CA1324119C - System for transforming waste material - Google Patents
System for transforming waste materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA1324119C CA1324119C CA000587774A CA587774A CA1324119C CA 1324119 C CA1324119 C CA 1324119C CA 000587774 A CA000587774 A CA 000587774A CA 587774 A CA587774 A CA 587774A CA 1324119 C CA1324119 C CA 1324119C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- waste material
- reactor
- material according
- transforming
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09C—TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS, TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES ; PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK ; PREPARATION OF INORGANIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE NO SINGLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ARE MAINLY USED AS PIGMENTS OR FILLERS
- C09C1/00—Treatment of specific inorganic materials other than fibrous fillers; Preparation of carbon black
- C09C1/44—Carbon
- C09C1/48—Carbon black
- C09C1/482—Preparation from used rubber products, e.g. tyres
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
- C10B1/00—Retorts
- C10B1/10—Rotary retorts
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
- C10B47/00—Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials with indirect heating, e.g. by external combustion
- C10B47/02—Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials with indirect heating, e.g. by external combustion with stationary charge
- C10B47/04—Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials with indirect heating, e.g. by external combustion with stationary charge in shaft furnaces
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
- C10B53/00—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
- C10B53/00—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form
- C10B53/02—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of cellulose-containing material
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
- C10B53/00—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form
- C10B53/07—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of solid raw materials consisting of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/141—Feedstock
- Y02P20/143—Feedstock the feedstock being recycled material, e.g. plastics
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
- Signal Processing For Digital Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
- Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
- Liquid Developers In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Waste-Gas Treatment And Other Accessory Devices For Furnaces (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention relates to a system for transforming waste material, which comprises at least a reception zone, a sorting zone, and a grinding zone for the waste material and a thermal treatment zone for this waste material, characterized in that the thermal treatment unit is composed of one or a plurality of reactors and that each reactor is comprised of its own heating, filtering, condensation and grinding means in order to form an independent modular unit. Each reactor is formed by a reactor body capable of effecting a radial rotating movement, and by an external enveloping chamber. The heating means is such that the body of the reactor is heated in a uniform manner, and adapted to increase the temperature inside the body to a value between 400 and 600 degrees C, and each reactor body is connected to means allowing the process of thermal transformation of the waste material to take place in vacuo.
The invention relates to a system for transforming waste material, which comprises at least a reception zone, a sorting zone, and a grinding zone for the waste material and a thermal treatment zone for this waste material, characterized in that the thermal treatment unit is composed of one or a plurality of reactors and that each reactor is comprised of its own heating, filtering, condensation and grinding means in order to form an independent modular unit. Each reactor is formed by a reactor body capable of effecting a radial rotating movement, and by an external enveloping chamber. The heating means is such that the body of the reactor is heated in a uniform manner, and adapted to increase the temperature inside the body to a value between 400 and 600 degrees C, and each reactor body is connected to means allowing the process of thermal transformation of the waste material to take place in vacuo.
Description
This invention relates to a system for transEorming waste material The world refuse problem is becoming more acute every day due to the vast quantities produced, both in the industrial sector and in the rural and urban spheres, its destruction causing a considerable problem.
Until quite recently, the most common form of waste disposal consisted in dumping it on sites provided for thi~ purpose.
This system of simple dumping, which is still largely in force, was later improved or abandoned in favour of other systems, and consequently, the different syi~tems of waste dispvsal used today can be classified under the following methods: controlled dumping, combined treatment, combined treatment and composting, treatment by means of incineration without xecovery or with recovery of energy, and f inally treatment by means of pyrolysis~
In the systems comprising controlled dumping, combined treatment and combined treatment and composting, ther~ are many disadvantages, essentially disadvantages relating to ~he e~vironment and to operation.
These disadvantages are ofset by systems comprising treatment i by means of incineration with or without recovery, which make a more industrial treatment of waste material possibleO
However, when waste material is incinerated wlthout recovery, there is generally a considerable degree of atmospheric pollution, and operating and maintenance costs are increased due to the fact that there is no recovery.
In the case of systems o~ treatment with recovery of energy, the waste material is incinerated in a ~u~nace and the energy produced on the combusti~n of the waste material is recov~red.
The heat recovered can be used, e~g. to obtain steam, hot water for heatingg to produce electrical power, etc.
i In practice, this application is very exp~nsive as the power obtained has to be piped to the place where it is to be used.
That being the case, in order to obviate the various ~' disadvantages stated herelnabove, a new type of treatment has emerged, i.e~ treatment by means of pyr~lysis, also known as pyrolytic decomposition, which consists in applying heat to one , ' :.'-.
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substance in order to separate out other more elementary substances.
In principle, this is the type of treatmen-t that can offer the greatest advan-tages due to the fact that it works on any substance that can be thermally decomposed, although no satisfactory results havP been obtained to date. -The study of these negative results conducted by the inventor of this patent led him to the conclusion that these results are ~-:
due to the wrong choice of operating conditions, and fundamentally to the wrong choice of temperature for the treatment To this end, a temperature between 1000 and 1500V C was selected, resulting in great technical difficulties with regard to both the choice of equipment and its ope~ation, and thus also resulting in very high costsO
The object of this invention is to propose a system for the treatment of waste material, as characterised in the claims, with which, within the framework of treatment by means of pyrolysis, it is possih].e to obviate the disadvantages mentioned hereinabove, and which provides a solution to the problems of the known methods of treatment in this sphere, in such a way that the waste material iLs transformed under true optimum conditions r as will be seen hereinafter~
Th~ system to which this invention xelates has the following basic objectives:
- The use of thermal reactors which, due to their principle of construction and to ths design of tl~e plant as a whole, make it possible to operate the system at a lower temperature than any pyrolysis process known hi-therto~
- The maximum operating temperature, taking account of the normal fluctuations depenaing on the properties of the waste material to be treated, is between 400 and 600~C.
- Designing a system the essential principle of which is identical, whether it is for transforming industrial, or urban or rural waste, wherein the operating conditions only vary with regard to temperature, catalysts and other substances which give rise to different chemical reactions depending on the type of waste material to be treated.
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-Ihe production of a modular system, such that each- thermal reactor and its corresponding equipment can operate independently, making it possible, in a system of the same deSigrl 7 to use one singl~ reactor or up ta one or several batteries of reactors.
In accordance with these conditions, the system to which this invention relates has the following advantageso - The system can be used for any quan-tity of waste material, as the modular nature of the system makes it possible to operate using one single reactor up to one or several batteries o~
reactors, and consequently this systPm can be insitalled to transform waste material coming from a factory, a village, or even a larger town~
No pollution is caused by water or combustion gases becaus~
the water is treated sufficiently before being discharged and the gases are chemically washed before combustion.
- Prior sorting isi optional, but not essential~ as it is posisible to introduca all the waste material into the reactor, and consequently, in plants of reduced capacity, this sorting is no-t necessary~
- This system makes it possible to transform waste material into vexy expendable and easy to market products and consequently thls system is profitable after a certain quantity has been produced, meaning that it will easily pay for itself.
- Installation and operating costs are reduced compared to other existing systems.
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- In this system~ from the moment it is received, the waste material is treated within a closed building and consequently, the plant can be located in any industrial environment close to the nucleus of the populatio~ producing the waste, resulting in great savings in the transportation of this wa~teO
- The fact that each reactor and its eguipment cons~itutes a module which can operate independently means that ~breakdown~
or maintenance work only halt the reactor or reactors in question, and the plan~ can continue to operate.
All these improvements, as well as others which will be shown '' '' ''':.
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132f~1 19 in a more detailed manner in this description, make this system different to anything else known hitherto. .
For a better understanding of the nature of this invention~ an advantageous embodiment ~or industrial use is shown.purely by way o~ a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: .
Figure 1 is a diagram of a plant corresponding to one possible non-limiting embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is an elevation of a plant according to the diagram in Figure 1, Figure 3 corresponds to a plan view of the upper section of the preceding figure in part section, Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective of four external chambers 33 of an identical number of reactors 8, Figure 5 corresponds tc the section V-V indicated in Figure 6 . if the latter were not a view in section, Figure ~ shows a longitudinal section of the cylindri.cal body 34 of each reactor 8, . ....................... ,, ~.
