Advanced thermal chemical conversion process of municipal solid waste
AssigneeBright Sand, Inc.
InventorEarl R. Decker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of processing MSW, either sorted or unsorted, which can be carried out through the use of canisters to hold the waste feedstock, and autoclaves specially designed to process the waste at suitable temperature and pressure combinations is disclosed. The final solid product is a mixture of carbon ash and non-combustible materials, such as, metals, drywall, etc., and syngas that has an enhanced BTU value, typically between about 300 to 700 BTU/ft3. The remainder solid material generally amounts to approximately 5% of the original MSW volume. This material can then be sorted for metals with the balance being sent to a landfill or other recycling processes depending on its composition.
Claims15
A method of thermally converting a solid waste feedstock into energy comprising:
- providing a solid waste feedstock;
- providing at least one holding canister;
- providing a sealable reactor vessel having a lower heated air chamber and configured to operate in both updraft and downdraft conditions;
- placing the solid waste feedstock into the holding canister;
- placing at least one holding canister into the sealable reactor vessel;
- sealing the sealable reactor vessel;
- purging the reactor vessel with air;
- igniting an oil/gas burner to begin the thermal conversion process;
- providing heated air from the oil/gas burner through an attachment into the lower portion of the reactor vessel through to the lower section of the holding canister;
- continuing addition of heated air until the gas temperature on a counter flow line of the reactor vessel reaches a desired first temperature of 250 C;
- increasing temperature of the solid waste feedstock and pressure in the reactor vessel both to desired second temperature range, 400 to 1000 C, and second pressure levels, 4 to 150 psi, respectively;
- adjusting the pressure of the reactor vessel to a desired third pressure level, 20 to 100 psi, by adjusting the injection of compressed air;
- injecting atomized water into the reactor vessel to initiate the water gas shift reaction;
- continuing the thermal conversion of the solid waste feedstock until the temperature reaches a desired fourth temperature range of 100 to 1000 C;
- injecting water into the holding canister so that it flashes into steam and flows onto the solid waste feedstock;
- injecting water into the reactor vessel using non-atomizing nozzles sufficient to quench the thermal conversion of the solid waste feedstock, and
- recovering the process gas.
A process for thermal decomposition of waste material comprising:
- providing waste material;
- providing at least one of a plurality of canister sections having a central opening configured to accept heated air from a heater for holding the waste material;
- placing the plurality of canister sections in a sealable reaction vessel;
- providing a carbon pillow between the heated air and the waste material;
- introducing heated air through the central opening to thereby initiate the thermal decomposition of the waste material;
- maintaining the reaction conditions in the reaction vessel to thermal decompose the waste material;
- quenching the waste materials with water when the thermal decomposition is complete, and
- wherein syngas is produced by the thermal decomposition of the waste material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.