Patent ID: 7476296

Claim:
An apparatus for converting an organic liquor into carbon solids and a mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising: a heater configured to receive and heat the organic liquor to produce a mixture of liquid and vaporized oil, said heater having an outlet; a reactor comprising a vessel having an inlet and first and second outlets wherein said inlet communicates with the heater outlet, said reactor configured to receive and convert the mixture of liquid and vaporized oil into carbon solids and a mixture of hydrocarbon vapors and gases; a first cooler having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet communicating with the first reactor outlet for accepting the carbon solids, the first cooler being configured for containing and cooling the carbon solids accepted from the reactor; a second cooler having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet communicating with the second reactor outlet for accepting the mixture of hydrocarbon vapors and gases; and a particulate separator disposed between the second reactor outlet and second cooler inlet, wherein said particulate separator returns entrained particulate from the mixture of hydrocarbon gases and vapors to the reactor.