Figure 7 shows a profile of Figure 8~ -Figure 8 is an ~levation of th~ bocly 34, ~
Figure 9 is a front view in part section of the four external chambers 33 seen in Figure 4, ~ Figures 10 :~ and 11 are a pro~ile and an elevation raspectivel~, showing~ :
one of the wheels 37 with its supporting frame, the: :.
first being shown in part section, I Figure 12 is an elevation of Fi~ure 13, Fiyure 13 is a plan view of one of the doors 40 of the charge and discharge opening 45 of the metal cylindrical . bodies 34, i Figure 14 show~ the section XIV-XIV indicated in Figure 15,. :~
and . .
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13241 1~
Figure 15 is an eleva-tion of a ~ilter 47 the outer part of ?~hi~h is indicated ~?y a dash-dotted line~?
This inventiorl relates to a system for transforming waste material, both industrial waste and urban and rural waste, and Figure 1 shows a diagram oE a possible example of the practical installation of this transfcrming system, the general description of the means forming the system being as fol1ows A receiving hopper 1, fed by means of clawed tongs or other similar means, is disposed in a closed general building, in which is installed the reception point for the waste material.
In the lower part of the hopper 1 there is a tearing device form?ed by rows of rotating cylinders which comprise on their periphery a series of conical points arranged in such a manner that they tear the b?ags containing the re~use and allow glass bottles to pass freely.
A belt conveyor 2 is disposed opposite the hopper, said bel-t COnVeyC?r 2 passing through a zcne 3 for sorting glass and if re~?uired plastics, and glass objects and if required objects made of plastic can be separated ~rom the waste material in this zone.
A magnetic separating unit fc?rmed by a magnetic cylinder which separates the ferromagnetic portion fr?~m the waste material is disposed at the end of the belt 2~? q'his Eerromagnetic portion then drops onto another belt conveycr 7 and is mixed once again with the waste material which has already been ground in a grinding machine 5 in order to reduce its volume and in this way to use the maximum capacity of the thermal reactors 8.
Another grinding unit 6 is disposed op?posite the belt conveyor 7, fo?r tyres, biomass or other typ~ of waste material wnich can be a?~?apted tv the process and which is different from the urban waste known as refusea -~
Where the plant is equipped with one single reactor, the belt 7 extends to the charge opening of ~he latter; howev?er, when there is a plurality of reactors~ the belt 7 iS formedl ~?y a fixed part and a movable end part by means of which the' ???~aste ma~er~al is charged into the c?pen~ ng of thR corresponding reactor 87 '.
Each reactor 8 is formed by an external enveloping chamber 33 (see Figures 4 and 9) and an inner cylindrical reactor body 34, shown in Figures 5 to 8.
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The external chamber 33 is formed by refractory bricks and in the space between the external chamber 33 and the corresponding inner cylindrical body there are heating means, such as, inter alia, combined gas and solid fuel burners 27 which serve to increase the temperature of the air chamher surrounding the cylindrical body 34 such that the latter is heated in a uniform and indirect manner, inter alia, allcwing the operating temperature inside the body 34 to reach a value of between 400 and 600~C~
Æccording to a practical non-limiting embodiment, each cylindrical body 34 is formed by a stainless steel cylinder approximately eight metres in length and two and a half metres in diameter, which can thus receive a charge of the order of seven tonnes of waste material for transforming.
Deflecting fins 35 are disposed in a helical manner inside each cylindrical body 34 ~see Figure 6~, their function being to transfer and dis~ribute the charge in a uniform manner throughout the interior of the body 34 of each reactor 8.
Each cylindrical body 34 is apable of effecting a radial rotating movement, this movement being obtained by means of the wheels 37 shown in Flgures 10 and 11 which rest against the tracks 36.
These wheels 37 are mounted on frames installed on supports 38 which are disposed in enclosures 39 situated outsid the heating chamber de~ined between each cylindrical body 34 and its covering o~ refractory material 33, as can be seen in Figure 9. Because the wheels 37 are arranged within these enclosures 39, the wheels 37 are not subjected to increas~d temperatures during operation~
The cylindrical bodies 34 can rotate at two di~ferent speeds, one a rapid chaxge and discharge speed and the other a slow operating speed~ They are driven by means of a geared motor and a chain and the chain is provided with an intermediate adjuster to compensate for any expansion.
Charging and discharging is effected through an openlng 45 located at the front part of the reactor~ This opening 45 has a door 40 ~see Figures 12 and 13~ which can be closed by a rotating wheel device 41 with which rasks 42 engage~ which can therefore occupy two positions; one an input position, allowing the ~oor 40 to open, and the other an output position preventing it from opening~ The racks 42 have wedge-shaped .
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ends 43 which tend to exert a force on the door 40 in the direction of closing of the latter. The door 40 also has a graphite seal 44 to ensure it is hermetically sealed.
On the back part of each body 34 there is~an opening 46 for connecting the draw-off pipe for the gases, said opening being provided with a rotating connector, the sealing of which is ensured by means of a stuffing box.
Filtering means for large solid elements adapted to preven-t them escaping through the gas discharge pipe are disposed inside and on the back part or on the par-t where the gas is discharged. These filtering means are cleaned aukomatically by the friction of the waste material.
A filtering device 47 for Eiltering any particles in suspension in the gas is disposed in the draw-off pipe for gases, at the outlet of the reactor, the collision of these particles retaining them against a series of deflecting fins.
Flgures 14 and 15 show one possib~e practical embodiment of the filters 47 in question, in~which each of them has a plurality of deflecting flns 48 which are disposed in a staggered arrangement.
These deflecting fins 48 pass through grooves formed for this purpose in a plate 49 mounted on an air-pump piston 50 with a time-delay system, which at predetermined intervals effects a movement to and fro alony the fins 4~ in order to clean them~
At the base of each filter 47 there is a tilting cover 51, its selective opening allowing the dust deposited inside each filter 47 to be ~mptied rapidly.
Moreover, ~he body 34 of each reactor 8 is provided with a cooling device which takes the water condensed in the system and injects it into the bodies 34 during the final cooling phase of the product and this water which evaporates immediately promotes cooling which continues until the set temperature o~ the order of 100 degrees Centi~rade is reached, preventlng any chance o~ fire or explosion during dischargeO
The gas which is drawn off during the ~peration of each reactor 8 and which, once filtered) reaches a temperature of 600C at the outlet of the reactor r passes through a heat ex~hanger 17 which partially cools it, this heat being absorbed by the feed :, , '' .
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1 324 1 ~ q :
gas of the burner 27 and the gas thus being in excellent conditions to be burned.
The gas drawn off follows its course until it reache~ tar condensers 18 where the gas is cooled to below 140~C by means of counter-current water circulation which is automatically controlled ~y an electrically operated valve provided with a thermostat.
Each tar condenser 18 is provided with a separate tank 19 and all these individual tanks are connected to a common feed tank 20.
When the tank 20 is filledl the valves between said feed tank and the individual tanks 19 are closed 'and a pump discharging the tar towards an external storage tank is started up, wherein this operation can be effected without in any way affecting the vacuum in the pipe. ~
The gas coming from the condensers 18 arrives at the water '' condensers 21 at a temperature of the order of 140-C and is cooled by counter-current water circulation to below 40C; in this way, all the aqueous portion received in the individual tanks 22 is condensed.
The individual tanks 22 communicate with a common tank 23 and, '' as in the preceding case, they can be separated individually from this common tank 23 from which, by means of a ~otor-driven pump, the water is passed through fil-tering and treatment devices to be used later vr to be discharged~
The primary water purification system 30 can be seen in Figure ~, said system being formed by six columns which are"'''~illed I with vegetable charcoal and which operate in two-stages, i.eO a j stage comprising rough grinding and filtering off scum, and a finishing stage, after which the water enters pools or water cooling tanks 31 disposed in series for cooling the water.
