Method and Apparatus for Reducing Organic Waste by Rotary Desiccation

Abstract

A machine is described that reduces landfill and compost waste streams by processing the waste at the site of generation. The process used, rotary desiccation, is fast, energy efficient, generates no greenhouse gasses and the end product is both sterile and suitable for immediate use as a pellet fuel or other biomass uses.The machine integrates a number of sub-components (grinder, de-waterer, desiccation drum, separation devices) in new and non-obvious ways that automatically process and sort organic wastes and contaminants with no intervention from operators and very little maintenance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61 / 601,881, filed on 2012, Feb. 22, with the title “Apparatus for Reducing Organic Waste by Rotary Desiccation”FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]This section is not applicableSEQUENCE LISTING / COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING[0003]This section is not applicableBACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0004]There is a continuing shortage of landfill space in the US, but it's not because of a lack of raw acreage. A recent study shows that, at current waste production rates, all of the non-hazardous waste from the entire US for the next millennium could be stored in a site 35 miles on a side and 300 feet deep. The problem is that landfills are politically unpopular and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find acceptable locations for new ones. Additionally, older landfills, or ones that are poorly operated, can cause environmental damage due to leachate contamination of groundwater and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a device that reduces the weight and volume of organic waste by up to 95%. It is a rotating machine that can handle a continuous feed of organic waste without stopping. The processed material is removed by a density separator and the unfinished material remains in the machine. The device also has a mechanism to remove high density contaminants from the machine at the end of the processing run.

Problems solved by technology

The problem is that landfills are politically unpopular and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find acceptable locations for new ones.

Additionally, older landfills, or ones that are poorly operated, can cause environmental damage due to leachate contamination of groundwater and emissions of methane and CO2 into the atmosphere.

However, compost centers have many of the same objections posed by the public as landfills, namely the inconvenience and noise of continuous large truck traffic and the offensive odors generated during composting.

Since this process takes weeks or months to complete, any center serving a large city or county requires a large parcel of land for its operation.

Additionally, the collection process itself, which uses large trucks, has the attendant problems of being petroleum intensive while producing air pollutants and greenhouse gasses.

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