediate space 308 is in fluid communication with the discharge chamber 204 via the outlet opening 304A. The outer tubes 304 can, for example, be welded to the intermediate wall 204B. In order to seal the reactor chamber 202 from the discharge chamber 204, the welded connection (e.g. weld seam) 408 is preferably designed to be gas-tight, for example to prevent gaseous components arising during the thermochemical treatment from escaping from the reactor chamber 202 into the discharge chamber 204. The heat transfer medium can be led out of the reactor housing 200A via the discharge chamber 204 and the discharge tube 404 after passing through the heating elements 110. In some examples, the heat transfer medium can then be fed back to the combustion chamber 202. supplied, for example to reheat the heat transfer medium and introduce it into the heating elements 110. Alternatively or additionally, the heat transfer medium can also be used to preheat another medium, in particular a heat transfer medium or a fuel.

The combustion chamber 202 is designed to burn a fuel, in particular a gaseous fuel such as pyrolysis gas. In the example of Fig. 2a , 2 B the combustion chamber 202 has a single chamber (combustion chamber) in which the fuel is burned. This chamber is also in fluid communication with the inner tubes 302, so that hot flue gas produced during combustion can be introduced into the heating elements 110 as a heat transfer medium. In other examples, a heat transfer medium can be used which is guided separately from the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber 202 can, for example, have a heat exchanger which is designed to transfer heat from the combustion chamber to the heat transfer medium before it is introduced into the inner tubes 302.

Fig.5 shows the first/upper region 102-I of the reactor chamber 102 of the reactor device 200 according to an example in plan view. The heating elements 110 are arranged in the reactor chamber 102 in several parallel rows. The arrangement of the heating elements 110 is fitted into the shape of the reactor chamber 102 so that the heating elements 110 essentially fill the entire cross-sectional area of the reactor chamber 102. The heating elements 110 are arranged at a distance from one another so that gaps 112 remain between the heating elements 110. These gaps 112 form the actual reaction volume of the reactor chamber in order to accommodate the starting material and to carry out the thermo-chemical treatment. The gaps 112 are designed such that they completely surround the heating elements 110 on the sides. If the reactor chamber 102 is completely filled with material to be treated, the heating elements 110 are thus surrounded on all sides by material to be treated.

The distances between adjacent heating elements 110 can be, for example, between 2 cm and 40 cm, in some examples between 5 cm and 30 cm, in one example between 10 cm and 20 cm. The distance between adjacent heating elements 110 of the same row can be smaller than the distance between adjacent rows. The distance between the outermost heating elements 110 and the inner wall (inner side wall) of the reactor chamber 102 can be, for example, also between 2 cm and 40 cm, in some examples between 2 cm and 20 cm, in one example between 5 cm and 15 cm. The distance between the outermost heating elements 110 and the inner wall (inner side wall) of the reactor chamber 102 can be smaller than the distance between adjacent Heating elements 110, for example, smaller than the distance between adjacent rows of heating elements 110 and/or smaller than the distance between adjacent heating elements 110 of the same row.

The reactor chamber 102 has a plurality of feed openings 104, which can be designed as a flange, for example. The device 200 has a feed device 220 for feeding starting material through the feed openings 104. The feed device 220 can be designed as in Fig. 2b shown have one or more chambers 222 for receiving starting material. The chambers 222 are connected to one another via one or more locks 224. The locks 224 can have an actuator such as a slide or a flap to close the respective lock 224. The feed device 220 can further have a material box 226 for providing starting material, which can be connected to the chambers 222 via a supply line such as a pipe.

The feed device 220 has a plurality of conveyor devices 228, each of which is designed to transport starting material from one of the feed openings 104 into the gaps 112 between the heating elements 110. In the example of Fig.5 the conveying devices 228 are designed as conveyor screws 228. The conveyor screws 228 each extend from the material box 226 through the respective feed opening 104 into the intermediate spaces 112, for example up to an opposite side wall of the reactor chamber 102. The conveyor screws 228 can each be driven by a motor 230 in order to transport starting material from the material box 226 into the upper region 102-I of the reactor chamber 102.

