A hydrolyzer infeed system for supplying waste material to a hydrolyzer in a continuous manner, the infeed system comprises an infeed chamber, an inlet gate separate a chamber inlet from a chamber outlet, a ram disposed to reciprocate within the infeed chamber and compress waste material against the inlet gate when the gate is in the closed position and configured to push the compressed waste material past the inlet gate into a hydrolyzer when the gate is in an open position, an actuator operably coupled to the ram and configured to move the ram between retracted and extended positions. In one aspect, the ram extends past the inlet gate when in an extended position. In another aspect, an actuator position sensor operably coupled to the actuator generates a position signal representative of a position of the actuator and a corresponding position of the ram at all positions between the retracted ram position and the extended ram position.

A system for treating infectious waste is provided that employs a medical waste handling and shredding sub-system that feeds partially processed waste to an oxidizer to eliminate potential airborne infectious waste prior to transforming the medical waste into useful co-products. Medical waste is transformed into value added products including hydrocarbon based gases, hydrocarbon-based liquids, carbonized material, and recovered precious metals and rare earth materials in a system having as its transformative element an anerobic, negative pressure, or carbonization system. With medical waste as a feedstock for the production of valuable products, an economically viable and environmentally more responsible alternative to traditional methods of medical waste treatment is realized.

An apparatus for thermal processing of waste having organic and inorganic components comprises at least a treatment station, a cooling station and a treated material-removal station, and at least three crucibles. The treatment station is adapted to thermally treat the organic components and/or inorganic components located in a given one of the crucibles located at the treatment station. The so-treated components in this given crucible are adapted to then be cooled at the cooling station, before the treated components located in the given crucible are removed therefrom at the treated material-removal station. The three crucibles are mounted on a turntable so that the three crucibles are each at one of the stations, before synchronously all moving to each crucible's next station.

A solid fuel skewer suspension burning system for a kiln, comprises a skewer rod and a solid fuel loading system. The skewer rod has a first end and a length that extends longitudinally. The solid fuel loading system includes a fuel centering and staging area that receives fuel from a conveyor system, and a fuel loading area that receives fuel from the fuel centering and staging area. The solid fuel is inserted upon the skewer rod at the fuel loading area. The solid fuel loading system also includes a first clamp, an airlock and a plow. The first clamp holds the skewer rod and defines a first position between the first clamp and a free end of the skewer rod. The airlock is spaced from the first clamp and has a first airlock gate and a second airlock gate. The plow reciprocates substantially longitudinally in cooperation with the skewer rod to advance fuel along at least a portion of the length of the skewer rod.

A pyrolysis system and method of use is capable of continuously processing feedstock. The pyrolysis system has enclosed pyrolysis tubes heated by a heating means to pyrolyze feedstock. Conveying mechanisms such as augers transport the feedstock into and through the pyrolysis tubes. The pyrolysis tubes can be heated to a desired temperature range using a heat exchanger, such as a molten metal bath, or inductively heated using induction coils wrapped around the pyrolysis tubes. The feedstock is physically separated from the outside environment by the enclosed pyrolysis tubes. A dynamic feedstock plug is formed upstream of the pyrolysis tubes to prevent air and moisture from entering via the inlet of the pyrolysis tubes. An outlet section connected to the outlets of the pyrolysis tubes separates the gaseous and solid products of pyrolysis and permits removal of the products while preventing air and moisture from entering into the system.

To provide a pyrolysis apparatus capable of pyrolyzing an object to be treated without releasing exhaust gas to the atmosphere. This pyrolysis apparatus includes: a treatment furnace having a pyrolysis section where an object to be treated is subjected to pyrolysis on a grate; a purification water tank retaining water and having a gas pool formed in an upper part thereof; a primary purification tank connected to the upper part of the purification water tank, in which water is jetted toward exhaust gas flowing in from an upper part of the treatment furnace through a gas flue; a piping through which gas is taken up from the gas pool of the purification water tank and returned to the primary purification tank; a secondary purification tank connected to the upper part of the purification water tank, in which water is jetted toward the gas taken up from the gas pool of the purification water tank; and a return piping through which the gas having passed the secondary purification tank is fed into the treatment furnace.

The present invention provides a char collector (1) for a pyrolysis system (2), the pyrolysis system (2) featuring a pyrolysis reactor (17) comprising a hot char outlet (3), the char collector comprises a container (4) and a longitudinal char conveyor unit (5), and the container (4) comprises a chamber (6), a first inlet (7) connectable to the hot char outlet (3) and a first outlet (8), wherein the first inlet (7) is arranged in an upper portion of the chamber (6) and the first outlet (8) is arranged in a lower portion of the chamber (6); and the char conveyor unit (5) comprises a first end section (9) connected to the first outlet (8), a second end section (10) featuring a second outlet (11) for cooled char and a conveying mechanism (12) configured to transport char from the first end section (9) to the second outlet (11) during use; wherein the second outlet (11) is at a level above the first outlet (8), such that a gas trap is formed between the first inlet (7) and the second outlet (11) when the chamber (6) is filled with water up to a level above the first outlet (8) during use.

The method according to the invention enables a facility having a rather reduced dimension, for incinerating to be used, melting and vitrifying mixed waste (30) introduced into a reactor (10), by means of a basket (18) in turn passing through an air lock (12). Plasma torches (14) burn all waste (30) contained in the basket (18). The waste is then lowered in a melting bath of a furnace (20) with an inductor (24) including a crucible-forming container (23). A combustion gas treatment train completes the facility. The furnace (20) can be dismantled, after a series of treatments of several baskets (18) of waste (30) for disassembling the crucible-forming container (23) from the furnace (20). Application in treating different radiologically contaminated and/or toxic mixed waste.

An apparatus for thermal processing of waste having organic and inorganic components comprises at least a treatment station, a cooling station and a treated material-removal station, and at least three crucibles. The treatment station is adapted to thermally treat the organic components and/or inorganic components located in a given one of the crucibles located at the treatment station. The so-treated components in this given crucible are adapted to then be cooled at the cooling station, before the treated components located in the given crucible are removed therefrom at the treated material-removal station. The three crucibles are mounted on a turntable so that the three crucibles are each at one of the stations, before synchronously all moving to each crucible's next station.

The present invention relates to a thermal treatment device comprising a primary chamber (204) for receiving waste material (230) to be combusted, the primary chamber having a hearth (207), a transport system (206) arranged for transportation of waste material across the hearth, a mixing chamber (220) in fluid communication with the primary chamber (204); a secondary chamber (208) in fluid communication with the mixing chamber (220), and material introducing means (229) for introducing waste material (230) into the primary chamber, wherein the material introducing means (229) comprises a valve (202) for controlling air flow there-through.