APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS HEAT AND PRESSURE PROCESSING OF A FLUID

Abstract

A device for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious, said device comprising a U-shaped conduit means, a pump, and a heating means, wherein the conduit means is oriented vertically so that fluid moving through it is subjected to higher pressures at the bottom of the loop, heat is applied to fluid at the bottom of the loop by the heating means, and the pump moves the fluid through the conduit means at a flow rate that ensures sufficient heat is applied to the fluid for a sufficient period of time.

Claims

1. A device for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious, said device comprising a conduit means, a pump, and a heating means, wherein the conduit means is configured for containing and moving fluid waste therethrough at a controlled flow rate. with said conduit means comprising a loop, said loop being at least partially oriented substantially vertically and having an inlet, a down leg, a bottom, an up leg, and an outlet, wherein at least a portion of the down leg of the loop is oriented substantially vertically, at least a portion of the up leg of the loop is oriented substantially vertically and is located proximate to said vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop, the bottom of the loop is in communication with a lower portion of the down leg of the loop and in communication with a lower portion of the up leg of the loop, thereby providing fluid communication from the down leg of the loop to the up leg of the loop, whereby the down leg of the loop, the bottom of the loop, and the up leg of the loop form a U-shape, the inlet of the loop provides access to an upper portion of the down leg of the loop such that fluid waste enters the down leg of the loop via the inlet, and the outlet of the loop provides access from an upper portion of the up leg of the loop such that fluid waste exits the up leg of the loop via the outlet; the pump is configured to move fluid waste through the conduit means: and the heating means is configured to apply heat to fluid waste located in the bottom of the loop.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the conduit means contains a plurality of loops, wherein each of the loops has associated with it a pump configured to move fluid waste therethrough, and the heating means is configured to apply heat to fluid waste located in the bottom of each of the loops.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the conduit means further comprises one or more heat exchanging conduits, with each heat exchanging conduit configured to facilitate the transfer of heat energy from fluid waste contained within the up leg of the loop to fluid waste contained within the down leg of the loop.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the conduit means further comprises a plurality of heat exchanging conduits, with each heat exchanging conduit configured to facilitate the transfer of heat energy from fluid waste contained within the up leg of one of the plurality of loops to fluid waste contained within the down leg of one of the plurality of loops.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the down leg of the loop is oriented substantially horizontally, and at least a portion of the up leg of the loop is oriented substantially horizontally and is located proximate to said horizontally oriented portion of the down leg of the loop, whereby the substantially horizontally oriented portion of the down leg of the loop is located between the inlet of the loop and the substantially vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop, and the substantially horizontally oriented portion of the up leg of the loop is located between the outlet of the loop and the substantially vertically oriented portion of the up leg of the loop.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the loop of the conduit means has a first cleanout access point and a second cleanout access point, wherein the first cleanout access point is located on the down leg of the loop proximate to the upper portion of the down leg of the loop, and the second cleanout access point is located on the up leg of the loop proximate to the upper portion of the up leg of the loop, whereby the first cleanout access point provides access into the down leg of the loop for the insertion of a down leg cleanout mechanism into the down leg of the loop, and the second cleanout access point provides access into the up leg of the loop for the insertion of an up leg cleanout mechanism into the up leg of the loop.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the down leg cleanout mechanism is a brush, and the up leg cleanout mechanism is a brush.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the down leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush, and the up leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the loop of the conduit means has a removable first cleanout access point cover and a removable second cleanout access point cover, wherein the first cleanout access point cover is removed from the first cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the down leg of the loop, and is placed onto the first cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the down leg of the loop through the first cleanout access point of the loop, and the second cleanout access point cover is removed from the second cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the up leg of the loop, and is placed onto the second cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the up leg of the loop through the second cleanout access point of the loop.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein the loop of the conduit means has a first cleanout access point, a second cleanout access point, a third cleanout access point, and a fourth cleanout access point, wherein the first cleanout access point is located on the down leg of the loop proximate to the location where the substantially vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop meets the substantially horizontally oriented portion of the down leg of the loop. the second cleanout access point is located on the up leg of the loop proximate to the location where the substantially vertically oriented portion of the up leg of the loop meets the substantially horizontally oriented portion of the up leg of the loop, the third cleanout access point is located on the down leg of the loop at a portion of the substantially horizontally oriented down leg of the loop located distal from the substantially vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop, and the fourth cleanout access point is located on the up leg of the loop at a portion of the substantially horizontally oriented up leg of the loop distal from the substantially vertically oriented portion of the up leg of the loop, whereby the first cleanout access point provides access into the substantially vertically oriented down leg of the loop for the insertion of a first down leg cleanout mechanism into the substantially vertically oriented down leg of the loop, the second cleanout access point provides access into the substantially vertically oriented up leg of the loop for the insertion of a first up leg cleanout mechanism into the substantially vertically oriented up leg of the loop, the third cleanout access point provides access into the substantially horizontally oriented down leg of the loop for the insertion of a second down leg cleanout mechanism into the substantially horizontally oriented down leg of the loop, and the fourth cleanout access point provides access into the substantially horizontally oriented up leg of the loop for the insertion of a second up leg cleanout mechanism into the substantially horizontally oriented up leg of the loop.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the first down leg cleanout mechanism is a brush. the second down leg cleanout mechanism is a brush, the first up leg cleanout mechanism is a brush, and the second up leg cleanout mechanism is a brush.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the first down leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush, the second down leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush, the first up leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush, and the second up leg cleanout mechanism is a motorized brush.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the loop of the conduit means has a removable first cleanout access point cover, a removable second cleanout access point cover, a removable third cleanout access point cover, and a removable fourth cleanout access point cover, wherein the first cleanout access point cover is removed from the first cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the substantially vertically oriented down leg of the loop, and is placed onto the first cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the substantially vertically oriented down leg of the loop through the first cleanout access point of the loop, the second cleanout access point cover is removed from the second cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the substantially vertically oriented up leg of the loop, and is placed onto the second cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the substantially vertically oriented up leg of the loop through the second cleanout access point of the loop, the third cleanout access point cover is removed from the third cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the substantially horizontally oriented down leg of the loop, and is placed onto the third cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the substantially horizontally oriented down leg of the loop through the third cleanout access point of the loop, and the fourth cleanout access point cover is removed from the fourth cleanout access point of the loop to provide access into the substantially horizontally oriented up leg of the loop, and is placed onto the fourth cleanout access point of the loop to prevent access into the substantially horizontally oriented up leg of the loop through the fourth cleanout access point of the loop.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the conduit means is insulated.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the conduit means is enclosed within a vacuum chamber.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the down leg of the loop has a height of between 20 to 30 meters, and the up leg of the loop has a height substantially the same as the height of the down leg.

