SMART WASTE CONTAINER

Abstract

An apparatus for waste recycling that is suitable for residence building level in both volume and rate of supply of waste with a waste disposal and treatment container having the following parts: waste eliminator comprising a thermally and acoustically insulating casing with odour insulating raw waste receiving space; all-purpose shredder and crusher; crushed and/or shredded waste conveyor; liquid waste purifier; gasification plasma reactor; gas conveyor and purifier; slag collector; re-hydration means for re-hydrating solid waste in the gasification plasma reactor; and safety means. Each one of these parts is organized in fluid communication with its neighbor parts.

Claims

1. Waste disposal and treatment container comprising: waste eliminator comprising a thermally and acoustically insulating casing, said casing comprising: odour insulating raw waste receiving space; all-purpose shredder and crusher; crushed and/or shredded waste conveyor; liquid waste purifier; gasification plasma reactor; gas conveyor and purifier; slag collector; re-hydration means for re-hydrating solid waste in said gasification plasma reactor; and safety means, wherein said all-purpose shredder and crusher is in fluid and continuous communication with said crushed and/or shredded waste conveyor and said liquid waste purifier, said crushed and/or shredded waste conveyor and liquid waste purifier are in fluid and continuous communication with said gasification plasma reactor, said gasification plasma reactor is in fluid and continuous communication with said gas conveyor and purifier, said slag collector and re-hydration means.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said re-hydration means comprises: generation mechanism for generating steam gas and/or water vapor; and means for transporting said steam gas and/or water vapour into said gasification plasma reactor; plasma torch electrode cooling system, wherein said generation mechanism comprises: a steam gas and/or water vapor source; and a module for generating said steam gas and/or water vapour, wherein said re-hydration means comprises steam gas and/or water vapor generator, said steam gas and/or water vapor generator is said slag collector, said slag collector comprising a container for receiving and cooling hot vitreous or molten slag produced in said gasification plasma reactor, said container containing water for said cooling, wherein steam gas and/or water vapor by-products of said cooling are generated by thermal reaction of said hot molten or vitreous slag in said water in said slag collector.

3.-5. (canceled)

6. The container according to claim 2, wherein said means for transporting said steam gas and/or water vapor comprising a single or plurality of steam gas pipes and/or said plasma torch for steam conveying, said pipes connecting between said steam gas and/or water vapor source and said gasification plasma reactor, wherein said single or plurality of pipes are connected to corresponding single or plurality of filtering breathing membranes at interface of said pipes with said gasification plasma reactor.

7. The container according to claim 3, wherein said single or plurality of pipes further comprising breathing membranes comprising filtering means, said filtering means are configured to block entrance of undesirable by-products of said thermal reaction, wherein said filtering breathing membranes are connected to corresponding single or plurality of shutters or valves, said shutters or valves are configured to be automatically or manually operated and controlled enabling to increase, decrease or completely block amount of said steam gas and water vapor flow from said means for generating steam gas and/or water vapor into said gasification plasma reactor.

8.-10. (canceled)

11. The according to claim 1, further comprising a piston at top side of said gasification plasma reactor, said piston is configured for first operational state of fully retracted up position relative to said gasification plasma reactor and second operational state in fully inserted position inside said plasma gasification reactor, wherein in said first operational state, said piston separates outlet of syngas produced in said gasification plasma reactor and upper inlet of said solid waste, wherein said piston is configured to mechanically clean solidified elements in the path of the mass stream and soot residues from walls of said gasification plasma reactor side walls during transition from said first to said second operational states, and wherein when in said second operational state said piston is configured to reach bottom of said gasification plasma reactor and remove slag by pushing said slag out through bottom outlet of said gasification plasma reactor into said slag collector.

12. (canceled)

13. The container according to claim 1, further comprising humidity, temperature, pressure, visual and optical sensors within said gasification plasma reactor, said sensors are configured to monitor environmental conditions within said reactor, said environmental conditions comprising levels of humidity of incoming solid waste into said reactor.

