An improved process and apparatus for separating organics and inorganics from waste material with a specific object of preparing the separated organic fraction for the production of biogas or other methods for diverting organics from landfills. Waste material, such as municipal solid waste or source-separated organic waste (SSO), is subjected to a first separation treatment that separates organic and inorganic waste components. The apparatus includes a hopper to receive contaminated organic waste from different sources, a vertical separator that separates the inorganics from the organics by creating a vortex effect in a stationary filtration drum by which the solid contaminants (paper, plastic, metals) are blown in a spiral pattern upwards and removed from the top, while the organic fraction is removed from the bottom. Such apparatus is improved through novel methods to reduce or eliminate blockages and their associated downtime, and to increase the efficiency of the separation process.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber, and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber, and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.

A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.

An air-sparged hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The cyclone comprises a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the air-sparged hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

An air-sparged hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The cyclone comprises a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the air-sparged hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber; and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

A cyclone type liquid-vapor separator includes a chamber including: an internal space wherein the treatment liquid introduced into the internal space is depressurized and evaporated; a vapor outlet formed on a top of the chamber and through which vapors generated through the evaporation is discharged; and a concentrated liquid outlet formed on a bottom of the chamber and through which the concentrated treatment liquid is discharged; an inlet part coupled to a side surface of the chamber in a tangent line direction of an inner peripheral surface of the chamber, the treatment liquid introduced into the chamber is turned in the form of vortexes along the inner peripheral surface of the chamber; and at least one partition wall disposed in an area between the inlet part and the vapor outlet of the internal space of the chamber and protruding from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to prevent mist contained in the vapors from moving upwardly.

Apparatus, system, and method for separating gas from a composite fluid. The apparatus includes a main body defining a flow path formed from a separations chamber at an upstream end of the flow path and a head space chamber at the downstream end of the flow path. The main body includes a first set of apertures disposed about the separations chamber and a second set of apertures disposed about the head space chamber. An agitator is housed within the main body at an upstream end of the separations chamber and is configured to generate a vortex that conveys the composite fluid through the flow path. The vortex expels a liquid fraction and a solids fraction of the composite fluid from the first set of apertures, and the vortex conveys a gaseous fraction of the composite fluid into the head space chamber for extraction from the second set of apertures.