Method and system of pyroprocessing waste products, particularly scrap metal, adulterated by organic components

• US 5,170,725 A
• Filed: 10/01/1991
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PKA Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. Kg.
• Original Assignee: SMG Sommer Metallwerke GmbH
• Inventors: Sass, Heiner, Freimann, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Favors, Edward G.
• Application Number:
  US07/769,604
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 432/5, 432/72, 110/236, 110/229, 110/341, 110/346, 134/19, 134/20, 134/21
• US Class Current: 110/236
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/00 Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form wet carbonising of peat C10F
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0906 Physical processes, e.g. shredding, comminuting, chopping, sorting
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0946 Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1223 by burners
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1643 Conversion of synthesis gas to energy
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1823 for synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/62 with separate withdrawal of the distillation products
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/66 by introducing them into the gasification zone
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/002 Removal of contaminants
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/003 of acid contaminants, e.g. acid gas removal
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/02 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/08 by washing with liquids; Reviving the used wash liquors gas washers B01D

Abstract

Waste products, particularly scrap metal, adulterated by organic components, is pyroprocessed by: (1) shredding the adulterated scrap metal into particles having a maximum size of 5 cm.; (2) in a pyrolysis stage operating at a temperature of approximately 550° C. to 600° C. converting the particles into solids and pyrolysis gas; (3) in a mechanical processing stage separating the solids into unadulterated metal and pyrolysis coke; and (4) in a high-temperature gasification stage into which an oxidizing agent and, optionally, metallurgical coke is introduced converting the pyrolysis coke together with pyrolysis gas stemming from the pyrolysis stage into a heating gas free of organic substances.

Claims

1. A method of pyroprocessing waste products, particularly scrap metal, adulterated by organic components, comprising the following steps in series:

(a) shredding the adulterated scrap metal into particles having a maximum size of 5 cm.;

(b) in a pyrolysis stage operating at a temperature of approximately 550°

C. to 600°

C. converting the particles of adulterated scrap metal into solids and pyrolysis gas;

(c) in a mechanical processing stage separating the solids into unadulterated metal and pyrolysis coke; and

(d) in a high-temperature gasification stage into which an oxidizing agent is introduced converting the pyrolysis coke together with pyrolysis gas stemming from the pyrolysis stage into a heating gas free of organic substances.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the high-temperature gasification stage is operated at a temperature of approximately 1600°

C.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heating gas is cleaned of unwanted components such as HCl, HF and dust in a gas scrubber and is thereafter used as a source of energy.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein part of the gas cleaned in the gas scrubber is returned to the pyrolysis stage.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein metallurgical coke is also introduced into the high-temperature gasification stage.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein flue gas stems from the use of the heating gas as a source of energy and said flue gas is desulfurized in a desulfurizing plant.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein flue gas stems from the pyrolysis stage and the flue gas from the pyrolysis stage is also desulfurized in the desulfurizing plant.

8. A system for implementing the method according to claim 5, comprising the following processing stages in series:

1) a shredder system;

2) a pyrolysis stage operated at a temperature of approximately 550°

C. to 600°

C. and comprising supply lines for energy form an external source, for air or oxygen and for a recycled gas;

3) a high-temperature gasification stage operated at a temperature of approximately 1600°

C. and comprising supply lines for energy, for an oxidizing agent and for pyrolysis coke.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the high-temperature gasification stage is followed by a gas scrubber and a boiler.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the boiler is followed by a flue gas desulfurizing plant.