| CLAIMS 1. Treatment method of Municipal Solid Waste (MS W), characterized by the fact that it is a cold method that produces a dehydrated and compressed final product, and is applied without an intermediate interruption to all the municipal waste, organic or not, by executing the following steps: 1) Entry of the MSW to the system to be treated, in free form or packed 2) Opening treatment of the material 3) Homogenization treatment of the material 4) First pulverization treatment of the material, by fast rotations and impact 5) Second pulverization treatment of the material with pulses of rotation and impact of higher frequency than the previous step 6) Exposure of the material to an electric field 7) Exposure of the material to emission of UV radiation in the area of 253,7nm and the area of 185nm, and by the fact that during the application of steps 1, 2, 3, a simultaneous collection and separation of the liquid drainage of the waste takes place, which are sprayed to the waste during the application of steps 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, while during the application of steps 6 and 7 there is a removal of air and humidity from the Chamber (83) where the method is applied to the material. 2. Treatment method of MSW according to claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that after the completion of the above steps 1 up to 3 there can be an optional first separation of ferrous metals items by using magnetic elements, while after the completion of the 7th step, there can be optionally: a) separation of the heavier elements of the material and particularly of the ferrous metallic elements by using magnetic elements, or/and of the plastic elements by using an air draught and electrostatic electricity, or/and of the glass materials and of aluminium elements which remain separated since they are not drawn by the magnetic neither by the electrostatic elements because of their composition and not carried by the air draught because of their weight, or, b) exposure of all the material or only of the lighter elements not separated during the 1st optional step, to microwave emission properly coordinated included in the product, for additional sterilization of the material, or c) pelletization of the whole material or only of the lighter elements not separated during the 1st optional step. 3. System of apparatus applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least: i) An funnel (1) for the entry of the MSW into the system under which there is a chain conveyor (5) or a simple conveyor belt for the transfer of the waste towards the special opening unit (19) and towards the homogenization unit (28), under which there is a fluids tank (15) with at least one pump for thick fluids (16) while outside the funnel there is at least one separation system (17). ii) A Special Opening Unit (19) of the MSW packages, which possesses at least one motor (23), a pulley and belt array (24) or an electro-reducer and a rotating axis (21) parallel to the chain conveyor (5) and at a regulated distance from it, which bears cutting discs (22) (knives - cutters) from high resistance material, with regulated rotation speed and distance from the chain conveyor (5). iii) A Special Homogenization Unit (28) of the MSW, which comprises at least one motor (36), belt - pulley arrays or electro-reducer (79), rotating axis (29) parallel to the chain conveyor (5) and at a regulated distance from it, which bears metallic blades/cutting knives (30), bearings (35), support axis (33) parallel to the rotating axis (29), vertical lateral supports (34) on either side of the support axis (33) inside vertical guides (37) and coil springs (32) vertical to the axis (33), permitting the vertical movement of the Unit (28). iv) A vertical pad elevator (31) whose entrance is connecter either to the chain conveyor (5) or to the horizontal conveyor (136), while at its exit (48) it is connected with the entrance (47) of the Measuring Feeder (38) v) A Measuring Feeder (38), controlling the feeding flow to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), with a frame (42), lid (44), bottom (45), conveyor belt (43) pads (51) of equal length to the width of the belt (43) and height equal to the distance of the low part of the belt (43) from the bottom (45), and two rotating axes (40 and 41), where one axis (40) is being rotated by an array of an electric motor and a reducer (134) and moves the belt (43) with the direction towards the exit (49), while the other axis (41) is rotating freely, while the exit (49) is connected with the entrance (50) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) vi) A Low Frequency Pulsator (39) for the pulverization of the material, situated inside a robust metallic construction (55), comprising a rotating axis (58) crossing vertically the center of at least two metallic supporting discs (59), which bear pulse elements between them (61) fastened with a perforated axis (62) on axes (60) parallel to the axis (58), while on the lower part of the metallic structure (55) there is a metallic array of horizontal control elements (63) of the volume, at stable distance to each other creating openings (64), with the exit (67) of the material to the second chain conveyor (66) connected to the High Frequency Pulsator (68). vii) A High Frequency Pulsator (68) situated within a robust metallic construction (85), developing pulses of higher frequency than the first Pulsator (39), comprising a rotating axis (88), crossing vertically at least two metallic supporting discs (89), parallel to each other and vertical to the rotating axis (88), which bear between them pulse elements (91) fastened at a distance determined by the perforated axis (92), with axes (90) parallel to the rotating axis (88), whereas the number of the axes (90) and also the number of the pulse elements (91) of each axis (90) is equal or higher than the number of pulse elements (62) and the axes (60) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), and whereas on the lower part of the metallic construction (85) there is a metallic array of control elements (93) of the volume, with openings (94) of smaller dimensions than the openings (64) of the control elements (63) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). viii) An Air Transfer system of the product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83), comprising a filter array (84), an air centrifugal pump of high pressure and sub-pressure (96), with the entry (97) of the pump (96) to be connected with the exit of the Pulsator (68) through a tube (98), and the exit (100) of the pump (96) to be connected through tubing (101) with the rear part of the Stabilization Chamber (83), where the centrifugal pump (96) creates an intense air draught with a direction from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) towards the Stabilization Chamber (83) inducing the violent transfer of the product to it and an air centrifugal pump (81) of pressure and sub- pressure connected to the Stabilization Chamber (83) and removes from it the excess air and the surplus humidity created in the interior of the Chamber (83) through a filter array (84) ix) A Stabilization Chamber (83) of cylindrical shape and stable diameter, grounded, with openings (117) on the lower part, with an exit (102), comprising circumferentially on the walls of the Stabilization Chamber (83) but also on the axis (105), special arrays of UV radiation emission (114) with those placed on the axis (105) covered by a special transparent material for their protection, emitting radiation in the area of 253, 7nm but also in the area of 185nm, Screw and stirrer (103 & 104) placed axially to the center of the vertical cross-section of the Chamber (83), where the stirrer (104) is of equal length to the length of the Chamber (83) that has the maximum stable cross-section reaching until the beginning of the conical part of the exit (132, dr. 11) of the Chamber (83), while the screw (103) is longitudinal to the Chamber (83), of smaller diameter to the stirrer (104) and of greater length, reaching until the cylindrical part of the exit (133, dr. 11) of the Chamber (83), both placed (103 & 104) on an axis (105) insulated from the remaining part of the Chamber (83), coaxially, with the screw (103) to be in the interior of the stirrer (104), and to have an opposite winding relating to the axis (105) from the winding of the stirrer (104), where the axis (105) has one end free, and on the other bears a pulley (107) with belts (108) from insulating material, a second pulley (109) with a motor (110), the screw (103) and the stirrer (104) being in electrical contact with the axis (105) and the stirrer (104) bearing on its ends insulating material (111) that comes to contact with the body of the Chamber (83) and "scrapes" during its rotation the interior walls (83) constructed by conductive material, where the axis (105) and by extension both the connected screw and stirrer (103 & 104) are connected with a positive load of high and controlled voltage, while treated fluids are transferred from the tank (15) with a pump (137) and are sprayed in the interior of the Chamber with special nozzles (113). 4. System of apparatus according to claim 3, applying the MSW treatment method of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that the axis (41) of the Measuring Feeder (38) rotating freely over the exit (49), bears, optional magnetic elements (140) for the selection of ferrous metals, therefore in this case the Feeder (38) bears on its lower part (45) a second exit (139) from which the selected ferrous metals are transferred to a separate collection. 5. System of apparatus according to claims 3 and 4, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that if an optional selection and recycling is to be made of glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic, a construction with three openings (117) is connected to the Stabilization Chamber (83), with each opening (117) to have a metallic filter with holes (120, 121 and 141) with a diameter the 1st small, the 2nd larger and the 3rd even larger, where the filter with the smallest openings (120) is the one that the product meets first as soon as it enters the Chamber (83), then it meets the filter with the slightly larger openings (121) and thirdly it meets the filter with the largest openings (141) and bears in its interior a screw (118), with a thread of opposite direction from the edges towards the center and they lead the material from the edges to the center, while the lower part of the screw has three openings (119), from where the material is transferred. 6. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 5, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that for the optional selection and recycling of glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic, the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials is used (122) connected to the central opening (119) towards which the material is guided by the screw (118), it bears a rotating drum (123) with magnetic elements (142), a special shaft (scraper) (124) tangentially in contact with the drum (123) without hindering its rotation, a collector (125) of the ferrous metallic elements and a centrifugal pump (144) creating an air draught and guiding the light elements (aluminium and plastic), to the electrostatic drum (146), with a metallic array (scraper) (148) tangentially in contact with the drum (146) without hindering its free rotation, under regulated angle through external rotating regulators (150), with a collector (127) for plastics, collector for aluminium (126) and collector (128) for glass. 7. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 6, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that optionally, the whole material or only the lighter elements not separated at the optional separation of ferrous elements, plastic, glass and elements of aluminium, are guided from the screw (103) towards the exit of the Chamber (83), from where they fall to the Microwave Chamber (116) situated on the exit of the Stabilization Chamber (83), with microwave emission arrays (115). 8. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 7, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that, optionally, the whole material, or only the lighter elements not separated with the 1st optional step of claim 2, is guided to the Final Stabilization Array for the Decrease of Volume and Mass - Pelletization machine (131), connected to the optional Microwave Chamber (116) in such a way that the product passes from the Chamber (83) to the Chamber (116) and from there to the Stabilization Array (131) smoothly without being blocked, transforming the material to a high density dehydrated final product, stabilized in form of pellets, and during its stay in the interior of the pelletization machine (131) it is submitted to the proper pressure and temperature conditions and for an adequate period of time in order to finally be stabilized, then it is guided to the packaging machines. 9. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 8, applying the MSW treatment method of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that if for the transfer of the product from the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) to the High Frequency Pulsator (68) a belt or a chain conveyor (66) is used, this is of the closed type, with rotating axes (69), (70) on its ends, a motor (71) and a reducer (72) regulating the speed of movement, chains (73) and guides (74) on either side of the axis (70) permitting the horizontal movement regarding the movement level of the chain conveyor (66) and serrated discs (75) vertical to the edges of the axes (69), (70), as many as the chains (73), with bearing edges of each chain (73), and metallic sheets (77) vertical to the chains (73) at a distance to each other, preferably, from around 40 cm to 80 cm, where each sheet (77) bears to the inside of the chain conveyor (66) a longitudinal strip of material (78) of equal length to the length of the sheet (77), and by the fact that inside the chain conveyor (66) a violent air draught is created by a centrifugal pump (96). 10. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 9, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that the funnel (1) can have sheets (2) of wind protection, a photocell for the control of the level of the product (4), a barring system (138) of waste and a visiting manhole (3). 11. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 10, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that if during the transfer of the product from the funnel (1) a belt is used or a chain conveyor (5), this is equipped with a system for the flow control to avoid jamming in the Cutting Unit (19), with regulated movement speed, comprising at least one chain (6) that slides on a sliding surface (7) which is compact and has a gradient, or perforated and metallic, and bears on both sides of its edges two cylindrical axes (8) with serrated discs (9) equal in numbers to the sliding chains (6), that circumferentially bear edges (10) of connecting one chain (9) to each disc, as well as by the fact that the belt or chain conveyor (5) begins under the opening of the reception funnel (1), extends under the special cutting unit (19) and under the special homogenization unit (28) and deposits the transferred material: a) either directly to the entrance of the vertical pad elevator (31), b) or - in order to execute the optional selection of recyclable materials at this stage according to claim 2 - to a horizontal conveyor (136) that intervenes and transfers the product towards the vertical pad elevator (38). 12. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 11 applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that at least one thick fluids pump (16) existing inside the drainage tank (15), leads the thick fluids from tank (15) to the separation system (17), which, leads the probable solids inside the funnel (1) or to an external collector, the fluids through pumps (137) to at least one storage tank (18) of fluid drainage, which bears inside a filter of active carbon (112) for the cleaning of the fluids, while through at least an additional filter (65), the spraying nozzles (113) spray the fluids, through adequate tubing, the waste situated inside the reception funnel (1), to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) and the High Frequency Pulsator (68) and the Stabilization Chamber (83). 13. System of apparatus according to claims 3 to 12, applying the MSW treatment method, of claims 1 and 2, which is characterized by the fact that the Special Opening Unit (19), the Special Homogenization Unit (28), the metallic construction (55) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), the second chain conveyor (66), the metallic construction (85) that includes the High Frequency Pulsator (68), the feeding funnel (52) and the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122), bear protection lids (25), access hatches (26, 53, 56, 80, 86, 151) windows (27, 54, 57, 80, 87), visual control systems (20) and washing and sterilization arrays (130). |
The invention comes under the sector of mechanical engineering and refers to a cold method of treatment of municipal solid waste.
It also refers to a system of apparatus applying this method.
The following types of waste belong to the category of municipal solid waste (henceforth it will be referred to as Municipal Solid Waste - MSW):
The bio degradable waste, such as food, the "green" waste (e.g. plants), etc.
The recyclable materials, such as paper, glass, aluminium and tin packaging, some types of plastic etc.
The inert materials, such as construction materials, gathered in large containers for their disposal, etc.
The composite materials, such as clothing, types of plastic toys, etc.
The so called "dangerous household waste", such as medicine, the electronic waste, paints, household sprays, the fertilizer and pesticide packaging, the shoes shiners etc.
The management of the municipal solid wastes has became a major problem of all the advanced societies, given that the contemporary way of living, characterized by the mass increase of the living standard of citizens, is considered that it amounts today to the creation of around 1 kg of municipal solid wastes per resident in daily basis.
In order to dispose the MSW under the known treatment methods of today, they are first collected by the garbage trucks and then they are gathered to the Waste Transportation Stations (WTS).
Some of the main methods used today for the management of the municipal solid waste are:
The mechanical treatment, the anaerobic treatment of a biodegradable fraction of the waste for the production of biogas and recycling, the thermal methods of treatment (such as burning, sterilization, cracking, incineration for energy recovery, plasma, etc.), the biological methods of treatment like the biological drying that produces a stabilized product destined for sanitary landfills, the mechanical selection and compost production - the anaerobic fermentation, etc., and finally landfills.
The disadvantages presented by the above methods that constitute today's state of the art are many: Materials recycling methods from waste necessitates special infrastructure which is nonexistent in developing countries. Apart from that, it cannot be applied to all the municipal waste, but only to the recyclable materials, such paper, glass, aluminium and some plastics and it also presents a high cost.
The energy recovery method and the landfills of wastes are two methods that their application involve many negative consequences, with high risk for public health, like emissions of high heavy metals concentrations, and generally emission of gas, liquid, and solid wastes, ground pollution from heavy metals, emissions of intense odors that attract any type of animals and rodents. Furthermore, it presents a repulsive sight, which totally explains social unwillingness to accept these areas (in particular the landfills), since wherever these places are created the whole surrounding area is degraded.
In the above mentioned disadvantages the high cost of their application must also be included. Because a complete system of municipal waste management also includes the application of trans-shipment systems for the increase of the financial efficiency of the system. Furthermore, in many countries, but in the European Union as well, a legal framework is in force which provides for the admission of landfills of waste only if they have been submitted to a special treatment in advance.
Therefore, a complete system for the management of municipal waste includes - before the disposal of the final waste to modern landfills -, the use of treatment methods aiming to the energy exploitation or the re-use of the materials. Such treatment methods are the natural, thermal, chemical or biological procedures, including the selection, that transform the characteristics of the wastes in order to limit the volume or their dangerous characteristics, to facilitate their disposal or to improve the recovery of useful materials. Therefore, as treatment is considered the selection at the source (packaging, organic, green, dangerous household etc.), the mechanical selection, the disposal and bundling, as well as all the technologies of thermal, natural, chemical and biological treatment. Furthermore, one of the biggest disadvantages of the above treatment methods is the fact that their application necessitates the consumption of enormous quantities of energy. The immense energy need of all the above methods makes them extremely expensive with a high cost as much for the economy of a country but also for the environment.
Because of all the above disadvantages present in the most common municipal solid waste management methods applied today, it is imperative for modern societies to seek other solutions for their essential management.
The present invention constitutes a cold and not a thermal management of municipal solid waste (MSW) and is not submitted to the existing technical level regarding the methods of MSW management. Its application produces a final compressed dehydrated and solidified product from the waste in various forms, equal to 1/10 of the initial volume of the waste submitted to the treatment. The form of the final products can be in pellets, flakes, powder, spherical, of small or big granulometry etc. The final product has a particularly high thermal power and is adequate for many uses.
The invention refers also to a system of apparatus applying the method.
The municipal wastes (organic or not) are submitted to the present method in the condition they are after their collection by the garbage trucks or after their concentration in areas of waste trans-shipment, the way they are in the garbage bags without a pre-treatment being necessary.
A summarized description of the stages of the method is following along with a system of apparatus applying it. The method includes seven obligatory steps, and four optional ones:
1 st Step: Entrance of the waste into the system
2 nd Step: Treatment of opening and cutting by using the special opening unit
3 rd Step: Homogenization treatment by using the special homogenization unit
4 th Step (optional): First separation of the ferrous metallic elements with magnetic elements 5 th Step: Treatment of first pulverization by using a low frequency pulsator 6 th Step: Further pulverization treatment by using a high frequency pulsator.
7 th Step: Exposure to an electric field
8 th Step: Exposure to UV radiation emission
9 th Step (optional): Separation of glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic, by using a sorter of recyclable materials and channeling of the selected materials to recycling
th
10 Step (optional): Exposure of the lighter elements to microwave radiation
11 Step (optional): Array of final stabilization, volume and mass decrease (Pelletizing)
1 st Step: Entrance of the waste into the system
Initially the wastes, without being submitted to any treatment, are simply thrown inside the reception funnel in any possible way. On the lower part of the funnel there is one first chain conveyor (or, alternatively, a conveyor belt), which transports the waste to the next stage. Also, at the bottom part of the funnel and under the chain conveyor, there is a drainage collection and separation system.
2 nd Step: Treatment of opening and cutting by using the special opening unit.
In the following stage the wastes as they are still closed inside bags and after a visual control by an electronic eye or/and CCD cameras in order to detect possible movement or big objects that may create problems to the operation of the system, the packaging is opened by shredding. The system that applies this method possesses a Special Cutting Unit (19) and the visual control device (20).
3 rd Step: Homogenization treatment by using the special homogenization unit.
In the following stage the shredded wastes are cut to smaller pieces, and in this way they are homogenized. The system that applies this method possesses for this reason a Special Homogenization Unit/module (28).
