U.S. patent application number 10/713557 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for msw processing vessel.
This patent application is currently assigned to Horizon Fuel and Financial Management, LLP. Invention is credited to Hicks, Scott, Ligon, Herb, Noll, Tony.
Application Number | 20050166812 10/713557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34807397 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050166812 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noll, Tony ; et al. |
August 4, 2005 |
MSW processing vessel
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and a process for treating
municipal solid waste (MSW). The apparatus includes a reaction
vessel with helically arranged internal flights, a self-aligning
door closure, and a swing-away door assembly. It also includes a
novel structure for shredding MSW attached to the edges of the
flights. This structure is number of projecting tooth like
points.
Inventors: |
Noll, Tony; (Covington,
KY) ; Ligon, Herb; (Covington, KY) ; Hicks,
Scott; (Louisville, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKAS, SHAVER & NIPPER, LLP
P.O. BOX 877
802 WEST BANNOCK STREET, SUITE 405
BOISE
ID
83701
US
|
Assignee: |
Horizon Fuel and Financial
Management, LLP
St. Thomas
VI
|
Family ID: |
34807397 |
Appl. No.: |
10/713557 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
110/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23G 5/20 20130101; F23G
2203/208 20130101; F23L 7/005 20130101; F23G 2203/206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
110/346 |
International
Class: |
F23G 001/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An MSW treatment vessel, comprising: a generally cylindrical
reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said
reaction vessel configured for rotation; a drive mechanism for
causing rotation of the reaction vessel; one or more support tracks
to support said reaction vessel as it rotates; at least one access
opening in said reaction vessel, through which MSW may enter and/or
exit said reaction vessel; a door assembly adjacent said access
opening, for closing said access opening; a door sealing system,
configured so that said access opening door assembly may be
positioned adjacent said access opening, said door sealing system
can seal said door to said access opening; and one or more flights
of auger vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for
moving said MSW from said first end to said second end of said
reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said
reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base edge attached
to a interior vessel wall, and a top edge, with said top edges of
said auger vanes defining a bore parallel the long axis of the
reaction vessel, said bore having a diameter measuring
approximately one third of the diameter of the reaction vessel at a
corresponding point.
2. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1, which further comprises a
plurality of raised projections on the top edges of said auger
vanes, to aid in moving and shredding MSW.
3. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 2 in which said raised
projections are generally trapezoidal is shaped in configuration,
and has one edge attached to the auger vane top edge, thus having a
point of the triangle projecting away from the top edge of the
auger vane.
4. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 2 in which said raised
projections are oriented in a plane generally normal to the plane
of said auger vane.
5. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 4 in which said raised
projections include projections pointing in both directions from an
attachment point on said auger vane top edge, and generally normal
to the plane of the auger vane.
6. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 3, in which said auger vanes
are positioned in a first section adjacent said access opening, a
third section adjacent an end of said vessel opposite said access
opening, and a second section positioned between said first and
said third section.
7. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 6 in which said projections
are located on said auger vanes in said third section.
8. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 7 in which said projections
are located in said auger vanes in the third and the second
section.
9. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 in which the height of said
auger vanes tapers to near zero height in the first section of the
vessel adjacent the access opening.
10. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 which further includes a
rotary manifold for steam injection while said vessel is
rotating.
11. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 which further includes an
effluents condensation system comprising a steam eductor and a
barometric condensing chamber.
12. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 which further includes
swing away door assembly adjacent said access opening, with said
door assembly comprising: a swing away access opening door; a davit
assembly for supporting said swing away door, said davit assembly
comprising a generally vertical davit upright, which supports and
is rotatably connected to a generally horizontal door support arm,
said support arm having a first end and a second end, said first
end having a counterweight, and said second end being attached to
said access opening door; wherein said davit assembly is configured
to rotate about said davit upright, so that said access opening
door may be rotated away from or toward said access opening.
13. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 which further includes one
or more chain sections attached to said vessel, so that when said
vessel rotates, said one or more chains agitate and pulverize said
MSW.
14. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 which is configured to
rotate in one direction to load and pulverize MSW and is reversible
to rotate in an opposite direction to unload and further pulverize
said MSW.
15. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 10 in which said door sealing
system comprises a first locking rim surrounding said access
opening on the reactor vessel; an access opening door with a second
locking rim, for placement adjacent the first locking rim, and a
clamp collar for sealing the locking rims together, thus holding
the access opening door over the access opening.
16. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 13, in which said clamp
collar further comprises a first section and a second section, and
one or more joining devices for joining the first section with the
second section.
17. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 14, in which the joining
device is one or more clamp screws which draw the first and second
sections together, and hold them together until released.
18. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 15, which further comprises
two clamp screws, which draw the first and second sections together
at the ends of each section.
19. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 16, in which the two clamp
screws are driven by one or more motors to open and close said
clamp collar by moving said first and second sections of said clamp
collar towards or away from each other.
20. A treatment vessel, comprising: a generally cylindrical
reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said
reaction vessel configured for rotation; a drive mechanism for
causing rotation of the reaction vessel; at least one access
opening in said reaction vessel, through which product may enter
and/or exit said reaction vessel; one or more flights of auger
vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving
product in said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base
edge attached to a interior vessel wall, and a top edge; a self
aligning door sealing assembly, comprising: a swing away access
opening door; a first locking rim surrounding said access opening
on the reactor vessel; an access opening door with a second locking
rim, for placement adjacent the first locking rim; and a clamp
collar for drawing said locking rims together, and for sealing the
locking rims together, thus sealing said access opening door over
the access opening.
21. The treatment vessel of claim 18, which further comprises a
davit assembly for supporting said swing away door, said davit
assembly comprising a generally vertical davit upright, which
supports and is rotatably connected to a generally horizontal door
support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end,
said first end having a counterweight, and said second end being
attached to said access opening door; wherein said davit assembly
is configured to rotate about said davit upright, so that said
access opening door may be rotated away from or toward said access
opening, and when adjacent said access opening, said door sealing
system can seal said door to said access opening.
22. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 18, in which said clamp
collar further comprises a first section and a second section, and
one or more joining devices for joining the first section with the
second section.
23. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 20, in which the joining
device is one or more clamp screws which draw the first and second
sections together, and hold them together until released.
24. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 21, which further comprises
two clamp screws, which draw the first and second sections together
at the ends of each section.
25. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 22, in which the two clamp
screws are driven by one or more motors to open and close said
clamp collar by moving said first and second sections of said clamp
collar towards or away from each other.
26. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 18, in which said first
locking rim and said second locking rim each further comprise bevel
edge on a side opposite a contact side of each, and said clamp
collar comprises two matching bevel surfaces which guide and force
said locking rims into alignment and pressure tight engagement.
27. An MSW treatment vessel, comprising: a generally cylindrical
reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said
reaction vessel configured for rotation; a drive mechanism for
causing rotation of the reaction vessel; at least one access
opening in said reaction vessel, through which MSW may enter and/or
exit said reaction vessel; a door assembly adjacent said access
opening, for closing said access opening; a door sealing system;
one or more flights of auger vanes on the interior wall of said
reaction vessel, for moving said MSW inside said reaction vessel,
with the auger vanes having a base edge attached to a interior
vessel wall, and a top edge; a plurality of raised projections on
the top edges of said auger vanes, to aid in moving and shredding
MSW.
28. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 25 in which said raised
projections are generally trapezoidal is shaped in configuration,
and has one edge attached to the auger vane top edge, thus having a
point of the triangle projecting away from the top edge of the
auger vane.
29. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 26 in which said raised
projections are oriented in a plane generally normal to the plane
of said auger vane.
30. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 27 in which said raised
projections include projections pointing in both directions from an
attachment point on said auger vane top edge, and generally normal
to the plane of the auger vane.
31. A treatment vessel, comprising: a generally cylindrical
reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said
reaction vessel configured for rotation; a drive mechanism for
causing rotation of the reaction vessel; at least one access
opening in said reaction vessel, through which product may enter
and/or exit said reaction vessel; one or more flights of auger
vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving
product in said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base
edge attached to a interior vessel wall, and a top edge; a door
sealing assembly, comprising a swing away access opening door; a
davit assembly for supporting said swing away door, said davit
assembly comprising a generally vertical davit upright, which
supports and is rotatably connected to a generally horizontal door
support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end,
said first end having a counterweight, and said second end being
attached to said access opening door; wherein said davit assembly
is configured to rotate about said davit upright, so that said
access opening door may be rotated away from or toward said access
opening, and when adjacent said access opening, said door sealing
system can seal said door to said access opening.
32. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 29, in which said door
sealing assembly further comprises: a first locking rim surrounding
said access opening on the reactor vessel; an access opening door
with a second locking rim, for placement adjacent the first locking
rim; and a clamp collar for drawing said locking rims together, and
for sealing the locking rims together, thus sealing said access
opening door over the access opening.
33. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 30, in which said clamp
collar further comprises a first section and a second section, and
one or more joining devices for joining the first section with the
second section.
34. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 31, in which the joining
device is one or more clamp screws which draw the first and second
sections together, and hold them together until released.
35. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 32, which further comprises
two clamp screws, which draw the first and second sections together
at the ends of each section.
36. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 33, in which the two clamp
screws are driven by one or more motors to open and close said
clamp collar by moving said first and second sections of said clamp
collar towards or away from each other.
37. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 30, in which said first
locking rim and said second locking rim each further comprise a
bevel edge on a side opposite a contact side of each, and said
clamp collar comprises two matching bevel surfaces which guide and
force said locking rims into alignment and pressure tight
engagement.
