Solar powered method and system for sludge treatment

Abstract

A solar-powered device for converting sludge into one or more products is disclosed. The device includes a pyrolysis reactor selectively operable by solar energy, for carrying our thermal decomposition, into one or more products, of sludge introduced into the reactor via a dedicated sludge inlet. The reactor includes at least one outlet for discharging from the reactor one or more products obtained from the sludge decomposition. The device also includes a sensor for sensing sunlight radiation and providing an output data indicative of the amount of solar energy corresponding to the sensed sunlight, and a control unit for receiving the output data and operating or shutting down the pyrolysis reactor based on the amount of solar energy generated from the sunlight.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to a system and method for sludge treatment.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The spread of increasing amounts of waste biomass, such as wastewater sludge or sewage sludge, pose a worldwide problem associated with their disposal. Composting, direct land-filling, compression / concentration, liquid extraction and thermal treatment (incineration, gasification or pyrolysis) are some of the available for biomass treatment.[0003]Pyrolysis is widely used for biomass conversion, utilizing heat to chemically decompose the organic materials in the biomass.[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,458 describes a method for producing gases such as H2, CO, CH4 and CO2 by pyrolysis organic solid waste, the method comprising subjecting, in a reactor, the organic solid waste to steam at elevated temperatures allowing the chemical decomposition (pyrolysis) to take place. The elevated temperatures are obtained by the use of solar heating by means of a solar top furna...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found that by employing a system combining a thermo-regulated sensor, a solar tower and a pyrolysis reactor connected to a high throughput sludge dewatering device they can produce green energy from sludge using solar power. This system is emission free due to high temperatures of up to 1200 C.° in pyrolytic conditions and is self sustainable since sludge treatment does not require around the clock, continuous work (sludge may be accumulated and used when necessary). Thus, the system provides a reliable and comprehensive solution relying on solar power alone to convert sludge into energy.

Problems solved by technology

The spread of increasing amounts of waste biomass, such as wastewater sludge or sewage sludge, pose a worldwide problem associated with their disposal.

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