SUPERSONIC DEHYDRATION AND DISINFECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

The partial or full dehydration of organic or inorganic matter containing water by induction of matter into a vacuum and processing matter through a specially designed acceleration channel is disclosed. The inducted matter accelerates in air from zero speed to sub-sonic speed to reach supersonic speed. As the material transitions the sound barrier, it is subject to acoustic shock waves and an instant negative pressure drop occurs. The sound waves disintegrate, disinfect the material and extract part or all moisture from any organic or inorganic material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dehydrating or disinfecting material, the apparatus comprising: an acceleration channel having an inlet for receiving an air stream and material to be dehydrated, an outlet for discharging said air stream and dehydrated, disinfected material, and a constriction positioned between the inlet and the outlet; an air mover in communication with the acceleration channel for moving an air stream and material to be dehydrated through the acceleration channel such that the velocity of the air stream and material moving through the constriction is equal to or greater than the speed of sound; and a cyclone in communication with the outlet of the acceleration channel for receiving said discharged air stream and dehydrated, disinfected material, and separating said dehydrated, disinfected material from said air stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constriction is positioned at least 400 millimeters from the inlet of the acceleration channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constriction comprises: an inclination section, along the length of which the diameter of the acceleration channel decreases; a widening section, along the length of which the diameter of the acceleration channel increases; and a throat, located at a point between the inclination section and the widening section where the diameter of the acceleration channel is smallest.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the length of the inclination section is within the range of 100 millimeters and 400 millimeters.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the length of the widening section is within the range of 60 millimeters and 120 millimeters.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the acceleration channel at the throat, to the maximum diameter of the acceleration channel is within the range of 1:2.5 to 1:10.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acceleration channel has an interior diameter of about 160 millimeters at all points outside the constriction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an intake of the air mover is in communication with the outlet of the acceleration channel, and the cyclone is in communication with an outlet of the air mover.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air mover is a turbine capable of generating under pressure in the range of −290 millibar to −390 millibar, and airflow capacity in the range of 1.5 m.sup.3 per second to 1.66 m.sup.3 per second.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air pressure sensor in communication with the acceleration channel, for measuring air pressure within the channel.

11. A method of dehydrating material, the method comprising the steps of: directing an air stream and material to be dehydrated through an acceleration channel having an inlet for receiving the air stream and material to be dehydrated, an outlet for discharging the air stream and material, and a constriction positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the air stream and material to be dehydrated having a velocity through the constriction greater than or equal to the speed of sound; and directing the discharged air stream containing dehydrated particulate material in a helical trajectory, causing the dehydrated particulate material and air stream to separate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the air stream and material to be dehydrated are directed through the acceleration channel by an air mover having an air mover inlet in communication with the outlet of the acceleration channel, the air mover drawing the air stream and material to be dehydrated in the inlet, through the acceleration channel, out the outlet and into the air mover inlet.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring the velocity of the air stream through the constriction by measuring the air pressure and determining air stream velocity based on the measured air pressure, the volume of air moved per second by the air mover at the measured air pressure, and the area of the constriction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the velocity of the air stream in response to the observed velocity of the air stream through the constriction, to ensure the velocity through the constriction remains above the speed of sound.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the discharged air stream containing dehydrated particulate material is directed into a cyclone in which the air stream and dehydrated particulate material move in a helical trajectory.

16. A method of recovering moisture from material having a moisture content, the method comprising the steps of: directing an air stream and material to be dehydrated through an acceleration channel having an inlet for receiving the air stream and material to be dehydrated, an outlet for discharging the air stream and material, and a constriction positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the air stream and material to be dehydrated having a velocity through the constriction greater than or equal to the speed of sound; directing the discharged air stream containing dehydrated particulate material in a helical trajectory, causing the dehydrated particulate material and air stream to separate; and directing the air stream into a moisture collector for recovering moisture from the air stream.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the moisture collector is a condenser or an oil filter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the air stream and material to be dehydrated are directed through the acceleration channel by an air mover having an air mover inlet in communication with the outlet of the acceleration channel, the air mover drawing the air stream and material to be dehydrated in the inlet, through the acceleration channel, out the outlet and into the air mover inlet.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring the velocity of the air stream through the constriction by measuring the air pressure and determining air stream velocity based on the measured air pressure, the volume of air moved per second by the air mover at the measured air pressure, and the area of the constriction.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting the velocity of the air stream to ensure the velocity through the constriction remains above the speed of sound.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the discharged air stream containing dehydrated particulate material is directed into a cyclone in which the air stream and dehydrated particulate material move in a helical trajectory.