38. A method for treating MSW for fiber recovery, which comprises
the steps of: putting MSW in a generally cylindrical reaction
vessel, in which the vessel has internal auger vanes for moving and
mixing the MSW, with the diameter of the vane edges being 1/3 less
than the diameter of the corresponding vessel wall; closing the
reaction vessel using a motorized screw operated clamp that seals a
door cover to an access opening; rotating the vessel while adding
steam at 15 pounds or less through sparging lines in said vessel;
rotating the vessel and heating the MSW for approximately 15 or
more minutes while injecting steam through the sparging lines;
evacuating the steam and internal atmosphere through a barometric
condenser before removing the treated MSW, to reduce escaping
emissions; opening the door cover, and removing the treated MSW by
rotation of the vessel and by action of the auger vanes.
39. The MSW treatment vessel of claim 1 in which said auger vanes
are attached to said interior vessel wall by attachment to brackets
attached to said interior vessel walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to reprocessing
municipal solid waste (MSW), and more particularly relates to
reaction vessels for treating MSW in a heated and pressurized
process.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] Handling solid waste is an increasingly difficult problem in
the industrialized nations. Sixty-one percent of the United States'
solid waste is dependent on disposal in landfills. However,
nationwide the number of solid waste landfills is falling as the
landfills fill to capacity and close, while new landfills cannot be
opened due to regulations. The national average for solid waste
disposal fees has increased by about 400 percent since 1985. Such
fees, called tipping fees, can be expected to raise an average of
seven percent per year. In addition, the number of solid waste
transfer stations has increased due to the closure of many
landfills and the permitting of larger solid waste landfills.
[0005] These and other issues pertaining to the environmental
impact that landfills will have in the future have prompted solid
waste managers to seek methods to reduce volumes and disposal costs
of municipal solid waste (MSW).
[0006] There have been a number of patents for treating and/or
reprocessing MSW. These often involve some form of heat and
pressure, and often a reaction vessel that may rotate. Although MSW
varies in composition, there is a certain norm to its content.
Cellulosic material represents approximately seventy percent of the
bulk of typical MSW. Other terms for this fraction of MSW have been
used, including putricible, organic, and biomass. These terms are
considered interchangeable and it is to be understood that the use
of the term cellulosic in this application encompasses all those
terms.
[0007] The participle, biomass, organic, or cellulosic fraction of
MSW includes all portions that are organic, which would eventually
decay in a landfill and the decay would eventually lead to the
production of methane gas. If this cellulosic material can be
separated from the rest of the MSW and reformulated into reusable
products, much of the solid waste problems will be alleviated.
Products that can be made from the cellulosic fraction of MSW
include pelletized fuel, composite building products, and biomass
for refineries. The cellulosic fraction of MSW could also
conceivably serve as a source of hydrogen generation for use of
hydrogen as a fuel.
[0008] Once the cellulosic material is removed, the MSW waste
stream is much reduced in volume and other recoverable fractions of
the waste stream can be recovered. Ferrous, non-ferrous, plastics,
and textiles can represent an additional fifteen percent of the
remaining MSW waste stream.
[0009] There are processes available that can recover each of these
materials and send them to the respective market. If the cellulosic
and recoverable waste streams are removed from MSW, the volume of
MSW going to landfills is typically less than fifteen percent of
the original amount. This reduction in volume reduces hauling
costs, landfill space requirements, and the eventual expense of
closing a landfill and opening a new one. The process and device
also accomplish this reduction while reducing effluents, including
methane and leachate. Further, if the cellulosic portion is removed
from MSW, the remaining fraction in inorganic and may be disposed
of in waste sites reserved for construction or other inorganic
waste, which is space that is less constrained and therefore less
expensive.
[0010] Many prior art reaction vessels for treating MSW utilize
fairly high-pressure steam in order to cook and soften the
cellulosic fibers of the MSW. This presents a problem because
high-pressure steam vessels require significant licensing and
inspection regimes, and must be built to withstand the excessive
pressure. If the reaction vessel can achieve adequate softening,
pulverization, and separation of cellulosic fibers while utilizing
low pressures, the vessel could be lighter, less expensive, and
much more easily licensed and permitted. A low-pressure reaction
vessel that achieves adequate softening, pulverization, and
separation of cellulosic fibers is thus needed.
[0011] What is also needed is a reaction vessel that incorporates
condensation of gaseous affluent steam from the reaction vessel.
This reduces any water waste stream from the vessel, and also
reduces or eliminates unpleasant gas emissions from the vessel.
[0012] There is also a need in the industry to provide a vessel
processing system that results in a product with fairly low
moisture, provides a sterilization effect upon the MSW, and imparts
beneficial processing steps to the non-cellulosic waste fractions.
This includes removing labels from containers, fracturing glass for
later separation from the waste stream, compacting and
agglomerating plastics, and compacting aluminum waste.
[0013] Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice
of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may
be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The MSW treatment vessel of the present invention achieves
these and other objects. The vessel includes a generally
cylindrical reaction vessel with a first end and a second end. The
vessel is configured for rotation, which is achieved through the
use of one or more support tracks, wheels, and designated trunnion
assemblies to support the reaction vessel as it rotates. It also
has a drive mechanism for powering the rotation of the reaction
vessel and its contents.
[0015] The MSW treatment vessel of the present invention includes
at least one access opening through which MSW may be loaded into
the reaction vessel. If only one access opening is utilized, MSW
also exits the reaction vessel through the same opening. If two
access openings are used, one would be at one end of the reaction
vessel and the other would be at the other end. MSW would enter the
vessel at one opening and exit through the other opening. The
reaction vessel includes a door assembly, which is adjacent one or
more of the access openings, for closing the access openings and
holding the door closed against pressure within the vessel.
[0016] The MSW treatment vessel includes one or more flights of
auger vanes on the interior wall of the reaction vessel for moving
MSW from the first end to the second end of the vessel. If the
vessel is constructed with only one access opening, then the
flights, through rotation of the vessel, cause the MSW to move from
one end of the reaction vessel to the other and back again towards
the door opening. The auger vanes have a base edge, which is
attached to the interior vessel wall, typically by welding. Of
course brackets or studs or other known attachment methods can also
be used for this purpose.
[0017] The auger vanes also have a top edge, with the top edges of
the auger vanes defining a bore parallel to the long axis of the
reaction vessel. The bore has a diameter that is approximately one
third of the diameter of the reaction vessel, when seen in cross
section. This means that the space defined by the auger vanes
occupy about two thirds of the cross sectional diameter of the
reaction vessel.
[0018] An important feature of the reaction vessel is a number of
raised projections that extend from the top edges of auger vanes.
As the reaction vessel turns and MSW tumbles within the auger
vanes, the raised projections on the top edges of the auger vanes
aid in moving, pulverizing, and shredding the MSW. These raised
projections can be generally trapezoidal or triangular in shape,
with one edge attached to the auger vane top edge. If triangular,
the point of a triangle projects away from the top edge of the
auger vane.
[0019] The raised projections can also be oriented in a plane
generally normal to the plane of the auger vane. This results in
raised projections perpendicular to the auger vane and parallel to
the long axis of the reaction vessel. These projections can point
in one or both directions from their attachment point on the auger
vane top edge, resulting in jagged teeth pointed backward and
forward perpendicular to the general orientation of each auger
vane.
[0020] The auger vanes can be constructed to be one continuous
spiral from one end to the other of the reaction vessel. The auger
vanes can also be broken into a series of arching vanes, with each
section welded or otherwise attached to the interior wall of the
reaction vessel and contributing to the auger effect during
rotation of the vessel.
[0021] The reaction vessel can be considered to have three
sections. The first section is adjacent to the access opening. The
second section is positioned in the middle of the reaction vessel.
The third section is positioned at the end of the reaction vessel
opposite the access opening. The most important location for the
raised projections is in the third section of the reaction vessel.
Thus, a reaction vessel could be built with raised projections in
the third section, or in the third and second sections, or in all
three sections of the reaction vessel.
[0022] The reaction vessel includes a steam injection system by
which steam is injected into the vessel via steam tubes that run
along the sides of the reaction vessel parallel to the long axis of
the reaction vessel. Thus, the steam sparging tubes penetrate the
auger vanes where the auger vanes are attached to the vessel wall.
The steam sparging tubes receive their steam from a circular steam
manifold that connects to all of the steam tubes. The steam
manifold rotates with the vessel and is attached to a rotary joint
through which steam is injected into the steam manifold and the
vessel. The steam sparging tubes can extend the entire length of
the vessel and can extend out the end of the vessel opposite from
the end in which the steam is injected. The steam sparging tubes
include orifices through which steam is introduced to the interior
of the vessel.
[0023] The MSW treatment vessel of the present invention also
preferably includes an effluent condensation system. Part of the
effluent condensation system is a steam eductor. The steam eductor
operates on the principal that when air is blown into a cone, it
creates a vacuum. In this case, the vacuum pulls the steam,
previously injected into the vessel, from the vessel into a
condensing chamber where condensation takes place.
[0024] The condensation system is achieved by putting the steam
from the processor in contact with a cooler media that will cause
the steam to cool and condense. The condensing of the steam thus
creates a vacuum.
[0025] The MSW treatment vessel includes a swing away door
assembly, which is adjacent the access opening. The door assembly
includes a swing away door, which covers the access opening, and a
davit assembly for supporting the swing away door. The davit
assembly includes a generally vertical davit upright, which
supports the door through a generally horizontal door support arm.