17. The device of claim 5 wherein the substantially vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop has a height of between 20 to 30 meters, and the substantially vertically oriented portion of up leg of the loop has a height substantially the same as the height of the substantially vertically oriented portion of the down leg of the loop.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the loop of the conduit means is encased in a heat conducting metal.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the loop of the conduit means is surrounded by a heat conducting fluid.

20. The device of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of loops of the conduit means is encased in a heat conducting metal.

21. The device of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of loops of the conduit means is surrounded by a heat conducting fluid.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein the heating means is a closed loop steam system, said system comprising a boiler, a steam pipe, a condenser, a water return pipe, and a pump, wherein water is heated within the boiler to form steam, steam flows through the steam pipe to the condenser, the condenser surrounds the bottom of the loop of the conduit means, heat energy is given off from the steam to fluid waste contained within the bottom of the loop, thereby turning the steam to water, and water is pumped from the condenser through the water return pipe to the boiler.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the closed loop steam system further comprises a water level sensor, a pressure gauge, and a controller, wherein the water level sensor measures the level of the water in the condenser and the pressure gauge measures the pressure of the steam in the boiler, and the water level sensor and the pressure gauge provide inputs to the controller, which controls heat applied to the boiler and controls the pump circulation speed based on said inputs, thereby providing a desired amount of heat energy at the bottom of the loop of the conduit means.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the heating means is an electric heater.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the heating means is a geothermal heater.