14. The container according to claim 6, further comprising a central control and data processing unit, said central control and data processing unit is configured to supervise and control operation of said container, said sensors are configured to transmit data to said central control and data processing unit, wherein said central control and data processing unit is configured to calculate amounts of steam gas and water vapor to be supplied by said steam gas and/or water vapor generator to said reactor.

15.-16. (canceled)

17. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an energy generator, wherein said energy generator is in fluid and continuous communication with said gasification plasma reactor, said gasification reactor comprising a gas outlet for releasing crude gas to said energy generator.

18.-21. (canceled)

22. The container according to claim 1, wherein said odour insulating raw waste receiving space comprises active odour neutralizer and safety sealed door, wherein said active odour neutralizer is selected from ozone generator, active carbon filter, chemical reaction filter and combinations thereof.

23. (canceled)

24. The container according to claim 1, wherein said all-purpose shredder and crusher comprises a shredder, crushing hammers and liquid filtering and drainage outlet and collector, wherein said all-purpose shredder is a single, two, three or four stages shredder, and wherein said liquid filtering and drainage is done by grid sweeping.

25.-28. (canceled)

29. The container according to claim 1, wherein said liquid waste purifier comprises reactor feeding mouthpiece, filters, liquid purifiers and lipid and concentrated contaminants reclaiming means, wherein said filters are selected from micron filters, active carbon filters, lipid separator, reverse osmosis membranes and any combination thereof.

30.-31. (canceled)

32. The container according to claim 1, wherein said gasification plasma reactor comprises internal heating means, thermal insulation means and temperature and pressure control means, wherein said internal heating means is based on electrical or chemical energy, plasma electrodes or microwave generating source.

33.-35. (canceled)

36. The container according to claim 12, wherein said reactor is insulated for oxygen diffusion control.

37. The container according to claim 12, wherein said reactor further comprises slag outlet located at floor of said reactor in vicinity of energy source, said slag outlet is in fluid and continuous communication with said slag collector.

38. (canceled)

39. The container according to claim 12, wherein said reactor further comprises gas release outlet.

40. The container according to claim 12, wherein said reactor comprises energy source of plasma arc generator.

41. The container according to claim 1, wherein said gas conveyor and purifier comprises integrated gas conveyor, gas purifier, gas accumulator and means for clearing and reclaiming excess material, toxic gas products and contaminated carbon dust, wherein said gas purifier is selected from catalytic converter, plasma flame generator configured for toxin decomposition, quenching heat exchanger, micron filter, active carbon filter.

42.-45. (canceled)

46. The container according to claim 1, further comprising energy generator in communication with said gas conveyor purifier, said energy generator comprising power producing means, current stabilizer/rectifier, control system, connection means for connecting to domestic/local power supply or mains and IoT for data transmission.

47. (canceled)

48. The container according to claim 18 wherein said energy generator further comprises heat discharge/exchange means configured for producing energy from waste heat discharged from said reactor.

49. (canceled)

50. The container according to claim 1, wherein said safety means comprises means for online monitoring, real-time system safety evaluation, periodic safety check (BIT), system check on starting (PBIT), system software test, system control test and smart user interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the general divisions of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates a waste treatment apparatus of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective solid view of the container of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0055] FIGS. 4-16 illustrate the different parts of the apparatus exemplified in FIGS. 2-3.

[0056] FIG. 17A illustrates a cross sectional view of the internal design and assembly of the plasma reactor, the bottom accumulator and the separated steam gas source.

[0057] FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective side view of optional design and assembly shown in FIG. 17A.

[0058] FIGS. 18A-B illustrate an optional configuration of the plasma reactor integrated together with an additional piston element in two operating states.

[0059] Further detailed description of the particular configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 is provided below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 provides schematic view of the major stages and detailed steps of the small scale waste treatment plant of the present invention. Pre-treatment of waste (100) disposed in a residential building comprises initial steps of receiving the waste (101) shredding and crushing it (102), extracting the liquids (103) and purifying them to irrigation grade water (104). Eventually the water is drained out to a purified water container or proper piping in fluid communication with the container. After disposing of the liquid phase, the solid phase waste is transported to the reactor (200), for example, plasma reactor, for decomposition and transformation to syngas and/or release of hydrogen gas. The solid waste is fed to the reactor (202) with a feeder (201), where it goes physical and/or chemical reactions at elevated temperature depending on the type of reactor. The solid slag (203) is released from the reactor (203) as by-product and transported for packing and disposal. The next step is generation of energy (300), where the syngas or hydrogen gas (301) which are released are channelled to an energy generator (302) for producing electricity that may be fed back to the mains, partly back to the plant or directly to the residential building electricity system for local use.

