System, method and apparatus for pyrolizing waste material

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for pyrolyzing are disclosed. The system, method and apparatus can include a plurality of chambers which may be loaded with material to be pyrolyzed. The material may then be pyrolyzed to produce a gaseous fuel and any remaining material in any of the plurality of chambers may be removed. The gaseous fuel may be sent to an afterburner where other elements may be added to generate heated gas having a predetermined temperature. The heated gas may be used in any of a variety of devices, such as a heat exchanger or a dryer, and may be used for any of a variety of reasons, such as the generation of heat.

1 . A system for combusting materials, comprising:
 a plurality of housings having a plurality of zones and accepting a material as fuel and converting the material into a gaseous fuel; and   an afterburner, the afterburner accepting the gaseous fuel from the first housing, the second housing and the at least third housing and air and converting the gaseous fuel and air into heat.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of housings comprises a first housing to convert the material into the gaseous fuel while a second housing is loaded with the material and a third housing has residue remaining from the conversion of the material into the gaseous fuel removed. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first fan that provides the air to the afterburner through a conduit.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first fan is disposed proximate the afterburner and is automatically controlled to provide varying amounts of air to the afterburner. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first fan has its speed decreased when the afterburner is providing heat to the heat exchanger at too high of a temperature and has its speed increased when the afterburner is providing heat to the heat exchanger at too low of a temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor disposed proximate the afterburner and communicatively coupled with a control unit, the control unit further communicatively coupled with the first fan, and the control unit varying the speed of the first fan based upon temperature readings from the temperature sensor.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first pressure sensor disposed proximate the afterburner and communicatively coupled with a control unit, the control unit further communicatively coupled with the first fan, and the control unit varying the speed of the first fan based upon temperature readings from the first pressure sensor.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit through which air travels from the first fan to the afterburner is disposed inside a second conduit through which the gaseous fuel travels from the first housing, the second housing and the at least third housing to the afterburner. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fan disposed after a collection area for the gaseous fuel provided by the plurality of housings, the second fan providing varying amounts of gaseous fuel to the afterburner. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the speed of the second fan is varied to provide varying amounts of gaseous fuel to the afterburner. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second pressure sensor communicatively coupled with a control unit;   a third fan disposed proximate the heat exchanger, the control unit varying the speed of the third fan based upon temperature readings from the second pressure sensor.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger receiving heat from the afterburner and heating water to generate steam.   
   
   
       13 . A method of generating heat energy, comprising:
 loading a pyrolysis chamber with a solid material;   converting the solid material into a gaseous fuel through pyrolysis;   moving the gaseous fuel to an afterburner;   combining the gaseous fuel with air in the afterburner;   combusting the combined gaseous fuel and air in the afterburner to generate heat;   using the heat generated in the afterburner as an energy source.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 moving the gaseous fuel from the pyrolysis chamber to the afterburner using a fan.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing air to the afterburner using a fan.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pyrolysis occurs at a temperature of about 125 degrees Fahrenheit to about 850 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the afterburner provides heated gas at a temperature between about 1450 Fahrenheit to about 2800 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the afterburner provides heated gas at a temperature of about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling the temperature of the heat generated by the afterburner using a fan.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 varying the speed of the fan to provide more air if the heat generated by the afterburner has too low of a temperature and less air if the heat generated by the afterburner has too high of a temperature.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 detecting a pressure of steam in the heat exchanger; and   regulating the temperature of the heat in the afterburner based upon the pressure of the steam in the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       22 . A system for producing energy, comprising:
 means for pyrolizing waste material;   means for loading waste material;   means for unloading non-pyrolized material,   means for extracting a gaseous fuel from the means for pyrolizing waste material; and   means for moving the gaseous fuel to a means for producing heat energy.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein waste material is loaded, the waste material is pyrolized and the non-pyrolized material is unloaded simultaneously.