In some embodiments, the feed device 220 may comprise sensors 232 which are designed to determine the amount of material to be treated (or material in general) in the reactor chamber 102, for example to control the supply of starting material. In the example of Fig.5 the sensors 232 are arranged at the end of the conveyor screws 228 facing away from the feed openings 104. The sensors 232 are designed to detect whether material (for example starting material or material to be treated) arrives at this (distal) end of the conveyor screws 228. This may indicate that the reactor chamber 102 is completely or essentially completely filled with material. The feed device 220 may be designed to feed starting material until material arrives at the distal end of the conveyor screws 228, for example until one or more of the sensors 232 report that material is detected at the relevant sensor. The feed device 220 may then, for example by means of the Lock(s) 224 interrupt the supply of starting material, for example until one or more of the sensors 232 report that no more material is detected at the sensor in question. The sensors 232 can be designed as rotary vane sensors, for example.

Fig.6 shows the second/lower region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102 of the reactor device 200 according to an example in plan view. In the lower region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102, for example as in Fig. 2a , 2 B As shown above the removal opening 106 or above the bottom of the reactor chamber 102, a guide device 602 is arranged to guide the lower ends of the heating elements 110 laterally. For the sake of clarity, the guide device 602 is not shown in Fig.6 only a part in the left area of the reactor chamber 102 is shown, whereas of the heating elements 110 only those in the middle and right area of the reactor chamber 102 are shown. The guide device 602 can, however, as shown in Fig. 2a , 2 B visibly extend over the entire width of the reactor chamber 102.

The guide device 602 may have a plurality of openings, each of which is adapted to receive the lower end of a heating element, for example the guide element 312. The guide device 602 may, for example, be as shown in Fig.6 shown as a grid, wherein the borders of the openings can be connected to one another, for example by cross braces. The openings can be designed to prevent or limit lateral movement of the heating elements 110.

At the same time, however, the guide device 602 can be designed to allow unhindered thermal expansion of the heating elements 110 in the longitudinal direction (z-direction). For example, the heating elements 110 or the guide elements 312 can be arranged freely floating or movably mounted in the respective opening, so that the heating element 110 or the guide element 312 can move freely at least in the longitudinal direction relative to the opening. Alternatively or additionally, the guide device 602 can be freely movable as a whole, for example arranged or held freely floating or movably mounted in the reactor chamber 102. In this case, the heating elements 110 or the guide element 312 can be rigidly connected to the guide device 602, e.g. the openings. For example, the guide elements 312 can be attached to the guide device 602 or vice versa. The guide device 602 may be configured to come into contact with (or be in contact with) a side wall of the reactor chamber 102 to prevent or limit lateral movement of the heating element 110.

In some embodiments, in addition to the heating elements 110, a structural element 604 can be arranged in the reactor chamber 102, for example in the center of the reactor chamber 102. The structural element 604 can serve, for example, as a holder for the guide device 602 and/or as a displacement element. The structural element 604 can be designed, for example, as a tube. The structural element 604 can have a holding means at its lower end, which is designed to hold the guide device 602. For example, the structural element 604 can serve as a suspension for the guide device 602. For this purpose, the structural element 604 can, for example, have a holding means into which the guide device 602 can be suspended. Alternatively or additionally, the heating elements 110 can also serve as a holder or suspension for the guide device.

Fig. 7a, 7b and 7c show the removal device 208 of the device 200 according to an example. In Fig. 7a the removal device 208 is shown in plan view, in Fig. 7b in a side view and in Fig. 7c in a perspective view. The removal device 208 is as in Fig. 2a , 2 B shown arranged in or adjacent to the removal opening 106. The removal device 208 is designed to remove solid components of the thermochemically treated material from the bottom of the reactor chamber 102 and feed them to the separation device 206.

The removal device 208 can be as in Fig. 7a, 7b shown, for example, be designed as a rotatably mounted wheel or disk (or comprise such a disk), which can be driven or rotated by the motor 210. The wheel or disk can have a plurality of openings 208A through which both solid and gaseous components can fall or escape from the reactor chamber 102 into the separation chamber 206A. The wheel or disk can be designed as a clearing device and be set up to remove and/or clear away thermochemically treated material (e.g. to remove and/or move it away) in such a way that further thermochemically treated material can follow into and/or through the removal opening 106 (e.g. to sink or flow in). In the example of Fig. 7a-7c the removal device 208 (e.g. the wheel or the disk) has a plurality of blades or vanes 208B which overlap one another in the circumferential direction and are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction by openings 208A in the form of gaps. The blades 208B can be designed to remove (for example, separate or cut off) solid material located in the reactor chamber 102 when the removal device 208 is rotated. For this purpose, the blades 208B can have a sharp edge or blade at their upper ends adjacent to the gaps 208B. The separated or cut off material can then fall or be transported through the gap 208B into the separation chamber 206A. As a result, material remaining in the reactor chamber 102 can slide downwards and thus move from the first region 102-I into the second region 102-II. The shape of the blades 208B, in particular the extent and/or the slope or the angle of inclination of the blades 208B in the circumferential direction, can be adapted such that the removal rate of the solid components of the thermochemically treated material via the removal opening 106 is essentially the same (for example, varies by less than ±20%, in one example by less than ±10%). Thus, for example, an essentially equal flow rate of the material to be treated can be achieved in the gaps 112 between the heating elements 110. For example, the extent and/or the pitch or inclination angle of the blades 208B may vary in the circumferential direction as a function of the radius, ie, change in the radial direction from the inside to the outside.

The device 200 can be set up to continuously remove material from the reactor chamber by means of the removal device 208, for example by continuously rotating the wheel/disk. Alternatively or additionally, the device 200 can also be set up to remove material step by step or piece by piece from the reactor chamber, for example by rotating the wheel/disk at certain, e.g. regular, intervals, for example by a certain angle of rotation in each case.

Fig.8 shows a flow chart of a method 800 for producing a pyrolysis product according to an example. The method 800 can be carried out with a reactor device according to any of the examples described herein, for example the device 100 of Fig. 1a, 1b or the device 200 from Fig. 2a , 2 B . The latter is used below to illustrate the method 800 by way of example. The execution of the method 800 is not limited to the flow chart in Fig.8 As far as technically possible, the steps of the method 800 can be carried out in any order and in particular at least partially simultaneously. For example, steps 802, 804 and 806 can be carried out at least partially simultaneously.

The method 800 can be used to produce a pyrolysis product, in particular a refined or reformed pyrolysis product (eg a pyrolysis product with an increased quality and/or an increased calorific value) from a carbonaceous starting material. The pyrolysis product can be, for example, a pyrolysis oil, in particular a refined or reformed pyrolysis oil. Alternatively or additionally, the pyrolysis product can also comprise other components such as pyrolysis coke and/or pyrolysis gas, or these can be produced as byproducts of the method 800.

In step 802, the carbonaceous starting material is fed through the feed openings 104 into the first/upper region 102-I of the reactor chamber 102, for example by means of the feed device 220. The carbonaceous starting material can in particular be biogenic material (i.e. at least partially of biological origin), for example sewage sludge and/or biomass. The starting material can be fed in piece form, for example as granules and/or pellets. The piece size of the granules or pellets can be, for example, between 3 mm and 10 mm. The starting material can have a temperature of less than 100°C, for example room temperature, when fed into the reactor chamber 102. The starting material can be provided in the material box 226, for example from the chamber(s) 222, and can be transported by means of the conveyor screws 228 through the feed openings 104 into the upper region 102-I.

