Process for melting plastic for subsequent feeding to a processor via a melt pump

Abstract

Process for feeding plastic material, e.g. a plastic waste, to a processor such as a thermochemical reactor, e.g. a pyrolysis reactor. The process comprises an optional shredder or disintegrator (), a conveying system (), a feed hopper () with a lock hopper or rotary valve, a melting tank () with an agitator () followed by a melt pump () for the delivery of molten plastic to the processor. The advantage of the current process includes the ability to supply a consistent, metered flow to the processor, independent of the recycled plastic's melt properties, or the form or particle size and distribution of the plastic material.