22. A method of disinfecting material, the method comprising: directing an air stream and material to be disinfected through an acceleration channel having an inlet for receiving the air stream and material to be disinfected, an outlet for discharging the air stream and material, and a constriction positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the air stream and material to be disinfected having a velocity through the constriction greater than or equal to the speed of sound.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the air stream and material to be disinfected are directed through the acceleration channel by an air mover having an air mover inlet in communication with the outlet of the acceleration channel, the air mover drawing the air stream and material to be dehydrated in the inlet, through the acceleration channel, out the outlet and into the air mover inlet.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising monitoring the velocity of the air stream through the constriction by measuring the air pressure and determining air stream velocity based on the measured air pressure, the volume of air moved per second by the air mover at the measured air pressure, and the area of the constriction.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising adjusting the velocity of the air stream to ensure the velocity through the constriction remains above the speed of sound.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the discharged air stream containing disinfected particulate material is directed into a cyclone in which the air stream and disinfected particulate material move in a helical trajectory and are separated.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the material to be disinfected is an air mass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] The present disclosure is better understood having regard to the drawings in which:

[0068] FIGS. 1A and 1B are graphs showing temperature, pressure, and velocity of air flow through an acceleration channel of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Temperature, pressure and velocity are shown as a function of position in the acceleration channel, in the case where velocity remains below the speed of sound (FIG. 1A) and in the case where velocity exceeds the speed of sound (FIG. 1B);

[0069] FIG. 2 depicts the air velocity at different points within an acceleration chamber, during operation according to the present disclosure;

[0070] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the acceleration channel of the present disclosure, and the acoustic shockwaves that form in the area of the constriction in the acceleration channel;

[0071] FIG. 4 is a cross section of an acceleration channel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0072] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of pressure drops occurring through an embodiment of an SSD system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0073] FIG. 6 is a graph showing certain specific characteristics of a turbine used in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0074] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG. 8 is a further schematic view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

[0076] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0077] FIG. 10 is a further schematic view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9; and

[0078] FIGS. 11, 12 13 and 14 are schematic views of other embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] Supersonic Dehydration (SSD) is a physical process caused by induction of target material, such as organic material, into a powerful vacuum and processing through an acceleration channel. The inducted material accelerates in air from zero speed to sub-sonic speed and then passes through transonic speed to reach supersonic speed (342 meters/second and higher). The inducted matter can be any crop such as hemp, corn, grains, seeds, fruits and nuts and plant wastes such as greenhouse plant wastes, vineyard and orchard cuttings, garden wastes, household, or industrial organic waste. As the material transitions the sound barrier it is subject to acoustic shock waves and an instant pressure drop and temperature drop occurs. The shock waves disintegrate the material and separates water and other liquids from the material and/or pulverizes solid materials such as rocks, glass, and various minerals. No heat or other form of energy is required in the process. No fossil fuels are used. No chemicals or processing agents are used.

[0080] It has also been found that small pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are not able to withstand the acoustic shock wave that disintegrates the material. In testing, a sample of animal waste inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis bacteria was treated using the SSD process. After two passes through the SSD process, meaning the sample was transitioned the sound barrier and was subject to acoustic shock waves twice, a reduction in the amount of live Enterococcus faecalis in the sample was observed. Specifically, the amount of live Enterococcus faecalis was observed to decrease by 3.5 log.sub.10 units, or by a factor of approximately 5,000.