In step 804, the starting material is thermochemically treated in the reactor chamber 102 to produce the pyrolysis product. For this purpose, the starting material is heated by means of the heating elements 110 to a temperature suitable for carrying out the thermochemical treatment. In the example of the device 200, a fuel can be burned in the combustion chamber 202 and the resulting flue gas can be introduced through the inlet openings 302 into the heating elements 110 to heat them. The fuel can be, for example, a gaseous fuel such as natural gas. Preferably, the fuel comprises a pyrolysis product (e.g. pyrolysis gas) produced, for example, by means of the method 800. In one example, the fuel can consist entirely of one or more pyrolysis products produced by means of the method 800, in particular pyrolysis gas. The method 800 can thus be operated completely or essentially self-sustaining. The fuel can, for example, be obtained by means of the separation device 206 and fed from there to the combustion chamber 202.

During the thermochemical treatment, the starting material moves from the first area 102-I of the reactor chamber 102 into the second area 102-II. In the example of the device 200, material that has already been thermochemically treated can be removed from the bottom of the reactor chamber 102 by means of the removal device 208, for example as part of the step 806 described below. The starting material located above can sink or slide downwards in the reactor chamber 102 due to gravity and thus move successively from top to bottom through the reactor chamber 102 during the thermochemical treatment. The removal rate (e.g. the removal amount and/or removal frequency) can be selected so that the residence time of the material in the reactor chamber 102 is suitable for the treatment to be carried out. The Residence time may be, for example, between 1 hour and 5 hours, in one example between 2 hours and 3 hours. The material throughput through the reactor device 200 (for example, the feed rate of starting material and/or the removal rate of thermochemically treated material) may be, for example, between 100 kg/hour and 50 t/hour, in one example between 1 t/hour and 10 t/hour.

The temperature of the heating elements 110 and/or the temperature profile along the heating elements 110 can be selected such that the material passes through a temperature curve suitable for the thermochemical treatment to be carried out as it moves from top to bottom through the reactor chamber 102. This can be achieved on the one hand by a suitable design and/or arrangement of the heating elements 110, for example by a suitable choice of the dimensions of the heating elements 110 (e.g. their length and/or their diameter), the distance between the heating elements 110 and/or between the heating elements and the side wall of the reactor chamber 102 and/or by providing flow guide means in the heating elements 110. Alternatively or additionally, this can be achieved by suitably selecting a temperature and/or a flow rate of the heat transfer medium (e.g. the flue gas from the combustion chamber 202). The flue gas temperature can be influenced, for example, by the amount of air and/or fuel supplied to the combustion chamber 202. The temperature of the heat transfer medium introduced into the heating elements 110 (e.g. at the inlet opening 302A) can be, for example, between 500°C and 1200°C, in some examples between 650°C and 1000°C, in some examples between 750°C and 900°C, in one example between 830°C and 870°C. The flow rate of the heat transfer medium through the heating elements 110, e.g. in the inner tube 302 and/or in the outer tube 304, can be, for example, between 2 m/s and 20 m/s, in one example between 5 m/s and 15 m/s. The temperature of the heat transfer medium exiting the heating elements 110 (e.g. at the outlet opening 304A) can be, for example, between 250°C and 650°C, in some examples between 350°C and 600°C, in some examples between 400°C and 550°C, in one example between 430°C and 470°C.

The starting material may be material that has not yet been (or not yet fully) pyrolyzed, for example substantially untreated sewage sludge and/or biomass. The thermochemical treatment in step 804 may first comprise pyrolyzing the starting material in step 804A and then post-treating the pyrolyzed material in step 804B. Both steps (ie, pyrolyzing and post-treating) occur while the material moves downward through the reactor chamber 102. The pyrolyzing and post-treating may be carried out substantially continuously (ie, without clear separation) or merge into one another in a continuous conversion process. The thermochemical treatment can be carried out with complete exclusion or essentially with exclusion of oxygen.

