Method and apparatus for solids processing

An anaerobic digester for digesting high-solids waste material, the anaerobic digester comprising:

• a closed container having an inlet and an outlet;
• a flow path between the inlet and the outlet within the closed container;
• a center wall defining a shape of the flow path, the center wall having a first side and a second side, the flow path flowing in a first direction on the first side of the center wall and flowing in a second direction opposite the first direction on the second side of the center wall;
• and
• a heating device comprising a conduit with at least one gas outlet dispensing heated gas to upwardly move the waste material, the heating device positioned along and near the center wall and in the flow path and configured to induce corkscrew-like flow of the waste material.

An organic waste material processing system for the anaerobic digestion of high-solids waste, the waste material processing system comprising:

• a closed container with an outer wall for holding high solids waste material, the closed container including:
• a first passage in which the waste material flows in a first direction, the first passage having first and second ends, the first end including an inlet for waste material,
• a second passage in which the waste material flows in a direction opposite the first direction, the second passage having first and second ends, the second end including an outlet, the first passage being separated from the second passage by a center wall defining a U-shaped passage between the first passage and the second passage, the second end of the first passage being adjacent the first end of the second passage, and the first end of the first passage being adjacent the second end of the second passage, and
• a heating device positioned along and near the center wall in the first passage and in the second passage resulting in the outer wall being cooler than the center wall, the heating device heating the waste material with a gas and to induce the waste material to move in a corkscrew-like fashion through at least one of the first passage and the second passage, wherein the heating device includes a conduit having at least one gas outlet positioned to promote upward movement of the heated waste material.

An organic waste material processing system for the anaerobic digestion of high-solids waste, the waste material processing system comprising:

• a closed container for holding high solids waste material, the closed container including:
• a first passage in which the high-solids waste material flows in a first direction, the first passage having first and second ends, the first end including an inlet for waste material,
• a second passage in which the waste material flows in a direction opposite the first direction, the second passage having first and second ends, the second end including an outlet, the first passage being separated from the second passage by a center wall, the second end of the first passage being adjacent the first end of the second passage, and the first end of the first passage being adjacent the second end of the second passage, and
• a heating device positioned along and near the center wall in the first passage and in the second passage to heat the waste material with a gas and to induce the waste material to move in a corkscrew-like fashion through at least one of the first passage and the second passage, wherein the heating device includes a conduit having at least one gas outlet positioned to promote upward movement of the heated waste material;
• and
• a mixing chamber adjacent the inlet, the mixing chamber including a means for preheating the waste material before the waste material passes through the inlet to the closed container.