The support arm has a first end and a second end with a
counterweight attached to the first end and the access opening door
attached to the second end. The davit assembly is configured to
rotate around the davit upright so the access opening door may be
rotated away from or toward the access opening. This can be
accomplished by manual rotation of the davit assembly or it can
easily be automated.
[0026] The MSW treatment vessel further includes one or more chain
sections that are attached to the interior of the vessel. These are
attached in various lengths, but typically two to six feet is
sufficient to accomplish the purpose, while three to four feet has
also proven effective. The chains would be sized according to the
size and capacity of the reaction vessel, but a thickness of 3/4
inches has proven successful for one preferred embodiment. The
chains are attached so that they hang freely in the MSW treatment
vessel. A chain detachably attached to the auger vane about every
six feet is a preferred configuration. When the vessel rotates, the
chains assist in agitating, pulverizing, and mixing the MSW
contained within the vessel.
[0027] In a vessel that utilizes one access opening, the vessel is
configured to rotate in one direction to load, pulverize, and heat
process the MSW. The rotation of the reaction vessel is then
reversible to further pulverize and move the MSW toward the access
opening end for removal of the MSW through the access opening.
[0028] The door sealing system of the vessel includes a first
raised locking rim, which surrounds the access opening. This first
raised locking rim corresponds with a second raised locking rim,
which surrounds the access opening door, which will be referred to
as simply the door. When the door is placed adjacent the access
opening, the first locking rim is side-by-side with the second
locking rim, which is on the door itself. The door sealing system
includes a clamp collar for sealing the two locking rims together.
Thus, it holds the access opening door over the access opening. The
clamp collar can further include a first section and a second
section with one or more joining devices for joining the two
sections together. The joining devices can be one or more clamp
screws that draw the first and second clamp sections and thus hold
them together until released. The clamp screws move through
threaded bosses on the sides of the clamp collar sections. The door
closing assembly can comprise two clamp screws, which are mounted
on corresponding bosses on the sides of the first and second clamp
sections. These are driven by one or more motors to pull the collar
sections together through the use of threaded screws.
[0029] The first and second locking rim can each include a bevel.
The first bevel surface would be located on a side opposite the
contact surfaces of the locking rims. The second bevel surface
would be located on the second locking rim also on the side of the
locking rim away from the contact surface. The clamp collar
sections can include a corresponding angled surface, which would
interact with the first and second bevels of the first and second
locking means. As the clamp collar sections close on the locking
rings, the angled surfaces would tend to guide the door into
alignment with the access opening.
[0030] The invention also comprises a method for treating MSW for
fiber recovery. The method includes the steps of putting MSW in a
generally cylindrical reaction vessel, in which the vessel has
internal auger vanes for moving, mixing, shredding, and pulverizing
MSW. The reaction vessel of the method has auger vane edges that
define a bore, having a cross sectional diameter approximately
one-third the cross sectional diameter of the vessel.
[0031] The MSW is loaded into the reaction vessel away from the
access opening through rotation of the reaction vessel and its
auger vanes. When sufficient MSW is loaded into the reaction
vessel, the reaction vessel is closed and the atmosphere inside the
vessel is evacuated through the distillation system of the device.
Then, steam is injected into the reaction vessel and heat and
pressure slowly build up. A steam pressure of less than fifteen
pounds has been found to be suitable for the purposes of this
method. The reaction vessel is rotated, while steam is injected for
a period of time to soften the fibers of cellulosic waste within
the MSW. Steam is injected at fifteen pounds or less through the
steam sparging lines in the vessel. Although the method can operate
under varied conditions depending on the particular blend of MSW
being treated, a reaction time of approximately fifteen to
forty-five minutes has been found to be sufficient to soften the
fibers of most MSW. After this time has been reached and sufficient
time has been allowed for churning, shredding, and pulverizing the
MSW, the steam is evacuated through the use of a steam eductor
system. The steam eductor system includes an air nozzle and
operates by airflow through an orifice that crates a vacuum.
[0032] The steam in the internal atmosphere from the vessel is thus
removed through a barometric condenser before the vessel is opened
in order to reduce the volume of escaping emissions from the
vessel. After evacuation is accomplished, the door is removed and
the MSW is removed by rotation of the vessel and propelled by the
action of the auger vanes. After being removed from the reaction
vessel, the MSW is treated for separation of the cellulosic fiber
components from other materials such as plastic, aluminum, glass,
and various metal components. The separation processes that are
well known in the industry separate each of these streams, which is
the subject matter of other patents and practices.
[0033] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public
generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and
practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal
terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the
invention of the application, which is measure by the claims, nor
is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in
any way.