In order to pyrolyze the starting material, the starting material is first heated in the first/upper region 102-I by means of the heating elements 110 to a pyrolysis temperature, i.e. to a (first) temperature that is suitable for partial or complete pyrolytic decomposition of the starting material. Depending on the starting material used, the pyrolysis temperature can be, for example, between 350°C and 550°C, in one example between 400°C and 500°C. In order to heat the starting material to the pyrolysis temperature, the heating elements 110 in the upper region 102-I can be heated to a (first) heating element temperature that is greater than or equal to the pyrolysis temperature. The first heating element temperature can be, for example, between 400°C and 600°C, in one example between 450°C and 550°C. The first heating element temperature may, for example, be the temperature of the outer wall of the outer tube 304 in the first region 102-I.

For the post-treatment of the (partially or fully) pyrolyzed material in step 804B, the material in the second region 102-II of the reactor chamber 102 is heated by means of the heating elements 110 to a post-treatment temperature, which is generally higher than the pyrolysis temperature. The post-treatment can serve, for example, to refine or reform the pyrolyzed material, in particular one or more pyrolysis products contained therein, for example to change their chemical composition (e.g. chain length and/or proportions of chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen and/or hydrogen), quality and/or calorific value. Depending on the starting material used, the post-treatment temperature can be, for example, between 500°C and 750°C, in one example between 550°C and 700°C. In order to heat the material to the post-treatment temperature, the heating elements 110 in the lower region 102-II are heated to a (second) heating element temperature that is greater than or equal to the post-treatment temperature. The second heating element temperature can be, for example, between 550°C and 800°C, in one example between 600°C and 750°C. The second heating element temperature can be, for example, the temperature of the outer wall of the outer tube 304 in the second region 102-II. In some embodiments, the post-treatment can be a thermocatalytic post-treatment, wherein the at least partially pyrolyzed material in the reactor chamber 102, in particular a solid component of the at least partially pyrolyzed material, can serve as a catalyst.

In some embodiments, the thermochemical treatment in step 804 may not include the pyrolysis in step 804A or the post-treatment in step 804B. For example, the starting material may have been completely or partially pyrolyzed before being fed into the reactor chamber 102 and the thermochemical treatment in step 804 may only include the post-treatment in step 804B. For this purpose, for example, the temperature of the heating elements 110 and/or the residence time of the material can be adjusted accordingly. In some examples, alternatively or additionally, the heating elements 110 can also be designed accordingly, for example, have a shorter length.

The method 800 may further comprise removing thermochemically treated material (e.g. the post-treated material) from the reactor chamber 102 in step 806, for example by means of the removal device 208. By continuously or stepwise or repeatedly removing the thermochemically treated material, the material in the reactor chamber 102 can be moved successively from the feed openings 104 along the heating elements 110 through the reactor chamber 102 to the removal opening 106. As mentioned above, at least steps 804 and 806 can be carried out at least partially simultaneously. For example, during the thermochemical treatment in step 804, thermochemically treated material can be continuously or repeatedly removed from the reactor chamber 102 in order to move the material to be treated during the thermochemical treatment. In addition, new starting material can be fed to the reactor chamber 102 at the same time in step 802, for example also continuously or stepwise.

Step 806 may also include separating components of the thermochemically treated material, for example by means of the separation device 206. The material may, for example, be separated into solid and gaseous components, in some examples into solid, condensable/liquid and non-condensable/gaseous components. One or more of these components may be the pyrolysis product to be produced. In some embodiments, this may be subjected to further post-treatment processes, for example refining processes. Step 806 may further include separating or obtaining fuel for the combustion chamber 202 from the thermochemically treated material. For example, a non-condensable pyrolysis gas may be separated from other components of the thermochemically treated material by means of the separation device 206 and introduced into the combustion chamber 202.

Fig. 9a and 9b show a removal device 208 of the reactor device 200 from Fig. 2a , 2 B according to another example. Similar to the removal device from Fig. 7a-7c the removal device 208 is arranged in or adjacent to the removal opening 106 and is configured to remove thermochemically treated material 108B (in particular solid components thereof) through the removal opening 106 from the reactor chamber 102 and to supply it to the separation device 206.

