Waste management system

Abstract

A system and method of integrated waste management having a source of a combustible waste material, a separator for separating the combustible waste material from a recyclable material, an airless drier for drying the combustible waste material to generate a pyrolysis feedstock, and a pyrolyser for pyrolysing the pyrolysis feedstock to form char and pyrogas. The system and method for power generation may also use an oxidiser for the high-temperature oxidation of syngas generated from the pyrolysis feedstock to generate heat for power production.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An integrated waste management system, comprising:
 a source of a combustible waste material;   a separator for separating the combustible waste material from a recyclable material; and   an airless drier for drying the combustible waste material to generate a pyrolysis feedstock; and   a pyrolyser for pyrolysing the pyrolysis feedstock to form char and pyrogas.   
     
     
         27 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 26 , wherein the separator comprises one or more of a trommel, a magnetic separator, a ballistic separator, an eddy current separator, automated optical separation means and a shredder. 
     
     
         28 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 26 , wherein the airless drier is adapted for drying the combustible waste material with super-heated steam as the drying medium. 
     
     
         29 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 26 , wherein the airless drier is sealed to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air. 
     
     
         30 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 26 , wherein the airless drier comprises an insulating outer surface. 
     
     
         31 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 26 , further comprising a gasifier for converting the char into syngas. 
     
     
         32 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a means for supplying heated steam output from the airless drier generated during pyrolysis feedstock generation to the gasifier. 
     
     
         33 . A power generation system comprising the waste management system according to  claim 26 , further comprising an oxidiser for the high-temperature oxidation of syngas and/or pyrogas generated from the pyrolysis feedstock to generate heat for electrical power production. 
     
     
         34 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , wherein the power is electrical power. 
     
     
         35 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , wherein the oxidiser comprises an outlet for supplying surplus heat to:
 (i) the airless drier; and/or   (ii) the pyrolyser.   
     
     
         36 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , wherein the airless drier comprises an outlet for supplying steam evolved in the drying step of the airless drier to the gasifier. 
     
     
         37 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , wherein the system comprises a steam cycle apparatus such as a steam turbine unit for electrical power production. 
     
     
         38 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , further comprising a heat recovery unit for supplying excess heat energy to the airless drier, wherein the excess heat energy is from a steam cycle apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . The power generation system according to  claim 33 , further comprising a flue gas remediation unit for trapping pollutants. 
     
     
         40 . An integrated method of waste management comprising:
 (a) providing a source of a combustible waste material;   (b) optionally separating the combustible waste material from a recyclable material present in the source;   (c) drying the combustible waste material in an airless drier to generate a dried pyrolysis feedstock; and   (d) pyrolysing the dried pyrolysis feedstock to form char and pyrogas.   
     
     
         41 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein the source of combustible waste material is domestic waste comprising food scraps, paper, cardboard, plastics, rubber, garden waste, clothing fabric and/or wood. 
     
     
         42 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein separation of the combustible waste material comprises the use of one or more of a trommel, a magnetic separator, a ballistic separator, an eddy current separator, optical separation means and a shredder. 
     
     
         43 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried in the airless drier with the use of super-heated steam. 
     
     
         44 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 0 to 20% by weight. 
     
     
         45 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 2 to 18% by weight. 
     
     
         46 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 40 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 5 to 15% by weight. 
     
     
         47 . The method of power generation according to  claim 40 , further comprising generating electrical power. 
     
     
         48 . The method of power generation according to  claim 47 , further comprising the steps of:
 (d) gasifying the char to generate syngas; and   (e) oxidising the syngas and pyrogas at high-temperature in an oxidiser to generate heat for power generation.   
     
     
         49 . The method of power generation according to  claim 48 , wherein electrical power generation comprises the use of a steam cycle.