The excess water i5 sent to a final treatment unit 32 formed by two parallel columns filled with active carbon, where any waste material from organic solvents is absorbed, after which the water arrives at an auxiliary tr~atment'caisson where it is disinected and oxidised by means of scrubbing with gaseous chlorine and air and the water then passes once again through the columns of active carbon in order to retaini the residual chlorine, chloramines and other chemiGal compounds which may havsi formed. The effluent is treated in the auxiliary caisson ,.
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by means of automatic operations ~onsisting of neutralisation and pH and temperature control, ater which it is discharged.
The portion of gas not condensed in the condensers 21 i.s advanced to a gas washer 24 where it is washed in t~lo phases by means of scrub~ing, first with a very basic liquid and then with a very acidic liquid. In this way, the incondensable compounds of a basic or acidic nature are retained. The gas washing is completed by the cyclo~i~ effect produced on the water by the vacuum pump water ring 25.
In this connection, each reactor 8, or more particularly, each reactor body 34 i5 connected to means allowing the process of thermal transformation of the waste material to take pl~ce in vacuo and is subject to a group of vacuum pumps 25. The efficiency of the treatment is therefore increased due to the vacuum and it is possible to carry out the -treatment at ~ lower temperature without affecting output. ' ':
i These vacuum pumps 25 are two pumps of the water ring type, which are disposed symmetrically and operate in a staggered i manner in order to adapt the suction speed at any time to the flow of the gas product. These pumps 25 therefore create a vacuum in which the whole cireuit op~rates, said vacuum ! promoting the drawing up of the gaseous phase coming from the 'I reactors 8.
A~ can he seen in Figure 1, the reference symbols 26 and 26' 3 indicate two gas tanks, a .small tank 26 adapted for the recirculation of the gas which has to be burned in the burners 27, and a larger tank 26' which serves as a store Eo.r the initial phase during which the quantlty of gas produced i5 not ~' sufficient for self-feeding and for the final phase during ~hich there i5 more gas produced than is used.
The large tank 26 is provided with.a safety device which in -the event of excess pressure opens a valve and lights a torch, and in addition there 1s an automatic cooling system by means of spraying.
When the pressure of the gas in the small tanks ~6 exceeds a . predetermined value, a compr~ssor 29 starts automatically and j transfers this gas to the large tank 26'.
Once the operatlon of the corresponding reactor or reactors B
is compl~ted, the body 34 turns in the opposite direct'i'on to that of charging, such that the fins 35 mo~e the ip$oduct : '', , , ' ;:
132~1 lq towards the opening 45.
During discharye, a movable pneumatic extraction vessel 9 is connected to thls openiny and draws up the solid carbon particles in suspensionO These parti~les are ~onveyed to a mill 13 in order to be finely divided.
The portion of carbonised material which is not captured pneumatically is deposited on a belt conveyor 10 which transports it towards a hopper 11 which receives the prdduct for the subsequent feeding of a vibrating screen 12 where ferromagnetic elements, inert elements and other metals are separated The carbonised produ~t which passes through the mesh of the screen 12 is pneumatically conveyed to the hopper of the mill 13~ -The remainder continues to the end of the screening line where the ferromagnetic metals are magnetically separated in order to be compressed and subsequently sold. The other inert elements are collected in a small tank to be discharged subsequently.
In this way, the micronising mill 13 receives the carbonised material coming from two different p~ints, namely the pneumatic capture system 9 and the screen 12. The mill 13 comprises a device for separating the greater part vf the ashes and reduces the particle size to below 75~m.
~t the outlet of the mill, the produc1: arrives at a cyclone 14 where the ground product is separated. A filter 15 is installed in cvnjunction with the cyclone 14 and has the following two functions: firstly, it iilters the dust received by he pneumati~ collector 9 during di-;charge, and secondly9 it filters the flow producéd by the mill 13.
Finally, the product collected in the cyclone ~4 and in the filter 15 arrive~ at a weighing and bagging machine 16 where it i~ automatically bagged so that it can be handled, stored and sold in th~ best and most appropriate manner.
Following this de~cription of the fundamental means used inj the plant according to the system to whiGh the invention rela~es, the operation of these means ~or transforming the three types of waste material mentioned~ i~e. industrial, urban and rural waste, will now be described.
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TRANSFORMATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE
The most common industrial waste consists of plastics, rubber, tyres, wood and textile remains, etc. Once all this waste material has been grinded in the machine 6, it is introdu~ed into the corresponding reactor or reactors 8,starting up their respective burners 27, and then the vacuum pipe i5 connected, the vacuum being obtained by the motor-driven pumps 25.
In this way the mass begins to heat gradually, giving rise to the diferent reactions. Due to the vacuum, when a temperature of 50 60C is obtained inside the reactor 8, the water vapour begins to be released and is condensed in the cond'ensers 210 The different reactions take place as the temperature increases, resulting in the formation of'gases with different properties, the tar gases being condensed in the condensers 18.
The tar obtained in this way is a complex mixture of aromatic compounds which, during subs~quent operations, can be distilled to obtain different solvents.
The incondensable gases are washed at 24 and are stored in the tanks 26 and 26' to be fed to the burners 27.
When the reactors reach a temperature of 400-600 C, depending on the substance they contain; the operation is complete,rfrom the thermal point of ~iew.
At this point, water is injected into the reactors 8 to cool the product to the desired temperature, and when the latter ha~
been reached the opening 45 is opened to begin discharge.
The product is advanced by means of the pneumatic collector 8 ' and the belt conveyor 10 to the z~ne of the m'ill 13 and it finally arrives at th weighing and bagging machine 16.
EXAMPLE ' ~
Upon treatment of a tonne of industrial waste from the -~' manufacture of tyres, which are composed of 'rubber, carbon, steel wire and in certain cases, textile fibres, the following ~ubstances were obtained~
Carbon black from 10 to 70~m ~ O~ 200 Kg '~' Powdered coal for injecting or for making briquette~ D~D 300 Kg Tar . DD..... 0.. ~ .... 100 Rg ' -,:';
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Steel wire ~O~ 50 Kg Ashes ~ O~30 Kg TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN WASTE :
Urban waste is -treated in the same manner as in the preceding case, except that the refuse sacks are emptied into the hopper 1 provided with a device for tearing the sacks If desired glass and plastics can be sorted and the remainder follows its course, the ~erromagnetic products being separated by the pneumatic collector 4, while the remainder is ground at 5.
The ferromagnetic products, such as tin cans, are then added to the ground waste material and ev~rything is. then introduced into the reactors B, since it has been proven that the tin of tin cans helps to absorb the chlorine produced in ~he course of the reactions inside the reactors 8.
It is als~ provided to introduce into the mass an additlve ~or absorbing chlorinated products.
The remai.nder of the process is essentially identical to that described hereinabove.
EXAMPLE
I In order to determine the percentayles of household refuse, a j study was mad~ of the refuse coming from.dif~erent towns and even different parts o~ towns with different standards of living, and the average results obtained are as follows:
Organic matter ~ D~ 45-55% -~-Paper and cardboard ~ O~O~O 14-18%
Plastics ~ O~ 5- 9~i . Textiles, leathers and rub~er . 4- 5%
: Glass ................ ~.~....... . 3- 8~i Ferromagnetic scrap ............ O 3- 4% :: .
Various inert elements ~O~ O~OO~ 14-19%
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The physico-chemical properties of these products are as ~:
, f~llows:
,' Density ..... ~.............. ~......... ,... 200 Xg/m3 ::.
Humidity .... ~.............. ,............. .40%
i Combustible material 70~ 41%
Ashes and glass ~O~ 19%
: N~C.V. ...... ~............................ 1700Kcal/Xg -. :
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a 1 ' " :', :' Average products obtained in the course of the treatment of this ~aste material per tonne treated:
Carbon black from 10 to 75~m ... ~.......... ....50 Kg Powdered coal for injecting or for making briquettes ~ O~O 120 Kg Tar ~ O~ 40 Kg Ferromagnetic scrap .~,.... ~....... ~........ ~. 30 Kg Glass ~ 9~ 40 Kg Gas, only that necessary for applying heat to the treatment.