The removal device 208 comprises a support 902 for the thermochemically treated material 108B, which is arranged in or below the removal opening 106. The support 902 has one or more openings 904 through which solid components of the thermochemically treated material can enter (eg fall) the separation device 206. In the example of the Fig. 9a, 9b the support 902 is designed as a plurality of cross-connections or cross-braces, each of which extends in the horizontal direction (eg along the y-direction in Fig. 9b ) extend through the reactor housing (eg through the removal opening 106 or the separation chamber 206A). The cross struts are separated from one another by gap-shaped openings 904. The support 902 (eg the cross struts) can have a filling material which can serve, for example, to prevent or reduce warping of the support 902 when heated and/or to slow down heating of the support 902. In one example, the support 902 (eg the cross struts) is poured inside with concrete, in particular insulating or insulating concrete.

A material guide device 906 can be arranged above the support 902, which is designed to guide or direct solid components of the thermochemically treated material 108B onto the support 902. For this purpose, the material guide device 906 can, for example, have one or more inclined surfaces. In the example of the Fig. 9a The material guide device limits or forms a plurality of downwardly tapering openings (which, for example, as in Fig. 9a shown in the xz plane can have a triangular or funnel-shaped cross-section). The openings are each arranged above one of the crossbars of the support 902. Solid components of the thermochemically treated material 108B can be in these openings as in Fig. 9a shown form a fill resting on the cross braces, whereby in Fig. 9a For the sake of simplicity, the thermochemically treated material 108B is shown in only one of the openings.

The removal device 208 further comprises a clearing device which is designed to remove and/or clear away thermochemically treated material lying on the support 902. The clearing device can be designed, for example, to move (eg push) material lying on the support 902 (eg material in the space between the support 902 and the material guide device 906) into the openings 904, for example so that the material falls into the separation device 206.

In the example of Fig. 9a, 9b the clearing device has a plurality of clearing slides 908, each of which is arranged above (eg on) one of the crossbars and is movable along the x-direction. The clearing device also has a drive 910, which is designed to move the clearing slides 908 back and forth along the x-direction (in Fig. 9a, 9b indicated by the horizontal arrows) in order to push material resting on the corresponding crossbar into the openings 904. For this purpose, the drive 910 can, for example, have a drive shaft and an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the eccentric can be designed to convert the rotary movement of the drive shaft into a longitudinal movement of the clearing slides 908. In some embodiments, all clearing slides 908 can be moved at the same speed, for example, they can be rigidly coupled to one another. The use of linearly movable clearing slides as in Fig. 9a, 9b can be advantageous in order to achieve the most uniform possible removal of solid components of the thermochemically treated material through the removal opening 106. The removal rate can be adjusted by changing the speed or frequency of the movement of the clearing slides 908.

Fig. 10a and 10b show a removal device 208 of the reactor device 200 from Fig. 2a , 2 B according to another example. The removal device 208 is similar to the removal device of Fig. 9a, 9b and also has a support 902 with openings 904, a material guide device 906 and a clearing device. In the example of the Fig. 10a, 10b the clearing device is designed as a rotatable clearing slide or clearing arm 912. The clearing arm 912 is arranged between the support 902 and the material guide device 906. By rotating the clearing arm 912 (eg in a horizontal plane), material lying on the support 902 can be pushed into the openings 904. The removal rate can be adjusted by changing the speed of the clearing arm 912.