26. A method for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious, said method comprising the following steps: Step A: obtain the device of claim 1; Step B: pump fluid waste into and through the conduit means, wherein fluid waste enters the down leg of the loop of the conduit means through the inlet of the loop and fluid waste exits the up leg of the loop of the conduit means through the outlet of the loop; Step C: apply heat energy by use of the heating means to fluid waste that is located within the bottom of the loop of the conduit means: and Step D: apply heat energy from the fluid waste that is located in the up leg of the loop of the conduit means to the fluid waste that is located in the down leg of the loop of the conduit means, whereby said application of heat energy occurs passively; wherein Step A is performed before Steps B, C, and D, and Steps B, C, and D are performed simultaneously.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the conduit means further comprises one or more heat exchanging conduits, with each heat exchanging conduit configured to facilitate the transfer of heat energy from fluid waste contained within the up leg of the loop to fluid waste contained within the down leg of the loop in Step D.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the following step: Step E: monitor the flow and temperature of the fluid waste, adjusting same as needed to provide sufficient heat to the fluid waste for a sufficient period of time to accomplish the desired sterilization of the fluid waste; wherein Step E occurs after Step A, and Steps B, C, D. and E are performed simultaneously.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0127] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a basic embodiment of the present invention. It depicts a single loop device, said loop having an inlet, a vertical down leg, a horizontal bottom, a vertical up leg, and an outlet, with arrows showing the direction of flow of a fluid contained within said loop.

[0128] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. It depicts a single loop device, said loop having an inlet, a horizontal down leg, a vertical down leg, a horizontal bottom, a vertical up leg, a horizontal up leg, and an outlet, with arrows showing the direction of flow of a fluid contained within said loop.

[0129] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. It depicts a single loop device as shown in FIG. 1, with said loop being placed within a vacuum chamber.

[0130] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the basic embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, depicting changes in temperature of the fluid moving through the loop, assuming a 10° C. temperature gradient between the down leg and the up leg of the loop and a 10° C. heat addition at the bottom of the loop.

[0131] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, depicting one means for cleaning the device using clean out brushes and motorized hoists to lower the brushes into the legs of the loop. Vertical portions of the device are truncated.

[0132] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, depicting one means for providing heat to the bottom of the loop, namely, a closed steam heat loop system, with arrows showing the direction of movement of steam and water within the system.

[0133] FIG. 7A is a top view cross-sectional schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention having a single loop, whereby the down leg and up leg of the loop are placed within a vacuum chamber and a heat conducting medium surrounds the down leg and the up leg, facilitating heat transfer therebetween. The arrow shows the direction of heat energy movement from the up leg to the down leg through the heat conducting medium.

[0134] FIG. 7B is a top view cross-sectional schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention having multiple loops, whereby the loops are placed in close proximity to each other such that every down leg is adjacent to at least two up legs, and further with a heat conducting medium surrounding the loops, facilitating heat transfer therebetween. Arrows show the direction of heat energy movement from the up legs to the down legs through the heat conducting medium.

[0135] FIG. 7C is a top view cross-sectional schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention having multiple loops, whereby the loops are placed in close proximity to each other with heat exchanging conduits placed therebetween. Arrows show the direction of heat energy movement from the up legs to the down legs through the heat exchanging conduits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0136] The present invention is a device for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious. The device comprises a conduit means, a pump 200. and a heating means 300. The conduit means is configured for containing fluid waste. The pump 200 is configured for moving fluid waste through the conduit means at a controlled flow rate. The heating means 300 is configured to apply heat energy to at least a portion of the fluid waste contained within the conduit means.

[0137] The conduit means comprises at least one loop 100. The loop 100 is at least partially oriented substantially vertically and has an inlet 110, a down leg 120, a transverse bottom 130, an up leg 140, and an outlet 150. At least a portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 is oriented substantially vertically. At least a portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 is oriented substantially vertically and is located proximate to the vertically oriented portion 122 of the down leg 120 of the loop 100. The portions of the down leg 120 and the up leg 140 that are located proximate to each other serve as a heat exchanger; that is, heat energy in the fluid contained in one leg is transferred through the walls of the legs into the fluid contained in the other leg. When the system is operating, the up leg 140 contains fluid having a higher temperature than the fluid contained in the down leg 120. so that the heat energy transfer is from the fluid in the up leg 140 to the fluid in the down leg 120. Various alternate embodiments of the system, described below, improve upon the heat exchange function described herein.

[0138] The transverse bottom 130 of the loop 100 is in communication with a lower portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 and in communication with a lower portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100. thereby providing fluid communication from the down leg 120 of the loop 100 to the up leg 140 of the loop 100. The down leg 120 of the loop 100. the bottom 130 of the loop 100. and the up leg 140 of the loop 100 form a U-shape. The inlet 110 of the loop 100 provides access to the upper portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 such that unsterilized fluid waste 10 can enter the down leg 120 of the loop 100 via the inlet 110. The outlet 150 of the loop 100 provides access from the upper portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 such that sterilized fluid waste 20 can exit the up leg 140 of the loop 100 via the outlet 150. See FIG. 1. The loop 100 may be made of any suitable material, provided it is rigid and durable. However, materials that are heat conductive are preferred, such as non-corrosive metallic materials.

[0139] The pump 200 may be any suitable inline pumping device that is configured to move fluid through a conduit. Preferably, the pump 200 is located at a portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100, distal from the bottom 130 of the loop 100. Multiple pumps 200 may be used, if needed. The pump 200 should be able to move fluid at a variable flow rate, so that the volume of waste fluid will be exposed to a known quantity of heat energy for a known period of time, thereby achieving sterilization (a lesser amount of heat energy will require longer exposure, and therefore a slower flow rate, while a higher amount of heat energy will require shorter exposure, and therefore a faster flow rate).

[0140] The heating means 300 is located proximate to the bottom 130 of the loop 100 and is configured to apply heat to fluid waste located in the bottom 130 of the loop 100. It may encompass any suitable device or mechanism suitable for applying heat energy to the fluid. In one embodiment, the heating means 300 is a closed loop steam system 310. The steam system 310 comprises a boiler 311, a steam pipe 312, a condenser 313, a water return pipe 314, and a pump 315. Water is heated within the boiler 311 to form steam, the steam flows through the steam pipe 312 to the condenser 313. which surrounds the bottom 130 of the loop 100 of the conduit means, heat energy is given off from the steam to the fluid waste contained within the bottom 130 of the loop 100, thereby heating the fluid and returning the steam to water, and the water is pumped from the condenser 313 through the water return pipe 314 to the boiler 311. The closed loop steam system 310 may further comprise a water level sensor 316. a pressure gauge 317, and a controller 318, wherein the water level sensor 316 measures the level of the water in the condenser 313 and the pressure gauge 317 measures the pressure of the steam in the boiler 311. The water level sensor 316 and the pressure gauge 317 provide inputs to the controller 318, which controls the amount of heat applied to the water in the boiler 311 and controls the pump circulation speed based on those inputs. This provides a desired amount of heat energy at the bottom 130 of the loop 100 of the conduit means.

[0141] In one embodiment of the present invention, the conduit means contains a plurality of loops 100. Each of the loops 100 has associated with it at least one pump 200 configured to move fluid waste through it. The heating means is configured to apply heat to fluid waste located in the bottom 130 of each of the loops 100. When multiple loops 100 are used, they each should be placed in close proximity to the other loops 100. This allows heat energy from sterilized fluid 20 flowing through the up legs 140 of the loops 100 to be transferred to unsterilized fluid 10 flowing through the down legs 120 of multiple loops 100, increasing the efficiency of the heat exchange.

[0142] The conduit means may further comprise one or more heat exchanging conduits 410. Each heat exchanging conduit 410 is configured to facilitate the transfer of heat energy from fluid waste 20 contained within the up leg 140 of the loop 100 to fluid waste 10 contained within the down leg 120 of the loop 100. Heat exchanging conduits 410, such as heat pipes, are well known in the art. The heat exchanging conduit 410 may be a solid member that is heat conductive; or, it may be hollow, and filled with a heat conducting liquid or gas. Where a heat conducting liquid is used, this liquid is kept separate from and never mixes with the fluid 10.20 contained within the loop 100. In all configurations, the heat exchanging conduit 410 is preferred to be oriented such that it is angled upwards from the up leg 140 of the loop 100 to the down leg 120 of the loop 100. An alternative to the use of heat exchanging conduits 410 is to encase or surround at least a portion of the loop 100 of the conduit means within a heat conducting medium 420. The heat conducting medium 420 may be a heat conducting metal or a heat conducting fluid.

