Back to results
US 12,690,098 B2Granted
Microwave waste heating system and related features
AssigneeA.L.M. Holding Company
InventorsDrew J. Frederixon, Gerald H. Reinke, Jacob G. Hehir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for processing waste material is disclosed that includes at least one microwave generator, at least one microwave guide operatively connecting the at least one microwave generator to at least a first conveyor unit. The first conveyor unit is provided in a first housing that includes at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via a first microwave guide and the first conveyor unit is configured to receive and process a quantity of waste material, which includes heating the waste material to a first temperature by applying microwave energy to the waste material within the first housing.
Claims20
A system for continuously processing waste material, comprising:
- at least one microwave generator;
- a first conveyor unit;
- at least a first microwave guide operatively connecting the at least one microwave generator to the first conveyor unit;
- the first conveyor unit provided in a first housing that comprises at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via the first microwave guide;
- and
- at least one microwave suppression tunnel comprising at least one flexible and/or movable microwave reflecting component within the tunnel, wherein the microwave reflecting component is a mesh flap configured to absorb, deflect, and/or block microwave energy,
- wherein the first conveyor unit is configured to receive and continuously process a quantity of flowing waste material in accordance with a target specification, at a first processing step comprising heating the waste material, as it flows within the first housing, to a first temperature for a first time period to reduce contaminants of the waste material in accordance with the target specification, wherein the first processing step is configured to perform a sterilizing, pasteurizing, or other heat treatment of the waste material in accordance with the target specification, the system being configured such that contaminants of the waste material are reduced to or below a predetermined target level specified by the target specification, and the waste material is caused to be suitable for at least one of reuse, resale, disposal, and consumption, and
- wherein at least a portion of the at least one microwave reflecting component is configured to be deflected as the flowing waste material passes through the tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the waste material is no longer passing through the tunnel.
5 more elements
A method for continuously processing waste material, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a quantity of waste material at a first conveyor unit, wherein the waste material passes through an inlet microwave suppression tunnel before entering the first conveyor unit;
- continuously transporting a flow of the waste material along the first conveyor unit;
- emitting microwave energy from at least one microwave generator operatively connected to a respective microwave guide, and heating the flowing waste material within a first housing of the first conveyor unit when the microwave energy is absorbed by at least a portion of the flowing waste material within the first housing, wherein the waste material is heated to a first temperature for a first time period at a first processing step to reduce contaminants of the waste material in accordance with a target specification;
- performing a sterilizing, pasteurizing, or other heat treatment of the waste material in accordance with the target specification as part of the first processing step;
- processing the waste material such that contaminants of the waste material are reduced to or below a predetermined target level of the target specification and the waste material is caused to be suitable for at least one of reuse, resale, disposal, and consumption;
- and
- causing the processed flowing waste material to exit through an outlet microwave suppression tunnel,
- wherein at least one of the inlet or the outlet microwave suppression tunnel comprises at least one flexible and/or movable mesh flap within the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel,
- wherein the at least one mesh flap is configured to perform at least one of absorbing, deflecting, and blocking microwave energy, and
- wherein at least a portion of the at least one mesh flap is configured to be deflected as the flowing waste material passes through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the waste material is no longer passing through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.