[0034] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the
following detailed description wherein I have shown and described
only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of
illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my
invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of
modification in various obvious respects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the
preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,
and not as restrictive in nature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the MSW processing
vessel.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second end of the MSW
processing vessel.
[0037] FIG. 3 is front view of the davit and door assembly.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a top view of the davit and door assembly.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an auger vane with
projections.
[0040] FIG. 6 is an end view of a cross section of the vessel.
[0041] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the reaction vessel.
[0042] FIG. 8 is an end view of the reaction vessel.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a view of the closing action of the door
assembly.
[0044] FIG. 10 is a view of the door closed against the access
opening.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a view of the effluent system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed,
but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents failing within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0047] Some of the preferred embodiments are shown in the FIGS. 1
through 11. FIG. 1 shows the MSW treatment vessel 10. It includes a
reaction vessel 12. In one preferred mode of the invention, a first
trunnion assembly 14 and a second trunnion assembly 16 support the
reaction vessel 12. The trunnion assembly includes a track 18 and a
trunnion 20. These components can be sized according to the size of
a specific reaction vessel. However, in a preferred embodiment of
the vessel, the trunnions are cylinders of solid steel
approximately fifteen inches in diameter and approximately ten
inches in length.
[0048] The reaction vessel also includes a gear ring 22, which is
driven by a motor and a drive gear. A preferred embodiment of the
gear ring is approximately ten inches wide and is made of steel
approximately five inches thick. While a geared drive system is
preferred, other drive systems would also work, including a chain
and sprocket drive or a cradle formed by a chain and sprocket under
the vessel.
[0049] The reaction vessel 12 can take a number of configurations
with different sizes depending upon the desired capacity and
throughput of the operation. One preferred configuration of the
reaction vessel is approximately fifty feet long and eight feet in
diameter. It is made generally of one-half inch steel plate with
one and one-fourth inch reinforced steel plate in the region of the
trunnion assemblies 14, 16 and the track 18. The reaction vessel
has a rounded ellipsoidal head at the second end 22 of the reaction
vessel. At the first end 24 of the reaction vessel, the vessel
tapers from approximately an eight foot diameter to approximately a
four foot diameter, opening on a frustoconical section
approximately five feet in length. A cylindrical collar 28 with a
first locking ring 30 is at the narrow end of the frustoconical
section 26. Shown adjacent the first locking ring 30 in FIG. 1 is
the door 32, which includes a second locking ring 34.
[0050] A spiraling auger vane 36 is inside the reaction vessel 12.
This is preferably made of one-half inch thick steel, welded at its
base edge to the interior of the reaction vessel wall. The top edge
of the auger vanes extends away from the reaction vessel wall
towards the center of the reaction vessel 12. Although the auger
vane is shown in FIG. 6 as being one continuous spiral from the
first end 24 to the second end 22, the auger vanes could also be
constructed of several disconnected sections, which together form a
spiraling configuration attached to the inside wall of the reaction
vessel. The auger vanes can be attached to the interior vessel
walls by welding or by attachment to brackets mounted to the
interior vessel wall. This latter arrangement would allow easier
replacement of the vane sections.
[0051] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
auger vanes extend into the interior of the reaction vessel 12 and
their top edges form the outline of a bore. The diameter of the
bore is approximately one-third of the diameter of the reaction
vessel of a particular cross section of the reaction vessel. FIG. 2
shows such a cross section of the reaction vessel with the bore 38
being approximately one-third the diameter of the vessel 10.
[0052] FIG. 1 shows the door 32 of the vessel. The door 32 is also
seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. In the preferred mode, the door 32 is
approximately four feet in diameter and, as shown in FIG. 7, is
ellipsoidal in shape. The door 32 includes a second locking ring
34. The door is closed to the access opening by a clamp collar 40.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp collar is
made of a semicircular first section 42 and a semicircular second
section 44. On each of the clamp sections are two threaded bosses
46. Each of these correspond with the threaded bosses on the
opposite clamp collar section. A first and second clamp collar
screw 48 and 50 pass through the threaded bosses on the clamp
collars. When the screws 48, 50 are turned, the first and second
sections of the clamp collar are drawn together. This locks the
door 32 to the access opening 52 of the reaction vessel 10. FIGS. 9
and 10 show this closing operation more closely. In one preferred
embodiment of the invention, the clamp collar screws are
approximately one and one-fourth inch in diameter and approximately
twenty-five inches in length.