[0081] The powerful vacuum that accelerates material to supersonic speed can be created using aero dynamic technology to move air through the acceleration channel. Turbines are industrial products which propel large volumes of air at high velocity. They exist in many different varieties, like jet engines or industrial fans. Acceleration channel tubes, also known as venturi tubes, are also known products comprising a tube having a constriction wherein the diameter of the tube at the constriction is decreased relative to other sections of the tube, and is at a minimum at a point known as the “throat”. Air or other fluids moving through such acceleration channel tubes are subject to the well-known venturi effect, wherein velocity increases, and pressure decreases as it passes through the constriction. The air (or other fluid) is moved at a velocity such that, when the air stream moves through the constriction, it accelerates to the speed of sound at a certain point in the process.

[0082] Cyclones are industrial products designed to separate particles from air or gasses, or to separate liquids with different specific weights. The principle of a cyclone is that high speed air streams containing solid particulate matter is directed into the tangent-aligned input conduit of a vertically positioned cylinder. The air and particles spin at high speed in a “tornado” vortex, having a helical trajectory. The particles of solid material drop in a downwards direction through gravitational effect and air and extracted moisture vapor exit in an upwards direction through a centrally positioned acceleration channel.

[0083] In the processing of the target material, the moisture in the material may be fully extracted from the organic material, in which situation the material will exit the cyclone in fully dried form.

[0084] In the processing of the target material, the moisture in the material may also be partially extracted from the organic material, in which situation the material will exit the cyclone as partially dried material.

[0085] In case material is not completely dried in a single pass or cycle, it can be recycled into the main material stream so the input material's moisture can be controlled in order to reach the optimal moisture level in the outgoing material.

[0086] Alternatively, two SSD systems may be placed in cascade in one single enclosure to process material twice (or more) to reach complete drying. In many situations, a small percentage of residual moisture is desirable for transportation or to substantially reduce the process of molding or rotting of organic materials.

[0087] Alternatively, two or more SSD systems may be placed in parallel to increase the processing capacity in one single enclosure.

[0088] The present disclosure is described having regard to several embodiments with reference to the Figures. While these embodiments are described generally in the context of dehydration and the applications of processing biomass, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the context of these applications. The present disclosure may be used in other applications and in other fields, such as pulverizing materials, disinfecting materials or air and cleaning water, effluent and other liquids, and for desalinating water.

[0089] Although the term “system” is used in this disclosure, it is not used in a limiting manner. Rather, a dehydration “system” generally includes methods, processes, structures, equipment, etc.

[0090] In some aspects, the present dehydration systems may be partially or fully integrated with existing systems or other third-party systems, including but not limited to feeding (in/out), grinding, shredding, cutting, pelleting or brick-making systems and/or safety systems. This integration may include one or more of the following: physical devices, power supplies, security, logging and access control devices and data and/or communication equipment.

[0091] In other aspects, the present systems provide modularity, which may increase flexibility of placement and orientation of components, increase the degree of component customization, allow for more efficient feeding and servicing of equipment, and increase efficiencies and effectiveness of operation.

[0092] In some embodiments, the SSD comprises one or more acceleration channels in which supersonic speed is realized by a vacuum created by one or more turbines; an acceleration channel to transport processed material into a cyclone or several cyclones to separate processed material from moist air.

[0093] In some embodiments, air heaters may be attached to the air stream inlet to heat and dry ingoing air.

[0094] In some embodiments, condensers may be placed after the air outlet of the cyclone to extract moisture or water from the saturated air for re-application in the irrigation chain.

[0095] In some embodiments dust traps may be placed after the air outlet to recover valuable particulate matter and condensers or oil filters may be placed after the air outlet to recover valuable vaporized plant oils, such as terpenes and aromatics.

[0096] The operation of SSD, and various features and components of the present disclosure are now described with reference to the Figures.

[0097] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the temperature, pressure and velocity of air flowing through an acceleration channel as part of the SSD process. These values are shown as a function of position within the acceleration channel. When air moves with subsonic speed through an acceleration channel, as shown in FIG. 1A, pressure P and temperature T will go down and velocity v will go up before passing the smallest diameter (the “throat” of the acceleration channel). If velocity v does not exceed supersonic speed (Mach 1, or 342 m/s) when passing the throat, all three factors will return to their original levels after the air passed the throat and enters the diverging channel behind the throat.

[0098] FIG. 1B shows that, when velocity v does cross the throat at supersonic speed, changes occur in the applicable laws of physics. When passing the throat, velocity v will further and dramatically increase above Mach 1 and pressure p further sinks to almost zero, creating an under-pressure close to vacuum. Temperature T continues to further decrease.

[0099] FIG. 2 shows what happens in the acceleration channel when velocity v of air stream 550 hits Mach 1 at the throat. The applicant has used advanced academic software (Ansys 2019-R2) to simulate the development of pressure and velocity when air moves through transonic speed. At point A, an airstream is stabilized, where the velocity v of the air is forced higher at point B until it reaches the throat at point C. Air stream 550 and all material that is in it now pass the throat at transonic speed. Because of the scientifically proven effects of the transition from subsonic to supersonic speed as explained in FIGS. 1A and 1B, velocity v dramatically further increases at point D, while pressure p suddenly drops to near vacuum after passing the throat at point C. After reaching point E, where the original diameter is restored, speed suddenly falls back to subsonic and the vacuum is released. This combination creates strong acoustic shockwaves at line G, because of which the material disintegrates in air stream 550. With the simultaneous temperature drop creating a strong condensation, the contained moisture is absorbed by the air at point F. In this manner, wet material dries and dry air reaches 100% humidity in a fraction of a second.

[0100] FIG. 3 shows wet material 501 moving through an embodiment of an acceleration channel 100 according to the present disclosure, from position A to position B to position C. It is generally known that a shockwave S1 is formed at the entrance to the constriction 105 of a venturi, such as acceleration channel 100. On the leading edge of the material 501 at position B, as it is moved through the acceleration channel 100, a bow wave S2 is generated. The forward surface of the material 501 at position C implodes when it hits a standing supersonic shockwave S3 at the end of constriction 105 of the acceleration channel 100. Meanwhile, additional material 501 at position B continues accelerating through recompression shock wave S1. The material 501 at position C collides in one millisecond as it transits the standing shock wave S3. Any liquid held in material 501 instantly becomes vapor. This effectively separates the water content of the wet material 501 from the rest of the material. Tests to dry various materials like corn, hemp, manure, nuts, digestate, garden waste, sewage sludge, greenhouse waste, plastics, leftover meat, dough and eggshells have all shown to be successful.

[0101] Knowing the exact moisture content of the material 501, and adjusting air velocity to adjust the bi-directional shock waves S1, S2 and S3 and “dwell time” (namely, the time required or the material 501 to enter/exit the constriction 105) can affect the final moisture content of the material 501 leaving the acceleration channel 100. These parameters also affect the velocity at which the material 501 exits the constriction 100b. Ideally, the exit must happen at low velocity, which results in near-instantaneous deceleration from supersonic speed to a low speed air flow at the exit. This deceleration occurs in approximately one thousandth of one second (one millisecond). The result is that the moisture in material 501 instantaneously turns to vapor.

[0102] The moisture content of the material 501 is primarily dependent on what the material is. For example, corn contains 14-16% water, whereas pre-dried pig manure still contains 60-70% water. Therefore, drying manure may require adjustments to the air velocity so as to maximize the drying effect described above. Manure may also from a “second run” through the SSD system, wherein the dried material is sent through the SSD system again to achieve further moisture removal.

[0103] Another relevant variable is the humidity of the surrounding air. If it is very humid, the incoming air already contains a high percentage of moisture and therefore cannot absorb the same amount of moisture from the material as when the ambient air is dry. Therefore, System 1 from FIG. 4 can include an air heater (not shown) in front of opening 104 of acceleration channel 100 to dry the incoming air stream before it is used in the drying process.

[0104] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of acceleration channel 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The acceleration channel comprises a cylinder 100a having a circular cross-section whose diameter varies along its length. Cylinder 100a has an opening 104 for allowing an air stream to enter, and an exit 110 for allowing said air stream to exit the cylinder 100a. Since an air stream is intended to move through cylinder 100a from its opening 104 to its exit 110, cylinder 100a can be said to have an “upstream end” at its opening 104, and a “downstream end” at its exit 110. Cylinder 100a can be made of any material of suitable strength to withstand the forces arising through operation of the SSD, for example, polypropylene, reinforced polyester, carbon fiber, stainless steel, or a combination of these materials. In the illustrated embodiment, cylinder 100a is a stainless steel pipe having 4 mm thick walls.

