A cleaning system for a screen of a rotary screen separator for processing feed material comprising liquids and solids has a housing, an air source, and a conduit system. The housing defines at least one housing chamber, at least one inlet opening, and at least one outlet slot. The conduit system is operatively connected between the inlet opening of the housing and the air source. Air flows from the air source through conduit system, through the inlet opening, into the housing chamber, and out of the housing chamber through the at least one outlet slot in at least one air flow stream extending along a flow plane. The housing is arranged relative to the screen of the rotatory screen separator such that the air flow stream impinges on the screen to remove debris from the screen.

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.

A separation system for separating solids from a slurry of waste material, the separation system comprising a housing, a drum assembly, and a drive assembly. The housing defines a collection chamber. Liquid within the collection chamber defines a liquid level. The drum assembly defines a perforated cylindrical wall and the drum assembly is supported such that at least a portion of the drum assembly is below the liquid level. The drive assembly rotates the drum assembly relative to the housing.

A rotary screen separator includes a screen having a substantially cylindrical shape extending from a feed end to a discharge end along a horizontal longitudinal axis. The screen is perforated in a plurality of discrete regions. The regions including at least a first perforation region wherein the screen is perforated in a first perforation pattern and a second perforation wherein the screen is perforated in a second perforation pattern. The first perforation pattern is sized to allow liquid and finer particulate matter to pass through the perforations and the second perforation pattern is sized to allow liquid and coarser particulate matter to pass through the perforations in the second perforation pattern. A first vane structure is helically shaped at a first vane depth having a first vane pitch and handedness selected to advance feedstock within the screen as the screen is rotated in operation.

A rotary screen separator includes a screen having a substantially cylindrical shape extending from a feed end to a discharge end along a horizontal longitudinal axis. The screen is perforated in a plurality of discrete regions. The regions including at least a first perforation region wherein the screen is perforated in a first perforation pattern and a second perforation wherein the screen is perforated in a second perforation pattern. The first perforation pattern is sized to allow liquid and finer particulate matter to pass through the perforations and the second perforation pattern is sized to allow liquid and coarser particulate matter to pass through the perforations in the second perforation pattern. A first vane structure is helically shaped at a first vane depth having a first vane pitch and handedness selected to advance feedstock within the screen as the screen is rotated in operation.

A separator and method for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material. The separator includes a casing in which the supply can collect, and which has an inlet for receiving the supply and an outlet for conveying the supply. The separator also includes a screen which rotates relative to the casing. The screen has perforated sections having a plurality of perforations which permit passage of the liquid. The screen allows for the accumulation of the supply within it, which rises to a level corresponding to a supply height. As this supply height, a screening pressure acts against the perforated sections so as to compact the solid material against the perforations while the liquid passes therethrough. A suction unit sucks the compacted solid material from the perforations, and is disposed higher than the supply height. A supply level regulator regulates the level of the supply within the screen.

A separator and method for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material. The separator includes a casing in which the supply can collect, and which has an inlet for receiving the supply and an outlet for conveying the supply. The separator also includes a screen which rotates relative to the casing. The screen has perforated sections having a plurality of perforations which permit passage of the liquid. The screen allows for the accumulation of the supply within it, which rises to a level corresponding to a supply height. As this supply height, a screening pressure acts against the perforated sections so as to compact the solid material against the perforations while the liquid passes therethrough. A suction unit sucks the compacted solid material from the perforations, and is disposed higher than the supply height. A supply level regulator regulates the level of the supply within the screen.

A rotary drum filter comprising one or more divider plates disposed between the drum's outer surface and grids disposed radially outward from the drum's outer surface. The divider plates are desirably diagonally disposed along the drum's outer surface and have at least one end disposed near a drainage hole. The divider plates and open sections under the grids between circumferentially adjacent grids permits filtrate to flow under the grids. The divider plates and open sections under the grids permit the filtrate to flow into the nearest drainage hole while increasing the run underneath the grids, thereby permitting more filtrate to exit through a limited number of drainage holes.

A rotary drum filter comprising one or more divider plates disposed between the drum's outer surface and grids disposed radially outward from the drum's outer surface. The divider plates are desirably diagonally disposed along the drum's outer surface and have at least one end disposed near a drainage hole. The divider plates and open sections under the grids between circumferentially adjacent grids permits filtrate to flow under the grids. The divider plates and open sections under the grids permit the filtrate to flow into the nearest drainage hole while increasing the run underneath the grids, thereby permitting more filtrate to exit through a limited number of drainage holes.

A process for the preparation of a concentrated filter cake from an admixture of partially-decomposed organic material and a polar liquid using a filter press without the input of thermal heat or superheated steam or other pressurized gas or liquid is provided by this invention. The admixture is mixed with an additional amount of the polar liquid to produce a feed slurry of the admixture having a moisture content of about 90-99% wt. The resulting slurry admixture is then introduced into the filter press having a plurality of filter plates with porous membranes secured along their outlet. The pressure condition introduced inside the filter plate chambers is increased by a pressurized gas or liquid to force the polar liquid from the admixture slurry though apertures contained in the membrane, thereby leaving a filter cake of the partially-decomposed organic material having a moisture content that is lower than the moisture content of the initial partially-decomposed organic material feed. The process and its equipment may be used to treat a variety of partially-decomposed organic material/polar liquid slurry admixtures, including high moisture peat containing water, and reduce the moisture content of the resulting peat filter cake to as low as 60% wt for peat or about 50% wt for a peat/Biochar admixture.