Multi-functional fecal waste and garbage processor and associated methods
First Claim
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1. A fecal waste processing system for electricity and potable water generation, comprising:
- a steam-powered electricity generation system comprising a boiler assembly, a steam engine, and a condenser interconnected and having a primary water circuit that carries primary water through the boiler assembly, steam engine assembly, and condenser, wherein operation of the steam engine assembly generates electricity;
a fecal sludge system that receives at least a portion of the electricity generated from the steam engine assembly, the fecal sludge system comprising a sludge dryer assembly and a sludge delivery system configured to deliver wet fecal sludge to the sludge dryer assembly, wherein the condenser is coupled to the sludge dryer assembly and configured to deliver first heat to the wet fecal sludge to vaporize first sludge water from the fecal sludge and to dry solid fuel material in the fecal sludge;
a water collection system connected to the sludge dryer assembly and configured to receive and condense the vaporized first sludge water for collection in a collection portion as clean, liquid water; and
a combustor system connected to the fecal sludge system and the boiler of the electricity generation system, the combustor system comprising a combustor configured to burn the dry solid fuel material from the fecal sludge system and provide heat to the primary water circuit in the boiler assembly, wherein the boiler assembly provides steam to the steam engine.
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Abstract
At least one aspect of the technology provides a self-contained processing facility configured to convert organic, high water-content waste, such as fecal sludge and garbage, into electricity while also generating and collecting potable water.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A fecal waste processing system for electricity and potable water generation, comprising:
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a steam-powered electricity generation system comprising a boiler assembly, a steam engine, and a condenser interconnected and having a primary water circuit that carries primary water through the boiler assembly, steam engine assembly, and condenser, wherein operation of the steam engine assembly generates electricity; a fecal sludge system that receives at least a portion of the electricity generated from the steam engine assembly, the fecal sludge system comprising a sludge dryer assembly and a sludge delivery system configured to deliver wet fecal sludge to the sludge dryer assembly, wherein the condenser is coupled to the sludge dryer assembly and configured to deliver first heat to the wet fecal sludge to vaporize first sludge water from the fecal sludge and to dry solid fuel material in the fecal sludge; a water collection system connected to the sludge dryer assembly and configured to receive and condense the vaporized first sludge water for collection in a collection portion as clean, liquid water; and a combustor system connected to the fecal sludge system and the boiler of the electricity generation system, the combustor system comprising a combustor configured to burn the dry solid fuel material from the fecal sludge system and provide heat to the primary water circuit in the boiler assembly, wherein the boiler assembly provides steam to the steam engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multifunctional wet waste processing system for generating electricity and clean water generation, comprising:
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a sludge dryer assembly having a waste path with a sludge inlet configured to receive wet sludge comprising a mixture of water and solid waste material, the sludge dryer assembly having a drying portion configured to dry the sludge and separate at least some of the water from the solid waste material to provide dried solid fuel, the sludge dryer assembly having a first water outlet, a dry waste outlet, and a condenser portion having a fluid path with a fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, the fluid path being isolated from the waste path; a clean water collection system coupled to the first water outlet and configured to collect the separated water from the sludge; a dry waste combustor assembly coupled to the dry waste outlet of the sludge dryer assembly, the dry waste combustor assembly having a combustion portion that receives the solid fuel from the dry waste outlet and burns the solid fuel and generates heat, and the dry waste combustor assembly having a boiler heated by the heat from the combustion portion burning the solid fuel, the boiler having a first water inlet and a first steam outlet; a steam-powered generator coupled to the first steam outlet of the boiler and configured to generate electricity, the generator having a second fluid outlet coupled to the fluid inlet of the condenser portion; and a water pump having a second water inlet coupled to the fluid outlet of the condenser portion, wherein the water pump is coupled to the first water inlet and wherein the boiler is configured to convert a flow of water entering the boiler to a flow of steam to power the steam-powered generator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A multifunctional wet organic sludge processing system, comprising:
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a sludge dryer assembly having a sludge inlet configured to receive sludge comprising a mixture of water and solid organic waste material, the sludge dryer assembly having a drying portion with a housing and a sludge advancing assembly in the housing, wherein the sludge advancing assembly is rotatable to cause the wet sludge to move within the housing along a waste path, the sludge dryer assembly having a heating portion adjacent to the waste path and configured to dry the sludge and thermally separate at least some of the water from the solid waste material to provide dried solid fuel, the sludge dryer assembly having a first steam inlet and a first steam outlet and a dry waste outlet; a combustor assembly coupled to the dry waste outlet of the sludge dryer assembly, the combustor assembly having a combustion portion that receives the solid fuel from the dry waste outlet and burns the solid fuel to generate heat, and the combustor assembly having a boiler heated by the heat from burning the solid fuel, the boiler having a first water inlet and a second steam outlet; a steam-powered generator coupled to the second steam outlet of the boiler and configured to generate electricity, the generator having a water outlet coupled to the first steam inlet of the sludge dryer assembly, wherein steam from the generator enters the first steam inlet, remains isolated from the sludge in the waste path and vaporizes the water in the sludge moving in the drying portion; and a water pump having a second water inlet coupled to the water outlet of the steam-powered generator, wherein the water pump is coupled to the first water inlet, and the boiler is configured to convert a flow of water entering the boiler to a flow of steam to power the steam-powered generator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A sludge processing system for clean water generation, comprising:
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a sludge dryer assembly having a dryer housing with a sludge inlet configured to receive a flow of sludge along a waste path, the sludge comprising a mixture of water and solid waste material, the sludge dryer assembly having a heater system coupled to the dryer housing and having a vapor path adjacent to and isolated from the waste path the heater system being configured to heat the sludge in the dryer housing and thermally separate vapor from the solid waste material to provide dried waste material, the dryer housing having a vapor outlet and a solid fuel outlet, the heater system having a vapor inlet and a water outlet; and a vapor collection assembly connected to the vapor outlet of the dryer housing to receive the vapor thermally separated from the solid waste material, and the vapor collection assembly being connected to the vapor inlet of the heater system and configured to direct the vapor from the dryer housing into the heater to heat the sludge moving along the waste path in the dryer housing; and a water collection system connected to the water outlet of the heater system and configured to carry water in vapor and/or liquid phase away from the heater system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification