U.S. patent application number 10/923183 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for variable speed pyrolytic waste treatment system.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Environmental Solutions Corpora. Invention is credited to Cole, Cameron, Cole, Toby L., Torres, Raul de la, Watts, Dan.
Application Number | 20050039651 10/923183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34272562 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050039651 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cole, Cameron ; et
al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Variable speed pyrolytic waste treatment system
Abstract
The inventive subject matter is directed toward a pyrolytic
waste treatment system comprising a pyrolysis chamber and a
movement mechanism adapted to move waste through the pyrolysis
chamber at different speeds along the length of the pyrolysis
chamber.
Inventors: |
Cole, Cameron; (Rainbow,
CA) ; Torres, Raul de la; (Bell Gardens, CA) ;
Cole, Toby L.; (Temecula, CA) ; Watts, Dan;
(Surfside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert D. Fish
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Suite 1400
611 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa
CA
92626
US
|
Assignee: |
International Environmental
Solutions Corpora
|
Family ID: |
34272562 |
Appl. No.: |
10/923183 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60497397 |
Aug 21, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
110/341 ;
110/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02P 20/129 20151101;
C10B 53/00 20130101; Y02E 20/12 20130101; C10B 47/44 20130101; C10B
47/28 20130101; F23G 5/16 20130101; F23G 5/0273 20130101; F23G
2201/303 20130101; F23G 2206/10 20130101; F23G 5/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
110/341 ;
110/267 |
International
Class: |
F23B 007/00; F23K
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pyrolytic waste treatment system, comprising: a pyrolysis
chamber; and a movement mechanism adapted to move waste through the
pyrolysis chamber at different speeds along the length of the
pyrolysis chamber.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises
a screw.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises
brushes.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises
a set of paddles having pitches that vary along at least a portion
of the length of the pyrolysis chamber.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises
a screw conveyor and a plurality of paddles wherein the paddles
vary in pitch along at least a portion of the length of the
pyrolysis chamber.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the screw conveyer and plurality
of paddles are all coupled to a common shaft that extends along the
length of the pyrolysis chamber.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is adapted
to move waste through the pyrolysis chamber at a faster rate neat
the ends of the chamber relative to the center of the center of the
chamber.
8. A method of pyrolyzing waste in an elongated chamber comprising
moving waste through the chamber at different rates along the
length of the chamber.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein paddles having varied pitches are
used to move waste through the chamber.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein a screw conveyer is used to move
waste at an end of the chamber at which it enters the chamber, and
a plurality of paddles are used to move the waste through the
remainder of the chamber.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 60/497397 filed on 21 Aug. 2003 incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention is pyrolytic waste treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Pyrolysis is a known method for treatment of waste. Examples
of pyrolytic waste treatment systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,759,300, 5,653,183, 5,868,085, and 6,619,214. Unlike
incineration, pyrolysis is the destructive decomposition of waste
materials using indirect heat in the absence of oxygen. Burning
wastes through incineration with direct flame in the presence of
oxygen can be explosive, causing turbulence in the burning chamber,
which fosters a recombination of released gases. Waste destruction
in an oxygen-rich atmosphere makes conversion far less complete, is
highly inefficient and creates harmful substances.
[0004] In contrast, the pyrolytic process employs high temperature
in, most desirably, an atmosphere substantially free of oxygen (for
example, in a practical vacuum), to convert the solid components of
waste to a mixture of solids, liquids, and gases with proportions
determined by operating temperature, pressure, oxygen content, and
other conditions. The solid residue remaining after pyrolysis
commonly is referred to as char. The vaporized product of pyrolysis
is often further treated by a process promoting oxidation, which
"cleans" the vapors to eliminate oils and other particulate matter
there from, allowing the resultant gases then to be safely released
to the atmosphere.
[0005] What has long been needed and heretofore has been
unavailable is an improved pyrolytic waste treatment system that is
highly efficient, is easy to maintain, is safe, reliable and
capable of operation with a wide variety of compositions of waste
materials, and that can be constructed and installed at relatively
low cost. The thrust of the present invention is to provide such an
improved pyrolytic waste treatment system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present subject matter is directed toward a pyrolytic
waste treatment system in which a movement mechanism is used to
move waste through the pyrolysis chamber at various rates along the
length of the pyrolysis chamber.
