Apparatus, methods and systems for handling and processing waste material

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disruptor disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disruptor, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.

1 . A method of processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, the method comprising:
 (1) disrupting at least a portion of the waste, thereby releasing at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the waste;   (2) segregating at least one of the hard particulates released from the waste; and,   (3) diluting the waste with a liquid diluent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing the waste continuously, wherein the disrupting at least a portion of the waste comprises disrupting at least a portion of the continuously provided waste. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the segregating at least one of the released hard particulates comprises segregating at least one of the released hard particulates based on a predetermined minimum size of the released hard particulates. 
     
     
         4 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the waste further comprises metal contaminants, the method further comprising removing at least one of the metal contaminants from the waste. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a disruptor bar is positioned proximate an open auger conveying the waste, thereby forming a size exclusion gap therebetween, wherein the disrupting comprises impacting the conveyed waste with the disruptor bar, thereby releasing at least one of the embedded hard particulates, and wherein the segregation comprises excluding at least one of the released hard particulates having a size greater than the size exclusion gap. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disrupting at least a portion of the waste comprises depositing the waste on a rotary screener, thereby releasing at least one of the embedded hard particulates. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid diluent comprises liquified biodigestate from an anaerobic bio-digester. 
     
     
         14 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disrupting comprises impacting the waste on a size exclusion apparatus, and wherein the segregating comprises excluding released hard particulates using the size exclusion apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, the system comprising:
 (1) a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disruptor disrupts at least a portion of the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the waste;   (2) a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and   (3) a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste with a liquid diluent.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a waste loader that provides the waste continuously to the waste disruptor, wherein the waste disruptor is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the segregator is configured to segregate at least one of the released hard particulates based on a predetermined minimum size of the released hard particulates. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the waste further comprises metal contaminants, wherein the dilution unit is further configured to remove at least one of the metal contaminants from the waste. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the waste disruptor is configured to impact the waste on a size exclusion apparatus; wherein the segregator is configured to exclude released hard particulates using the size exclusion apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the size exclusion apparatus is configured to exclude hard particulates having a predetermined minimum size. 
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid diluent comprises liquefied biodigestate from an anaerobic bio-digester. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste until the solid content of the waste is about 12-13%. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid diluent has a higher temperature than the waste. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a heat source, wherein the heat source is configured to heat the waste while in the dilution unit. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the dilution unit further comprises a mixing unit, wherein the mixing unit is configured to mix the diluted waste. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the dilution unit is further configured to convey the diluted waste to an anerobic biodigester.