The described embodiments of the invention and the figures serve only as purely exemplary illustrations. The invention can vary in its form without changing the underlying functional principle. The scope of protection of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention arises solely from the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• 100 - Reactor device
• 102 - Reactor chamber
• 102-I - first/upper area
• 102-II - second/lower area
• 104 - Feed opening
• 106 - Removal opening
• 108A - Source material
• 108B - thermochemically treated material
• 110 - Heating element
• 112 - Intermediate space
• 200 - Reactor device
• 200A - Reactor housing
• 200B - Insulation
• 202 - Combustion chamber
• 204 - Discharge chamber
• 204A - upper partition wall
• 204B - lower partition wall
• 206 - Separation device
• 206A - Separation chamber
• 208 - Removal device
• 208A - Opening
• 208B - Blade/Shovel
• 210 - Engine
• 212 - Conveyor screw
• 214 - Engine
• 216 - Outlet pipe
• 218 - Sensor
• 220 - Feeding device
• 222 - Chamber
• 224 - Lock
• 226 - Material box
• 228 - Conveyor device/conveyor belt
• 230 - Engine
• 232 - Sensor
• 302 - Inner tube
• 302A - Inlet opening
• 304 - Outer tube
• 304A - Outlet opening
• 306 - Isolation
• 308 - Intermediate space
• 310 - Retaining element/collar
• 312 - Guide element
• 402 - Isolation
• 404 - Discharge pipe
• 406 - Seal
• 408 - Welded joint/weld seam
• 602 - Guide device
• 604 - Structural element
• 800 - Process for producing a pyrolysis product
• 802 - Feeding of starting material
• 804 - Thermochemical treatment of the starting material
• 804A - Pyrolyzing the starting material
• 804B - Post-treatment of pyrolysed material
• 806 - Separation of components of the thermochemically treated material
• 902 - Edition
• 904 - Opening
• 906 - Material guide device
• 908 - Clearing slide
• 910 - Drive
• 912 - Clearing arm

Claims (15)