[0053] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a davit
assembly 54, as shown in FIG. 1. The davit assembly 54 includes a
davit upright 56 and a door support arm 58 with a first end 60 and
a second end 62. A counterweight 64 is attached to the first end 60
of the door support arm 58. The door 32 is attached to the second
end 62 of the door support arm 58. The configuration of the
components of the davit assembly 54 would vary in size depending on
the size of the insulation and the size of the door 32 they were
associated with. One particular configuration that has proven
successful is one with the davit upright being made of
approximately six inch diameter tube with the door support arm 58
being made of approximately four inch diameter steel tube. The
counterweight in this configuration will vary to match the weight
of the associated door 32, but, in one preferred embodiment, the
counterweight 64 is made of steel and weighs approximately 250
pounds. The door support arm 58 attaches to the davit upright 56 by
means of a T-connection 66. The T-connection 66 is rotatable about
the davit upright 56 and includes a bearing (not shown) for
rotation.
[0054] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and
second clamp collar screws 48, 50 are turned by one or more motors
that are located in a motor housing 68. An approximately three
horsepower motor is sufficient for one embodiment, operating
through a gearbox.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the davit assembly 54 attached
to the door 32. In this view, the first section clamp collar 42 and
the second section clamp collar 44 are in the open position, so
that the door 32 may swing away from the access opening 52.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the davit assembly 54. In the
position shown in solid lines, the davit assembly 54 and the
attached door 32 are in a closed position. The door is positioned
adjacent the first locking ring 30, which surrounds the access
opening on the cylindrical collar 28. Cylindrical collar 28 is
attached to the frustoconical section 26.
[0057] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes raised
projections that extend from the edges of the auger vanes. These
can extend vertically or horizontally from the top edge of the
auger vanes. A preferred embodiment is with projections extending
in both directions perpendicular from the auger vanes. Such
projections can be triangular, trapezoidal or other shapes to form
a jagged cutting edge. If trapezoidal or triangular, they can
extend approximately one inch from the auger vane to which they are
attached, with a base edge of approximately one inch. If
trapezoidal, the edge parallel to the base edge can be
three-quarter of an inch in width. The projections are preferably
approximately one-quarter inch thick steel welded to the edge of
the auger vanes. FIG. 5 shows trapezoidal projections attached to
the auger vane edge. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a section
of auger vane 36 of the present invention. Attached to this section
of auger vane 36 are a number of raised projections 70 that are
joined together as a unit and mounted to top edge 72 of the auger
vane. The base edge 74 of the auger vane is welded to the interior
wall of the reaction vessel 12. A number of these projections are
attached to the top edge of the auger vane and can be parallel with
the auger vane or, as shown in FIG. 5, can be perpendicular to the
auger vane and pointing in both directions. As the auger vane
turns, MSW is pushed against the auger vane and projection 70 and
tumbled from one section of the reaction vessel 12 to another. This
allows the raised projections 70 help shred and pulverize the MSW.
This is especially true after the MSW has been subjected to heat
and steam, and the cellosic fibrous materials are soft and
shredable.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a view of the second end 22 of the reaction vessel
12. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gear
ring 76 interacts with a drive gear 78 and a motor 80 to rotate the
entire reaction vessel 12. Also seen on the second end 22 is a
rounded ellipsoid head. Steam is injected into the vessel through a
circular steam sparger manifold 82. Steam is injected into the
sparger manifold 82 by means of a rotary joint 84 and a steam
connector line 86. From the sparger manifold 82, a number of
sparger lines 88 extend into the interior of the reaction vessel
12. In this configuration, these sparger lines are straight and
attached to the interior wall of the reaction vessel 12. These
lines are also shown in FIG. 7. While they are shown in FIG. 7 as
protruding through the opposite end of the reaction vessel and
being terminated there, the ends of the sparging lines could also
be linked to each other so that if an obstruction blocked one
sparging line, the line could be pressurized beyond the obstruction
from the other end.
[0059] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the MSW treatment vessel
10. Shown is the reaction vessel 12 with a first trunion assembly
14 and a second trunion assembly 16. The first end 24 of the
reaction vessel includes a frustoconical section 26, a cylindrical
collar 28, and a first locking ring 30. Auger vanes 36 are shown
attached to the inner wall of the reaction vessel and form a spiral
the length of the reaction vessel 12. The height of the auger vane
decreases towards the first end 24. At the second end 22 of the
reaction vessel, a circular steam sparger manifold 82 is seen. This
connects to a steam connector line 86 and a rotary joint 84. A
number of sparger lines 88, which extend into the reaction vessel
12, extend from the steam sparger manifold 82. Orifices (not shown)
in the sparger lines 88 allow steam to exit the sparger lines into
the reaction vessel 12.
[0060] The first trunion assembly 14 includes trunions 20 and
tracks 18, which circumvolve the reaction vessel 12. The reaction
vessel 12 is turned by a motor 80, which drives a drive gear 78
that interacts with a gear ring 76 attached to the reaction vessel
12, causing the reaction vessel 12 to rotate on the trunion
assembly. It is to be understood that although two trunion
assemblies are shown, a pair of trunions at each trunion assembly
supports the reaction vessel 12. Thus, each tract is supported by
two trunions and, in this embodiment, the reaction vessel is
supported by four trunions.
[0061] FIG. 8 shows an end view of the first end 24 of the reaction
vessel 12. Shown is the gear ring 76, which circumvolves the
reaction vessel 12. The door 32 is shown in its position covering
the access opening. The first section 42 of the clamp collar is
shown, as well as the second section 44 of the clamp collar. The
first clamp collar screw 48 and the second clamp collar screw 50
are shown. The clamp collar 40 is shown in an open position in
solid lines and in a closed position in dashed lines. As shown, the
clamp collar screws 48, 50 extend from a motor housing 68 in which
preferably two separate motors turn the clamp collar screws and
cause the sections of the clamp collar to come together or move
apart. Trunnion 20 is shown supporting the reaction vessel 12. Also
shown is drive gear 78, which is driven by a motor 80.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional side view of the door locking
action of the reaction vessel. Shown is a portion of frustoconical
section 26 and cylindrical collar 28 of the reaction vessel. The
first clamp collar section 42 is shown. Also shown is the first
locking ring 30 and the second locking ring 34, which is at
attached to the door 32. As shown in FIG. 9, the door 32 is
adjacent to but not sealed against the first locking ring 30. The
first section clamp collar 42 is adjacent to but not engaged with
the first and second locking rings 30 and 34. The second section
clamp collar 44 would be similarly positioned. As the first section
42 of the clamp collar moves down and around the first and second
locking rings 30 and 34, it moves into the configuration shown in
FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, the first section clamp collar 42 has moved
into engagement with the first locking ring 30 and the second
locking ring 34. The first locking ring 30 includes a bevel surface
94 and the second locking ring 34 includes a bevel surface 96 to
assist in position the door. In the position shown in FIG. 10, the
clamp collar has forced the two locking rings together and holds
them together in a sealed configuration. A gasket 90 is present in
a recess 92 in the second locking ring 34. The bevel surfaces 94,
96 interact with corresponding beveled surfaces 98, 100 in the
interior channel 102 of the first clamp collar 42. Although only
one clamp collar is shown, it is to be understood that the
preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes two semicircular
clamp collars which bring the door into sealed engagement with the
access opening as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0063] FIG. 11 shows a view of the effluent system. The effluent
system in the processing vessel of the invention includes a steam
eductor 110 and a barometric condenser 112. The barometric
condenser 112 can take various forms and would of course be sized
according to the particular design of thc reaction vessel. One
version of the barometric condenser 112 can include a condensation
tank, which is approximately three feet in diameter and six feet
tall, and is oriented vertically. A connection between the tank and
the reaction vessel is made so that steam from the reaction vessel
can be allowed to enter the tank at a point about two thirds from
the bottom of the tank. As the steam 118 from the reaction vessel
enters the tank, it is condensed. This can be done in several ways.
A very effective method is to spray water 116 from the top of the
tank onto the steam 118. This not only condenses the gaseous steam
into a condensate liquid 120, but in doing so, also creates a
vacuum, which pulls more steam from the reaction vessel. One effect
of this is that the volume of effluents from the barometric
condenser 112 is increased, and the concentration of contaminants
from the steam is decreased. There is also a drain valve 114 for
removing the condensate 120.
[0064] Other methods of condensing water from the steam are also
possible, such as having the steam hit tubes filled with a cool
liquid, which would require a refrigeration unit to keep the liquid
in the tubes cool. Cold air can also be injected into the
condensation tank, which would result in less volume of eventual
effluent, but with a higher concentration.
[0065] The steam eductor is the device that extracts the atmosphere
from the reaction vessel and directs it into the barometric
condenser. The steam eductor can take a number of forms including
an air pump, venturi tube or any other commonly used devices that
move air. The steam eductor would be utilized to remove as much
steam from the reaction vessel as possible before it is opened. The
removal of this atmosphere can continue until there is a negative
pressure in the reaction vessel.
[0066] Even with a thorough evacuation and flushing of the
atmosphere from the reaction vessel, when the door to the reaction
vessel is opened and the MSW is moved by the augers to the opening,
the act of stirring, tumbling, and moving the MSW by the reaction
vessels and the augers, the MSW will release significant quantities
of steam. To capture this steam, a hood, which is placed over the
door to the reaction vessel so that effluents from the MSW can be
enclosed in the hood and drawn off to the barometric condenser, is
useful. Typically, the MSW from the reaction vessel is directed to
a trommel screen for sorting of the material. While the recently
heated MSW is on the trommel screen and being moved, steam will
continue to be released. A hood over the trommel screen is
effective at this point to contain steam and gaseous effluents, and
to allow them to be channeled to the barometric condenser.
[0067] While there is shown and described the present preferred
embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that
this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied
to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the
foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *