Inventors:
Bertram B. Reilly - Ormond Beach FL
International Classification:
C10B 106
C10B 710
C10B 2904
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to an economical system for the pyrolysis of municipal solid waste to recover valuable by-products while reducing the putrefaction and bulk of the residue requiring disposal. Prior to this treatment, the solid waste has been processed to remove most of the metallic components, and shredded, which steps are not part of the invention disclosed. The pyrolysis and by-product recovery technology is complicated by (a) the inherent variability of the chemical and physical characteristics of the shredded solid waste as received at the pyrolysis plant and (b) the relatively low heat value of said waste as thus received. This pyrolysis and product recovery system includes an improved pyrolysis retort indirectly heated principally by combustion of the least desirable by-product, the solid char, in combination with a furnace for the char combustion, a condenser for the pyrolysis vapor including means for gravity separation of the gas, liquid and solid residues entrained therein, and improved means for conveying the materials through the system including intermittently driven rams for delivering solids into the retort and furnace.