US Patent 7749359 Closed retort charcoal reactor system

A reactor is provided for converting organic material to charcoal, with the reactor having a furnace and a retort extending through the furnace. The retort has an auger extending therethrough, with the auger having a flight with gaps therein. Members project inwardly from the walls of the retort at the gaps in the flight to unplug blockages in the retort. A gas collection system is provided which has a branched portion having two or more venting tubes, each with valves so that each may be shut off independently to allow to off-line cleaning without requiring shutdown of the system. A method for converting organic material may be practiced by introducing combustible materials into the reactor.