An apparatus, a system, and a method for heat treating a moisture-containing or water-laden material are provided. The heat treatment can be drying for dehydration, gasification, or full carbonization. The system comprises a feeding mechanism, and a rapid compression unit (RCU) apparatus having a screw, a barrel, and one or more flow disrupters. The system can further include a reflux condenser, an aftercooler stage, a second condenser for particle filtering, and an exit mechanism. The one or more flow disrupters are located on an inner surface of the barrel and project into the passageway created by the screw and the barrel. The screw is sized to fit within the barrel such that flow disrupter does not contact the screw. The one or more flow disrupters cause the water-laden material to fold over onto its self, thereby, allowing for the occurrence of more uniform drying.