Reactor for continuously treating polymeric material
A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material includes a hopper configured to feed the recycled polymeric material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polymeric material in a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. The molten material is depolymerized in a reactor. In some embodiments, a catalyst is used to aid in depolymerizing the material. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. The depolymerized molten material can then be cooled via a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used. In certain embodiments, these reactors are connected in series. In some embodiments, the reactor(s) contain removable static mixer(s) and/or removable annular inserts.
1. A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material comprising:
(a) a hopper configured to continuously feed said recycled polymeric material into said system;
(b) an extruder system configured to continuously turn said recycled polymeric material into a molten material;
(c) a filter system configured to continuously filter said molten material, wherein said filter system includes a screen changer;
(d) a first reactor configured to continuously depolymerize said molten material into a wax;
(e) a heat exchanger configured to continuously cool said wax;
(f) a purifier system configured to continuously purify said wax, wherein said purifier system includes an absorbent bed;
(g) a second reactor configured to depolymerize said molten material into a second wax;
(h) a third reactor configured to depolymerize said molten material into a third wax; and
(i) a fourth reactor configured to depolymerize said molten material into a fourth wax;
wherein said first reactor, said second reactor, said third reactor, and said fourth reactor are connected in parallel,
wherein said second reactor has a first dimension and said third reactor has a second dimension, wherein said first dimension and said second dimension differ such that said second wax is different from said third wax.
2. The system of claim 1 configured to employ at least one of a gas or oil created by said purifier system as fuel for said system.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said recycled polymeric material comprises polyethylene.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said recycled polymeric material comprises polypropylene.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said recycled polymeric material comprises polystyrene.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said recycled polymeric material includes up to 10% nonpolymeric material based on the weight of said recycled polymeric material.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said filter system includes a filter bed.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said first reactor comprises a dynamic mixer.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first reactor is a tubular reactor.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said extruder system comprises a pump/heater exchanger combination.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first reactor is divided into at least a first section and a second section.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein said filter system further includes a filter bed, and
wherein said first reactor is a tubular reactor, and
wherein said first reactor divided into at least a first section and a second section, and
wherein said extruder system comprises a pump/heater exchanger combination.
13. A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material comprising:
(a) a reactor configured to continuously depolymerize a molten material into a depolymerized molten material, said reactor comprising a removable static mixer and a removable adaptor with a plurality of cut-outs formed therein, each of said plurality of cut-outs for housing a support for said removable static mixer.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
(b) an extruder system configured to continuously turn said recycled polymeric material into said molten material.
15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
(b) a filter system configured to continuously filter said molten material.