Process and system for producing engineered fuel

• US 10,538,716 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WM Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Toberman, Robert A., Perry, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer, Cephia D
• Application Number:
  US14/845,910
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0469 Renewables or materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/24 Mixing, stirring of fuel components
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/28 Cutting, disintegrating, shredding or grinding
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/30 Pressing, compressing or compacting
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/54 Specific separation steps for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/546 Sieving for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/08 without the aid of extraneous binders briquetting peat C10F
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/403 on paper and paper waste
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/406 on plastic
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/46 on sewage, house, or town refuse C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/48 on industrial residues and waste materials C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

A process and system for producing an engineered fuel product that meets customer specifications for composition and combustion characteristics is provided. The engineered fuel product is preferably a high-BTU, alternative fuel that burns cleaner than coal or petroleum coke (petcoke) and has significantly reduced NOx, SO₂ and GHG emissions.

Claims

1. A process for extracting materials from municipal solid waste, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a municipal solid waste comprising a first set of waste materials, a second set of waste materials and a third set of waste materials, wherein the first set of waste materials comprises ferrous materials, the second set of waste materials comprises one or more of fibers and rigid plastics, and the third set of waste materials comprises one or more of foam plastics and film plastics;

shredding the municipal solid waste;

removing all or substantially all of the first set of waste materials from the municipal solid waste;

separating the second set of waste materials from the third set of waste materials in the municipal solid waste;

proportionally recombining the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials to form a first recombined stream;

proportionally mixing a clean stream with the recombined stream to form a second recombined stream, wherein the clean stream comprises fibers and clean plastics, and wherein the clean stream does not originate from the municipal solid waste; and

densifying the second recombined stream.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the clean stream consists essentially of fibers and clean plastics.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the clean stream and the first recombined stream each have a biogenic content, and wherein the second recombined stream has a lower biogenic content than the first recombined stream when the clean stream comprises more plastics than clean fibers.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the clean stream and the first recombined stream each have a heat content, and wherein the second recombined stream has a lower heat content than the first recombined stream when the clean stream comprises more clean fibers than plastics.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of shredding the municipal solid waste further comprises proportionally introducing a clean stream into a shredder to be shred together with the municipal solid waste.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the second recombined stream is densified to produce an engineered fuel product in pelletized form with a weight density of about 30 pounds/cubic ft.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the second recombined stream is densified to produce an engineered fuel product in a densified non-pelletized form with a weight density in the range of about 18-25 pounds/cubic ft.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein fibers and clean plastics comprises greater than or equal to about 99 percent by volume of the engineered fuel product.

9. The process of claim 7, wherein fibers and clean plastics comprises greater than or equal to about 99 percent by volume of the engineered fuel product.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein removing substantially all of the first set of waste materials from the municipal solid waste comprises removing at least 25-30% by weight of the municipal waste.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the second set of waste materials is separated from the third set of waste materials by weight density.

12. A process for extracting materials from municipal solid waste, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a municipal solid waste comprising a first set of waste materials, a second set of waste materials and a third set of waste materials, wherein the first set of waste materials comprises ferrous materials, the second set of waste materials comprises one or more of fibers and rigid plastics, and the third set of waste materials comprises one or more of foam plastics and film plastics;

proportionally mixing a clean stream with the municipal solid waste comprising the first set of waste materials, the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials to form a combined stream, wherein the clean stream comprises fibers and clean plastics, and wherein the clean stream does not originate from the municipal solid waste;

shredding the combined stream;

removing all or substantially all of the first set of waste materials from the combined stream;

separating the second set of waste materials from the third set of waste materials, wherein the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials each contain an amount of fibers and clean plastics from the clean stream;

proportionally recombining the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials to form a recombined stream; and

densifying the recombined stream.

13. A process for extracting materials from municipal solid waste, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a municipal solid waste comprising a first set of waste materials, a second set of waste materials and a third set of waste materials, wherein the first set of waste materials comprises ferrous materials, the second set of waste materials comprises one or more of fibers and rigid plastics, and the third set of waste materials comprises one or more of foam plastics and film plastics;

shredding the municipal solid waste;

removing all or substantially all of the first set of waste materials from the municipal solid waste;

proportionally mixing a clean stream with the municipal solid waste comprising the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials after all or substantially all of the first set of waste materials has been removed, wherein the clean stream comprises fibers and clean plastics, and wherein the clean stream does not originate from the municipal solid waste;

separating the second set of waste materials from the third set of waste materials in the municipal solid waste, wherein the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials each contain an amount of fibers and clean plastics from the clean stream;

proportionally recombining the second set of waste materials and the third set of waste materials to form a recombined stream; and

densifying the recombined stream.