[0105] Acceleration channel 100 comprises a constriction 100b, which is a segment of acceleration channel 100 along which the diameter of the acceleration channel 100 decreases, and then increases back to its original value. The constriction 100b comprises: (a) an inclination section 105, along which the diameter of the channel 100 decreases; (b) a throat 106 immediately downstream from inclination section 105, the throat 106 being the point where the diameter of the channel 100 is at its lowest; and (c) a widening section 107 immediately downstream from throat 106, along which the diameter of the channel 100 increases once again. The inner surface of cylinder 100a at the junctions between inclination section 105, throat 106 and widening section 107 may be sharp edged or may be rounded off.

[0106] In the illustrated embodiment, constriction 100b is formed using a polypropylene form, inserted into cylinder 100a, and having the specific geometry required to form the constriction 100b as described above. It will be understood, however, that constriction 100b could also be formed integrally with cylinder 100a. In other words, cylinder 100a can have interior walls dimensioned so as to form the constriction 100b described above.

[0107] Acceleration channel 100 also comprises an air pressure sensor 109 mounted downstream from the throat 106. Air pressure sensor 109 is used in the measurement of the velocity of the airstream through the acceleration channel 100, in the manner described in detail below. Air pressure sensor 109 can be any device widely known and available that is capable of obtaining a measurement of air pressure. Air pressure sensor 109 can be mounted to acceleration channel 100 in any manner suitable to allow for the measurement of air pressure within the channel 100 downstream from the throat 106.

[0108] Although the SSD process can be achieved using any sort of acceleration channel having a constriction, also known as a venturi tube, the particular dimensions of the acceleration channel will affect the velocity at which air moves through the channel. Accordingly, the geometry of the acceleration channel can be designed to provide the required air velocity (namely, transonic speed or better at the throat of the constriction) using a relatively low input air velocity.

[0109] By way of example, acceleration channel 100 can have the following dimensions: [0110] an interior diameter of 160 mm at all points outside the constriction 100b; [0111] a length from opening 104 to the beginning of the constriction 100b of at least 400 mm; [0112] an inclination section 105 having a length from its beginning to its end at throat 106 of between 100 mm and 400 mm; [0113] a widening section 107 having a length from its beginning at throat 106 to its end at exit 110 of between 60 and 120 mm; and [0114] a diameter of the channel 100 at throat 106 that is between 2.5 times smaller and 10 times smaller than the interior diameter of the acceleration channel 100, depending on the type and design of the turbine moving air through the acceleration channel 100.

[0115] Dimensions within the ranges outlined above have been observed to provide the air velocity required for the SSD process (i.e., an air velocity at or above the speed of sound at the throat 106) and successfully dry and disinfect materials. The dimensions of the acceleration channel 100 can be further designed such that air velocities at or above the speed of sound at the throat 106 can be achieved as efficiently as possible, namely, with the lowest possible input air velocity. For example, adjustments to the ratio of the throat diameter to the acceleration channel interior diameter can change the airstream velocity through the throat 106, as well as the input airstream velocity required to achieve supersonic airstream velocity through the throat 106.

[0116] The design of the dimensions of acceleration channel 100 can also provide other positive effects. For example, providing at least 400 mm from the opening 104 to the beginning of inclination section 105 allows the air stream entering the opening 104 to stabilize before entering the constriction 100b. As another example, the shorter the widening section 107 is made relative to the inclination section 105, the faster the deceleration of the air stream and material will be, making the drying and disinfecting properties of the SSD process more effective.

[0117] It is apparent from the foregoing that the SSD process requires that air stream velocity through the throat 106 be at least the speed of sound (342 m/s), or higher. While air stream velocity is commonly measured using pitot tubes, pitot tubes are not suitable for use in turbulent, supersonic environments such as that which exists in the vicinity of the throat 106 when an airstream is moving through channel 100 at high velocity. The velocity of the airstream can instead be measured indirectly by measuring air pressure immediately downstream from the throat 106, using air pressure sensor 109. Using the measured air pressure in this region in combination with known characteristics of the turbine used to generate the airstream through the channel 100 (described in greater detail below), the airstream velocity can be calculated.

