Helical stirring system for plastic conversion vessel

Abstract

To provide a plastic conversion vessel comprising a pyrolytic reactor having a conveying mechanism for moving waste comprising plastic material such as polymers, or hydrocarboneous material, or solid inert residue (SIR) through the reactor.SOLUTION: A plastic pyrolytic conversion vessel comprises a conveying mechanism for moving a liquid, or a semi-molten, or a molten waste material, or a solid inert residue, or any combination thereof through the vessel. During pyrolyzation of the waste material, the same is heated and vaporized and undergoes in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, and is subsequently removed from the vessel. A plurality of scraper blades serve to mix the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste material, or a solid inert residue, or any combination thereof and convey the waste material forward toward a vessel egress. In another embodiment, one or more sweeping devices serve to move forward the waste material that is located between adjacent rotating conveyor devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Pyrolysis reactors typically contain small amounts of solid inert residue, such as clay, talc, etc., that do not volatilize and must be removed from the reactor. The present invention relates to a plastic conversion vessel containing one or more shafts having one or more conveying devices thereon, one or more of which have scraper blades thereon that contact the bottom of the conversion vessel. As the shafts rotate, the conveying devices move waste materials, such as semi-molten material, molten material, solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the vessel until the materials other than the solid inert residue are completely vaporized while the scraper blades agitate the molten material. [Background technology]

[0002] Pyrolysis reactors generally convert various plastic and hydrocarbon waste materials into one or more substances using heat alone, i.e., without any oxidation. Such processes involve in-situ chemical reactions, including cracking, recombination, reforming, re-racking, etc. During this process, the plastic and hydrocarbon waste materials typically vaporize to produce a variety of different products with commercial uses. However, because plastics, like polymers, generally contain inert additives such as clay, silica, talc, alumina, calcium carbonate, mica, mineral fibers, glass, fiberglass, metal particles and fibers, carbon black, etc., they are not vaporized and typically remain in the reactor as a solid, inert residue. This residue must be removed to allow for the continued and efficient operation of the pyrolysis operation.

[0003] More specifically, as the waste material vaporizes in the polymer conversion unit as it moves along the various heated zones of the vessel, solid inert residue (SIR) falls to the bottom of the vessel during the pyrolysis-vaporization process. To remove the SIR, it must be moved forward through the reactor vessel and vented from there. This process is somewhat difficult and often does not result in complete removal of the SIR, which can trigger a shutdown to allow the SIR to be removed from the reactor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a plastic conversion vessel comprising a pyrolysis reactor with a conveying mechanism for moving waste materials, including plastic materials such as polymers, or hydrocarbon-based materials, or solid inert residue (SIR), through the reactor. During pyrolysis of plastics and hydrocarbon-based materials, they are heated and mixed, and through in-situ chemical reactions, including cracking, recombination, reforming, re-racking, etc., the waste materials are volatilized and then removed from the reactor. Generally, the SIR additives initially contained in the polymer remain in the reactor during pyrolysis. The conveying mechanism of the present invention moves the solid inert additives in and out of the reactor.

[0005] The plastic conversion vessel has an inlet and an outlet, one or more shafts, the one or more shafts having independently rotatable conveying devices, the rotatable devices having one or more rakes for moving waste material including liquid, semi-molten material, molten material, solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the vessel toward the outlet, the semi-molten material and / or the molten material including one or more polymers or hydrocarbon-based compounds, or both, the conveying devices independently having one or more scraper blades, the scraper blades operably and independently attached to the rakes, the attached scraper blades having a height such that they can independently scrape the bottom of the vessel when the conveying device rotates.

[0006] 1. A process for agitating material in a plastic conversion vessel, comprising: moving waste material, including liquid, or semi-molten material, or molten material, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through a pyrolysis conversion vessel, wherein the vessel comprises one or more shafts having independently rotatable conveying devices, the rotatable devices having one or more rakes for moving the waste material, or any combination thereof, through the vessel toward the outlet, the semi-molten material and / or the molten material comprising one or more polymers, or hydrocarbon-based compounds, or both, the conveying devices independently having one or more scraper blades, the scraper blades operably and independently attached to the rakes, the attached scraper blades having a height such that they can independently scrape the bottom of the vessel as the conveying device rotates.

[0007] A plastic conversion vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior wall, comprising at least two shafts each having a rotatable conveyor device for moving waste or solid inert residue, or both, through the vessel toward the outlet, and at least one support housing in the vessel, the support housing being located between the rotatable conveyor devices and having an arm fixed to the interior wall of the vessel, the conveyor device having a retractable auxiliary scraper blade for cleaning under the support device and moving the waste therethrough. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] These and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains upon reading the following description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plastic conversion vessel of the present invention in which various reactions can occur. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plastic conversion vessel containing an agitation device for conveying solid inert residue through the conversion unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a carousel apparatus showing an auxiliary scraper blade that is retractable to clear under the support apparatus and move the waste material therethrough. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Polymer Conversion Unit (PCU) The container 300 of the present invention can generally be any container known in the art or literature in which physical and / or chemical reactions can occur and which is desirably free of air and oxygen.

[0010] That is, the total amount of oxygen based on the total internal volume of the vessel is less than about 3 volume percent, desirably less than about 2 volume percent, preferably less than about 1 volume percent, and more preferably zero, i.e., it does not contain any air or oxygen. Thus, a pyrolysis vessel can be utilized. The vessel 300 does not rotate and does not contain any added catalyst. That is, it does not contain any added catalyst, except for typically small amounts of catalyst that may be inherently contained in one or more polymers, etc. The vessel can generally have multiple heating units 370, multiple reaction stages, multiple product gas exhausts 380, etc., or any combination thereof. Optionally, but preferably, the vessel 300 contains an outer shroud 360 having multiple inner walls 365 extending from the shroud to the vessel inner wall 390 and forming heating channels for hot gas to heat the vessel. Thus, heat from the heater 370 generally travels around the periphery of the generally cylindrical vessel 300 and exits therefrom through a heat exhaust channel 375 at the top of the vessel. The heat in the different sections of the vessel 300 generally vaporizes the semi-molten or molten (liquid) waste 460, the gases produced therefrom exiting the vessel through product discharge channel 380 and being fed to a condensation unit (not shown), and the waste is in the form of different types of usable products. Pyrolysis generally occurs during the transport of the semi-molten material, or molten waste 460, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, along the vessel as shown in FIG. 2 from input or inlet 310 to vessel top 320 by rake 650 via cracking, recombining, reforming, re-racking, etc. Generally, suitable pyrolysis temperatures in vessel 300 along axis 305, i.e., from left to right in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, range from about 900° F. to about 1,200° F., while suitable temperatures in the Y-axis, i.e., from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel, range from about 700° F. to about 1,000° F., typically from about 800° F. to about 950° F. Temperatures in the Z-axis, i.e., from the front of the vessel to its back, are generally fairly constant throughout.A preferred vessel, shown schematically in Figure 1, is described in U.S. Patent No. 10,711,202, issued July 14, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference in all its aspects. Various known reactions, such as cracking, reforming, recombining, and relacking of the waste materials of the present invention, generally produce various hydrocarbon gases, such as alkane gases, or naphtha, or various light oils, such as heavy oil, as well as various gases, such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, marine fuel, various waxes, additives, various distillates, light organic compounds, and the like.

[0011] The yield of gaseous products produced by the present invention is very high, at least about 70% by weight, desirably at least about 80% by weight, and preferably at least about 85% by weight, or about 90% by weight, of the feedstock placed in the vessel. The remaining material is generally classified as a dry, solid, inert residue, often containing filler and other inert materials, which is discharged from the top or outlet end 320 of the vessel 300 through discharge channel 330.

[0012] A desirable embodiment of the vessel 300 is for producing oil and gas products in general. Preferred waste materials include plastics, such as polymers in the form of sheets, wrappers, packaging, furniture, plastic housings, containers, etc., containing essentially only hydrogen and carbon atoms, such as polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. Other suitable commercially available polymers include polyesters, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, nylon, polybutylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, polyurethanes, polyethers, poly(oxides), poly(sulfides), polyarylates, polyetherketones, polyetherimides, polysulfones, polyvinyl alcohols, and polymers formed by the polymerization of dienes, vinyl esters, acrylates, acrylonitrile, methacrylates, methacrylonitrile, diacids, diols, or lactones, or any combination thereof. Still other polymers include the aforementioned block copolymers and alloys thereof. Polymeric materials also include thermosetting polymers such as epoxy resins, phenolic resins, melamine resins, alkyd resins, vinyl ester resins, crosslinked polyester resins, crosslinked polyurethanes, and crosslinked elastomers including, but not limited to, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polystyrene-butadiene, polystyrene-isoprene, polyethylene-propylene, ethylene-propylene-diene, and the like, and blends thereof.

[0013] The hydrocarbonaceous materials generally include, of course, various heavy fractions of fractionation columns containing compounds having mainly only carbon and hydrogen atoms, for example, various bitumens including bituminous tailings from mines, various heavy oils, greases, semi-asphaltic compounds, etc., which are reduced by the present invention to lighter components, mostly hydrocarbon-containing gases of various types.

[0014] The various waste materials described above often contain solid inert materials (SIRs) such as various fillers, pigments, flame retardants, reinforcing materials, silica, aluminum, talc, glass, clay, etc. Generally, the amount is about 2% to about 25% by weight, or desirably about 3% to about 20% by weight, or preferably about 3% to about 15% by weight, or most preferably less than about 7% by weight, all based on the total weight of one or more polymeric and / or hydrocarbon-based materials. Such compounds generally do not react chemically or physically but are released from vessel 300 through vessel discharge channel 330.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the different types of waste often comprise about 40% to about 90% by weight, desirably about 50% to about 85% by weight, and preferably about 70% to about 80% by weight of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene polymers, and any remaining polymers may be, but are not limited to, polyurethane, nylon, PET, and polyvinyl chloride, as well as any of the remaining polymers mentioned above.

[0016] Another waste product often found in association with various plastics, such as polymers and hydrocarbon-based materials, is the various liquids utilized in the production of the polymers, which often include various lubricants, various silicone oils, and various plasticizers, or any combination thereof.

[0017] A plastic conversion vessel according to the present invention is generally shown in FIG. 2, and pyrolysis vessel 300, which may be the vessel shown in FIG. 1, includes various heating zones, reaction zones, vaporization output channels, and the like. As described above, the plastic conversion vessel generally contains liquid or semi-molten material, or molten (liquid) waste, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, e.g., polymeric and / or hydrocarbon-based materials; i.e., everything except the inert solid residue is generally volatilized and recovered as usable products. Vessel 300 of the present invention also contains one or more agitation assemblies 600, as well as various scraper blades 660, for agitating the liquid or semi-molten material, or molten waste, as well as for removing the non-volatilized solid inert residue therefrom. In other words, the agitation assembly relates to an internally integrated system for agitating the liquid or semi-molten material, or molten waste, or solid inert residue material, or any combination thereof.

[0018] As described above, liquid, semi-molten material, or molten waste, or any combination thereof, is vaporized in the vessel 300 by independent heating zones along the vessel's length, and the solid inert residue falls to the vessel's bottom during the pyrolysis-vaporization process. Such solid inert residue is transported through the reactor by the agitator assembly's spiral rake 650. During forward transport, the waste vaporizes until completely vaporized at a general location called the "beach head" 350, from which only the inert residue moves forward and is discharged from the reaction through the vessel discharge channel 330. Because a large temperature difference exists between the bottom and top of the vessel, the shape of the bottom vessel deforms due to different expansion coefficients. That is, the bottom of the vessel is "bowed" because it heats more than the top. That is, because the bottom expands a greater distance than the top of the vessel, it has a slightly bent "U" shape. However, scraping and transporting the solid inert residue is still achieved due to the length, shape, and location of the individual independent scrapers 660 of the present invention.

[0019] The internal agitation and solid inert residue assembly 600 of the present invention generally comprises several items. Typically, there are one or more shafts 620 along the length of the vessel 300, ranging from two to about seven shafts, and any number in between. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 accommodates four shafts 620, each of which may independently be the same length or may differ from one another. A key aspect of the present invention is that each shaft 620 accommodates at least one rotary conveyor device 630. The conveyor device comprises several components, such as one or more rakes 650, a plurality of support arms or spokes 640 generally connecting the rake 650 to the shaft 620, one or more longitudinal brackets 655 mounted around the rake 650 along the length of the vessel 300, and one or more slidable agitating or scraper blades 660 residing within the one or more brackets 655. Thus, the number of combinations of the four structural conveying components described above present on one or more shafts within the vessel 300 is enormous.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, one or more helical rakes 650, which in a preferred embodiment are helical screws, reside on each shaft. That is, the rakes 650 spiral generally longitudinally around the shaft 620. The rakes 650 have a radial width (i.e., blades) extending from the inner diameter of the blades to their outer diameter. Such widths can vary widely depending on the size of the agitation and solid inert residue assembly 600 as well as the size of the vessel 300. Generally, the radial width is about 6 to about 18 inches, desirably about 7 to about 14 inches, and preferably about 8 to about 12 inches. The outer diameter of the radial width of the rakes 650 is such that, when positioned at the bottom of the vessel 300, it closely contacts the bottom of the vessel 300. This intimate engagement allows the rake, such as a helical screw, to come into contact with the liquid, semi-molten, and / or molten waste and the solid inert residue. Rotation of shaft 620 by motor 625 rotates conveying device 630 such that rake 650 provides forward movement of waste and / or residue material longitudinally, such as from left to right, along the length of reactor 300, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As previously mentioned, the waste material moves near the "beach head" 350, where, due to evaporation, generally no remaining liquid, semi-molten, or molten material is thereafter present, and only solid inert residue material is conveyed to or moves ahead of reactor discharge 330.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2 , one or more of the spiral rakes 650 are attached to the shaft 620 by a plurality of support arms or spokes 640, the number of which may vary. That is, one end of the arm or spoke 640 is attached to the spiral rake 650 by any conventional means, such as welding, nuts and bolts, screws, adhesives, or the like, and the other end is similarly attached to the inner shaft 620. For one revolution of the spiral rake, the number of such spokes may be two, five, ten, or more, so the number of support arms or spokes 640 may be large. Furthermore, the number of individual rakes located along the longitudinal length of any given carousel apparatus 630 may vary from any number, such as one, two, or the like, to approximately ten individual rakes. The support arms (and the agitator, i.e., scrubber blades, as a whole) occupy a relatively small volume in the vessel to allow for vapor movement and mixing along the vessel. Furthermore, the small relative volume reduces the weight of the agitator assembly 600, correspondingly reducing erosion and wear.

[0022] Another important aspect of the rotatable conveying device 630 is the use of one or more, preferably multiple, brackets 655 extending longitudinally along the axis of the vessel 300. The brackets 655 can extend from the initial helical rake or screw 650 longitudinally downstream (toward the vessel outlet 330) to the second, third, fourth, etc., helical screw, as desired. The length of such brackets can be solely within each shaft section 620, as shown in FIG. 2, or can extend from one shaft to another, etc. Typical lengths can be about 30 to about 40 feet. Of course, such extensions can be along the same circumferential helical location (straight), e.g., at the 0° location, with each of the remaining one or more brackets extending at the same circumferential location, e.g., at every 90°, or every 180°, or every 30°, or every 60°, etc., as desired. The bracket 655 can have regularly extending outward slots or grooves therein, which serve to receive, for example, interlockingly, one or more scraper blades 660. The scraper blades 660 mix, agitate, blend, etc., liquid, semi-molten, molten, or SIR (Solid Inert Residue) materials, or any combination thereof. The bracket 655 is designed so that the one or more scraper blades 660 can freely slide a specific radial distance inward and outward, but are always held therein by any conventional mechanical engagement known in the art and literature, such as a flange, a restriction, or a narrow opening at the base of the bracket that holds the enlarged base of the scraper. Thus, as described above, even during heating when the reactor is bent slightly into a "U" shape, the slidable engagement of the scraper blades 660 can still easily engage the bottom of the vessel a distance extending thereto and thus serve to transport waste material through the vessel. The length of each individual scraper blade 660 can vary along the entire length of the bracket 655, desirably along only a portion thereof, or, less preferably, can extend from one bracket to an adjacent bracket.Also, the number of such brackets extending circumferentially around shaft 620 may vary, such as desirably two or more, up to three, up to four, up to six, etc., as shown in FIG.

[0023] The various scraper blades generally have a height greater than the distance from the radially outer edge of the bracket 655 to the vessel 300, allowing the radially outer ends of the scraper blades 660 to be pulled along the bottom of the vessel 300, thereby contacting any solid inert residue therein and, importantly, agitating or mixing the liquid, semi-molten, or molten material, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, generally ensuring its total evaporation. Additionally, along the longitudinal length of the vessel 300, the radial height of the scraper blades 660 extending outward from the bracket 655 can be greater than in other longitudinal sections of the vessel 300. Thus, the radial height of the scraper is greater in the central longitudinal portion of the vessel 300, which is typically curved outward due to its expansion, so that the scraper blades can radially contact the vessel bottom 300. However, it does not serve to move liquid, semi-molten, or molten waste, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, within vessel 300 in a forward or longitudinal direction along the length of said vessel. Rather, longitudinal movement of waste, etc. is accomplished by spiral rake 650.

[0024] The above system lacks any structure for moving waste material longitudinally along the reaction vessel toward the discharge chamber 330 between adjacent carousel devices 630. This problem is easily solved by the structure shown in FIG. 3, which exists between the longitudinal gap or opening between the end of one carousel device 630 and the beginning of the adjacent downstream carousel device 630, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a bearing 710 is preferably present between the adjacent ends of the carousel devices 630 supporting the agitator assembly shaft 620, which extends the entire length of the vessel 300. The bearing 710 is supported by a support arm 720 attached or secured to the vessel interior wall 390 by any conventional method, such as welding, bolts, and nuts. Liquid, semi-molten, or molten waste material, or SIR material, is laterally or longitudinally moved below or beneath the shaft support bearing 710 area by one or more cleaning devices 750, typically having retractable arms 751 and 756, to avoid contact with the fixed support arm 720 as the carousel device 630 rotates. Several different types of such cleaning devices 750 can be utilized, such as the two embodiments shown below: Additional cleaning devices 750 can be utilized as long as they generally have retractable arms that avoid damage to the shaft support arms 720 when the carousel device 630 rotates.

[0025] Two preferred embodiments include a flipper arm cleaning apparatus 751 and a springer arm cleaning apparatus 756. The flipper arm apparatus is clearly shown in FIG. 3 , where a longitudinally extending flipper shoe 752 extends longitudinally outward from the carousel apparatus 630 to which it is pivotally mounted. The flipper shoe 752 generally has a bottom longitudinal edge that conforms to the shape of the container bottom extending below the shaft support bearing 710, so that upon rotation of the carousel apparatus 630, the bottom of the flipper shoe 752 comes into intimate contact with or actually resides against the container interior wall 390 along the bottom region of the container 300 where liquid, semi-molten, molten, or SIR material is present, thereby rubbing against the container interior wall. The flipper arm 751 can exist alone or in combination with a springer arm 756. To move the waste material longitudinally forward along the bottom of the container 300 toward its outlet, the flipper arm 751 can be tilted at an angle so that the waste material moves longitudinally forward toward the container outlet 330, i.e., from left to right in Figures 1 and 2. The flipper arm 751 is pivotally attached to the end of the carousel conveyor apparatus 630 at a pivot point 753 so that as the conveyor apparatus 630 rotates, the flipper shoe falls by gravity to a lower position, thereby avoiding contact with the bearing support arm 720, which is fixedly or permanently attached to the container inner wall 390.

[0026] A second cleaning device in the form of a springer arm 756 is attached to another portion of the end of the carousel apparatus 630, for example, generally opposite the flipper arm 751. The springer arm 756 houses a blade 757 attached to the end of the carousel apparatus 630 by any flexible or spring element 758, such as a hinge and spring. The springer arm blade 757 also has a scraper edge 759 that conforms to the bottom of the container material wall 390, so that upon rotation of the springer arm 756, the waste material is moved longitudinally through the area located below the shaft support bearing 710 and forward of or toward the outlet end of the container 300. When the springer arm blade 757 contacts the support arm 720, the springer blade moves inward toward the end of the carousel apparatus 630, so that the forward extent of the springer arm blade 757 can extend laterally beyond the location of the bearing support arm 720. That is, as the conveyor apparatus 630 rotates, the springer arm blades 575 contact the shaft bearing arms 720 and are resiliently attached to the ends of the carousel apparatus 630, pressing inward, and therefore not impeding or obstructing the rotation of the carousel apparatus 630. Furthermore, the springer arms can move vertically and laterally in the slots to provide flexibility with respect to container geometry. In particular, the slots allow the springs to contact and scrape against the bottom of the container, while also allowing the spring arms to drop away from the walls and the top of the container, reducing wear and preventing the springer arms from hitting the container walls.

[0027] Thus, by including the cleaning device 750, the above-mentioned waste materials can be continuously moved along the length of the reactor vessel 300, i.e., from left to right in Figures 1, 2, and 3, by the spiral rake 650 and the cleaning device 750.

[0028] In accordance with the patent statutes, the best mode and preferred embodiment has been set forth, but the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A plastic conversion container, an entrance and an exit; one or more shafts, each having an independently rotatable conveying device, the rotatable device comprising one or more rakes for moving waste material comprising liquid, semi-molten material, or molten material, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the vessel toward the outlet, the semi-molten or molten material comprising one or more polymers or hydrocarbon-based compounds, or both; the conveying device independently has one or more scraper blades, the scraper blades being operably and independently attached to the rake; A plastic converting vessel having a height such that the attached scraper blades can independently scrape the bottom of the vessel as the conveying device rotates.

2. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 1 , including one or more brackets operably attached to the rake, the scraper blades being independently housed within the brackets.

3. The plastic converting vessel of claim 2 , wherein the scraper blade is slidably received in the bracket.

4. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 3 including a plurality of support arms connecting the rake to the shaft.

5. 5. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 4, wherein the scraper blade is positioned longitudinally in the vessel, and the scraper blade is capable of stirring and / or mixing the liquid, or the semi-molten, or molten waste, or the solid inert residue, or any combination thereof.

6. The plastic conversion bin of claim 5 , wherein the scraper blade does not move the waste material longitudinally through the plastic conversion bin.

7. 4. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 3, wherein the rake is a helical screw having a radial width that, as it rotates, engages and moves the waste material and is capable of conveying the solid inert residue through the reactor.

8. 5. The plastic converting vessel of claim 4, wherein the rake is a helical screw having a radial width, the helical screw being capable of engaging and moving the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste, or the solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the reactor upon rotation.

9. 6. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 5, wherein the rake is a helical screw having a radial width, the helical screw being capable of engaging and moving the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste, or the solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the reactor as it rotates.

10. 7. The plastic converting vessel of claim 6, wherein the rake is a helical screw having a radial width, the helical screw being capable of engaging and moving the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste, or the solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the reactor upon rotation.

11. 1. A process for agitating material in a plastic conversion vessel comprising a vessel, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet, the process comprising: the process comprises moving waste material comprising liquid, or semi-molten material, or molten material, or solid inert residue, or any combination thereof, through the pyrolysis conversion vessel, the vessel comprising one or more shafts with independently rotatable conveying devices, the rotatable devices comprising one or more rakes for moving the waste material, or any combination thereof, through the vessel toward the outlet, the semi-molten material and / or the molten material comprising one or more polymers, or hydrocarbon-based compounds, or both; the conveying device independently has one or more scraper blades, the scraper blades being operably and independently attached to the rake; A process wherein the attached scraper blade has a height such that it can independently scrape the bottom of the container as the conveying device rotates.

12. 12. The process of claim 11, including one or more brackets operably attached to the rake, wherein the scraper blades are independently housed in the brackets, the scraper blades are slidably housed in the brackets, and the transport device is capable of transporting the waste even if the shape of the container changes.

13. 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the rake is a helical screw and includes a plurality of support arms connecting the rake to the shaft.

14. 14. The process of claim 13, wherein the scraper blade is positioned longitudinally in the vessel, and the scraper blade is capable of agitating the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste, or the inert residue, or any combination thereof.

15. 15. The process of claim 14, wherein upon heating the vessel, it assumes a slightly bent "U" shape and the scraper blade and the helical screw engage and move the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste, or the inert residue, or any combination thereof, and convey the solid inert residue through the reactor.

16. A plastic conversion vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior wall, at least two shafts each having a rotatable conveyor device for moving waste or solid inert residue, or both, through said vessel toward said outlet; at least one support housing in the container, the support housing being positioned between the rotatable conveying devices and having an arm fixed to an inner wall of the container; A plastic conversion bin having a retractable auxiliary scraper blade so that the conveying device can clean under the support device and move the waste material therethrough.

17. 17. The plastic converting vessel of claim 16, wherein the one or more auxiliary scraper blades independently comprise a flipper arm, or a spring arm, or both.

18. 20. The plastic conversion vessel of claim 17, wherein the one or more spring arms house a spring.

19. 18. The plastic converting vessel of claim 17, wherein the one or more flipper arms include a pivot point, the flipper arms being capable of pivoting about the pivot point.

20. 17. The plastic converting vessel of claim 16, wherein the one or more auxiliary blades are flipper arms.

Images