[0007] In another aspect, a method of pyrolyzing waste in an
elongated chamber comprises moving the waste through the chamber at
different rates along the length of the chamber.
[0008] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention,
along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals
represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a pyrolytic waste treatment
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] In FIG. 1, a pyrolytic waste treatment system 100 generally
comprises a pyrolytic chamber 910 and a waste movement mechanism
960.
[0011] It is contemplated that it would be beneficial to vary the
rate of movement of material through a pyrolysis chamber. In
particular, material might move at a slower rate when it first
enters the chamber and move at a faster rate after it has been
heated and as is moved toward the chamber exit. It is contemplated
that the use of paddles or a screw in which the pitch of the
paddles or the screw threads varies from one end of the chamber to
the other would prove beneficial. It should be recognized that
other methods and devices may be used to move material through the
chamber including, for example, using gravity, magnetism, and
forced air. With regard to using magnetism, it is further
contemplated that a product could be statically charged within a
magnetic field. Other methods and devices are also contemplated so
long as they move the product through the chamber and are in
accordance with the inventive concepts described herein.
[0012] It is preferred that the speed at which waste moves through
the chamber 910, and the temperature of the chamber 910 will both
vary along the length of the chamber 910. At least in part in order
to minimize heat loss, the ends of the chamber are generally cooler
than portions of the chamber closer to the center of the chamber.
As such, waste movement mechanism 960 varies along the length of
pyrolysis chamber 910 to increase movement speed at the cooler
ends, and to slow it down in the active heating region.
[0013] In section 911 of chamber 910, mechanism 960 comprises screw
conveyor section 961 adapted to move waste quickly through section
911 away from waste inlet 930. In section 912, where active heating
occurs, mechanism 960 comprises a first paddle section 962 wherein
the paddles are oriented primarily to agitate, mix, and expose
waste to heat rather than move it along the chamber 910. Movement
of waste through section 912 occurs to a large extent from being
pushed by waste moving into section 912 from section 911. In
section 913, a second paddle section 963 has paddles oriented to
move waste along section 913 to char outlet 940. The screw conveyer
and paddles are coupled to, and may be integrally formed with, a
drive shaft 969.
[0014] Screw conveyor section 961 of mechanism 960 is in some
embodiments about 5 feet long, and the screw blades are pitched at
varying degrees. In some embodiments, section 962 is about 20 feet
long, and comprises approximately 42 paddles, wherein at least some
of the paddles are oriented such that at least one side is
substantially parallel to the center axis of shaft 969. In
contrast, the section 963 of mechanism 960 (in some embodiments the
last 5 feet of mechanism 960) of paddles system are pitched/angled
to move the waste that has already reached the proper temperature
quickly out of the actively heated zone.
[0015] Although a movement mechanism comprising a screw and paddles
mounted to a single drive shaft is shown, alternative embodiments
may use alternative apparatus and or methods to vary the speed at
which material moves through pyrolysis chambers. As an example,
some embodiments may utilize multiple movement mechanisms rather
than a single movement mechanism. Others may utilize paddles along
the entire length of the chamber, may utilize paddles followed by a
screw conveyor, may utilize only a screw conveyer or may utilize an
entirely different type of mechanism such as one or more flat
conveyers.
[0016] A pyrolytic waste treatment system, particularly a
continuous feed system adapted to move waste being treated at
different speeds along the length of a pyrolysis chamber. Variances
in speed my result from varying the pitch of paddles and/or screws
used to move the waste along the length of the pyrolysis
chamber.
[0017] Energy savings and improved treatment can be achieved in a
pyrolysis treatment system which varies the rate of movement of
material through a pyrolysis chamber. In particular, material
moving material at a slower rate when towards the center of the
chamber relative to when it first enters the chamber and when it
approaches the chamber exit minimizes heat losses at the chamber
entrance and exit while insuring the waste is adequately heated for
treatment. Varying the rate of movement may be achieved through the
use of paddles or a screw in which the pitch of the paddles or the
screw threads varies from one end of the chamber to the other.
[0018] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a pyrolytic
system have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to
those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those
already described are possible without departing from the inventive
concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to
be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims,
all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner
consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises"
and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements,
components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the
referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or
utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps
that are not expressly referenced.
* * * * *