TRANSFORMATION OF_AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST WASTE
Agricultural and forest waste is treated by.introducing it into a type of cutting machine equipped with knives to reduce its dimensions, after whlch it is advanced directly to the reactor 8 by the belt conveyors 7, where the thermal -reaction takes place. When the latter .is comple-ted, the whole product -:
consists of carbonised matter, because this mattsr only contains fixed carbon, volatile elements and between 0.5 to 0.7% of sulphur, with a reduced percentage (6-8%) of ashes, which are almost completely separated in the mil:L 13.
EXAMPLE
These products can vary greatly depending on their place of :
or~gin and their humidity. The humidity contained in these materials can vary from 25 to 70.~ and consaquently, their output of product varies greatly; on the other hand~ they contain no inert elements and few ashes. .~.;
The average which can be obtained is as follows~ ~
Carbon black from 10 to 75~m .............. ......60 Kg ~ :
Coal for injecting or for making . .~.
briquettes O~ O~ 120 Kg T~r ~ o ~ o o ~ 50 Kg A~hes ~ O~ OO~ 30 Kg :~;
ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTS OBTAINED DURING THE TRANSFORMATION OF
WASTE M~TERIAL
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The products obtained can be used in different industriés and -. -:
consequently, the carbon black Gan be used by-the rubber and plastics lndustries~ The injecting coal is very successful as a iuel in the cement, ceramics, and other indu~tries anù it can / ` ' - ''''' ",' ..
: ., 1 324 ~ 1 9 also be used -to be transformed into briquettes used in heating boilers. The tar can be used in different ways: due to its composition, it could be used as a liquid fuel ~fuel of average density), it can be distilled to extract the solvents it contains for use in industry~ while the remainder can be used as a waterproofing agent or in the form of tar briquettes for surfacing.
The properties of the products obtained according to this system are indicated below, being in no way limiting.
- CARBON BLACK FROM 10 TO 75/~M
Carbon ...... .Ø..... ~...................... ...92%
Hydrogen ~... ,... 0.... ,.... O.~............... ...2.5%
Sulphur ,.~...... ..... ..... ~0................ ..Ø5 Ashes ....... .~............ ,................. ...5~
NoC~V ....... 0.O...... O...................... ...8200Kcal/Kg - COAL FOR INJECTING OR FOR FORMING BRIQUETTES
Fixed carbon ........ <,...................... ...45%
Volatile elements ... .~...................... ...36%
Hydrogen ............ ~...................... ...2.5%
Sulphur ............. ~,...................... ..Ø5%
Humidity ... 0......... ~................... ...2%
Ashes ...... ~ 04 14%
i N.C.V. ~.... ~....... 0..................... .O ShOOKcal/Kg Specific gravity ............................ 0. 380400 Kg/m 3 I - TAR
Napthalene and anthracene .~................. ....5.5-6%
Ole~ine .... ~............. ,..... ~......... ., 3-4%
I Aromatics .. ,.......... ,.................. ....19-22%
I Paraffin ... 0............................. ....1.2-1%I Combined water ....... ~.... ........ ,.~... ....6-7%
I Non distillable remains (pitch) .... .,.,.. ....70%
N.C.V. .. 7~ r~ 8900Kcal/Kg Specific gravity at 20~C ................. 0. 950-1000 Kg~m 3 Now that the nature of the invention and its industrial application has been sufficiently described~ it only remain~ to add that it is possible to introduce changes in terms of form, ~ material and composition to the invention as a whole and to its ; constituent parts without going beyond the scope of the invention, provided that these modifications do not;àlter the principle of the invention.
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Until quite recently, the most common form of waste disposal consisted in dumping it on sites provided for thi~ purpose.
This system of simple dumping, which is still largely in force, was later improved or abandoned in favour of other systems, and consequently, the different syi~tems of waste dispvsal used today can be classified under the following methods: controlled dumping, combined treatment, combined treatment and composting, treatment by means of incineration without xecovery or with recovery of energy, and f inally treatment by means of pyrolysis~
In the systems comprising controlled dumping, combined treatment and combined treatment and composting, ther~ are many disadvantages, essentially disadvantages relating to ~he e~vironment and to operation.
These disadvantages are ofset by systems comprising treatment i by means of incineration with or without recovery, which make a more industrial treatment of waste material possibleO
However, when waste material is incinerated wlthout recovery, there is generally a considerable degree of atmospheric pollution, and operating and maintenance costs are increased due to the fact that there is no recovery.
In the case of systems o~ treatment with recovery of energy, the waste material is incinerated in a ~u~nace and the energy produced on the combusti~n of the waste material is recov~red.
The heat recovered can be used, e~g. to obtain steam, hot water for heatingg to produce electrical power, etc.
i In practice, this application is very exp~nsive as the power obtained has to be piped to the place where it is to be used.
That being the case, in order to obviate the various ~' disadvantages stated herelnabove, a new type of treatment has emerged, i.e~ treatment by means of pyr~lysis, also known as pyrolytic decomposition, which consists in applying heat to one , ' :.'-.
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~ 1324~ 1~
substance in order to separate out other more elementary substances.
In principle, this is the type of treatmen-t that can offer the greatest advan-tages due to the fact that it works on any substance that can be thermally decomposed, although no satisfactory results havP been obtained to date. -The study of these negative results conducted by the inventor of this patent led him to the conclusion that these results are ~-:
due to the wrong choice of operating conditions, and fundamentally to the wrong choice of temperature for the treatment To this end, a temperature between 1000 and 1500V C was selected, resulting in great technical difficulties with regard to both the choice of equipment and its ope~ation, and thus also resulting in very high costsO
The object of this invention is to propose a system for the treatment of waste material, as characterised in the claims, with which, within the framework of treatment by means of pyrolysis, it is possih].e to obviate the disadvantages mentioned hereinabove, and which provides a solution to the problems of the known methods of treatment in this sphere, in such a way that the waste material iLs transformed under true optimum conditions r as will be seen hereinafter~
Th~ system to which this invention xelates has the following basic objectives:
- The use of thermal reactors which, due to their principle of construction and to ths design of tl~e plant as a whole, make it possible to operate the system at a lower temperature than any pyrolysis process known hi-therto~
- The maximum operating temperature, taking account of the normal fluctuations depenaing on the properties of the waste material to be treated, is between 400 and 600~C.
- Designing a system the essential principle of which is identical, whether it is for transforming industrial, or urban or rural waste, wherein the operating conditions only vary with regard to temperature, catalysts and other substances which give rise to different chemical reactions depending on the type of waste material to be treated.
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-Ihe production of a modular system, such that each- thermal reactor and its corresponding equipment can operate independently, making it possible, in a system of the same deSigrl 7 to use one singl~ reactor or up ta one or several batteries of reactors.
In accordance with these conditions, the system to which this invention relates has the following advantageso - The system can be used for any quan-tity of waste material, as the modular nature of the system makes it possible to operate using one single reactor up to one or several batteries o~
reactors, and consequently this systPm can be insitalled to transform waste material coming from a factory, a village, or even a larger town~
No pollution is caused by water or combustion gases becaus~
the water is treated sufficiently before being discharged and the gases are chemically washed before combustion.
- Prior sorting isi optional, but not essential~ as it is posisible to introduca all the waste material into the reactor, and consequently, in plants of reduced capacity, this sorting is no-t necessary~
- This system makes it possible to transform waste material into vexy expendable and easy to market products and consequently thls system is profitable after a certain quantity has been produced, meaning that it will easily pay for itself.
- Installation and operating costs are reduced compared to other existing systems.
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- In this system~ from the moment it is received, the waste material is treated within a closed building and consequently, the plant can be located in any industrial environment close to the nucleus of the populatio~ producing the waste, resulting in great savings in the transportation of this wa~teO
- The fact that each reactor and its eguipment cons~itutes a module which can operate independently means that ~breakdown~
or maintenance work only halt the reactor or reactors in question, and the plan~ can continue to operate.