[0143] In another embodiment, at least a portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 is oriented substantially horizontally, and at least a portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 is oriented substantially horizontally. The horizontal portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 is located proximate to the horizontal portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100. The horizontal portions 124,144 of the legs 120, 140 are located distal from the bottom 130 of the loop 100, such that the vertical portions 122, 142 of the legs 120, 140 are located between the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 and the bottom 130 of the loop 100. See FIG. 2.

[0144] The loop 100 of the conduit means should have a first cleanout access point 162 and a second cleanout access point 164. The first cleanout access point 162 is located on the down leg 120 of the loop 100 proximate to the upper portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100. The second cleanout access point 164 is located on the up leg 140 of the loop 100 proximate to the upper portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100. Each cleanout access point 162, 164 provides access into its respective leg of the loop 100 for the insertion of a cleanout mechanism into that leg of the loop 100. The down leg cleanout mechanism 172 should be kept separate from the up leg cleanout mechanism 174 to prevent contamination of the sterilized fluid 20 contained within the up leg 140 of the loop 100. In the preferred embodiment the down leg cleanout mechanism 172 is a brush, and the up leg cleanout mechanism 174 is a brush. In the most preferred embodiment a motor 176 drives each of the brushes 172, 171. A hoist 178 may be used to position the brushes 172, 174 over the cleanout access points 162, 164. In the embodiment of the invention where the down leg 120 and the up leg 140 each comprise a horizontal portion, the loop 100 further contains a third cleanout access point 166 and a fourth cleanout access point 168. The third cleanout access point 166 is located on the horizontal portion of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 at a point distal from the vertical portion 122 of the down leg 120 of the loop 100, and the fourth cleanout access point 168 is located on the horizontal portion of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 at a point distal from the vertical portion 142 of the up leg 140 of the loop 100. See FIG. 2.

[0145] In each of the foregoing embodiments, each cleanout access point may have a removable cleanout access point cover. The first cleanout access point cover 182 is removed from the first cleanout access point 162 of the loop 100 to provide access into the down leg 120 of the loop 100, and is placed onto the first cleanout access point 162 of the loop 100 to seal off access into the down leg 120 of the loop 100 through the first cleanout access point 162 of the loop 100. The second cleanout access point cover 184 is removed from the second cleanout access point 164 of the loop 100 to provide access into the up leg 140 of the loop 100, and is placed onto the second cleanout access point 164 of the loop 100 to seal off access into the up leg 140 of the loop 100 through the second cleanout access point 164 of the loop 100. Where applicable, the third cleanout access point cover is removed from the third cleanout access point 166 of the loop 100 to provide access into the substantially horizontally oriented portion 124 of the down leg 120 of the loop 100. and is placed onto the third cleanout access point 166 of the loop 100 to seal off access into the substantially horizontally oriented portion 124 of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 through the third cleanout access point 166 of the loop 100, and the fourth cleanout access point cover is removed from the fourth cleanout access point 168 of the loop 100 to provide access into the substantially horizontally oriented portion 144 of the up leg 140 of the loop 100. and is placed onto the fourth cleanout access point 168 of the loop 100 to seal off access into the substantially horizontally oriented portion 144 of the up leg 140 of the loop 100 through the fourth cleanout access point 168 of the loop 100. The cleanout access point covers thereby prevent fluid waste, and associated odors, from escaping from the loop 100 during operation of the system.

[0146] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the conduit means is wrapped in an insulating material 430. This minimizes heat loss and allows for more heat energy to be available to be transferred between the fluid 20 contained in the up leg 140 of the loop 100 and the fluid 10 contained in the down leg 120 of the loop 100. Alternatively, at least a portion of the conduit means may be enclosed within a vacuum chamber 440. The evacuated space 444 between the conduit means and the vacuum chamber 440 minimizes heat loss. The exterior of the vacuum chamber 440 may also be insulated.

[0147] To achieve the desired pressures that allow the waste fluid to be heated to higher temperatures, the down leg 120 and the up leg 140 of the loop 100 should have a height of at least 20 meters, and preferably 30 meters. Greater heights are also contemplated, allowing for greater pressures. In the embodiment of the invention comprising legs 120, 140 with horizontal portions 124, 144 as well as vertical portions 122, 142, these height requirements pertain to the vertical portions 122, 142 of the legs 120, 140.

