Piggybacked Pyrolyzer and Thermal Oxidizer

Abstract

A pyrolysis waste treatment system having a pyrolyzer and a thermal oxidizer that are aligned in a partially or completely piggybacked fashion, and heat from the exhaust gas of the thermal oxidizer is shunted back to the pyrolyzer to help sustain pyrolysis. Such conduits can have any suitable configuration, including for example where the conduit extends from sides (as opposed to the ends) of each of the pyrolyzer and the thermal oxidizer. Contemplated pyrolyzers and the thermal oxidizers can have any suitable dimensions, but are preferably at least 5 meters long, and have a cross sectional area of at least 10 m 2 . In most contemplated embodiments, the thermal oxidizer has a length within 20% of the length of the pyrolyzer.

1 . A device for pyrolytically treating waste, comprising: 
 a pyrolyzer having an inner chamber that carries a waste stream, an outer chamber that provides heat to the inner chamber to sustain pyrolysis, and a outlet for release of syngas produced during pyrolysis;    a thermal oxidizer that produces hot exhaust gases from oxidation of at least some of the syngas;    a conduit that passes at least some of the exhaust gases to the outer chamber of the pyrolyzer; and    wherein the pyrolyzer and the thermal oxidizer each have a bottom and the bottom of one is at least elevated 2 meters relative to the bottom of the other.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising the pyrolyzer and thermal oxidizer disposed such that a vertical line exists that passes through at least some portion of the pyrolyzer and at least some portion of the thermal oxidizer.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pyrolyzer and thermal oxidizer are at least 5 meters long.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal oxidizer has a length within 20% of a length of the pyrolyzer.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pyrolyzer is distanced from the thermal oxidizer by less than 2 meters.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit extends from sides of each of the pyrolyzer and the thermal oxidizer.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a saddle disposed between the pyrolyzer and the thermal oxidizer.