All these improvements, as well as others which will be shown '' '' ''':.
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132f~1 19 in a more detailed manner in this description, make this system different to anything else known hitherto. .
For a better understanding of the nature of this invention~ an advantageous embodiment ~or industrial use is shown.purely by way o~ a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: .
Figure 1 is a diagram of a plant corresponding to one possible non-limiting embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is an elevation of a plant according to the diagram in Figure 1, Figure 3 corresponds to a plan view of the upper section of the preceding figure in part section, Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective of four external chambers 33 of an identical number of reactors 8, Figure 5 corresponds tc the section V-V indicated in Figure 6 . if the latter were not a view in section, Figure ~ shows a longitudinal section of the cylindri.cal body 34 of each reactor 8, . ....................... ,, ~.
Figure 7 shows a profile of Figure 8~ -Figure 8 is an ~levation of th~ bocly 34, ~
Figure 9 is a front view in part section of the four external chambers 33 seen in Figure 4, ~ Figures 10 :~ and 11 are a pro~ile and an elevation raspectivel~, showing~ :
one of the wheels 37 with its supporting frame, the: :.
first being shown in part section, I Figure 12 is an elevation of Fi~ure 13, Fiyure 13 is a plan view of one of the doors 40 of the charge and discharge opening 45 of the metal cylindrical . bodies 34, i Figure 14 show~ the section XIV-XIV indicated in Figure 15,. :~
and . .
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13241 1~
Figure 15 is an eleva-tion of a ~ilter 47 the outer part of ?~hi~h is indicated ~?y a dash-dotted line~?
This inventiorl relates to a system for transforming waste material, both industrial waste and urban and rural waste, and Figure 1 shows a diagram oE a possible example of the practical installation of this transfcrming system, the general description of the means forming the system being as fol1ows A receiving hopper 1, fed by means of clawed tongs or other similar means, is disposed in a closed general building, in which is installed the reception point for the waste material.
In the lower part of the hopper 1 there is a tearing device form?ed by rows of rotating cylinders which comprise on their periphery a series of conical points arranged in such a manner that they tear the b?ags containing the re~use and allow glass bottles to pass freely.
A belt conveyor 2 is disposed opposite the hopper, said bel-t COnVeyC?r 2 passing through a zcne 3 for sorting glass and if re~?uired plastics, and glass objects and if required objects made of plastic can be separated ~rom the waste material in this zone.
A magnetic separating unit fc?rmed by a magnetic cylinder which separates the ferromagnetic portion fr?~m the waste material is disposed at the end of the belt 2~? q'his Eerromagnetic portion then drops onto another belt conveycr 7 and is mixed once again with the waste material which has already been ground in a grinding machine 5 in order to reduce its volume and in this way to use the maximum capacity of the thermal reactors 8.
Another grinding unit 6 is disposed op?posite the belt conveyor 7, fo?r tyres, biomass or other typ~ of waste material wnich can be a?~?apted tv the process and which is different from the urban waste known as refusea -~
Where the plant is equipped with one single reactor, the belt 7 extends to the charge opening of ~he latter; howev?er, when there is a plurality of reactors~ the belt 7 iS formedl ~?y a fixed part and a movable end part by means of which the' ???~aste ma~er~al is charged into the c?pen~ ng of thR corresponding reactor 87 '.
Each reactor 8 is formed by an external enveloping chamber 33 (see Figures 4 and 9) and an inner cylindrical reactor body 34, shown in Figures 5 to 8.
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The external chamber 33 is formed by refractory bricks and in the space between the external chamber 33 and the corresponding inner cylindrical body there are heating means, such as, inter alia, combined gas and solid fuel burners 27 which serve to increase the temperature of the air chamher surrounding the cylindrical body 34 such that the latter is heated in a uniform and indirect manner, inter alia, allcwing the operating temperature inside the body 34 to reach a value of between 400 and 600~C~
Æccording to a practical non-limiting embodiment, each cylindrical body 34 is formed by a stainless steel cylinder approximately eight metres in length and two and a half metres in diameter, which can thus receive a charge of the order of seven tonnes of waste material for transforming.
Deflecting fins 35 are disposed in a helical manner inside each cylindrical body 34 ~see Figure 6~, their function being to transfer and dis~ribute the charge in a uniform manner throughout the interior of the body 34 of each reactor 8.
Each cylindrical body 34 is apable of effecting a radial rotating movement, this movement being obtained by means of the wheels 37 shown in Flgures 10 and 11 which rest against the tracks 36.
These wheels 37 are mounted on frames installed on supports 38 which are disposed in enclosures 39 situated outsid the heating chamber de~ined between each cylindrical body 34 and its covering o~ refractory material 33, as can be seen in Figure 9. Because the wheels 37 are arranged within these enclosures 39, the wheels 37 are not subjected to increas~d temperatures during operation~
The cylindrical bodies 34 can rotate at two di~ferent speeds, one a rapid chaxge and discharge speed and the other a slow operating speed~ They are driven by means of a geared motor and a chain and the chain is provided with an intermediate adjuster to compensate for any expansion.
Charging and discharging is effected through an openlng 45 located at the front part of the reactor~ This opening 45 has a door 40 ~see Figures 12 and 13~ which can be closed by a rotating wheel device 41 with which rasks 42 engage~ which can therefore occupy two positions; one an input position, allowing the ~oor 40 to open, and the other an output position preventing it from opening~ The racks 42 have wedge-shaped .
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13241 1~
ends 43 which tend to exert a force on the door 40 in the direction of closing of the latter. The door 40 also has a graphite seal 44 to ensure it is hermetically sealed.
On the back part of each body 34 there is~an opening 46 for connecting the draw-off pipe for the gases, said opening being provided with a rotating connector, the sealing of which is ensured by means of a stuffing box.
Filtering means for large solid elements adapted to preven-t them escaping through the gas discharge pipe are disposed inside and on the back part or on the par-t where the gas is discharged. These filtering means are cleaned aukomatically by the friction of the waste material.
A filtering device 47 for Eiltering any particles in suspension in the gas is disposed in the draw-off pipe for gases, at the outlet of the reactor, the collision of these particles retaining them against a series of deflecting fins.
Flgures 14 and 15 show one possib~e practical embodiment of the filters 47 in question, in~which each of them has a plurality of deflecting flns 48 which are disposed in a staggered arrangement.
These deflecting fins 48 pass through grooves formed for this purpose in a plate 49 mounted on an air-pump piston 50 with a time-delay system, which at predetermined intervals effects a movement to and fro alony the fins 4~ in order to clean them~
At the base of each filter 47 there is a tilting cover 51, its selective opening allowing the dust deposited inside each filter 47 to be ~mptied rapidly.
Moreover, ~he body 34 of each reactor 8 is provided with a cooling device which takes the water condensed in the system and injects it into the bodies 34 during the final cooling phase of the product and this water which evaporates immediately promotes cooling which continues until the set temperature o~ the order of 100 degrees Centi~rade is reached, preventlng any chance o~ fire or explosion during dischargeO
The gas which is drawn off during the ~peration of each reactor 8 and which, once filtered) reaches a temperature of 600C at the outlet of the reactor r passes through a heat ex~hanger 17 which partially cools it, this heat being absorbed by the feed :, , '' .
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1 324 1 ~ q :
gas of the burner 27 and the gas thus being in excellent conditions to be burned.
The gas drawn off follows its course until it reache~ tar condensers 18 where the gas is cooled to below 140~C by means of counter-current water circulation which is automatically controlled ~y an electrically operated valve provided with a thermostat.
Each tar condenser 18 is provided with a separate tank 19 and all these individual tanks are connected to a common feed tank 20.
