NOVELTY - A system to convert sludge (40) into vapor (58) and char comprises a reactor module; and a condenser module and/or a combustion module. The reactor module comprises a reaction chamber (36) in which sludge is heated in an oxygen free state to form vapor and char; a separation chamber that conveys the vapor and char out of the reactor module; and control valves that direct the vapor to condenser module that can condense vapors into bio-oil temperature sufficient to avoid condensation of water vapor; and/or a combustion module that can combust the vapors to generate heat and/or energy.    USE - For converting sludge into vapor and char (claimed), which is useful in applications such as air purification, catalyst support, decolorization in beverages and sugar refining, deodorization, metal recovery/removal, liquid purification, brick manufacturing, emergency poison treatment, solvent recovery and/or whiskey manufacturing.    ADVANTAGE - The system converts the sludge into fuel without the creation of reaction water and allows the independent control of mixing and the movement of the sludge through pyrolysis systems. The system forms char with a variety of beneficial uses such that char need no longer be viewed as a waste product of pyrolysis processes. The system provides methods to avoid the production of reaction water, thus requiring only a two-phase centrifugal separation of oil and particulate matter and avoiding inefficiencies and environmental issues associated with reaction water. The system avoids the production of reaction water by condensing oils at a temperature above that at which water will condense. The system removes the numerous drawbacks associated with the production of reaction water that currently exist in presently used pyrolysis methods, and addresses these particular drawbacks by adopting mixing elements that can increase contact between sludge and vapors as the sludge moves through a reaction chamber (and becomes char) but do not convey the sludge/char material through the reaction chamber. The system allows operators to more precisely control the pyrolysis process, eliminating the need for batch processing, by making the speed through which sludge travels through a reactor module and the amount of mixing that occurs while therein independently controlled. The system allows for the independent control by separating the functions of moving sludge and mixing sludge to different system components. This allows adjustment during sludge processing so that batch processing can be avoided. This approach also allows greater fill coefficients of the reaction chamber because, irregardless of the amount of mixing that occurs, the sludge and/or char can remain in the reactor chamber for any desired period of time. Thus, separating time spent in the chamber from the amount of mixing can increase contact between the shell and contents of the chamber to facilitate efficient heat transfer and production of quality bio-oil and/or chars. The system provides pyrolysis systems and methods that do not produce reaction water. The system can prevent the production of reaction water by condensing bio-oils at a temperature above that at which water vapor condenses. The system also allows more heat to be applied to material as it goes through the pyrolysis process. Additional heat (and longer exposure to the additional heat) creates a char that is more suitable for use as a precursor to activated carbon than chars created using previous pyrolysis methods. This benefit of the system is created by providing systems and methods that allow for a higher fill coefficient in the reactor chambers according to the system. A higher fill coefficient increases the available surface area for conductive heat transfer, thus allowing more heat to be applied and absorbed by the system. The chars made with the systems can be particularly useful in a variety of contexts due to the ability to achieve higher reaction temperatures due to higher filling coefficients, improved mixing and improved sealing of the reaction chamber among other features. Mixing and contact can promote vapor-phase catalytic reactions and heterogenetic solid phase vapor phase catalytic reactions which, along with temperatures used with the system can help to ensure that carbohydrates are nearly completely converted to graphite with a high active surface area, classifying the char as an especially appropriate precursor for activated carbon manufacturing. The rate of mixing and the rate of sludge movement through the reaction chamber/conversion zone can be independently controlled. Thus, the material can be mixed in the reaction chamber/conversion zone to promote vapor and char contact, but the mixing mechanism has little to no effect on material inventory and will not actively convey material through the reactor. The system provides important advance over previous pyrolysis methods by allowing further control and adjustment of the pyrolysis process. Because there can be no direct contact between the water and the bio-oil, further treatment of the water can be avoided.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A system to convert sludge (40) into vapor (58) and char comprises a reactor module including a reaction chamber (36), a separation chamber, and one or more control valves; and a condenser module and/or a combustion module. In the reaction chamber the sludge can be heated in an oxygen free state after which the sludge becomes vapor and char. The separation chamber conveys the vapor and char out of the reactor module, and control valves direct the vapor to either a condenser module that can condense the vapors into bio-oil at or above a temperature sufficient to avoid condensation of water vapor; and/or a combustion module that can combust the vapors to generate heat and/or energy. The condenser module comprises a direct spray condenser that can use cooled bio-oil as a spray material. The sludge is conveyed through reactor module via an active sludge transport mechanism. The reaction chamber comprises mixing elements (46) that mix sludge without conveying sludge through reactor module. The system further comprises a helical conveyor for moving char from separation chamber to a cooling area. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for converting sludge into vapor and char.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-sectional view of a converter system.    reaction chamber (36)    sludge (40)    mixing elements (46)    weir (52)    char plug screw device (56)    vapor (58)