Then the product is transferred by a horizontal conveyor (136) to a vertical pad elevator (31) and from there to the next stage of treatment. The horizontal conveyor (136) is used in the case that a selection of recyclable materials is desired at this stage. In the case that the selection of the recyclable materials is not desired at this stage, then the use of the horizontal conveyor (136) is not necessary and the product goes directly to the vertical pad elevator (31) and from there to the horizontal Measuring Feeder (38) for the 4 th step to take place.
4 th Step (optional): First separation of the ferrous metallic elements by magnetic elements.
At this point a first optional separation/ selection of the ferrous metallic ground parts of the waste can take place, and in particular of the larger ones with the use of magnetic elements. The system that applies this method possesses for this reason a special Measuring Feeder (38).
5 Step: Treatment of first pulverization by using a low frequency pulsator On the following stage, the wastes with homogenized form are submitted to a procedure of fast rotation and percussion, until they become very small in size. The system that applies this method possesses for this reason a first Low Frequency Pulsator.
6 th Step: Further pulverization Treatment by using a high frequency pulsator.
In the following stage the outgoing product, in the small size that it has now, is transferred again by a second chain conveyor and is submitted to the same or even faster rotation and percussion, until it becomes even smaller. At this stage, the percussion takes place by pulses of higher frequency than in the previous step. The system that applies this method possesses for this reason a special second Pulsator of High Frequency.
7 th Step: Exposure to an electric field.
In the following stage the outgoing product has now acquired a fibrous form and is transferred with an air transfer system - to a special Stabilization Chamber with a screw and stirrer and a system of moisture regulation of the product and removal - recovery arrays of the recyclable products. The product is placed within an electric field. Because of the materials the product consists of, but also because of its moisture, which can be regulated, an instantaneous jumping of electrons takes place resulting to the sterilization of the mass of the product inside the Chamber. At the same time, the air transfer process causes violent dehumidification of the outgoing product and consequently the removal of unpleasant odors and partially the extermination of the pathogenic microorganisms and its sterilization.
8 th Step: Exposure to UV radiation emission.
In the following stage, the product remaining within the Stabilization Chamber is submitted to exposure of UV radiation.
9 th Step (optional): Separation of glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic, by using a sorter of recyclable materials and channeling materials to recycling.
Three separations of elements of the product are carried out at the same time and depending on their granulometry - they are inserted to the Special Sorter by respective openings of three filters. In this way the removal of the recyclable materials is accomplished which are following separated and guided for recycling. The majority of the elements guided to selection and recycling are glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic. Given that this stage is optional, these elements can be removed in bulk to be led to special outside selection units of recyclable materials or they can be led to the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials that the system applying the invention has, which effectuates the selection of the elements, some by gravity, some by magnetic elements, some with a flow of air, and some with the use of electrostatic electricity.
10 th Step (optional): Exposure of the lighter elements to microwave radiation.
In the following stage the products are placed in conditions of microwave exposure which have as a result the additional sterilization of the outgoing mass. The system that applies the method possesses for this reason a special Chamber of Microwave Radiation.
11 th Step (optional): Array of final stabilization, volume and mass decrease (Pelletizing)
In the final stage the product passes through a compression machine (pellet machine) from which we take the final dehydrated and stabilized product which is led to the packaging machine. For this reason the system that applies this method possesses a final Stabilization layout, volume and mass decrease - a pellet machine. The product, during its stay at this Layout is submitted to the proper pressure and temperature conditions. In this way the final stabilization of the outgoing product is accomplished.
The system of machines that applies this method possesses in many points visual control systems, which have the capacity to stop the operation of the system whenever it is needed (e.g. in order to remove the structural material of large dimensions like iron bars etc., or some organism like animals for example).
The method and the system of machines that apply it are a continuous operation system with the sense that the product (the Municipal Solid Waste), enters in its initial condition and comes out directly to the final, without time consuming procedures and in the minimum period of time.
The whole operation of the system is controlled by a Control and Handling Unit from where the user/s can supervise and control every phase of the procedure and every subsystem. The Control and Handling Unit is equipped with screens, computers, manual controls and anything else considered necessary for the supervision and control of the procedure.
Where there is no possibility for the supply of electricity from the network, the system can be supplied with electricity by a power generator.
This method is applied to all the municipal wastes (organic or not), which after the application of the method are in an initial dehydration condition, while next, in this dehydrated state, the material is inserted to the pelletization machine and comes out stabilized and compressed as Pellets. The result of the application of this method is the extraction approximately of 1/10 of the initial product, that is, 1000 liters of waste give approximately 100 liters of the final product.
A first advantage presented by the present method is that initially it constitutes a completely ecological method of MSW treatment, as it does not apply thermal treatment methods (like burning or pyrolisis), it does not use heat generating sources, it does not produce emission of air pollutants in the atmosphere, or the creation of dangerous solid and liquid wastes. All the applied methods of MSW treatment until today use some of the above means. On the contrary, the present method suspends landfills and the classic burning, and therefore it does not present the risks for the environment and humans presented by the above methods.
Another advantage of the present method is that it transforms the MSW to an inert, namely sterilized material, free of the infectious pathogenic factors that the wastes have. This advantage is extended by the fact that the elimination of the infectious load results as a natural phenomenon by this method, of the decrease of the volume of the waste, without the use of chemicals, without burning or burying. The MSW which is submitted to the treatment of the present method, at the initiation of the method is in its initial state and at the end at a dehydrated state, having lost a percentage of 90% of its initial volume.
Another advantage of the present method is that it can equally be applied to all the Municipal Solid Waste, organic or not without a special treatment being needed.
Also, an advantage of the present method is that we can, at specific stages of the treatment, recover recyclable materials, like ferrous and non ferrous metals, glass, plastic, existing in the waste during its entry in the system.
Another advantage of the present method is that its application permits to the relatively competent entities (in most countries are the Local Administration Organizations) to effectuate the MSW treatment in a much more economical way. This is because, the application of the present method does not require the expenses needed today for the transfer of the solid waste to remote locations for their treatment or for the transportation of this waste to the landfills. These are the expenses for personnel, purchase for transportation means (like trucks and lifting machines), cleaning expenses, maintenance, etc.
Furthermore, the wastes are transformed directly to an industrial mass admissible and not dangerous.
A relevant advantage of this fact is that the application of the present method does not aggravate further the environment, since it consists an environmentally extremely safe way of MSW treatment, the coming and going of the trucks for the transportation of waste to other locations or to the landfills is decreased and therefore the emissions of the air pollutants generated by the transportation trucks are also decreased. Also, the present method makes landfills redimdant and eliminates them. This results to a high profit as much for the environment, since the MSW do not remain in these areas and the aquifer is not polluted, as for the financial profit for the entities that use today the landfills, by not paying anymore the fees paid today for the use of these areas.
Another advantage of the present method is that the mechanical system that applies it, that is the mechanical equipment, accompanied by the necessary electrical and electronic equipment, can be constructed in such dimensions to fit inside containers, like transport containers. These containers, (which can also have cooling units), can be transported by a train, ship, truck, they can be transported directly to the Waste Transportation Stations of the local administration organizations and apply on site the present waste treatment method and also to the landfills where the waste is buried today. The possibility of placement of the mechanical system of this invention within a container makes the invention flexible, transportable and applicable in any way.
Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that regarding the existing methods it necessitates smaller energy consumption for its application.
The attached drawings present the following in brief:
Drawing 1 presents in total three containers in which the total of the electromechanical equipment has been placed applying the present method. It also depicts a loader inserting waste in the system in the reception funnel (1). It also depicts the sheets (2) of the reception funnel (1), the vertical pad elevator (31), the horizontal measuring feeder (38) and the control and handling unit of the system (129).
Drawing 2 presents a view of part of the machines' system that apply the present method and in particular the reception funnel (1), the drainage collection tank (15) and the pump of thick liquids (16) flowing from the waste and from the access manholes (26), as well as the special cutting and homogenization unit (28). Drawing 3 presents the reception runnel (1) of the wastes with a detailed depiction of its components and the self cleaning separation system it has (17).
Drawing 4 presents the reception funnel of the wastes from the front, with the first chain conveyor (5).
Drawing 5 presents the first chain conveyor (5) in detailed depiction.
Drawing 6 presents the interior arrays of the Special Cutting Machine (19) and of the Homogenization Unit/module (28).
Drawing 7 presents analytically the interior of the Special Cutting Unit (19) and the circular cutting disks (22) it has.
Drawing 8 presents the interior of the Special Homogenization Unit/module (28) with the component of the rotating axis (29) and the multiple metallic sheets / cutting knives (30) it has.
Drawing 9 presents the vertical pad elevator (31), the horizontal measuring feeder (38) and the -of optional use- horizontal conveyor (136).
Drawing 10 presents the horizontal measuring feeder (38) with the axis (41) and the magnetic elements (140) it has as an option.
Drawing 11 presents almost the total of the mechanical system applying the present method and mainly the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), the second chain conveyor (66), the High Frequency Pulsator (68) and the Stabilization Chamber (83).
Drawing 12 presents the -optional- Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) and the filter system (120, 121, 141).
Drawing 13 presents the second chain conveyor (66) of waste transportation.
Drawing 14 presents in detail the technical elements of the interior of the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) (optional). Drawing 15 presents the Stabilization Chamber (83).
Drawing 16 presents the interior of the Stabilization Chamber (83) with the screw (103) and the stirrer (104).
Drawing 17 presents the interior of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39).
Drawing 18 presents the interior of the High Frequency Pulsator (68).