[0118] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the basic air pressure drop over the entire SSD system 1 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and described in greater detail below) after throat 106. Delta p.sub.v 001 is the pressure drop measured by sensor 109, after the throat 106. Delta p.sub.t 002 is the pressure drop over conduit 300 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and described in greater detail below), and delta p.sub.c 003 is the pressure drop over cyclone 400 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and described in greater detail below). In the illustrated embodiment, delta p.sub.t 002 and delta p.sub.c 003 are not measured. Rather, industry best estimates of fixed pressure drops 1000 Pa are used. It will be understood that, for more accurate measurement of airstream velocity through the throat 106, additional air pressure sensors could be added to measure delta p.sub.t 002 and delta p.sub.c 003 directly. Accordingly, it can be seen that the total pressure drop over the entire system is the sum of delta p.sub.v 001, delta p.sub.t 002 and delta p.sub.c 003.

[0119] FIG. 6 shows certain specific characteristics of an embodiment of turbine 200 used to create the air stream through channel 100, as described in greater detail below. In particular, FIG. 6 shows both the under pressure generated by the turbine and the power consumed by the turbine's motor, as a function of air volume moved by the turbine per second. Curve 011a shows the relation between negative pressure generated by the turbine, and the volume of air moved though the turbine. Curve 011b shows the relation between turbine motor power and the volume of air moved through the turbine. Such characteristics are commonly available from manufacturers of turbines.

[0120] The calculation of air stream velocity at throat 106 will be shown by way of example. For the purpose of this example, it will be assumed that SSD system 1 has been operated having an observed total air pressure drop (that is, the sum of delta p.sub.v 001, delta p.sub.t 002, and delta p.sub.c 003) of 29,800 Pa, or 298 millibar). This represents a measured pressure drop delta p.sub.v 001 of 27,800 Pa, and best estimate values of 1000 Pa for each of delta p.sub.t 002, and delta p.sub.c 003.

[0121] FIG. 6 shows that, at this under-pressure, the turbine processes 1.5 cubic meter of air per second, and uses approximate 78 kW of power. Knowing the volume of air moving through the system per second, as well as the diameter of the throat 106, the airstream velocity through the throat 106 can be calculated. Using a throat having a diameter of 70 mm, the total area of the throat can be calculated as

[00001]$\pi *{\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)}^2,$

which equals 0.0038 m.sup.2 in this case. Airstream velocity can therefore be calculated as 1.5 m.sup.3/s÷0.0038 m.sup.2=390 m/s. This airstream velocity is sufficiently above the speed of sound for the SSD process to function.

[0122] FIG. 7 shows an SSD system 1 that uses acceleration channel 100 for drying and disinfecting material using the SSD process. SSD system 1 has a collector frame 101 attached to the acceleration channel 100 to allow input of material to be dried and disinfected from larger collector entrance 102 into acceleration channel 100 via material entrance 103. Collector 101 can have an integrated shredder (not shown) for reducing the particulate size of incoming material to be dried and disinfected.

[0123] Acceleration channel 100 comprises entrance 104 adapted to allow air to be drawn into channel 100 during operation. The particular shape of entrance 104 shown in FIG. 7 is not essential but enhances the ability of air to be sucked into acceleration channel 100.

[0124] At exit 110 of acceleration channel 100, the channel 100 is connected to intake 201 of turbine 200, allowing air passing through the channel to enter the turbine 200. Turbine 200 comprises rotor blades 203 on axis 202. Turbine 200 can be driven by any kind of motor, although electrical motors are preferred. Turbine 200 has outlet 204 connected to tube system 300, allowing an air entering the turbine 200 from the acceleration channel 100 to continue onward to tube system 300. Turbine 200 can be any commercially available turbine capable of producing air pressures and air flow sufficient to produce air velocity at or in excess of the speed of sound at the throat 106 of acceleration channel 100. A turbine capable of creating under pressure at its intake in the range of −290 millibar to −390 millibar, and air flow capacity of 1.5 m.sup.3 per second to 1.66 m.sup.3 per second, has been observed to be effective in generating the required airstream velocity through acceleration channel 100.