[0148] Turning to the basic embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1, fluid 10 enters the inlet 110 of the down leg 120 of the loop 100 at 1 atmosphere of pressure: that is, it is unpressurized. As the fluid travels through the down leg 120, the amount of fluid above it in the down leg 120 increases the pressure. Each 10 meters of depth of the down leg 120 adds approximately another atmosphere of pressure to the fluid. At a depth of 30 meters, the fluid at the bottom 130 of the loop 100 is increased by about 3 atm. At that pressure, the boiling point of water (about of 144° C.) is significantly higher than the temperature needed for sterilization purposes. As the fluid passes through the bottom 130 of the loop 100 and then though the up leg 140 of the loop 100, the pressure decreases, until upon the fluid 20 exiting the outlet 150 of the up leg 140 it is back to 1 atmosphere of pressure.

[0149] Because the device of the present invention is designed to allow heat transfer between the up leg 140 of the loop 100 and the down leg 120 of the loop 100, fluid 10 moving through the down leg 120 of the loop 100 passively absorbs heat energy contained in fluid 20 moving through the up leg 140 of the loop 100. FIG. 4 provides an idealized example of the heat transfer capabilities of this system. As shown in FIG. 4, assume fluid enters the inlet 110 to the down leg 120 at 20° C. Further assume a depth of the up and down legs 120, 140 of the loop 100 of 30 meters (roughly 100 feet), a 10° C. heat gradient (meaning, at any given depth, the fluid in the up leg 140 is 10° C. warmer than the fluid in the down leg 120), and a heat energy transfer of about 1° C. for every foot of travel; then, for every ten feet of travel (roughly 3 meters) approximately 10° C. of heat energy is transferred from the up leg 140 to the down leg 120 of the loop 100. As shown in FIG. 4, fluid near the top of the down leg 120, having a temperature of 20° C., will absorb heat energy from the fluid near the top of the up leg 140, having a temperature of about 40° C., and over the course of about 3 meters of travel will receive 10° C. of heat energy from the fluid in the up leg 140, raising the temperature of the fluid in the down leg 120 to 30° C., and resulting in the temperature of the fluid in the up leg 140 dropping to 30° C. As the fluid continues to move through the down leg 120, the 30° C. fluid in the down leg 120 receives 10° C. of heat energy from the 50° C. fluid in the up leg 140 over the next 3 meters of travel, thereby raising the down leg 120 fluid to 40° C. further movement of the fluid through the down leg 120 results in the 40° C. fluid in the down leg 120 receiving 10° C. of heat energy from the 60° C. fluid in the up leg 140 over the next 3 meters of travel, thereby raising the down leg 120 fluid to 50° C. This continues all the way to the bottom of the down leg 120. where the fluid temperature is ultimately raised to 110° C. by the passive transfer of heat energy from the fluid in the adjacent portion of the up leg 140. Within the bottom 130 of the loop 100, 10° C. of additional heat energy is added to the fluid by the external heat source, raising it to the desired sterilizing temperature of 120° C. When the fluid 20 finally exits the outlet 150 of the up leg 140 of the loop 100, it will have a temperature of about 30° C. representing a 10° C. increase in temperature over the temperature of the fluid 10 entering the down leg 120 of the loop 100, which is the amount of energy added by the external heat source at the bottom 130 of the loop 100.

[0150] It is noted that the system has to be “charged” before the above described process can begin. That is, before any additional external heat energy is added at the bottom 130 of the loop 100, the entirety of fluid in the loop 100 will be at the same temperature. Adding heat energy to the bottom 130 of the loop 100 will start the process as described above, but only for the fluid in the down and up legs 120, 140 nearest the bottom 130 of the loop 100. As more external heat energy is added, the fluid at ever further distances from the bottom 130 of the loop 100 will have increased temperatures, until eventually all of the fluid within the loop 100 achieves the temperature profile as shown in FIG. 4 and described in the above example.

[0151] In actual practice, heat energy is not transferred in discrete blocks, but rather on a continuum, so that at no time will the temperature of the fluid 10 in the down leg 120 of the loop 100 rise all at once, as suggested by the above example, but rather it will rise by small amounts continuously so that after a given distance of travel the temperature will have been raised. The same is true for the decrease in temperature of the fluid 20 in the up leg 140 of the loop 100. Moreover. FIG. 4 depicts an idealized version of the passive/active heating means, and in practice there will be some inefficiency of heat transfer and/or loss of heat energy, so that the final temperature of fluid reaching the bottom 130 of the loop 100 may be lower than the idealized temperature given in the example, necessitating a somewhat higher amount of active heat energy to be added. Nevertheless, the device is able to raise the temperature of the fluid a significant amount (in this example, 100° C.) with a relatively small amount of added external heat energy (10° C.). Even with inefficiencies, the ratio of temperature increase to added external heat energy is substantial, with a very large gain of temperature for sterilization purposes being achieved with a relatively small amount of additional external heat.

[0152] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 depicts an alternate version whereby, in addition to the vertical down leg 122 and vertical up leg 142, the loop 100 also includes a horizontal down leg portion 124 and a horizontal up leg portion 144. The horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 contain unpressurized fluid. By arranging the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 adjacent to each other, heat transfer from the fluid contained in the up leg portion 140 of the loop 100 to the fluid contained in the down leg portion 120 of the loop 100 occurs in the same manner as described above with regard to the vertical portions 122, 142 of the legs 120, 140. Therefore, heat exchange occurs over a much longer distance, thereby increasing the efficiency of the overall heat transfer. As such, the flow rate of the fluid can be increased, permitting faster sterilization of a given amount of fluid as compared with the basic configuration shown in FIG. 1. Taking the example provided above, wherein heat transferred at a rate of 1° C. per linear foot, doubling the fluid flow rate would decrease the heat transfer rate by half, to 0.5° C. per linear foot, but if the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 result in a doubling of the overall length of the loop 100. the end result would be the same increase in the temperature of the fluid in the down leg 120 of the loop 100 when it reaches the bottom 130 of the loop 100. Another advantage of this configuration is the lower cost of construction and installation of the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the loop 100 compared with the vertical portions 122, 142. Therefore, to the extent that some of the raising of temperature in the down leg 120 can be achieved within a horizontal portion of the down leg 120, the overall cost of the system can be lowered.

[0153] FIG. 7A shows an embodiment of the present invention that uses a single loop 100. The down leg 120 and up leg 140 of the loop 100 are contained within a heat conducting medium 420. This medium 420 may be a heat conducting metal, or a heat conducting fluid, or a heat conducting gas. In preferred embodiments the heat conducting medium 420 is a heat conducting metal, such as aluminum. The down leg 120 and the up leg 140 of the loop 100 and the heat conducting medium 420 are then contained within a vacuum chamber 440 to minimize heat loss.

[0154] FIGS. 7B and 7C show alternate embodiments of the present invention that use multiple loops 100 running in parallel to each other and contained within a single retaining chamber 450. In FIG. 7B, the down legs 120 and up legs 140 of each loop 100 are contained within a heat conducting medium, as described above. Moreover, the loops 100 are arranged so that each down leg 120 is within close proximity of at least two up legs 140. with some down legs 120 being in close proximity to three or more up legs 140. This increases the efficiency of heat transfer between fluid 20 contained in the up legs 140 of the loops 100 and fluid 10 contained within the down legs 120 of the loops 100. In FIG. 7C. heat exchanging conduits 410 are placed between the down legs 120 and up legs 140 of the loops 100. Fluid or gas within the heat exchanging conduits 410 receive heat energy from the fluid 20 contained within the up legs 140 and transfers it to fluid 10 contained in the down legs 120. Preferably, each heat exchanging conduit 410 is sloped upward from an up leg 140 to a down leg 120. In order to configure the loops 100 such that all of the down legs 120 are located proximate to each other on one side, and all of the up legs 140 are located proximate to each other on the other side, the bottoms 130 of the loops 100 are at different depths, allowing loops 100 to be nested within each other. Thus, the loops 100 arranged in a vertical column in FIG. 7C can be viewed as a series of nested loops 100, with the inner most loop 100 having its down leg 120 and up leg 140 proximate to each other, and any outer loop 100 having its down leg 120 separated from its up leg 140 by the down leg 120 and up leg 140 of one or more nested loops 100.

