Surface Contact
Surface Contact reactors are a key type of ATT (advanced thermal treatment) reactor and are generally used in pyrolysis systems[1]. The application of this technology is to maximise the rate of pyrolysis. These reactors can process only small-sized waste and so pre-treatment of feedstock is required. This process runs at high temperatures of 600-850°C and the small feedstock size results in high heating rates[2].
An example of the application of this reactor type in waste-to-energy plants is Beston's pyrolysis plant which can process waste tyres, waste rubber, oil sludge, and waste plastics. The chamber of this plant is heated to provide Surface Contact and pyrolyze feedstock into industrial fuel oil, steel wire, and combustible gas[3].