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 . 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;   an airless drier for drying the combustible waste material to generate a pyrolysis feedstock;   a pyrolyser for pyrolysing the pyrolysis feedstock to form char and pyrolysis gas;   a gasifier for converting the char into syngas; and   an outlet in said airless drier for supplying heated steam output from the airless drier generated during pyrolysis feedstock generation to the gasifier.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 2 , wherein the airless drier is adapted is for drying the combustible waste material with super-heated steam as the drying medium. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 3 , wherein the airless drier is sealed to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated waste management system according to  claim 4 , wherein the airless drier comprises an insulating outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . A power generation system comprising the waste management system according to  claim 5 , further comprising an oxidizer for the high-temperature oxidation of syngas and/or pyrolysis gas generated from the pyrolysis feedstock to generate heat for electrical power production. 
     
     
         7 . The power generation system according to  claim 6 , wherein the power is electrical power. 
     
     
         8 . The power generation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the oxidizer comprises an outlet for supplying surplus heat to:
 (i) the airless drier; and/or   (ii) the pyrolyser.   
     
     
         9 . The power generations system according to  claim 8 , wherein the airless drier comprises an outlet for supplying steam evolved in the drying step of the airless drier to the gasifier. 
     
     
         10 . The power generation system according to  claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a steam cycle apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The power generation system according to  claim 10 , wherein the steam cycle apparatus comprises a steam turbine unit for electrical power production. 
     
     
         12 . The power generation system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a heat recovery unit for supplying excess heat energy to the airless drier. 
     
     
         13 . The power generation system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a heat recovery unit for supplying excess heat energy to the airless drier from a steam cycle apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The power generation system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a flue gas remediation unit for trapping pollutants. 
     
     
         15 . An integrated method of waste management comprising:
 (a) providing a source of a combustible waste material;   (b) 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;   (d) pyrolysing the dried pyrolysis feedstock to form char and pyrolysis gas;   (e) converting the char into syngas in a gasifier; and   (f) supplying heated steam output from the airless drier generated during pyrolysis feedstock generation to the gasifier.   
     
     
         16 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 15 , wherein the source of combustible waste material is domestic waste comprising food scraps, paper, cardboard, plastics, rubber, garden waste, clothing fabric and/or wood. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 16 , 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. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 17 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried in the airless drier with the use of super-heated steam. 
     
     
         19 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 18 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 0 to 20% by weight. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 19 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 2 to 18% by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 20 , wherein the combustible waste material is dried to yield a pyrolysis feedstock with a moisture content of 5 to 15% by weight. 
     
     
         22 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 15 , further comprising power generation. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 22 , wherein the power is electrical power. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 23 , further comprising the steps of:
 (g) oxidizing the syngas and pyrolysis gas at high-temperature in an oxidizer to generate heat for power generation.   
     
     
         25 . The integrated method of waste management according to  claim 24 , wherein electrical power generation comprises the use of a steam cycle.