[0061] FIGS. 2, 3 and 15 illustrate a particular shape and configuration of the container (1). A container (1) contains an assembly of devices organized in a casing (2) for treating waste in a particular series configuration. Entrance for waste (3) is more clearly displayed in FIG. 3 directly above a shredder (4), so that incoming waste is fed into the shredder first, crushed, grinded and transported with a revolving grainer screw (5) followed by diagonally upward positioned turbinate screw (6) for decomposition in a reactor (7). Liquid phase trapped within the incoming waste is released and drained to a liquid container (8) below the shredder (4) with sufficient volume and proper shape (8a in FIG. 4), where it is further purified, separating organic from aqueous phases, recycling the organic phase back to the plant and releasing irrigation grade water out through a bottom outlet (8b in FIG. 4). The condensed solid waste travels up the turbinate screw (6) and fed through an upper inlet (7a in FIG. 14) of the plasma reactor (7). Three plasma torches (7c in FIG. 14) at the bottom of the reactor (7) release very high temperature plasma that decomposes the incoming solid waste. A molten or vitreous slag falls to the reactor floor and is swept out through lower outlet (7d in FIG. 14) to a bottom accumulator (9) which is filled with water. The syngas or hydrogen gas produced from the waste in the plasma reactor (7) is fed to a gas purifier (10), which is located near the reactor (7) and in fluid communication with the reactor (7) through gas outlet (7b in FIG. 14). The gas purifier (10) traps and filters out airborne solid contaminants and passes the purified gas to an energy generator (11) for producing energy such as electricity. The energy produced may charge partly the plant itself, local power consuming devices or fed back to the mains.

[0062] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, re-hydration of the solid waste in the reactor (7) is done with a steam gas and/or water vapour injected into the gasification plasma reactor (7). An injection of supplemental amount of steam gas and water vapor into the gasification plasma reactor (7), especially at the proximity of the plasma sources electrodes, moderates and improves its environmental conditions. Moreover, adding a sufficient amount of humidity to the plasma reactor enhances and improves the decomposition process of the solid waste into slag material and the production of syngas or hydrogen gas from the solid waste material.

[0063] FIG. 17A illustrates a cross sectional view of the internal configuration and assembly of the plasma reactor (7), the bottom accumulator (9) and a steam gas source (18), in one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective side view of optional design and assembly of the gasification plasma reactor (7) and the bottom accumulator (9) shown in FIG. 17A. The steam gas and water vapor source (6) comprises a module that generates a steam gas and water vapor using a separated process that does not depend on the container disposal treatment of the waste or on its by-products. In this assembly, the steam gas source (18) is connected to the gasification plasma reactor (7) through a single or plurality of steam gas pipes (19), enabling the injection of the steam gas and/or water vapor into the plasma reactor during the decomposition process of the solid waste into slag material and syngas with the plasma torches (7c). In a further embodiment of the present invention a plurality of humidity, temperature, pressure, optical and visual sensors are positioned inside the plasma reactor (7) in order to monitor its environmental conditions. These sensors are also used to monitor the amount of humidity inside the incoming solid waste. The data accumulated from the monitors is fed into the steam source control unit and used to calculate the required amount of steam gas and water vapor, which is required to be supplied by the steam gas source (18).

[0064] In another embodiment of the present invention, a single or plurality of steam gas pipes (20) are connected to corresponding single or plurality of filtering breathing membranes (21) at their interface with the gasification plasma reactor. These pipes (20) connect the bottom accumulator (9) to the gasification plasma reactor (7). Such configuration enables to utilize the steam gas and water vapor by-products, which are generated by the thermal reaction, i.e., quenching, of the hot molten or vitreous slag when immersed at the bottom accumulator water container (9). In a further embodiment of the present invention, the single or plurality of breathing membrane elements (21) comprise additional filtering means especially configured to eliminate or reduce entrance of undesirable by-products into the gasification plasma reactor (7), contaminating it and degrading its operational performance. This configuration results in an effective internal steam gas source that generates the steam gas injecting it through steam gas pipes (20) and the corresponding plurality of filtering breathing membranes (21) into the gasification plasma reactor (7). Properly using this system significantly improves the efficiency of plasma decomposition of the solid waste material into slag material and syngas or hydrogen gas from the solid waste material. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the single or plurality of filtering breathing membranes (21) are connected to corresponding single or plurality of shutters or valves that can be operated in automatic or in manual mode. The shutters or valves enable to control increase, decrease or complete elimination of the flow of the steam gas from the bottom accumulator chamber (9) into the gasification plasma reactor (7).

[0065] In another embodiment of the present invention, the steam gas source (18) and the single or plurality of steam gas pipes (20) are part of the gasification plasma reactor system. The steam gas external source (18) is used to stabilize, restart and maintain humidity conditions and levels inside the gasification plasma reactor during all of its possible states, such as idle, cleaning, processing, process completion and pre- and post-processing states. In all these steps, the required humidity gap of the desired level in the reactor is completed by the external steam gas source (18). In a further embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of humidity, temperature, pressure, visual and optical sensors are positioned inside the gasification plasma reactor (7) in order to monitor its environmental conditions and amount of humidity of the incoming solid waste. The sensors data yield the required amount of additional steam gas and water vapor to be supplied by the stem gas source (18), considering the steam gas amount from the internal steam gas source from the thermal reaction at the bottom accumulator chamber (9).

[0066] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bottom accumulator (9) is filled with cold water, a mixture of ice and water or a complete icy phase. Accordingly, the water temperature can be below the temperature of the surroundings close to the water freezing temperature or below it. This results in a higher thermal bias between the molten or vitreous slag and the cold phase of water, ice, or mixed phase of water and ice inside the bottom accumulator (9), yielding a significant enhancement in the production of steam gas. Hence, the system can improve the efficiency of solid waste decomposition into slag material and syngas or hydrogen gas from the solid waste material.

[0067] In another embodiment of the present invention, the system of the present invention comprises a piston (22) added to the plasma reactor at its top side. The piston (22) enables self-cleaning and maintenance procedures of the plasma reactor (7). The piston (22) essentially has two possible operational states, (A) and (B), as illustrated in FIGS. 18A-B, respectively. In state (A), shown in FIG. 18A, the piston is in its fully retracted position with respect to the plasma reactor top side. In state (B), the piston (22) is in fully inserted position inside the plasma reactor down to its bottom side. The piston in state (A) is used to separate the gases outlet (7b) from the solid waste upper inlet (7a). The piston in state (B) is used to mechanically clean the soot residues which are accumulated on the plasma reactor sidewalls and eliminate bridging effects inside the plasma reactor between its side walls. Further, at state (B), the piston (22) can also be fully inserted to mechanically clean slag residues from the plasma reactor outlet (7d) at the reactor bottom side by further pushing it into the bottom accumulator container (9). The self-cleaning maintenance procedure is done automatically by the piston (22). Alternatively, it can be executed periodically or at the beginning or end of a cleaning session. In a third option, a mechanical cleaning with the piston (22) is based on continuous or selected visual monitoring, where the image of the chamber condition is compared to its normal condition. Another option for scheduling mechanical cleaning of the reactor with the piston (22) is based on any the data from the sensors that such as optical, temperature pressure or humidity sensors, which are located inside or outside the gasification plasma reactor (7). Alternatively, the self-cleaning procedure may be manually done by an operator of the system.

[0068] The plant is essentially portable with holding handle (12) at its roof and a ramp (13) that matches the box's (2) floor and which is adjusted with rails (13a, 13b in FIG. 15) for lifting with a forklift. A Service window (14) on the front wall of the container casing (2) is provided for monitoring the ongoing process of waste processing and energy production within.

[0069] FIGS. 4-14 display the different components of the configuration as presented in FIGS. 2-3 and 15-16. These components are as follows in their order of appearance, parts of which are discussed above:

[0070] FIG. 4liquids accumulator (8), which is positioned below the shredder (4) and grainer screw (5).

[0071] FIGS. 5A-5Billustrate the reactor container (7) with upper inlet (7a) for connecting with the turbinate screw (6) and receiving the condensed waste.

[0072] FIG. 6illustrates a desalinator (16) in communication with the liquid accumulator (8) for further processing of the reclaimed water by removal of minerals, i.e., desalination, for example by reverse osmosis.

[0073] FIGS. 7A-7Billustrate perspective and cross section the energy generator (11) that comprises an inlet (11a) in communication with the gas purifier (10) outlet (10b) for receiving the purified gas from and generating the type of desired energy.

[0074] FIG. 8illustrates a solid accumulator (9) for receiving the solid residues left after processing, e.g., gasifying, within the reactor (7). The solid accumulator (9) is in direct communication with the outlet (7d) at the floor of the reactor (7) for receiving the solid waste after processing for further packing and disposal.

[0075] FIGS. 9A-9Billustrate a gas purifier (10) with inlet (10a) for communicating with the reactor (7) for enabling flow of purified gas out of the reactor (7) and outlet (10b) for communicating the purified gas to the energy generator (11).

[0076] FIG. 10illustrates a revolving grainer screw (5) for transporting the shredded solid component of the incoming waste to the turbinate screw (6) and releasing the liquid component down to the liquid container (9). The spiral shape of the grainer screw (9) increases its efficiency by further squeezing the shredded waste and elongating the path it goes, thus allowing better drainage of the liquids down.

[0077] FIG. 11illustrates a turbinate screw (6) for transporting the waste towards the reactor (7). The turbinate screw (6) connects with the grainer screw (5) with connector (6a) for receiving the shredded solid part of the waste and transporting it up in spiral move towards the inlet (7a) of the reactor (7).

[0078] FIG. 12illustrates an energy generator (15) that comprises means for generating the type of energy required for the reactor (7) to process the condensed solid waste. The energy generator (15) may comprise, for example, a cathode for producing an electric arc that produces plasma within the reactor, a microwave system or any other heating means. The energy generator is in communication with the reactor (7) through channel (15a) for channelling the energy produced, for example for gasifying the condensed solid waste in the reactor (7) using plasma arc. The energy generator (15) is located with the casing (2) and in proximity to the reactor (7) for efficient conveying of the energy produced (see 15 in FIG. 15).

[0079] FIG. 13illustrates a shredder (4) with two revolving spiral cylinders (4a, 4b). The incoming waste is fed to the shredder (4) by throwing it onto the revolving cylinders (4a, 4b). The cylinders (4a, 4b) synchronously revolve around their axes of rotation with sufficient torque for crushing hard solid waste into smaller pieces and squeezing liquids out.

[0080] FIG. 14illustrates in more detail a plasma reactor (7) with an upper inlet (7a), a mouthpiece (7b) for releasing crude non-purified gas to a gas purifier (10), lower outlet (7d) for removing solid processed waste and three plasma torches (7c) at the reactor floor for providing plasma arc that decomposes the incoming solid waste and produces syngas or releasing hydrogen gas.

[0081] FIG. 15illustrates another embodiment of space designated for the accumulated shredded waste for the control of the feeding rate for the reactor.

[0082] FIG. 16illustrates a storage box (17) between the crusher (4) and conveyor (5). This box (17) is used as shredded waste accumulator and buffer that enables controlling the rate of feeding crushed and/or shredded waste from the crusher (4) to the conveyor (5) and adapting the speed of crushing and/or shredding waste to the conveying the speed of conveying the crushed and/or shred waste further to the next station in the processing the waste in the container.

[0083] It should be noted that this configuration of the plant is only exemplary to a small scale onsite waste treatment plant of the present invention. Other configurations and relative conformations of the plant components are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.