Drawing 19 presents the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) within the metallic construction it is housed in (55), the exit of the pulsator to the chain conveyor (66) and the 1 st centrifugal pump (81), with its entrance (82) and its exit (135).
Drawing 20 presents the second chain conveyor (66) leading the product to the High Frequency Pulsator (68) and the 2 nd centrifugal pump (96), with its entrance (97) and exit (100).
A not restrictive application of the method and the system that applies it is described below with reference to the drawings.
1 st Step: Entrance of the wastes in the system.
As shown in drawing 1, the Municipal Solid Waste is guided initially in the system, through a reception funnel (1). In the reception funnel (1) the waste is thrown either with the elevator or without, but also in an other way, e.g. with quick and great feeding capacity loaders or with funnels situated in the highest point, from where the waste falls directly to the reception funnel (1). The feeding of the waste to the funnel can be done directly with a garbage truck, or there can be more than one waste reception funnels.
In the system that applies the present method, the funnel can be equipped with proper windproof sheets (2) (flaps) to avoid the scattering of the light objects during the unloading of the garbage truck in the surrounding area that might not be put in garbage bags. The sheets (2) are made of resistant material like metal, plastic, etc., and constitute also a cover - loading gate to cover the free surface of the funnel immediately after each loading procedure. The opening of the sheets (2) (loading gate) can be done with a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic way, or even manually.
Additionally the funnel has at least one visiting manhole (3, dr. 3) in case of need and maintenance.
The reception funnel (1) has a sufficient capacity for the system to be in continuous operation without dead periods of feeding and is equipped with electronic arrays, such as photocells for material level control (4) to avoid overfeeding.
Its shape is such that the cross section is square or rectangular; the dimensions of that cross section are decreasing from top to bottom in order to help the sliding and falling of the waste down and its conduit to the interior of the system.
In the reception funnel (1) there can be measurement and data recording arrays like the weight and the volume of the incoming waste and they send the data in real time to the Control and Handling Unit where they are recorded. Thus, through the Control and Handling Unit a control is effectuated and the on-line observance of the whole procedure, with the possibility of intervention, from the initial reception of the waste until the completion of its treatment.
The inclined side parts of each reception funnel end to their lower part at least to one chain conveyor (5) or to some other means of transportation (drawing 4). The chain conveyor (5) constitutes the lower part of the reception funnel (1). The design and the funnel (1) dimensions are adequate to facilitate the smooth flow of waste to the chain conveyor (5) and are sealed to avoid the small waste and odors escaping except the liquid drainage, to the special tank (15) described below. The reception funnel (1) accomplishes the gradual and smooth flow of waste to the chain conveyor (5), which is of continuous operation.
In the present method, the chain conveyor (5) (dr. 2, 4 and 5) begins from the reception funnel (1) and extends to the Homogenization Unit/module (28) and the entrance of the vertical pad elevator (31) or the horizontal conveyor (136) that intervenes and transports the product to the pad elevator (31) and the following treatment stages. The transportation of waste to the following treatment stages can be achieved with the use of a conveyor belt. In the present method and in the system applying it, the chain conveyor (5) is of metallic resistant construction and of variable speed. However it is equipped with flow control in order to avoid the MSW congestion in the opening unit (19). The flow control is effectuated with the known ways of today, such as with electronic array for the measurement of the electric current in the motor that rotates the opening unit (19). As soon as the array detects the sudden increase of the electric current, it gives the order to the motion control array of the chain conveyor either to move slower or to stop all together.
In the case that a bulky object is led to the opening unit (19) then the motion speed of the chain conveyor (5) is modulated automatically (5).
Furthermore the reception funnel (1) has a waste block system (138). The waste block system (138) (drawing 4) is a metallic surface which slides down to the level of the chain conveyor (5), when it is considered necessary and it bars the flow of waste. The metallic surface can be regulated to a certain height from the chain conveyor and not to be moved again from that point except in special cases (e.g. if a bulky material falls in the reception funnel).
In the mechanical system that applies the present method, the chain conveyor (5) (drawing 5) comprises at least one chain (6), which drives the waste to the following treatment stages, the sliding surface of the chain (7), which constitutes the lower part of the system and two cylindrical axes (8) that bear vertically and concentrically proper serrated discs (9). These axes (8) are situated in both ends of the sliding surface (7) and give motion to the chain (6). The serrated discs (9) of each axis (8) are numerically equal to the number of chains (6) with the proper diameter. In their perimeter the discs (9) have recesses of adequate size (10) inside which every chain rests (6), one on each serrated disc (9). The first axis (8) situated in the beginning of the chain conveyor (5), from the side of the reception funnel (1), is situated inside guides (11) which permit it to move horizontally as to the level of motion of the chain conveyor (5). The movement of the axis (8) applies and removes tension on the chain (6) of the chain conveyor (5) depending on the direction, relative to the motion of the chain (6), that the user will select to move it. The second axis (8) is axially connected with the electric motor (12) through the proper reducer (13) and transfers regulated movement to the chain (6) of the chain conveyor (5). Other ways of motion transfer are possible, like for example a belt and pulley array or chain and gears.
Each chain (6) of the chain conveyor (5) comprises either articulate metallic sheets of proper width or an integrated synthetic auger (14) with horizontal plates that facilitate the promotion and measuring of the waste.
Under the chain conveyor (5) and along the reception funnel (1), the system comprises a special tank (15) (drawing 4) for the drainage collection where most of the volume of liquids is collected originating from the MSW during their insertion on the reception funnel (1). The sliding surface (7) of the chain conveyor (5) constitutes the upper part of the tank (15) for the drainage collection. A way for the liquid drainage to be led within the tank (15) is along the reception funnel (1) the sliding surface (7) to be made of perforated sheet metal in order to allow liquid drainage to flow inside the tank (15). At the same time it will not permit waste bigger than the cross-section of its holes to enter into the interior of the tank (15). In the case the sliding surface (7) is made of compact sheet metal, the collection of the drainage can be achieved by creating on the sliding surface holes adequate in number and dimension through which the liquid drainage will flow to the interior of the tank (15). Alternatively and in case it is preferable to use a compact sheet metal for the construction of the sliding surface (7) then in order to guide the liquids inside the tank (15) the chain conveyor (5) must have a slight gradient. The gradient must be opposite to the movement of the MSW so as, while they are moving, the liquid drainage will be guided to the back to the start of the chain conveyor (5). There will be an adequate array (e.g. opening in the sliding surface) that will lead the drainage inside the tank (15). In any case, however, the existence of a small gradient is desirable on the chain conveyor (5) for the liquid drainage to be guided in the tank (15) along with other liquids resulting in the following stages of the treatment (in the Special Opening Unit (19) and the Special Homogenization Unit (28)), given the fact that in the waste there is usually a great quantity of liquids.
In the drainage tank (15) (drawings 2, 3 και 4) there is at least one special pump for thick liquids (16), which guides thick liquids in the liquid drainage tank (15), to at least one separation system (17) existing outside the reception funnel (1). The separation system (17, drawing 3) guides any solids inside the MSW reception funnel (1) or, alternatively, to an exterior collector while the liquids are guided through pumps (137) to at least one liquid drainage storage tank (18). The liquid drainage storage tank (18) includes in its interior a filter of active carbon (112) for the cleaning of the liquids. Then and through at least one additional filter (65), the spraying nozzles (113) are spraying the liquids, if and when necessary, through adequate tubing, in the reception funnel (1), the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), the High Frequency Pulsator (68) and the Stabilization Chamber (83).
The reuse of the liquids through spraying is useful:
(a) to decrease the possibility of a fire
(b) to increase the material conductivity
(c) to increase the humidity in order to achieve the final decrease of volume of the material and the production of pellets at the end of the procedure.
As the application of the method begins, the chain conveyor (5) leads the waste, the majority of which is packaged in garbage bags or are loose outside them, to the Special Opening Unit (19) (drawings 6 and 7), where the opening of the MSW packaging is achieved (bags, cartons etc.) and the cutting of bulky waste with a mechanical cutting method.
At a proper point, between the reception funnel (1) and the Special Opening Unit (19), there is a visual control system (20). The system (20) controls the waste before it is guided to the Special Opening Unit (19). It is a visual control system (20) programmed according to the size and shape parameter or/and visual control system of movement/alive or dead organism, which stops the operation of the machine if there is a reason for it (e.g. a structural material of large dimensions, a material that is moving) and transfers data to the Control and Handling Unit (129, dr. 1). The visual control system (20) can also include an X-RAY system. The visual control can also be effectuated by the personnel situated at the Control and Handling Unit through screens. The control is done without the procedure being stopped. The visual control system (20) stops the operation of the machine if there is reason for it. The operation of the machine can also be stopped by the user of the Control and Handling Unit (129) if he thinks it is necessary. 2 nd Step: Treatment of opening and cutting by using the special opening unit.
As shown in Drawing 7, the Special Opening Unit (19) possesses a rotating axis (21) with circular serrated cutting discs (22) (knives - cutters). The cutting discs (22), can be made of stainless steel, while the parts that bear increased mechanical loads (like for example the rotating axis (21)) are made of materials of adequate resistance. The waste, inside or outside of bags, is transported on the chain conveyor (5) and on the rotating knives of the Special Opening Unit (19), which cut the waste packaging and their content. The axis (21) is moving in a position horizontal and parallel to the level of the chain conveyor (5). The vertical distance between the chain conveyor (5) and the cutting discs (22) is such that bulky objects cannot pass without being cut, with the possibility this vertical distance to be fluctuated by the user. In the case that we desire the recycling of whole packages (e.g. plastic or glass bottles) the user can change the whole system of axis-knives, and place one that has a bigger distance between the knives, so for the objects to "pass" without being cut.
The cutting of the waste takes place without the movement of the chain conveyor to be necessary to stop at any point (5). Depending on the waste volume existing in the Opening Unit (19) the speed of movement of the chain conveyor can also be regulated (5), according to the known today 's state of the art of electronic array of electric current measurement in the motor that rotates the cutting unit (19). As soon as the array detects a sudden increase of the electric current value, gives an order to the array of movement control of the chain conveyor to move slower or even to stop completely.
The Special Cutting Unit (19) receives motion from at least one motor (23) through an array of pulleys and belts (24). The rotation speed of the cutting discs (22) can also be regulated.
The existence or not of serrations on the cutting discs (22), the number of discs (22) in the Special Opening Unit (19) as well as the material they are made of, and also the distance between them are not restrictive elements for the application of the present invention and can vary according to the choice of the user. The opening of the waste packages is done by the Special Opening Unit (19) which possesses all the necessary protective measures for the avoidance of accidents. It has protection lids (25) and access hatches (26) (drawing 6) to facilitate the maintenance and repairs works. It also has see through windows (27) to facilitate the visual control of the procedure if necessary.
3 rd Step: Homogenization treatment by using the special homogenization unit.
Then, for the application of the present method, the initially cut waste is transferred by the chain conveyor (5) to the Special Homogenization Unit/module (28) (drawings 6 and 8).
As seen in Drawing 8, the system that applies the method possesses as a component the Special Homogenization Unit/module (28) which includes a rotating axis (29) with multiple metal plates/knives (30). The rotating axis (29) is horizontal and parallel to the level of the chain conveyor (5). On the horizontal rotating axis (29) multiple metal plates are placed (30) which constitute the homogenization means. There, the initially shredded waste, is additionally cut into pieces of smaller dimension and then they are led again by the chain conveyor (5) to the elevator (31) (drawing 9) and from there to the next stage, with or without the intervention of a horizontal conveyor (136) (depending on whether the selection of the recyclable materials is desired at this stage or not).
The rotating axis (29) of the Special Homogenization Unit/module (28) is consolidated on the system with a metallic frame. The frame comprises a horizontal support axis (33) and two lateral supports (34). The supporting axis (33) is placed at such a distance above the rotating axis (29), that will not hinder its rotation (29) and by extension the homogenization of the product.
The two axes (29, 33) are parallel to each other. The two lateral supports (34) are parallel to each other and situated on either side of the supporting axis (33), vertically to it. The rotating axis (29) is supported with a bearing array (35) by the two lateral supports (34). The rotating axis (29) rotates by an electric motor (36) and arrays of belts - pulleys or electric reducer (79). The horizontal supporting axis (33) on its upper part is connected with the rest of the system with at least two arrays with respective coil springs (32). The two lateral supports (34) are situated within vertical guides (37) (drawing 6). The arrays with the springs (32) (drawing 8) and the guides
(37) to the lateral supports (34) permit the system of Special Homogenization Unit/module (28), to move vertically if needed, and particularly in case that some bulky object passes by the Special Cutting Unit (19) without being fully cut, the Homogenization Unit/module (28) has the capability to move vertically and avoid damage or/and jamming in the system while in parallel it will cut the object into smaller pieces.
The product coming after the Homogenization Unit/module (28) is cut in pieces of similar size and continues its course always guided by the chain conveyor (5) to the following stages.
A system of visual control can be placed even before the Special Homogenization Unit/module (28), for the control of the incoming waste. The Special Homogenization Unit/module (28) possesses itself respective access gates (26) and see through windows (27) (drawing 6).
The product comes out of the Homogenization Unit/module (28) and in case a horizontal conveyor does not exist (136) (drawing 9), it is guided to the entrance of the vertical pad elevator (31).
If a horizontal conveyor is used (136) then the waste from the Homogenization Unit (28) is first led to the horizontal conveyor (136) and then, by it, to the vertical pad elevator (31). As mentioned above, the horizontal conveyor (136) is used in the case that the selection of recycled materials is desired at this stage. In the case that the selection of recyclable materials is not desired at this stage, the horizontal conveyor is not used (136) and the product is guided directly to the pad elevator (31) and from there to the horizontal measuring feeder (38).
4 th Step: First separation of the ferrous metallic elements with magnetic elements.
As shown in Drawing 9 the pad elevator (31) lifts and guides the shredded product to the horizontal measuring feeder (38, dr. 2, 9 & 10). This feeder
(38) is a conveyor belt which feeds the product to the first Low Frequency Pulsator (39, dr. 17), controlling the feeding flow in order to avoid jamming in the feeding of the product to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). In particular, as depicted in drawings 9 & 10, the horizontal measuring feeder (38) feeding the shredded product to the first Low Frequency Pulsator (39) comprises two rotating axes (40), (41), from the metallic frame (42) and from the conveyor belt (43). The feeder (38) is of the closed type as on its upper part it has a lid (44) and adequate bottom (45). The one rotating axis (40) is rotating by an electric motor and reducer array (134). On the lid (44) of the feeder (38) there are safety rails (46), to provide safety in case someone has to walk on the horizontal measuring feeder (38) to execute any work or control. With the rotation of the axis (40) the conveyor belt (43) of the product is moving. The second rotating axis (41) is placed in a way to freely rotate. The entrance (47, dr. 9 and 10) of the feeder (38) is connected to the exit (48) of the pad elevator (31) from where the shredded waste is coming, while the exit (49) of the feeder (38) is connected with the entry (50) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39).
The conveyor belt (43) of the product possesses pads vertically or in any other angle to it (51). The pads (51) drive the product towards the exit (49) of the feeder (38) and the entry (50) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). The pads (51) have an equal length to the width of the conveyor belt (43). The height of the pads (51) is such that there is no space between the bottom (45) and the edge of the pads (51).
The rotating axis (41) situated over the exit (49) of the measuring feeder (38) has many magnetic elements (140, dr. 10) which magnetize the ferrous metals existing within the product. By the magnetizing force exercised by the magnetic elements (140) to the ferrous metals of the product while it passes over the axis (41), the ferrous metals remain on the conveyor belt (43) and do not fall as soon as they are over the exit (49) of the measuring feeder while the remaining materials do fall. However, as soon as the specific point of the conveyor belt (43) where the magnetized metals are, surrounds the axis (41) with the magnetic elements (140) and passes it, the metals are not attracted anymore by the magnetic elements (140) and are free to the bottom (45) of the feeder (38) separated from the other materials that fell from the exit (49) and were guided to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). There they are driven by the pads (51) of the conveyor belt (43) with the adequate height, and pushed by the pads, they move to the lower side of the conveyor belt (43) in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the product on the upper side of the belt (43, drawing 10). In this way, the selected ferrous metals are guided and exit the measuring feeder (38) through a proper exit (139, drawing 10) situated on its lower side (45). From there, they are guided to any adequate collection array, constituting this product clean ferrous metal ready for recycling. This step of the method is optional. If the selection of the ferrous metals is not desired at this stage of the method, the axis (41) does not bear magnetic elements (140) and the Feeder (38) does not have on its lower part (45) the second exit (139).
5 th Step: Treatment of first pulverization by using a Low Frequency Pulsator
As shown in Drawings (10 and 17), the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), is fed with the product from the horizontal measuring feeder (38) through a feeding funnel (52). The feeding funnel (52) can be rectangular, the cross section of which is decreasing at the bottom. The shape of the feeding funnel (52) is such as not to hinder in any case the smooth flow of the product to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). The feeding funnel (52) has access gates (53) and supervision windows (54).
The Low Frequency Pulsator (39, dr. 17) is placed within a robust metallic construction (55). The metallic construction (55) that includes the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) has an entrance opening (50) on its upper part, where the exit of the feeding funnel is connected (52). It also has an exit opening on the lower part (67) from where the product exits and goes to the following stages of the treatment after having passed from the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). The metallic construction (55) that includes the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) has at its sides the proper hatches (56) and access windows (57) (drawing 11) to facilitate the work of the operators in case access/visit is needed to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) for reasons of maintenance, repair or/and component replacement of the Pulsator.
As shown in drawing 17, the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) comprises a rotating axis (58) that comes vertically from at least two metallic supporting discs (59) with an adequate distance between them. On their perimeter and at a proper distance from their center the support discs bear cylindrical axes (60), vertical to their surface, on which pulse elements (61) are placed. The supporting discs (59) are parallel to each other. The axes (60) bearing and supporting the pulse elements (61) are vertical to the supporting discs (59) and parallel to the rotating axis (58). The pulse elements (61) are placed on the axes (60) in the space created between the supporting discs (59). The distance between the pulse elements (61) is determined by a perforated rotating axis (62) of adequate length and of cylindrical shape. The frequency of the pulses applied on the product that comes in the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) and therefore the granulometry of the pulverized material also, depend on the number of the axes (60) bearing the pulse elements (61) but also on the number of the pulse elements (61) that each axis bears (60). The application of pulses on the product results to further shredding, the breaking of its mass and volume and the partial destruction of microorganisms.
Under the rotating axis (58), on the lower part of the metallic construction (55) there is a metallic array of horizontal elements (63) controlling the volume, which have a specific width and are situated in determined distances between them creating openings (64). The volume of the product must be shredded to such a degree so as to be able to enter into the openings (64) of the horizontal control elements (63). As soon as the product is of desired granulometry it passes through the openings (64) of the horizontal control elements (63) and exits from the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) towards the following stages of treatment.
The user has the option to modulate the openings (64) of the horizontal control elements (63), by replacing the array with another with smaller or bigger openings. The choice of the adequate granulometry depends on the way of exploitation the user has in mind for the final product. As a general maximum application of the method is suggested, if the user, for example, desires the production of fuel, then the product must be of low granulometry, while if the user desires the production of soil improving material, then the product must be of larger granulometry, etc.
The control elements (63) can have rectangular shape with edges from the internal side, where the edges contribute to the shredding of the material, while as internal side is considered to be the side that faces the interior of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39).
When the product passes from the control elements (63) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) it is guided to its lower part to the exit (67) of the array and falls free by gravity to the second chain conveyor (66) to lead it towards the High Frequency Pulsator (68) which is the next stage of treatment.
The exit (67) of the array is of a conical shape with its diameter shortening from top to bottom. The product that comes out from the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) is guided by the chain conveyor (66) to the High Frequency Pulsator (68) which is the next stage in the treatment.
6 th Step: Further pulverization treatment by using a high frequency pulsator.
The transfer of the product from the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) to the High Frequency Pulsator (68) takes place by the second chain conveyor (66), through which a violent artificial flow of air is created because of the operation of the second centrifugal pump for which there is reference below (no. 96, dr. 11). The use of the chain conveyor (66) is not necessary for the application of the method, as the transfer of the product could be accomplished by other means.
As shown in drawings 11 and 13, the chain conveyor (66) can have a gradient in order to transport the product from the lower part of the first pulsator (39) to the upper part of the second (68) if between them there is a height difference. It is of a closed type so as not to loosen dust and smells to the atmosphere. The inclined chain conveyor (66) has a rotating axis (69), (70) at both ends.
The axis (69) situated under the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) is connected to an electric motor (71) through an adequate reducer (72) and transfers motion to the chain (73) of the chain conveyor (66). Other ways of motion transfer are known and can be used without affecting the application way of the present method. The axis (70) situated over the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is placed within guides (74) which permit its horizontal movement regarding the level of movement of the chain conveyor (66). The movement of the axis (70) applies and removes tension to the chain (73) of the chain conveyor (66), depending on the direction, relative to the movement of the chain (73), chosen by the operator.
If the operator chooses to move the axis to the right, relative to the movement of the chain (clockwise), then he removes tension from the chain (he releases it), while if he makes the opposite then the result will be that the chain will be tighter.
Each rotating axis (69), (70) includes at each end one serrated disc (75) of proper width. The two serrated discs (75) of each axis (69), (70) are vertical as to the axis (69), (70) and therefore parallel to each other. Each serrated disc (75) has on its surface recesses of proper dimensions on which each chain rests (73). The discs (75) of each axis are equal in number to the chains (73) of the chain conveyor (66), and this way, if for example the chains are three, the discs on each axis are also three. In this case two chains are used (73). The rotation of the axes (69), (70) results to the movement of the chains (73) thanks to the serrated discs (75). At regular intervals and at a proper distance between them, metallic plates
(77) are placed vertical as to the chains (73). Generally it is suggested, for the best application of the method, the metallic plates (77) to be placed at a distance from each other that varies from around 40cm to 80 cm. Each plate (77) is connected on either side with the chains (73) at a vertical position to them. On each plate (77) and to the interior of the chain conveyor (66) a stripe of material (78), along the plate (77) is placed. The stripe of material (78) is the element which drags and transfers with the movement of the chains (73) the product to the next stage. It has length equal to the length of the plate (77). This stripe (78) can be made of various materials such as plastic, metal etc. The material comes into the chain conveyor (66) from the upper side of its lower part, which has an opening of the same dimensions with the exit of the array where the Low Frequency Pulsator is included (39) (drawing 13). The product passes through the gap created by the plates (77) situated among the chains (73) in the interior of the chain conveyor (66) where it is dragged by the stripes
(78) and guided to the following stages of the treatment. The movement of the chain conveyor (66) is transferred through a motor array (71) and a reducer (72) and the speed can be regulated depending on the volume of the product to be processed in the interior of the High Frequency Pulsator (68). Thus, if the High Frequency Pulsator (68) has a lot of material to process, then the speed of the chain conveyor is regulated to be slow, while if it has less material, then the speed is regulated to be higher. The chain conveyor (66) at adequate point has access hatches - windows (80) for the intervention of the personnel in case of emergency and the observance of the procedure.
As shown in drawing 18 the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is also placed inside a robust metallic construction (85). This metallic construction (85) that includes in its interior the High Frequency Pulsator (68) has an opening on its upper part, where the exit of the chain conveyor is connected (66) that transfers the product (drawing 20). It also has an opening on the lower part from where the product exits towards the next stages of the treatment. The metallic construction (85) that includes the High Frequency Pulsator (68) has on its sides adequate hatches (86) and access windows (87) (drawing 11) to facilitate the work of the operators in chase where access is necessary for maintenance, repair, or replacement of components of the Pulsator (68).
The High Frequency Pulsator (68) (drawing 18) develops pulses of higher frequency than the first Pulsator (39). It comprises a rotating axis (88), coming vertically from the center of at least two metallic support discs (89) with some distance between them. In their perimeter and at an adequate distance from their center the support discs (89) bear cylindrical axes (90) vertical to their surface, where the pulse elements (91) are placed and supported. The number of the pulse elements (90) on the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is equal or higher than the number of the elements (60) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). The support discs (89) are parallel to each other and vertical to the rotating axis (88). The axes (90) bearing the pulse elements (91) are vertical to the support discs (89) and parallel to the rotating axis (88). The pulse elements (91) are placed on the axes (90) at the space created between the support discs (89). The number of the pulse elements (91) on the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is equal or higher than the number of the elements (61) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39). The distance between the pulse elements (91) is determined by a perforated cylindrical axis of adequate length (92). The number of the axes (90) bearing the pulse elements (91) but also the number of the pulse elements (91) that each axis bears (90) determine the frequency of the pulses applied on the product incoming to the interior of the High Frequency Pulsator (68).
In any case and since the High Frequency Pulsator (68) possesses a greater number of cylindrical axes (90) as much as of pulse elements (91) than the High Frequency Pulsator (39), it develops pulses of higher frequency, even in the case of equal or slower rotation.
If, however, the High Frequency Pulsator (68) possesses an equal number of axes (90) and pulse elements (91) as to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), then the High Frequency Pulsator (68) must rotate faster so as to develop pulses of higher frequency than the first Pulsator (39), a desired fact for the application execution of the method. The application of higher frequency pulses on the product results to the further shredding, breaking of mass and volume and the further destruction of microorganisms.
As similarly with the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), with the High Frequency Pulsator (68) before the exit of the pieces to the next stages at its lower there is a metallic array of volume control elements (93, drawing 18), which has a specific width. The volume of the product must be broken to such a degree that it will be able to pass from the openings (94) of the array of the control elements (93). As soon as the product reaches the desired granulometry it passes through the openings (94) of the control elements array (93) and exits from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) towards the next stages of the treatment. The openings (94) of the control elements array (93) of the High Frequency Pulsator (68) are of smaller dimension that the openings (64) of the horizontal control elements (63) of the Low Frequency Pulsator (39, drawing 17). Through these openings (94) comes the product towards the next stages of the treatment.
The openings (94) may have various shapes and dimensions, suffice the product to pass easily. The dimension of the openings is selected depending on the desired granulometry of the outgoing product, according to what is mentioned above about the granulometry.
When the product passes from the control elements (93) of the High Frequency Pulsator (68) it is guided from its lower part, through a system of air transfer, towards the exit of the array and the next stages of the treatment.
The outgoing product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is now of fibrous form and free of microorganisms.
The system possesses a first centrifugal pump (81, dr. 11) situated outside the High Frequency Pulsator (39).
The transfer of the product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83) is done by the air transfer system, which comprises the second centrifugal pump (96, dr. 11) of the High Frequency Pulsator (68) and tubing that transfer the product and the air to the various stages of the treatment. As seen in drawing 11 and in drawing 15, coaxially to the Low Frequency Pulsator (39) there is an air centrifugal pump (81), of pressure and sub- pressure, which can be operated by a motor, through an axis and pulley array connected to ach other with belts. The entrance (82) of the pump (81) is connected with the Stabilization Chamber (83). From the Stabilization Chamber (83) the pump (81) removes the excess air created in the interior of the Chamber (83). At the same time with the excess air it removes the excess humidity from the product inside the Chamber (83). The volume of the air enriched with the humidity removed from the product inside the Stabilization Chamber (83), is guided through a multiple filter array (no. 84, dr. 2) to the atmosphere. The special fine grained filters from which the air passes throughout the atmosphere detain dust and particles floating in the air. They also remove the air from the humidity it carries.
Also, coaxially to the High Frequency Pulsator (68, dr. 18 and 20) a second centrifugal air pump is connected (96) (dr. 11 and 20) of high pressure and sub-pressure which similarly to the first centrifugal pump (81) is moved by a motor through an axis and a pulley array connected to each other with belts.
As shown in drawings 11 and 20, the entrance (97) of the pump (96) is connected to the exit of the High Frequency Pulsator (68). The connection of the entrance (97) of the pump (96) to the exit of the Pulsator (68) is done through an adequate tube (98). The exit of the High Frequency Pulsator (68) ends to a conical funnel (99) whose shape and dimensions ensure the smooth flow of the product to the tube (98) resulting to its smooth movement to the centrifugal pump (96). The exit (100) of the pump (96) is connected through tubing (101) with the rear part of the Stabilization Chamber (83). The tubing (101) leads the product from the exit (100) of the pump (96) to the rear part of the Stabilization Chamber (83). The centrifugal pump (96) creates a strong air draught with a direction from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83). This results to the violent transfer of the product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83).
As mentioned before, the first centrifugal pump (81) situated outside the Low Frequency Pulsator (39), the second centrifugal pump (96) connecting the High Frequency Pulsator (68) with the Stabilization Chamber (83) and the total of tubing transferring the product and the air to the various stages of the treatment constitute the air transfer system.
The second pump (96), which transfers the product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83), creates in the interior of the Stabilization Chamber (83) excess air. The excess air created by the second pump (96) inside the Stabilization Chamber (83) is removed from the first pump (81) which removes the air from the interior of the Chamber (83).
The air draught created by the two air pumps (81 & 96) of high pressure and sub-pressure, crosses the interior of the Stabilization Chamber (83) before it is guided to the special filters (84) and then to the atmosphere. The product accumulated to the interior of the Stabilization Chamber (83) constitutes a natural filter which detains all the harmful organisms from the air draught that travel through the Chamber (83). The Stabilization Chamber (83) constitutes a natural filter for the air mass of the air transfer of the system.
The air transfer of the fibrous product from the High Frequency Pulsator (68) to the Stabilization Chamber (83) causes the violent and quick dehumidification of the product along with the decrease in volume and mass. This happens because of the exposure of the product to the strong air draught during its transfer through the tubing and also during its stay inside the Stabilization Chamber (83) as the air transfer system creates and air draught inside the Chamber (83) also.
7 th Step: Exposure to an electric field.
The product treated by the High Frequency Pulsator (68) comes into the Stabilization Camber (83) to the rear of the Chamber (83). As rear part (95) of the Chamber (83) is considered the most remote part from the High Frequency Pulsator (68). The product coming out of the High Frequency Pulsator (68) is in the form of fibers and includes elements of various diameters. These elements include biodegradable fraction (fermentable), metals (except the part of the ferrous metals already removed by the magnetic elements by the conveyor belt (43) in case the optional 4 th step of the method was applied), plastic and glass. Perhaps in the product other materials are included, whose total mass is negligible compared to the mass of the already mentioned main elements. The total of the product is guided to the Stabilization Chamber (83). The Stabilization Chamber (83) is cylindrical in shape with a stable diameter. The main exit (102, drawing 11) of the Stabilization Chamber (83), which leads the stabilized product to the next stage, includes a conical (132) and then a cylindrical (133) part with stable diameter. The maximum diameter of the conical part is equal to the diameter of the Stabilization Chamber (83), while the minimum diameter is equal to the diameter of the cylindrical part. The diameter of the conical part is getting smaller according to the direction of the product towards the exit from the Chamber (83). The product exists from the opening situated in the cylindrical part.
The Stabilization Chamber (83) possesses a screw (103) and a stirrer (104) (drawings 15 & 16). The screw (103) and the stirrer (104) are placed axially to the center of a perpendicular section of the Chamber (83). The screw (103) is longitudinal to the Chamber (83) while the stirrer (104) has a length equal to the length of the Chamber (83) that has the maximum stable section, reaching the initial part of the conical exit (132, dr. 11) of the Chamber (83).
The screw (103) is of smaller diameter than the stirrer (104), and of greater length, reaching the cylindrical part of the exit (133, dr. 11) of the Chamber (83). The screw (103) and the stirrer (104) are placed on an axis (105) and are coaxial, with the screw situated in the interior of the stirrer. The axis (105) on one end is inside an adequate array (106, drawing 15) that permits it to rotate freely. On the other end, the axis (105) has a pulley (107, drawing 16) which is connected with special belts (108, drawing 15) from adequate material which offers electrical insulation with a second pulley (109, drawing 15) which rotates by a motor (110, drawing 15). The axis (105) in any case is electrically insulated from the other part of the Stabilization Chamber (83). The electrical insulation is achieved with the use of proper insulating materials at the points where the axis (105) comes in contact with the rest of the body of the Chamber (83). The screw (103) and the stirrer (104) are in electrical contact with the axis (105). For this reason the stirrer (104) has at its ends insulating material (111, drawing 15) which comes in contact with the body of the Chamber (83) and "scrapes" during its rotation the interior walls of the Chamber (83) constructed of conductive material.
While the body of the Stabilization Chamber (83) is connected with the protective grounding (dr. 15), the axis (105) and by extension the screw (103) and the stirrer (104), since they are connected to each other, are connected with a positive high voltage load of controlled tension. When the product, which has a regulated percentage of humidity, comes into the interior of the Chamber (83) and takes the space between the axis (105) and the Chamber' s (83) walls, it constitutes a conductor for the electron jump from the axis (105) to the walls of the Chamber (83), which are made of conductive material. This results to the breaking up of the DNA connections in the living organisms, like bacteria etc., and to the product's deliverance of germs and microorganisms.
The humidity regulation of the product inside the Stabilization Chamber (83, dr. 11 & 15) is achieved by supplying treated liquids from the storage tank (15, dr. 3 & 4) of the liquid drainage collected initially at the 1 st step of the method in the reception funnel (1) for this reason and now they are reused, as mentioned before. The transfer of the liquids is done with a pump (137, dr. 3) and the controlled injection into the interior of the Chamber (83) by special nozzles (113, drawing 15).
8 th Step: Exposure to UV radiation emission
Circumferentially on the walls of the Stabilization Chamber (83) but also on the upper axis (105) that bears the screw (103) and the stirrer (104), special arrays (114) are placed for the emission of UV radiation (drawings 15 and 16). The emission arrays (114) of UV radiation situated on the axis (105) are covered by special transparent material for their protection. The arrays (114) emit radiation in the area of 253,7nm but also in the area of 185nm. The emission in the wave length of 253,7nm has been proved to be the most effective wave length for the destruction of bacteria. The emission of radiation in the area of 185nm in connection to the oxygen existing inside the Chamber (83) produces ozone which produces advanced oxidation of the polluting elements existing in the product. Furthermore, the ozone limits the odors which are eliminated. The UV radiation, to which the product is exposed when entering the Chamber (83), hinders the growth of bacteria, by destroying the nucleus of their DNA, so that they cannot be reproduced. All the bacteria and the germs (viruses) are destroyed by the ultra violet radiation, of course some more easily than others. This radiation is very effective against the bacteria as for many pathogenic microorganisms. Indicatively, we mention some of them: E. Coli, Legionella, Salmonella, Hepatitis, Poliovirus etc. Furthermore the effect of the specific radiation wave length can deactivate some microorganisms which then will multiply and become virulent. This phenomenon is observed in some bacteria (coliforms, shigellas).
The screw (103) has an opposite winding in relation to the axis (105) from the winding of the stirrer (104) (drawing 16). This results the screw (103) to push part of the product which enters the Chamber (83) towards the next stage of the treatment while at the same time the stirrer (104) drags part of the product towards the opposite direction achieving this way a delay in the flow of the mass within the Chamber (83). The delay is desirable because in this way the exposure of the product to the UV radiation is extended and the application of the method is optimized.
9 th Step (optional): Separation of glass, ferrous metallic elements, aluminium and plastic, by using a sorter of recyclable materials and channeling of materials to recycling.
During the entrance of the product in the Stabilization Chamber (83), the heavy elements of the product are guided directly to the lower part of the Chamber (83) because of gravity. Mainly at the lower part of the Chamber (83) the metals, the plastic and the glass which have granular shape and bigger weight and diameter from the remaining elements of the product, are gathered. The lighter elements consisting mainly by biodegradable fraction of the product do not reach the lower part of the Chamber (83) but are dragged by the screw (103) and guided to the next stage of the treatment which is the Microwave Chamber (116). For this part of the treatment which is optional there is reference at the end of the Description. The stirrer (104) at its rotation drags the elements that are gathered in the lower part of the Chamber (83) to the opposite direction from the one that the lighter elements are guided by the screw (103). At the lower part of the Chamber (83) and in regular intervals between them there are openings (117) (drawing 12).
If this optional stage of the treatment is not to be followed, the Chamber (83) does not need to have openings (117). Through these openings (117) and through the respective filters they have, the heavier elements are drawn by the rotating stirrer (104) to the lower part of the Chamber (83) and are guided to the second screw (118, drawing 12), which while it is single it has a thread of opposite direction. The first half of the screw, starting from the motor (76, drawing 12) that rotates it, guides the material from the left to the right while the second half makes the opposite. Along this screw (118) and on its lower part, there are three additional openings (119) through which the final selection of the elements takes place depending on their diameter.
This way, three separations of the product take place at the same time, depending on its granulometry, in connection to the openings (holes) of the three filters (120, 121 and 141).
In this way we achieve as described below, the removal of recyclable materials which are then separated and guided to recycling. This stage of the treatment can be used depending on the case and is not necessary for the application of the technology, as the material can avoid selection or recycling and go straight to the pelletization, or simply to be collected. In particular, the filter with the smaller openings (120) is the one the product meets first, as it comes into the Chamber (83), then it meets the filter with the slightly larger openings (121) and thirdly it meets the filter with the largest openings (141).
This way, from the first opening (117, dr. 12) from left to right, and through the array of perforated metallic filter (120) with the specific holes that is has, exit the elements whose diameter is smaller than the holes of the filters (120). As an example and without the application of the technology of the method being restricted, the holes of the first metallic filter (120) could be 1 mm in diameter each. This way from the filter (120) of the first opening (117) the elements of the product which are gathered in the lower part of the Stabilization Chamber (83) and have a diameter smaller or equal to 1mm are removed. These elements are mainly inert materials (e.g. dust, dirt) and are removed from the first opening (119).
From the second opening (117) from left to right, again through another perforated metallic filter (121) array with holes of larger diameter than the ones of the first filter (120) the elements whose diameter is larger than the diameter of the holes of the first filter (120), but smaller or equal to the diameter of the holes of the second filter (121) are exiting. As an example, and without restricting the application of the method, the holes of the second metallic filter (121) could be 5 mm in diameter each. In this way, from the filter (121) of the second opening (117) the elements of the product gathered at the lower part of the Stabilization Chamber (83) having a diameter larger than 1mm, or the respective diameter of the holes of the first filter (120), and smaller or equal to 5mm are removed. The vast majority of the elements included in these removed through the second filter are mainly - because of their diameter - metals, glass and heavy plastics.
From the perforated metallic filter (141, drawing 12) of the third opening (117), are guided the elements of the product gathered on the lower part of the Stabilization Chamber (83) which were not shredded enough, and so they have a diameter larger than the diameter of the holes of the second filter (121). These elements are gathered for additional treatment.
The elements that are removed by passing from the second filter (121) are guided to the interior of the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122, dr. 12 & 14). The majority of these elements guided to selection and recycling through the second filter is glass, ferrous metals, aluminium and plastic. These elements can be removed together to be taken to special external units for the selection of recyclable material or to be guided to the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) of the present MSW treatment system. The use of the Special Sorter of Recyclable Material (122) does not affect the application and by extension the effectiveness of the MSW treatment method but constitutes an extra point of the system, which applies an optional step of the method, that if applied, effectuates a selection of the above recyclable materials, with gravity, magnetic elements, air draught and the use of electrostatic electricity.
As depicted in drawing 12, the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) is connected to the second opening (119). Inside the sorter there is a rotating drum (123, drawings 12 and 14) on which the elements coming from the second opening of the screw (118) are guided falling by gravity. The rotating drum (123) rotates by an array (143) of motor, belt, and pulley. The rotating drum (123) bears magnetic elements (142, drawing 12) resulting to the magnetization of all the ferrous metals guided on it.
At this point are magnetized all the ferrous metallic elements of small diameter, which had not been magnetized by the rotating axis (41, dr. 10) as mentioned before, which is situated over the exit (49) of the measuring feeder (38) and bears magnetic elements (140) if the 4 th and optional step of the method was applied.
The other elements like glass, plastic, and non ferrous metals (aluminium) are not getting magnetized and continue falling by gravity inside the Sorter (122). The ferrous metals because of the magnetic attraction they get from the rotating drum (123) are getting attached to its surface and rotate with it. In parallel with the rotating drum (123) there is a special shaft (scraper) (124) which is tangentially in contact with the drum (123). The shaft (scraper) (124) is tangentially in contact with the drum (123) in such a way that it does not hinder its rotation. The rotation of the magnetized ferrous metallic elements continuous until the point they meet the shaft (124) which detaches them from the rotating magnetic drum (123) and guides them inside the collector (125) of the ferrous metallic elements. The ferrous metallic elements are gathered in the collector (125) and are removed from there. Inside the special Sorter (122) and vertically to the falling direction of the non ferrous elements, that is horizontally, an air draught is created that blows them depending on their weight. The air draught is created by a centrifugal pump (144) which is rotating by an array (145) of a motor, belt and pulley. The air draught created by the centrifugal pump (144) blows the light elements, in their majority aluminium and plastic, towards the electrostatic drum (146). The electrostatic drum (146) rotates by an array of motors (147). The aluminium inside the product has mainly the form of very thin and light leaves. The aluminium along with the plastic is guided by the air draught to the rotating electrostatic drum (146). The rotating electrostatic drum (146) draws the plastic elements which are attached to the surface of the drum (146). The aluminium is not drawn by the rotating electrostatic drum (146) resulting to its fall inside the aluminium collector (126) from where it is later removed. The plastic, which is attached to the surface of the rotating electrostatic drum (146), rotates with the drum (146) and is guided to the collector (127) of plastics, from where it is later removed. The detachment of the plastic elements from the surface of the rotating electrostatic drum (146) takes place with the help of an adequate metallic array (scraper) (148) which is tangentially in contact with the surface of the drum (146), without hindering its free rotation. For facilitating the light elements (aluminium, plastic) to be guided on the surface of the rotating electrostatic drum (146) there is a metallic guidance array (149). The metallic array (149) is placed on a proper point, while the angle that it forms with the rotating drum (146) is regulated in order to achieve its optimum use. The regulation of the metallic array (149) is achieved through external rotating regulators (150). The heavier elements rotating in the incoming material to the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122), which are mainly glass, are not drawn by the current of air created by the centrifugal pump and fall by gravity into the collector (128) of glass, from where they are later removed. With the above mentioned way the separation of the elements coming inside the Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) is achieved, in separate selectors for glasses (128), ferrous metallic elements (125), aluminium (126) and plastics (127). The Special Sorter of Recyclable Materials (122) has adequate access hatches (151).
If this step of selection is not applied, since it is optional for the application of the method, as mentioned before, then all the materials are guided directly to the 10 th step which is also optional and is the exposure of the elements to a microwave radiation, or to the 11 th step, also optional, which is pelletization, or they are simply removed.
10 th Step (optional): Exposure of lighter elements to microwave radiation. Further sterilization of the product takes place in the Microwave Chamber (116). This stage of the treatment guarantees the production of a safe product, completely free of infectious factors. This stage is not necessary for the effectiveness of the method and the system, but is optional for the optimization of the application of the method. This stage helps the Stabilization Chamber (83) and guarantees the safety of the final product produced by the system.
This stage refers to the lighter elements, consisted of, in their majority, biodegradable fraction of the product and which do not reach the lower part of the Stabilization Chamber (83), but are dragged by the screw (103) and guided to the microwave treatment. On the contrary metals, plastic and glass which has a granular shape and larger weight but also larger diameter from the rest of the elements of the product, are gathered mainly on the lower part of the Chamber (83) and from there they are guided - optionally - to the sorting unit (122) as presented immediately before.
This way, the stabilized product free of infectious and pathogenic organisms is transferred by the screw (103) to the exit of the Stabilization Chamber (83). From there it enters by gravity to the following, optional, stage of treatment which is the special Microwave Chamber (116). Therefore, the lighter elements, with the rotation of the screw (103) are exiting from the Stabilization Chamber (83) and entering the Microwave Chamber (116), which is the continuation of the Stabilization Chamber (83). In the Microwave Chamber (116) (drawings 11 and 15) there are arrays of microwave emission (115). Through these arrays of microwave emission
(115) the product entering the Microwave Chamber (116) is submitted to high energy radiation which is properly coordinated to be absorbed by water molecules (humidity) existing in the product. This results to the additional sterilization of the mass of the product existing inside the Microwave Chamber (116).
11 th Step (optional): Array of final stabilization, volume and mass decrease (131) (Pelletizing)
Then the product enters the Final Stabilization Array, for the Decrease of Volume and Mass (131). The Final Stabilization Array for the Decrease of Volume and Mass (131) is connected to the Microwave Chamber (116) - since this optional stage of the method will be applied - in such a way that the product at its course from the Chamber (83) to the Microwave array
(116) and from there to the Stabilization Array (131), is always entering smoothly without being blocked, such as by gravity, by air transfer, or by screw, etc.
At this stage of treatment the product is compressed aiming to its additional decrease of volume and mass. This is achieved with the use of one pelletization machine (131) known to the modern level of technology treating the product and converting it to pellets of high density. The product after passing from the pelletization machine (131) and after we receive the final dehydrated and stabilized product is guided to the packaging machine. The material during its stay in the interior of the pelletization machine (131) is submitted to conditions of pressure and temperature for enough time for the final stabilization of the product to be achieved and the discharge of the microbial load dangerous for public health.
Additionally, the system possesses in many points washing and disinfection arrays (130 dr. 2, 15, 19 and 20) of the partial units, arrays and equipment. The washing arrays are necessary for the systematic disinfection of the complex in order to reduce the microbial load and eliminate the odors.
All the previously described system is constructed in such a way that it is fully sealed against drainage, leakage and gasses or odors. The operation of the complex is fully automated and electronically controlled. No human presence is necessary in the stages of execution of the treatment and exploitation, only for the regulation of the operational parameters, which can be only the initial by the constructor. In this case, the human presence is restricted to the programming of new parameters through the central control board. In this way the manual interventions are minimized to all the operational stages and therefore the exposure of the workers' health to infection risks.
The operation of the complex is ecologically safe as there are no solid or liquid residues while clean air is emitted to the atmosphere.
The complex of the present invention is transported inside containers and is internally adapted and externally bears the proper openings and connection arrays. In this way the complex is ready for operation at any moment, needing only its transportation to the desired point with the containers which can be transferred anywhere and applies the present method for the waste treatment.
Finally, the containers which can be incorporated on the tractor of the system of the present invention can either be detachable of the frame of the tractor or stable on its frame.