When the tank 20 is filledl the valves between said feed tank and the individual tanks 19 are closed 'and a pump discharging the tar towards an external storage tank is started up, wherein this operation can be effected without in any way affecting the vacuum in the pipe. ~
The gas coming from the condensers 18 arrives at the water '' condensers 21 at a temperature of the order of 140-C and is cooled by counter-current water circulation to below 40C; in this way, all the aqueous portion received in the individual tanks 22 is condensed.
The individual tanks 22 communicate with a common tank 23 and, '' as in the preceding case, they can be separated individually from this common tank 23 from which, by means of a ~otor-driven pump, the water is passed through fil-tering and treatment devices to be used later vr to be discharged~
The primary water purification system 30 can be seen in Figure ~, said system being formed by six columns which are"'''~illed I with vegetable charcoal and which operate in two-stages, i.eO a j stage comprising rough grinding and filtering off scum, and a finishing stage, after which the water enters pools or water cooling tanks 31 disposed in series for cooling the water.
The excess water i5 sent to a final treatment unit 32 formed by two parallel columns filled with active carbon, where any waste material from organic solvents is absorbed, after which the water arrives at an auxiliary tr~atment'caisson where it is disinected and oxidised by means of scrubbing with gaseous chlorine and air and the water then passes once again through the columns of active carbon in order to retaini the residual chlorine, chloramines and other chemiGal compounds which may havsi formed. The effluent is treated in the auxiliary caisson ,.
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by means of automatic operations ~onsisting of neutralisation and pH and temperature control, ater which it is discharged.
The portion of gas not condensed in the condensers 21 i.s advanced to a gas washer 24 where it is washed in t~lo phases by means of scrub~ing, first with a very basic liquid and then with a very acidic liquid. In this way, the incondensable compounds of a basic or acidic nature are retained. The gas washing is completed by the cyclo~i~ effect produced on the water by the vacuum pump water ring 25.
In this connection, each reactor 8, or more particularly, each reactor body 34 i5 connected to means allowing the process of thermal transformation of the waste material to take pl~ce in vacuo and is subject to a group of vacuum pumps 25. The efficiency of the treatment is therefore increased due to the vacuum and it is possible to carry out the -treatment at ~ lower temperature without affecting output. ' ':
i These vacuum pumps 25 are two pumps of the water ring type, which are disposed symmetrically and operate in a staggered i manner in order to adapt the suction speed at any time to the flow of the gas product. These pumps 25 therefore create a vacuum in which the whole cireuit op~rates, said vacuum ! promoting the drawing up of the gaseous phase coming from the 'I reactors 8.
A~ can he seen in Figure 1, the reference symbols 26 and 26' 3 indicate two gas tanks, a .small tank 26 adapted for the recirculation of the gas which has to be burned in the burners 27, and a larger tank 26' which serves as a store Eo.r the initial phase during which the quantlty of gas produced i5 not ~' sufficient for self-feeding and for the final phase during ~hich there i5 more gas produced than is used.
The large tank 26 is provided with.a safety device which in -the event of excess pressure opens a valve and lights a torch, and in addition there 1s an automatic cooling system by means of spraying.
When the pressure of the gas in the small tanks ~6 exceeds a . predetermined value, a compr~ssor 29 starts automatically and j transfers this gas to the large tank 26'.
Once the operatlon of the corresponding reactor or reactors B
is compl~ted, the body 34 turns in the opposite direct'i'on to that of charging, such that the fins 35 mo~e the ip$oduct : '', , , ' ;:
132~1 lq towards the opening 45.
During discharye, a movable pneumatic extraction vessel 9 is connected to thls openiny and draws up the solid carbon particles in suspensionO These parti~les are ~onveyed to a mill 13 in order to be finely divided.
The portion of carbonised material which is not captured pneumatically is deposited on a belt conveyor 10 which transports it towards a hopper 11 which receives the prdduct for the subsequent feeding of a vibrating screen 12 where ferromagnetic elements, inert elements and other metals are separated The carbonised produ~t which passes through the mesh of the screen 12 is pneumatically conveyed to the hopper of the mill 13~ -The remainder continues to the end of the screening line where the ferromagnetic metals are magnetically separated in order to be compressed and subsequently sold. The other inert elements are collected in a small tank to be discharged subsequently.
In this way, the micronising mill 13 receives the carbonised material coming from two different p~ints, namely the pneumatic capture system 9 and the screen 12. The mill 13 comprises a device for separating the greater part vf the ashes and reduces the particle size to below 75~m.
~t the outlet of the mill, the produc1: arrives at a cyclone 14 where the ground product is separated. A filter 15 is installed in cvnjunction with the cyclone 14 and has the following two functions: firstly, it iilters the dust received by he pneumati~ collector 9 during di-;charge, and secondly9 it filters the flow producéd by the mill 13.
Finally, the product collected in the cyclone ~4 and in the filter 15 arrive~ at a weighing and bagging machine 16 where it i~ automatically bagged so that it can be handled, stored and sold in th~ best and most appropriate manner.
Following this de~cription of the fundamental means used inj the plant according to the system to whiGh the invention rela~es, the operation of these means ~or transforming the three types of waste material mentioned~ i~e. industrial, urban and rural waste, will now be described.
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TRANSFORMATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE
The most common industrial waste consists of plastics, rubber, tyres, wood and textile remains, etc. Once all this waste material has been grinded in the machine 6, it is introdu~ed into the corresponding reactor or reactors 8,starting up their respective burners 27, and then the vacuum pipe i5 connected, the vacuum being obtained by the motor-driven pumps 25.
In this way the mass begins to heat gradually, giving rise to the diferent reactions. Due to the vacuum, when a temperature of 50 60C is obtained inside the reactor 8, the water vapour begins to be released and is condensed in the cond'ensers 210 The different reactions take place as the temperature increases, resulting in the formation of'gases with different properties, the tar gases being condensed in the condensers 18.
The tar obtained in this way is a complex mixture of aromatic compounds which, during subs~quent operations, can be distilled to obtain different solvents.
The incondensable gases are washed at 24 and are stored in the tanks 26 and 26' to be fed to the burners 27.
When the reactors reach a temperature of 400-600 C, depending on the substance they contain; the operation is complete,rfrom the thermal point of ~iew.
At this point, water is injected into the reactors 8 to cool the product to the desired temperature, and when the latter ha~
been reached the opening 45 is opened to begin discharge.
The product is advanced by means of the pneumatic collector 8 ' and the belt conveyor 10 to the z~ne of the m'ill 13 and it finally arrives at th weighing and bagging machine 16.
EXAMPLE ' ~
Upon treatment of a tonne of industrial waste from the -~' manufacture of tyres, which are composed of 'rubber, carbon, steel wire and in certain cases, textile fibres, the following ~ubstances were obtained~
Carbon black from 10 to 70~m ~ O~ 200 Kg '~' Powdered coal for injecting or for making briquette~ D~D 300 Kg Tar . DD..... 0.. ~ .... 100 Rg ' -,:';
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Steel wire ~O~ 50 Kg Ashes ~ O~30 Kg TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN WASTE :
Urban waste is -treated in the same manner as in the preceding case, except that the refuse sacks are emptied into the hopper 1 provided with a device for tearing the sacks If desired glass and plastics can be sorted and the remainder follows its course, the ~erromagnetic products being separated by the pneumatic collector 4, while the remainder is ground at 5.
The ferromagnetic products, such as tin cans, are then added to the ground waste material and ev~rything is. then introduced into the reactors B, since it has been proven that the tin of tin cans helps to absorb the chlorine produced in ~he course of the reactions inside the reactors 8.
It is als~ provided to introduce into the mass an additlve ~or absorbing chlorinated products.
The remai.nder of the process is essentially identical to that described hereinabove.
EXAMPLE
I In order to determine the percentayles of household refuse, a j study was mad~ of the refuse coming from.dif~erent towns and even different parts o~ towns with different standards of living, and the average results obtained are as follows:
Organic matter ~ D~ 45-55% -~-Paper and cardboard ~ O~O~O 14-18%
Plastics ~ O~ 5- 9~i . Textiles, leathers and rub~er . 4- 5%
: Glass ................ ~.~....... . 3- 8~i Ferromagnetic scrap ............ O 3- 4% :: .
