Improvements in Waste Processing

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus for pyrolysing or gasifying material containing an organic content. The apparatus comprising an oven ( 10 ) mounted for rotation on at least one support ( 16 ). The oven ( 10 ) has an inlet ( 20 ) for receiving hot gas having a low or zero oxygen content to heat the material therein so as to process it to produce syngas, and an outlet ( 24 ) for said syngas. An electromagnet ( 28 ) is disposed in or adjacent the oven ( 10 ) so as to create a magnetic field therein and a plurality of ferrous elements ( 30 ) are freely disposed within the oven ( 10 ). A controller ( 32 ) is provided for controlling the electromagnet ( 28 ) and the rotation of the oven ( 10 ). When activated the electromagnet retains said ferrous elements as the oven rotates.

1 . An apparatus for pyrolysing or gasifying material containing an organic content; the apparatus comprising:
 an oven mounted for rotation on at least one support, said oven having an inlet for receiving hot gas having a low or zero oxygen content to heat the material therein so as to process it to produce syngas, and an outlet for said syngas;   an electromagnet disposed in or adjacent said oven so as to create a magnetic field therein;   a plurality of ferrous elements freely disposed within the oven; and   control means for controlling the electromagnet and the rotation of the oven such that when activated said electromagnet retains said ferrous elements as the oven rotates.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the oven further comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is disposed above said second portion in a first rotational position and wherein said second portion is disposed above said first portion in a second rotational position; wherein said control means is configured to control the oven to rotate it between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the electromagnet is located in the first portion and the control means is configured to deactivate the electromagnet in the first position so that the ferrous elements fall, under the influence of gravity, into the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the control means is configured to activate the electromagnet to retain the ferrous elements as the oven rotates from the second rotational position to the first rotational position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the electromagnet is located in the second portion and the control means is configured to deactivate the electromagnet in the second rotational position so that the ferrous elements fall, under the influence of gravity, into the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the control means is configured to activate the electromagnet to retain the ferrous elements as the oven rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one gas analyser for analysing the composition of the gas exiting said oven. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the control means receives signals from said gas analysers and when said signals indicate that processing of the material in said oven is substantially complete, controls the electromagnet to release the ferrous elements when they are substantially at the top of the oven's rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said ferrous elements have a mass of at least 1 kg. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the ferrous elements are substantially spherical. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the ferrous elements have one or more groove on their surface. 
     
     
         12 . A method of pyrolysing and/or gasifying material containing an organic content; the method comprising:
 providing an oven mounted for rotation on at least one support, said oven having an inlet and an outlet;   providing a flow of hot gas having a low or zero oxygen content to the oven via the inlet to heat the material therein to process it to produce syngas;   providing an electromagnet disposed in or adjacent said oven so as to create a magnetic field therein;   providing a plurality of ferrous elements freely disposed within the oven; and   activating said electromagnet to retain said ferrous elements as the oven rotates.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the oven comprises a first portion and a second portion, the method further comprising:
 controlling the oven to rotate between a first rotational position in which the first portion is disposed above said second portion and a second rotational position wherein said second portion is disposed above said first portion. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the electromagnet is located in the first portion and wherein the method further comprises activating the electromagnet to retain the ferrous elements as the oven rotates from the second rotational position to the first rotational position. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 deactivating the electromagnet in the first rotational position so that the ferrous elements fall, under the influence of gravity, into the second portion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the electromagnet is located in the second portion and wherein the method comprises activating the electromagnet to retain the ferrous elements as the oven rotates from the first rotational position and the second rotational position. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 deactivating the electromagnet in the second position so that the ferrous elements fall, under the influence of gravity, into the first portion. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claims 12 , the method further comprising:
 analysing the composition of the gas exiting said oven.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising:
 analysing the composition of the gas exiting said oven to determine when processing of the material in said oven is substantially complete, and 
 when said process is substantially complete, controlling the electromagnet to release the ferrous elements when they are substantially at the top of the ovens rotation. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the method further comprises:
 analysing the composition of the gas exiting said oven to determine when processing of the material in said oven by pyrolysis is substantially complete; and 
 when said pyrolysis process is substantially complete, increasing the oxygen content of the oven.