Patent ID: 6745706
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: B09B,F23G,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of processing municipal solid waste to maximize recovery of recyclable and inert waste components and to condition the remainder as fuel for combustion to produce energy, comprising the steps of;a. chopping the waste into small pieces of a size suitable for handling and combustion, b. conveying the chopped waste to a closed drying chamber, c. conveying the chopped waste through the closed drying chamber at a predetermined rate of travel, d. reducing the moisture content of the waste in the closed drying chamber to a predetermined amount in a closed air circulation system by passing warm dry sir through the waste in a confined space to absorb moisture and produce moist air, dehumidifying the moist air via a refrigeration cycle, recycling the dehumidified air through the waste repeatedly in the closed system to produce dried waste without appreciably raising the temperature of the waste, and choosing the predetermined rate of travel so that the moisture content of the chopped waste has reached the predetermined amount when it exits the closed drying chamber as dried waste, e. removing the recyclable and inert components from the dried waste to produce combustible dried waste, f. combusting the combustible dried waste to produce heat and g. producing steam from the heat.