[0155] The arrangements shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C lend themselves to alternative designs whereby each of the loops 100 share a common bottom portion 130 with all of the other loops 100. This allows for a more uniform final temperature of the fluid at the bottom 130 of the loops 100. This may be necessary because fluid in the down legs 120 receiving heat energy from only two proximal up legs 140 may arrive at the bottom 130 of the loop 100 at a lower temperature than fluid in the down legs 120 receiving heat energy from three or more proximal up legs 140. By entering into a common bottom portion 130, the fluid from all of the down legs 120 mixes and achieves a more uniform temperature.

[0156] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 depicts an alternate version whereby the down leg 120 and the up leg 140 of the loop 100 are contained within a vacuum chamber 440. See also FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 3, the sole point of contact between the loop 100 and the vacuum chamber 440 is at the top 442 of the vacuum chamber 440 located proximate to the tops of the down leg 120 and up leg 140 of the loop 100, where the temperature of the fluid is lowest. This minimizes heat loss from the point of contact.

[0157] FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a cleanout mechanism. Because of the vertical orientation of the down leg 120 and the up leg 140, clean out access points 162, 164 at the top of each leg 120, 140 allow the legs 120, 140 to be cleaned even while the system is operating. Using different cleanout brushes 172, 174, one for the down leg portion 120 (containing nonsterile fluid 10) and one for the up leg portion 140 (containing sterilized fluid 20), prevents cross contamination. The cleanout brushes 172, 174 are suspended from motorized hoists 178 and inserted into the respective legs 120, 140 of the loop 100, and are moved along length of the leg, scraping the inner surfaces of the leg from top to bottom and dislodging any residue that had accumulated thereon. The resulting debris scraped from the inner surfaces flows through and out of the system during operation. In embodiments where horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 of the loops 100 are used, see FIG. 2, cleaning the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the legs 120, 140 can be achieved using the same types of cleanout brushes, but operation of the system would have to be halted so that fluid contained in the horizontal portions 124, 144 of the loop 100 does not spill out when the cleanout access ports 166, 168 are opened. Debris scraped from the inner surfaces of the horizontal portions of the loop 100 flows through and out of the system when operation is resumed.

[0158] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention that uses a closed loop steam system 310 for providing external heat energy to the device. A boiler 311 heats water until it turns into steam. The wet steam flows out of the boiler 311 and through a steam pipe 312 down to the bottom 130 of the loop 100, where the steam enters a condenser 313 containing the bottom 130 of the loop 100. The steam gives off heat energy to the fluid contained in the bottom 130 of the loop 100 and condenses back to water. The water is then pumped up a water return pipe 314 back to the boiler 311. The steam pipe 312 may be insulated, or contained within a vacuum chamber, to minimize heat loss. A water level sensor 316 in the condenser 313 and a pressure gauge 317 at the boiler 311 provide inputs to a controller 318. The controller 318 controls the heat applied to the water in the boiler 311 and the speed of the pump 315 circulating the water return, thereby providing the desired amount of heat energy at the bottom 130 of the loop 100. Alternate heating means 300 for providing heat energy to the bottom 130 of the loop 100 are also contemplated, such as geothermal heating, electric resistance heating, and other known heating methods.

[0159] The present invention also discloses a method for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious. The method comprising the following steps: [0160] Step A: obtain the device described above; [0161] Step B: pump fluid waste into and through the conduit means, wherein unsterilized fluid waste 10 enters the down leg 120 of the loop 100 of the conduit means through the inlet 110 of the loop 100 and sterilized fluid waste 20 exits the up leg 140 of the loop 100 of the conduit means through the outlet 150 of the loop 100; [0162] Step C: apply heat energy by use of the heating means to the fluid waste that is located within the bottom 130 of the loop 100 of the conduit means; and [0163] Step D: apply heat energy from the fluid waste that is located in the up leg 140 of the loop 100 of the conduit means to the fluid waste that is located in the down leg 120 of the loop 100 of the conduit means, whereby said application of heat energy occurs passively.Step A is performed before Steps B. C. and D. and Steps B. C. and D are performed simultaneously.

[0164] The method may further comprise the step of monitoring the flow and temperature of the fluid waste, and adjusting same as needed to provide sufficient heat to the fluid waste for a sufficient period of time to accomplish the desired sterilization of the fluid waste. This step occurs after Step A, and simultaneously with Steps B, C, and D.

[0165] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention.