Method and apparatus for fragmenting certain solid wastes

Abstract

Certain solid waste, particularly that comprising trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage, animal and organic remains, and similar materials as is collected from municipalities, is heated and pressurized, preferably with the addition of moisture which saturates those components of the waste which will accepted it, to a suitable temperature and pressure in a pressure vessel. The suitable temperature and pressure are such that the moisture or liquid already in the waste will rapidly turn to steam or vapor at the temperature of the waste when the pressure in the vessel is rapidly reduced. Unloading means at the bottom of the pressure vessel then quickly open. The sudden release of the pressure in the vessel then causes the moisture to change to steam and a certain portion of the liquid in the waste material to flash to vapor in accordance with thermodynamic laws. The resulting rapid expansion within the waste material fragments the waste material. The fragmented waste may be received in a temperature-controlled pit structure where organic fragments of the waste (if any) are rapidly composted (biodegraded) by bacterial action into a stable and inoffensive mass which may be disposed of, for example, as land fill or, after separation from non-compostable solids and either with or without the addition of other nutrients and chemicals, as fertilizer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.