Various inert elements ~O~ O~OO~ 14-19%
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The physico-chemical properties of these products are as ~:
, f~llows:
,' Density ..... ~.............. ~......... ,... 200 Xg/m3 ::.
Humidity .... ~.............. ,............. .40%
i Combustible material 70~ 41%
Ashes and glass ~O~ 19%
: N~C.V. ...... ~............................ 1700Kcal/Xg -. :
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a 1 ' " :', :' Average products obtained in the course of the treatment of this ~aste material per tonne treated:
Carbon black from 10 to 75~m ... ~.......... ....50 Kg Powdered coal for injecting or for making briquettes ~ O~O 120 Kg Tar ~ O~ 40 Kg Ferromagnetic scrap .~,.... ~....... ~........ ~. 30 Kg Glass ~ 9~ 40 Kg Gas, only that necessary for applying heat to the treatment.
TRANSFORMATION OF_AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST WASTE
Agricultural and forest waste is treated by.introducing it into a type of cutting machine equipped with knives to reduce its dimensions, after whlch it is advanced directly to the reactor 8 by the belt conveyors 7, where the thermal -reaction takes place. When the latter .is comple-ted, the whole product -:
consists of carbonised matter, because this mattsr only contains fixed carbon, volatile elements and between 0.5 to 0.7% of sulphur, with a reduced percentage (6-8%) of ashes, which are almost completely separated in the mil:L 13.
EXAMPLE
These products can vary greatly depending on their place of :
or~gin and their humidity. The humidity contained in these materials can vary from 25 to 70.~ and consaquently, their output of product varies greatly; on the other hand~ they contain no inert elements and few ashes. .~.;
The average which can be obtained is as follows~ ~
Carbon black from 10 to 75~m .............. ......60 Kg ~ :
Coal for injecting or for making . .~.
briquettes O~ O~ 120 Kg T~r ~ o ~ o o ~ 50 Kg A~hes ~ O~ OO~ 30 Kg :~;
ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTS OBTAINED DURING THE TRANSFORMATION OF
WASTE M~TERIAL
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The products obtained can be used in different industriés and -. -:
consequently, the carbon black Gan be used by-the rubber and plastics lndustries~ The injecting coal is very successful as a iuel in the cement, ceramics, and other indu~tries anù it can / ` ' - ''''' ",' ..
: ., 1 324 ~ 1 9 also be used -to be transformed into briquettes used in heating boilers. The tar can be used in different ways: due to its composition, it could be used as a liquid fuel ~fuel of average density), it can be distilled to extract the solvents it contains for use in industry~ while the remainder can be used as a waterproofing agent or in the form of tar briquettes for surfacing.
The properties of the products obtained according to this system are indicated below, being in no way limiting.
- CARBON BLACK FROM 10 TO 75/~M
Carbon ...... .Ø..... ~...................... ...92%
Hydrogen ~... ,... 0.... ,.... O.~............... ...2.5%
Sulphur ,.~...... ..... ..... ~0................ ..Ø5 Ashes ....... .~............ ,................. ...5~
NoC~V ....... 0.O...... O...................... ...8200Kcal/Kg - COAL FOR INJECTING OR FOR FORMING BRIQUETTES
Fixed carbon ........ <,...................... ...45%
Volatile elements ... .~...................... ...36%
Hydrogen ............ ~...................... ...2.5%
Sulphur ............. ~,...................... ..Ø5%
Humidity ... 0......... ~................... ...2%
Ashes ...... ~ 04 14%
i N.C.V. ~.... ~....... 0..................... .O ShOOKcal/Kg Specific gravity ............................ 0. 380400 Kg/m 3 I - TAR
Napthalene and anthracene .~................. ....5.5-6%
Ole~ine .... ~............. ,..... ~......... ., 3-4%
I Aromatics .. ,.......... ,.................. ....19-22%
I Paraffin ... 0............................. ....1.2-1%I Combined water ....... ~.... ........ ,.~... ....6-7%
I Non distillable remains (pitch) .... .,.,.. ....70%
N.C.V. .. 7~ r~ 8900Kcal/Kg Specific gravity at 20~C ................. 0. 950-1000 Kg~m 3 Now that the nature of the invention and its industrial application has been sufficiently described~ it only remain~ to add that it is possible to introduce changes in terms of form, ~ material and composition to the invention as a whole and to its ; constituent parts without going beyond the scope of the invention, provided that these modifications do not;àlter the principle of the invention.
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Claims (15)
1. System for transforming waste material, comprising at least a reception zone (1), a sorting zone (3, 4) and a grinding zone (5, 6) for the waste material and also a thermal treatment zone (8) for this waste material, characterised in that the thermal treatment unit is composed of one or a plurality of reactors (8) and that each reactor comprises its own heating, filtering, condensation and grinding means in order to form an independent modular unit, each reactor (8) is formed by a reactor body (34) capable of reflecting a radial rotating movement, and by an external enveloping chamber (33), the said heating means being such that the body (34) of the reactor is heated in a uniform manner, and adapted to increase the temperature inside said body (34) to a value between 400 and 600°C, and each reactor body (34) is connected to means allowing the process of thermal transformation of the waste material to take place in vacuo.
2. System for transforming waste material according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises one or a plurality of thermal reactors (8) each formed by an external chamber of refractory material (33) and an inner cylindrical body (34) of metal, with internal fins (35) disposed in a helical manner; this cylindrical body (34) is connected to drive means capable of turning it at two different speeds, a rapid speed in two directions for charge and discharge and another slow operating speed, being provided with burners (27) which heat the air chamber delimited between the external refractory material (33) and the rotating body (14) in order to obtain indirect and uniform heating of the latter, in the course of which the maximum temperatures reached during the operating phase are between four hundred and six hundred degrees centigrade (400-600° C), i.e. a temperature lower than that of other conventional systems, and moreover, the system comprises a pump unit (25) which ensures that it operates in vacuo.
3. System for transforming waste material according to claim 2, characterised in that each reactor (8) has a charge and discharge opening (45) associated with the corresponding conveying means (7 and 10) and an opening (6) for the discharge of gas associated with the following means: a heat exchanger (17) where the gas coming from the. reactor (8) is cooled, the gas used for feeding the burner (27) being heated at the same time; a tar condenser (18), with an individual tank (19) which communicates with a feed tank (20); and a water condenser (21) also with an individual tank (22) which communicates with a feed tank (23); the whole assembly being such that in a plant provided with a battery of reactors (8), each reactor (8) and its individual means mentioned hereinabove form a unit capable of operating on its own, independent of the rest, thus giving the plant a modular character which means that at any time, it can be adapted to the requirements of production, maintenance or repairs, without interrupting the operation of the system.
4. System for transforming waste material according to claim 3, characterised in that the conveying means (7) are adapted for charging the reactor (8) and are associated with either a grinder (6) which can be used in the case of industrial waste, consisting of tyres, biomass or the like, or in the case of urban refuse, a hopper (1) provided with two rows of rotating rollers provided with conical points for tearing the refuse sacks, this hopper (1), being associated with a zone (3) for sorting glass, and optionally plastics, with a magnetic separating unit (4) and with a refuse grinder (5), the whole assembly having the particular feature that at the outlet of the grinder (5), the ground refuse is mixed in with the ferromagnetic waste collected by the unit (4), everything then being poured together into the reactor (8).
5. System for transforming waste material according to claim 3, characterised in that the conveying means (10) are adapted for the discharge of the reactors (8) and lead towards a receiving hopper (11) the outlet of which passes through a vibrating sorting hopper, such that the carbonised material arrives at a micronising mill (13) and from here moves to a cyclone where the ground product is separated, weighed, and automatically bagged in a unit (16).
6. System for transforming waste material according to claim 2, characterised in that a filter (47) for any particles in suspension in the gas is disposed at the outlet of each reactor (8); this filter (47) is formed by a series of deflecting fins (48) disposed in a staggered arrangement, these fins (48) passing through grooves formed for this purpose in a plate (49) subjected to the action of a piston (50) with a time-delay system, which moves the plate (49) to and fro along the fins (48) ensuring that any deposits thereon are cleaned.
