Method and apparatus for processing wet material

An apparatus for treating wet material, said apparatus comprising:

• an inlet hopper for introducing wet material into said apparatus wherein said hopper includes beater bars;
• an injector auger for physically directing a flow of the wet material introduced into said apparatus through said hopper;
• a blower for pneumatically directing said flow of the wet material introduced into said apparatus through said hopper, wherein said blower air through heat of compression obtains a temperature level sufficient to reduce pathogens;
• a first cyclone for receiving the wet material as directed to said cyclone by said injector auger and blower, and for desiccation, and psychrometric treatment of the wet material, wherein said first cyclone has a plurality of impingement bars for interrupting the airflow within said first cyclone thereby reducing the particle size, and for cellular disruption, of the wet material;
• a second cyclone for receiving the wet material from said first cyclone and for specific gravity separation, and further desiccation and psychrometric treatment of the wet material wherein said second cyclone has a first outlet for discharge of a substantially solid portion of the wet material, and a second outlet for discharge of a substantially liquid portion of the wet material, and wherein said second cyclone moves between an upright working position and a transport or storage position, and wherein said second cyclone has a first air lock located at said first outlet;
• a wet scrubber for receiving and treating said substantially liquid portion of the wet material;
• and
• a discharge auger for discharging said substantially solid portion of the wet material and for treatment to reduce any remaining pathogens, wherein said discharge auger further comprises:
• an outer auger housing surrounding an inner auger housing containing an auger shaft;
• an inlet and outlet through said inner and outer auger housing for the introduction of heated air from said blower for the reduction of pathogens in said substantially solid portion of the wet material;
• nozzles for the introduction through said inner and outer auger housing of a conglomerate agent to pelletize said substantially solid portion of the wet material;
• inlet and outlet through said inner and outer auger housing for the introduction of a disinfectant substance for the reduction of pathogens in said substantially solid portion of the wet material;
• a second air lock located at an end opposite of said first air lock;
• and
• baffles located between said inner and said outer auger housing for creating pathways for the flow of said heated air and said disinfectant substance;
• a swivel assembly to allow said discharge auger to tilt and rotate to accommodate offloading of the substantially solid portion of the wet material.

A method for treating wet material, said method comprising:

• introducing wet material into an inlet hopper of a wet material treatment apparatus;
• pneumatically directing a flow of the wet material introduced into said apparatus through said hopper through positive pressure created by a blower of said apparatus;
• physically directing said flow of the wet material introduced into said apparatus through said hopper with an injector auger;
• receiving the wet material from said injector auger and blower, and separating the wet material in a cyclone by desiccation and specific gravity separation of the wet material into a substantially liquid portion and a substantially solid portion;
• discharging said substantially solid portion of the wet material from a first outlet of said cyclone;
• discharging said substantially liquid portion of the wet material from a second outlet of said cyclone;
• receiving and treating said substantially liquid portion of the wet material in a wet scrubber;
• and
• treating said substantially solid portion of the wet material received from said first outlet of said cyclone in a discharge auger.