Reactor device (100, 200) for producing a pyrolysis product by thermochemical treatment of a carbonaceous starting material (108A), the reactor device (100, 200) comprising: a reactor chamber (102) with one or more feed openings (104) for feeding the starting material (108A) in a first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) and one or more removal openings (106) for removing thermochemically treated material (108B) in a second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102); and a plurality of heating elements (110) which are arranged at a distance from one another in the reactor chamber (102) and extend from the first region (102-I) into the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102), wherein the reactor device (100, 200) is designed to move the material to be treated during the thermochemical treatment from the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) along the heating elements (110) into the second region (102-II) and, in the process, to heat material to be treated located in the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) to a first temperature by means of the heating elements (110) and, at the same time, to heat material to be treated located in the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature. Reactor device (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein the first region (102-I) and the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) are not structurally or structurally separated from one another, in particular wherein the reactor chamber (102) in the first region (102-I), between the first region (102-I) and the second region (102-II) and in the second region (102-II) consistently has the same dimensions perpendicular to the direction of movement of the material to be treated. Reactor device (100, 200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reactor device (100, 200) is adapted to pass a heated heat transfer medium through the heating elements (110) counter to the direction of movement of the material to be treated. Reactor device (100, 200) according to claim 3, wherein each of the heating elements (110) comprises a double-walled tube with an inner tube (302) and an outer tube (304), wherein the inner tube (302) is at least partially accommodated in the outer tube (304) and there is an intermediate space (308) between the inner tube (302) and the outer tube (304), wherein the inner tube (302) has an inlet opening (302A) for introducing the heated heat transfer medium at a first end of the respective heating element (110) facing away from the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102), and the intermediate space (308) between the inner tube (302) and the outer tube (304) is in fluid communication with the inner tube (302) at a second end of the respective heating element (110) opposite the first end, in order to convey the heat transfer medium introduced through the inner tube (302) through the space (308) from the second end of the respective heating element (110) towards the first end of the respective heating element (110). Reactor device (100, 200) according to claim 4, wherein the reactor device (100, 200) further comprises a discharge chamber (204) for discharging the heat transfer medium, which is arranged on a side of the reactor chamber (102) adjacent to the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102), wherein the intermediate spaces (308) between the inner tubes (302) and the outer tubes (304) of the heating elements (110) are each in fluid communication with the discharge chamber (204) at the first end of the respective heating element (110). Reactor device (100, 200) according to claim 5, wherein the outer tubes (304) of the heating elements (110) are each fastened to a wall (204B) between the reactor chamber (102) and the discharge chamber (204) and the inner tubes (302) of the heating elements (110) each extend through the discharge chamber (204) to the respective inlet opening (204A), wherein the inner tubes (302) of the heating elements (110) preferably each have a holding element (310) and are removably suspended and/or placed by means of the holding element (310) on a side of the discharge chamber (204) facing away from the reactor chamber (110). Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the reactor device (100, 200) further comprises a combustion chamber (202) for generating the heated heat transfer medium, which is in fluid communication with inlet openings of the heating elements (110), in particular with the inlet openings (302A) of the inner tubes (302) of the heating elements (110), wherein the discharge chamber (204) is preferably arranged between the reactor chamber (202) and the combustion chamber (102). Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second ends of the heating elements (110) facing away from the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) are each arranged freely floating and/or movably mounted in the reactor chamber (102) in order to enable unhindered thermal longitudinal expansion of the heating elements (110). Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) is arranged above the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) so that the material to be treated can move between the heating elements (110) at least partially due to gravity from the first region (102-I) into the second region (102-II), wherein the reactor device (100, 200) is preferably designed to remove thermochemically treated material from the reactor chamber (102) through the one or more removal openings (106) such that the material to be treated moves between the heating elements (110) at least partially due to gravity from the first region (102-I) into the second region (102-II). Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reactor device (100, 200) further comprises one or more conveyor devices (228), each adapted to transport starting material (108A) from one of the one or more feed openings (104) into spaces (112) between the heating elements (110) in the reactor chamber (102). Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the second temperature is between 450°C and 950°C in order to post-treat a pyrolysis product located in the second region (102-I, 102-II) of the reactor chamber (102); and/or the first temperature is between 200°C and 600°C in order to at least partially pyrolyze starting material (108A) located in the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102); and/or the second temperature is at least 50°C, preferably at least 100°C higher than the first temperature. Reactor device (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reactor device (100, 200) further comprises a separation device (206) provided with which is connected to one or more removal openings (106) and is designed to separate solid and gaseous components of the thermochemically treated material (108B) from one another, wherein the separation device (206) is preferably arranged on a side of the reactor chamber (102) adjacent to the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102). A method (800) for producing a pyrolysis product using a reactor device (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method (800) comprising: Feeding a carbon-containing starting material (108A), in particular a biogenic starting material, into the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) through the one or more feed openings (104); and thermochemically treating the starting material (108A) by heating the starting material (108A) by means of the plurality of heating elements (110) to produce the pyrolysis product, wherein the starting material (108A) moves from the first region (102-I) to the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) during the thermochemical treating. The method (800) of claim 13, wherein: the thermochemical treatment of the starting material (108A) comprises heating the starting material (108A) in the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) to a pyrolysis temperature in order to at least partially pyrolyze the starting material (108A), and heating the at least partially pyrolyzed material in the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) to a post-treatment temperature in order to post-treat a pyrolysis product contained in the at least partially pyrolyzed material; and/or the starting material (108A) comprises at least partially pyrolyzed material and the thermochemical treatment of the starting material (108A) comprises heating the partially pyrolyzed material in the first region (102-I) and/or in the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) to the post-treatment temperature in order to post-treat a pyrolysis product contained in the at least partially pyrolyzed material. The method (800) of claim 13 or 14, wherein: the pyrolysis temperature is between 200°C and 600°C; and/or the post-treatment temperature is between 450°C and 950°C; and/or the first region (102-I) of the reactor chamber (102) is arranged above the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) and the method (800) further comprises removing thermochemically treated material from the reactor chamber (102) through the one or more removal openings (106) such that the starting material (108A) moves from the first region (102-I) to the second region (102-II) of the reactor chamber (102) during the thermochemical treatment at least partially due to gravity.

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