[0125] Tube system 300 comprises tube 301 and exit 302 creating a path for airflow from the turbine outlet 204 to cyclone 400. Tube 301 and exit 302 can have cylindrical, elliptical, or rectangular cross sections, which may also vary along the length of tube system 300. Exit 302 of tube system 300 is connected the top side of circular cyclone 400, where the entrance is aligned on a tangent to the circular cross-section of the hull 401 of cyclone 400. An airstream and materials entering cyclone 400 via the entrance is directed on a tornado-like helical trajectory within the hull 401. Heavier particles of material within the helically moving airstream, such as dried and disinfected material, will move downward in the hull 401, where they will collect at exit 403 and can be recovered from the cyclone 400 through rotating airlock 404. Lighter materials in the helically moving airstream, such as the moisture laden air received from the acceleration channel 100 and turbine 200, can exit the cyclone 400 through opening 402.

[0126] Cyclone 400 can be dimensioned to filter out particles above any specified diameter. It is generally known that the dimensions of cyclones are based on the level of desired separation of dust or solid material from air. The dimensions of cyclone 400 can therefore be selected as appropriate for the given application.

[0127] FIG. 8 shows the flow of air and material to be dried and disinfected through the SSD system 1. Turbine 200 is operated at a power level and under pressure value sufficient to produce an airstream velocity through throat 106 that is equal to or greater than the speed of sound. The airstream velocity through throat 106 can be verified using pressure measurements taken downstream from throat 106, in the manner described above.

[0128] When turbine 200 is operated as described above, dry air 550 is pulled into Acceleration Channel 100 through entrance 104. Material to be dried and disinfected 501 is added through entrance 102 and falls into the airstream 550. Material 501 can be added through entrance 102 via an automated conveyor system (not shown) that drops material 501 through entrance 102. The operation of this conveyor system can be triggered by the airstream velocity measurement taken indirectly via the air pressure measurement recorded by sensor 109. In particular, once the pressure measured by sensor 109 indicates that airstream velocity through the throat 106 is at the speed of sound or greater, the conveyor system can be activated. This activation can be achieved automatically, by way of control software interconnecting sensor 109 and the conveyor system.

[0129] Material 501 and airstream 550 are accelerated towards the speed of sound, moving downstream through cylinder 100a and inclination section 105 towards the throat 106. If the distance from opening 104 to the beginning of the constriction 100b is sufficient to allow the airstream 550 to stabilize before it enters the constriction 100b (400 mm in the illustrated embodiment), material 501 will be flowing smoothly down the middle of cylinder 100a, and not interacting with the side walls of cylinder 100a by the time the material enters the constriction 100b.

[0130] As airstream 550 and material 501 transit the throat 106, they accelerate past the speed of sound. Material 501 is subjected to the acceleration and acoustic shock waves described above, the result being that material 501 is disintegrated, moisture comes out of material 501, and the airstream 550 reaches 100% humidity in a fraction of a second.

[0131] Disintegrated material 501 and humid airstream 550 exit the acceleration channel 100 and move through turbine 200 and tube system 300 to reach cyclone 400. Material 501 and airstream 550 then begin moving in a helical trajectory within hull 401 of cyclone 400. Disintegrated, dried and disinfected material 501 falls downward to exit 403 where it can be retrieved. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, rotating airlock 404 can selectively seal off exit 403 or permit material 501 to exit the cyclone 400. Bin 406 can be provided to collect the disintegrated, dried, and disinfected material 501.

[0132] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the SSD system 2. SSD system 2 is substantially the same as SSD system 1, but with the addition of a loop-back channel 304. Loop-back channel 304 can be a conveyor belt, or any other suitable means for transporting dried and disinfected material 501 back to opening 102 for a “second run” through the SSD system, where it can be further dried and disinfected.

[0133] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein two or more SSD systems 1 can be arranged in series. Exhaust moisture and air 550 leaves cyclone 400 of SSD system 1 on exit 402, and dried, disinfected material 501 leaves cyclone 400 at exit 403. Upon exit, dried and disinfected material 501 is directly fed into another SSD system 1, for further drying and disinfection. It will be apparent that as many SSD systems 1 as may be needed can be arranged in series in this manner.

[0134] FIG. 12 shows a schematic setup of a basic SSD system with two cyclones in cascade, where, after the first separation of solid product from moist air, the second cyclone can separate finer particles which were not separated by the first cyclone.

[0135] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present disclosure, where a SSD system 1 is provided with two cascaded cyclones 400 and 400b. Exhaust moist air 550 moves through conduit 300b into cyclone 400b, where finer particles 503 leave at exit 403b, and moist air 550 leaves at exhaust 402b. The dimensioning of cyclone 4b is tailored towards the mesh size of leftover particles in exhaust moist air 550′, which depends on the material being processed.

[0136] FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of the present disclosure wherein residual water collected from bio waste that has been dried (for example, tomato plants after tomatoes are harvested) is directly added to an irrigation water basin in or outside the greenhouse after being processed by SSD.

[0137] FIG. 13 shows an SSD system 1 where solid and partly dried material leaves cyclone 400 at exit 403 and can be collected in a bin 406.

[0138] FIG. 13 also shows exhaust moisture and air 550 leaving SSD system 1 through tube system 300c. The moisture contained in air 550 can be water or other liquid extracted from the material 501 by way of the SSD process. Such other liquids can include hemp oils or other oils, depending on the type of material 501 being dried. Air stream 550 containing the moisture extracted from material 501 can be fed into moisture collector 801, for the purpose of recovering the moisture. Moisture collector 801 can be any of a number of known technologies for extracting liquid water or other liquids from humid, moisture-laden air. In the illustrated embodiment, moisture collector 801 is a condenser for extracting liquid water from humid air, and water droplets 551 collected from the condenser are deposited in tank 802 to be transported through channel 803 as irrigation water. In other embodiments, moisture collector 801 can be an oil filter, for filtering and collecting oil particles released into air stream 550 by the SSD process. In other embodiments, both a condenser and an oil filter can be used.

[0139] FIG. 14 shows a another embodiment of the present disclosure wherein acceleration channel 100 has no collector, and material 501 is sucked into opening 104 of acceleration channel 100 directly by the airstream created by turbine 200 from e.g. an external collector belt or other mechanical transportation or feeding system (not shown).

[0140] From the foregoing, numerous advantages of the SSD process will be apparent. The SSD can be used to dry bulk material, reducing its weight and volume and thus making it easier and less expensive to transport. The SSD accomplishes this while consuming approximately 100 kW of power to process approximately 2 metric tons of material per hour. This is less than 25% of the power consumption required to operate traditional fossil fuel-based systems for drying waste. As well, the carbon footprint of the SSD system is much smaller than that of traditional heat-based drying systems, since SSD uses only an electric motor. Furthermore, since an SSD system can operate with minimal maintenance and supervision, the operation cost of an SSD system will be lower than that of conventional drying systems.

[0141] As well, the SSD system can accomplish the drying and disinfection of bulk organic material without using any heat, and without the addition of any viscosity modifying agent.

[0142] Accordingly, the present structures and systems may provide for supersonic dehydration systems and structures, improved customization of types and positioning of various equipment, and improved ease of access to equipment for maintenance.

[0143] The structure, features, accessories, and alternatives of specific embodiments described herein and shown in the Figures are intended to apply generally to all the teachings of the present disclosure, including to all the embodiments described and illustrated herein, insofar as they are compatible. In other words, the structure, features, accessories, and alternatives of a specific embodiment are not intended to be limited to only that specific embodiment, unless so indicated.

[0144] Furthermore, additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. By way of example, tube system 300 that carries humid airstream and dried material to cyclone 400 and connect to two or more cyclones 400, as permitted by the physical space available on site, to increase the capacity of the SSD system. As well, cyclone 400 can contain dust filters, for example, HEPA filters (not shown) to capture very fine particles of dried, disinfected material.

[0145] In addition, the embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or methods having elements corresponding to elements of the techniques of this application. This written description may enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the techniques of this application. The intended scope of the techniques of this application thus includes other structures, systems or methods that do not differ from the techniques of this application as described herein, and further includes other structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences from the techniques of this application as described herein.

[0146] Moreover, the previous detailed description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention described herein. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.