Patent ID: 8715582

Claim:
An apparatus for producing activated carbon comprising: a reactor vessel having an interior chamber for containing carbon based feedstock; a processor for receiving and enclosing said reactor vessel; an insulating barrier disposed between said reactor vessel and said processor for defining a generally vertical outer gas circulating pathway between said processor and said barrier and a generally vertical inner gas circulating pathway between said barrier and said reactor vessel, which inner and outer gas circulating pathways are communicably connected, said reactor vessel having at least one gas receiving intake port that communicably interconnects said interior chamber of said reactor vessel with said inner gas circulating pathway; a first inlet conduit formed through said processor and in communication with said interior chamber of said reactor vessel for introducing a first ignition gas into said reactor vessel to ignite said feedstock; a second inlet conduit formed through said processor and in communication with said outer gas circulating pathway for introducing a second combustion regulating gas into said outer gas circulating pathway, which second gas circulates through said outer and inner gas circulating pathways and enters said reactor vessel through said at least one gas receiving intake ports; and at least one exhaust conduit communicating with said interior chamber of said reactor vessel and formed through said processor for exhausting gas produced by the combustion of feedstock within said reactor vessel; said processor and said reactor vessel having respective feedstock access openings that are selectively uncovered for introducing feedstock into said interior chamber of said reactor vessel and covered for enclosing said interior chamber of said reactor vessel to combust feedstock therein.