US 4,044,695 A · Multi-stage pneumatic municipal solid waste separation and recovery of a plurality of classifications

Abstract

Heterogeneous municipal solid waste is pneumatically separated in a first stage into relatively heavy incombustible and lighter weight combustible fractions. The first stage light combustible fraction is further pneumatically separated in a second stage into heavier grade fuel and lighter grade fuel fractions. In a third stage still further separation may be effected of the second stage lighter grade fraction into a heavier fraction suitable for other uses such as in the manufacture of certain building materials and a lightest fraction most suitable for air suspension boiler or kiln firing. Primary shredding of all of the solid waste to be pneumatically separated, and final reshredding of the fuel grade materials are provided for to attain maximum combustion efficiency. Apparatus for effecting large volume continuous process multi-stage pneumatic separation comprises serially connected pneumatic tower separators including means for controlling air velocity and volume to meet a wide variety of conditions in the solid waste materials being handled.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system of municipal solid waste separation and fuel recovery, comprising:

effecting primary shredding of heterogeneous municipal solid waste;
pneumatically separating said primary shredded solid waste in a first-stage pneumatic separator into relatively light, low density combustible waste materials and relatively incombustible and high density waste materials;
pneumatically separating said first-stage combustible waste materials in at least one second-stage pneumatic separator into a relatively heavy density classification fuel fraction and a light density classification fuel fraction in a continuous processing operation;
transporting the relatively heavy density classification fuel fraction from said second-stage pneumatic separator;
and
separately transporting the light density classification fuel fraction from the second-stage pneumatic separator.

3 more elements

A system of municipal solid waste separation and fuel recovery, comprising:

means for effecting primary shredding of heterogeneous municipal waste;
first-stage pneumatic separating means receptive of and adapted tor separating said primary shredded waste into relatively low density combustible waste materials and relatively incombustible and high density waste materials;
second-stage pneumatic separating means receptive of and adapted for separating the combustible waste materials into relatively light-density classification fuel fraction and a relatively heavier classification fuel fraction;
means for transporting the high density waste materials away from said first-stage pneumatic separating means;
means for delivering the relatively low density combustible waste materials into said second-stage pneumatic separating means;
means for transporting the relatively light-density classification fuel fraction from said second-stage pneumatic separating means;
and
means for separately transporting the relatively heavier classification fuel fraction from said second-stage pneumatic separating means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-stage pneumatic municipal solid waste separation and recovery of a plurality of classifications

Life of this patent

Multi-stage pneumatic municipal solid waste separation and recovery of a plurality of classifications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21