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US 9,708,937 B2Granted
Multi-functional fecal waste and garbage processor and associated methods
AssigneeBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
InventorPeter Janicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one aspect of the technology provides a self-contained processing facility configured to convert organic, high water-content waste, such as fecal sludge and garbage, into electricity while also generating and collecting potable water.
Claims28
A multifunctional waste processing system for electricity and water generation, comprising:
- a fuel dryer assembly having a fuel path with a fuel inlet configured to receive a flow of wet organic-based sludge comprising a mixture of water and solid fuel material, the fuel dryer assembly having a heater portion configured to boil the sludge and thermally separate water from the solid fuel material to provide dried fuel, the fuel dryer having a first steam outlet, a dry fuel outlet, and a condenser portion having fluid path with a steam inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid path being isolated from the fuel path;
- a fresh water condenser assembly coupled to the first steam outlet and configured to condense water vaporized from the sludge into clean liquid water;
- a dry fuel combustor assembly coupled to the dry fuel outlet of the fuel dryer assembly, the dry fuel combustor assembly having a combustor portion and having a boiler configured to receive heat from the combustor portion, the boiler having a first water inlet and a second steam outlet;
- a steam-powered generator coupled to the second steam outlet of the boiler and configured to generate electricity, the steam-powered generator having a third steam outlet coupled to the steam inlet of the condenser portion;
- and
- a water pump having a second water inlet coupled to the fluid outlet of the condenser portion of the fuel dryer;
- and the water pump having a water outlet coupled to the first water inlet of the boiler;
- wherein the boiler is configured to convert a flow of water entering the boiler to a flow of steam to power the steam-powered generator.
5 more elements
A sludge processing system for electricity and clean water generation, comprising:
- a sludge dryer assembly having a fuel path with a sludge inlet configured to receive a flow of sludge comprising a mixture of water and solid fuel material, the sludge dryer assembly having a heater portion configured to heat the sludge and thermally separate water from the solid fuel material to provide dried fuel material, the heater portion having a first steam outlet, the sludge dryer assembly having a condenser portion adjacent to the heater portion and having fluid path isolated from the fuel path and having a steam inlet and a fluid outlet;
- a fresh water condenser assembly coupled to the first steam outlet and configured to condense water evaporated from the sludge into clean liquid water;
- a combustor assembly coupled to the sludge dryer assembly and configured to receive the dried fuel material therefrom, the combustor assembly having a combustor configured to receive and burn the dried fuel material, and having a boiler configured to receive heat from the combustor for creating steam in a fluid path extending between a water inlet and a second steam outlet;
- and
- a power plant comprising a steam engine and a generator driven by the steam engine, the steam engine being coupled to the second steam outlet of the boiler to receive steam therefrom, and the generator being configured to generate electricity, the steam powered generator having a third steam outlet coupled to the steam inlet of the condenser portion;
- wherein heat from the steam exhausted from the steam engine boils the water in the sludge in the sludge dryer;
- wherein the steam exhausted from the steam engine is condensed to a flow of liquid water;
- and
- wherein the boiler is configured to receive and convert the flow of liquid water to a flow of steam to power the generator.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.