Process and apparatus for thermally treating bio-solids
AssigneeBio-Solids Remediation Corp.
InventorsDaniel C. Hopper, Trudy J. Hopper
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Abstract
A high throughput process and apparatus for thermal remediation of bio-solids, e.g., bio-sludge from wastewater treatment plants, has a dryer with a high capacity heat source to volatilize and combust the compounds contained in a first lot of bio-solids. The thermally treated bio-solids are discharged and cooled. Hot gases and fines formed are drawn into a second dryer where a second lot of bio-solids are used to cool the hot gases/fines mixture. An exhaust cooling recirculating unit is used to further cool the gas/fines mixture and separate courser fines before entering the bag house. Additional separation of the fines from gases is achieved in a baghouse or other suitable device for separating fine particles from gas.
Claims18
A process for thermally treating bio-solids, comprising the steps of:
- heating a first lot of bio-solids in a first rotatable container such that organic compounds present therein volatilize and combust and moisture present is driven off the first lot of bio-solids to form a first lot of thermally treated bio-solids and a first volume of hot gases and fines;
- removing the first lot of thermally treated bio-solids from the first container,
- transporting the first volume of hot gases and fines to a second rotatable container and introducing a second lot of bio-solids to the second rotatable container, and
- contacting the first volume of hot gases and fines with the second lot of bio-solids in the second rotatable container, the second lot being in an amount sufficient to simultaneously cool the gases and fines in the first volume to a desired temperature while heating the second lot of bio-solids such that organic compounds present therein volatilize and combust and moisture present is driven off the second lot of bio-solids to form a second lot of thermally treated bio-solids and a second volume of hot gases and fines;
- separating the hot gases from the fines in the second volume;
- and
- removing the second lot of thermally treated bio-solids from the second rotatable container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.