7. System for transforming waste material according to claim 3, characterised in that the water condensers (21) have an outlet for the incondensable part of the gas which is directed towards a gas washer (24) which in turn communicates, by means of vacuum pumps (25) disposed in a symmetrical manner, with a recirculation tank (26) which communicates, by means of a compressor (29), with a storage tank (26'); these pumps (25), because they allow the system to operate in vacuo, reduce the temperature of ebullition of the water inside the reactors (8), and they prevent excess pressure forming in the latter.
8. System for transforming waste material according to claim 2, characterised in that inside the rotating cylindrical body (34) of each reactor (8) there are openings for the injection of pressurized water, the water being injected during the final cooling phase of the product, until it reaches the predetermined temperature; this water is extracted from settling pools (31) disposed in series, where the water coming from the condensers (21) is cooled again after passing into a primary purification unit (30) which comprises columns filled with vegetable charcoal which act in two stages, i.e. a rough grinding and filtering stage, and a finishing stage.
9. System for transforming waste material according to claim 2, characterised in that the external refractory chamber (33) of each reactor (8) comprises enclosures (39) separated from the heating zone where supports (38) are disposed for the wheels (37) which, as they are in contact with the corresponding tracks (36) disposed outside each cylindrical body (34), allow the latter to rotate, the whole assembly being such that the wheels (37) do not have to withstand the operating temperatures of the reactor (8).
10. System for transforming waste material according to claim 3, characterised in that the charge and discharge opening is closed by a cover (40) by means of a wheel (41) which moves four closing racks (42) which are provided with a wedge-shaped end (43) in order to create pressure which helps to close the cover (40).
11. System for transforming waste material according to claim 2, characterised in that during the discharge phase a movable pneumatic capture vessel (9) is connected to the opening (45) of each reactor (8), which draws up the solid carbon particles in suspension, and conveys them to the mill (13) after passing into a filter (15) which moreover filters the flow coming out of the mill (13).
12. System for transforming waste material according to claim 7, characterised in that the gas washer (24) acts first with a very basic liquid, and then with a very acidic liquid, washing being completed by the cyclonic effect of the water contained in the water ring of the vacuum pumps (25).
13. System for transforming waste material according to claim 7, characterised in that the gas tank (26) comprises a direct outlet regulated towards the burners (27) and another outlet set at a certain pressure towards the tank (26') which is in turn provided with a safety adjustment device with automatic lighting of a torch and a cooling system by means of spraying.
14. System for transforming waste material according to claim 8, characterised in that before it is finally discharged, the excess water is treated in a unit (32) formed by two parallel columns filled with active carbon and by a treatment caisson.
15. System for transforming waste material according to claim 1, characterised in that a magnetic separating unit (4) for separating ferromagnetic waste is provided in the initial reception zone (1) and working zone (3) for the waste material, this ferromagnetic waste being added once more to the rest of the waste material which is already ground, in order to be introduced together into the reactor bodies (34).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES8800046 | 1988-01-11 | ||
| ES8800046A ES2006264A6 (en) | 1988-01-11 | 1988-01-11 | System for transforming wastes. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1324119C true CA1324119C (en) | 1993-11-09 |
Family
ID=8254384
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000587774A Expired - Fee Related CA1324119C (en) | 1988-01-11 | 1989-01-09 | System for transforming waste material |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0324668B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE83260T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1324119C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE68903764T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2006264A6 (en) |
| GR (1) | GR3006976T3 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102807881A (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2012-12-05 | 天柱县郑家碳业有限公司 | Method for extracting anaerobic carbonized tar |
| US10995274B2 (en) | 2015-07-21 | 2021-05-04 | British Columbia Biocarbon Ltd. | Biocoal fuel product and processes and systems for the production thereof |
Families Citing this family (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5082534A (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1992-01-21 | Wayne Technology, Inc. | Pyrolytic conversion system |
| US5225044A (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1993-07-06 | Wayne Technology, Inc. | Pyrolytic conversion system |
| US5258101A (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1993-11-02 | Wayne Technology Corp. | Pyrolytic conversion system |
| US5230777A (en) * | 1991-12-13 | 1993-07-27 | James Jarrell | Apparatus for producing fuel and carbon black from rubber tires |
| FR2685449B1 (en) * | 1991-12-23 | 1994-04-01 | Soteco | LOW PRESSURE PYROLYSIS OVEN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ORGANIC INDUSTRIAL WASTE. |
| DE69320946T2 (en) * | 1993-06-23 | 1999-05-27 | Remy Gourhan | Low pressure pyrolysis furnace for the device of industrial organic waste |
| US5589599A (en) * | 1994-06-07 | 1996-12-31 | Mcmullen; Frederick G. | Pyrolytic conversion of organic feedstock and waste |
| US5820736A (en) * | 1996-12-23 | 1998-10-13 | Bouziane; Richard | Pyrolysing apparatus |
| CA2194805C (en) * | 1997-01-10 | 2004-04-27 | Richard Bouziane | Batch process for recycling hydrocarbon containing used material |
| DE19718611A1 (en) * | 1997-05-02 | 1998-11-05 | Hoffmeister Helmut Dr | Process and device for the thermal disposal of gasifiable waste materials |
| ES2143423B1 (en) * | 1998-06-18 | 2000-12-16 | Stora Enso Barcelona S A | PROCEDURE FOR THE SEPARATION OF METALS FROM COMPOSITE LAMINATED BODIES. |
| ES2150393B1 (en) * | 1999-03-29 | 2001-11-16 | Recuperacion Y Tratamiento De | METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST WASTE. |
| DE102009060733A1 (en) * | 2009-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | European Charcoal Ag | Apparatus for continuous conversion of biomass and energy generation system therefrom |
| DE102015120709A1 (en) * | 2015-11-30 | 2017-06-01 | Alexander Solovyov | Plant for dry waste rubber pyrolysis |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE316490C (en) * | ||||
| US1465131A (en) * | 1921-01-12 | 1923-08-14 | Pacific By Products Company | Method of producing charcoal and apparatus therefor |
| US1595934A (en) * | 1925-12-10 | 1926-08-10 | Coal Carbonization Company | Process of carbonization of coal |
| AR205469A1 (en) * | 1974-07-04 | 1976-05-07 | Kiener Karl | PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING COMBUSTIBLE GAS |
| IT1113304B (en) * | 1979-03-28 | 1986-01-20 | Rossi Andrea | METHOD AND PLANT FOR THE CONVERSION OF SOLID URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE IN OIL, FUEL GAS AND COAL |
| ATE15495T1 (en) * | 1981-06-25 | 1985-09-15 | Deutsche Kommunal Anlagen | PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF SOLID, STORABLE AND ODORLESS FUELS FROM WASTE. |
-
1988
- 1988-01-11 ES ES8800046A patent/ES2006264A6/en not_active Expired
-
1989
- 1989-01-06 DE DE8989400037T patent/DE68903764T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-01-06 AT AT89400037T patent/ATE83260T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-01-06 EP EP89400037A patent/EP0324668B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-01-09 CA CA000587774A patent/CA1324119C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-02-04 GR GR930400226T patent/GR3006976T3/el unknown
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102807881A (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2012-12-05 | 天柱县郑家碳业有限公司 | Method for extracting anaerobic carbonized tar |
| US10995274B2 (en) | 2015-07-21 | 2021-05-04 | British Columbia Biocarbon Ltd. | Biocoal fuel product and processes and systems for the production thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE68903764D1 (en) | 1993-01-21 |
| ATE83260T1 (en) | 1992-12-15 |
| ES2006264A6 (en) | 1989-04-16 |
| GR3006976T3 (en) | 1993-06-30 |
| EP0324668B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 |
| EP0324668A1 (en) | 1989-07-19 |
| DE68903764T2 (en) | 1993-06-09 |
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| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
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