Rotating drum device for use with carbonizer system and process of use thereof

Abstract

A rotating drum device for use with a carbonizer system and process of use thereof are provided. The drum device has an augered feed line, a center feed line for accepting introduced waste material in fluid communication with the augered feed line, control valves for controlling the amount of waste material moving through the drum at any given discrete point in time, and a heating jacket encapsulating a circumference of an outer wall of the drum that provides indirect thermal heating to the drum. Internal angled vanes are disposed along an inner wall of the drum and move waste material progressively through the drum. Constituent waste material may be separated with a magnetic strip disposed along an inner wall of the drum. Rotation of the drum is driven by at least one external rotating drum drive motor that engages external threads disposed along the outer wall of the drum.

1 . A rotating drum device for use with a carbonizer system comprising:
 a drum rotatable about an axis, said drum having an inner wall and an outer wall;   a plurality of internal angled vanes disposed along the inner wall of said drum, said plurality of internal angled vanes oriented so that waste material is moved progressively through said drum from an inlet within a first end of said drum towards a discharge outlet within a second end of said drum, said second end distal to said first end; and   at least one external rotating drum drive motor in fluid communication with said drum.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet housing adapted to receive said first end of said drum, said inlet housing having an inlet housing aperture in fluid communication with said inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a discharge housing adapted to receive said second end of said drum, said discharge housing having a discharge housing aperture in fluid communication with said discharge outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a heating jacket encapsulating a circumference of said outer wall of the drum, said heating jacket providing indirect heating to the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of external threads disposed along the circumference of said outer wall, said plurality of external threads adapted to engage said at least one external rotating drum drive motor and drive rotation of said drum. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising an augered feed line in fluid communication with said inlet housing aperture and said inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a center feed line in fluid communication with said augered feed line. 
     
     
         8 . The rotating drum device of  claim 6  wherein said augered feed line is oriented on an incline. 
     
     
         9 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of control valves integral with said discharge housing. 
     
     
         10 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic strip disposed along said inner wall of the drum, said magnetic strip adapted to separate constituent waste materials from a heterogeneous waste stream. 
     
     
         11 . The rotating drum device of  claim 1  wherein the atmosphere inside said drum is at least one of: ambient air, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, inert gas, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A rotating drum device for use with a carbonizer system comprising:
 a drum rotatable about an axis, said drum having an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end, and a second end distal to said first end;   an inlet housing adapted to receive said first end of the drum, said inlet housing having an inlet housing aperture in fluid communication with an inlet within said first end of the drum;   a discharge housing adapted to receive said second end of the drum, said discharge housing having a discharge housing aperture in fluid communication with a discharge outlet within said second end of the drum;   an augered feed line in fluid communication with said inlet housing aperture and said inlet;   a center feed line in fluid communication with said augered feed line;   a plurality of control valves integral with said discharge housing;   a heating jacket encapsulating a circumference said outer wall of the drum, said heating jacket providing indirect heating to the drum; and   at least one external rotating drum drive motor in fluid communication with said drum.   
     
     
         13 . The rotating drum device of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of internal angled vanes disposed along a circumference of the inner wall of said drum, said plurality of internal angled vanes oriented so that waste material is moved progressively through the drum from said first end towards said discharge outlet within said second end. 
     
     
         14 . The rotating drum device of  claim 12  or  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of external threads disposed along the circumference said outer wall of the drum, said plurality of external threads adapted to engage said at least one external rotating drum drive motor and drive rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         15 . A rotating drum device for use with a carbonizer system comprising:
 a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis, said drum having an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end, and a second end distal to said first end;   an inlet housing adapted to receive said first end of the drum, said inlet housing having an inlet housing aperture in fluid communication with an inlet within said first end of the drum;   a discharge housing adapted to receive said second end of the drum, said discharge housing having a discharge housing aperture in fluid communication with a discharge outlet within said second end of the drum;   an augered feed line in fluid communication with said inlet housing aperture and said inlet;   a center feed line in fluid communication with said augered feed line;   a plurality of control valves integral with said discharge housing;   at least one external rotating drum drive motor in fluid communication with said drum; and   a plurality of external threads disposed along a circumference of said outer wall of the drum, said plurality of external threads adapted to engage said at least one external rotating drum drive motor and drive rotation of the drum.   
     
     
         16 . The rotating drum device of  claim 15  further comprising a heating jacket encapsulating the circumference of said outer wall of the drum, said heating jacket providing indirect heating to the drum. 
     
     
         17 . The rotating drum device of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of internal angled vanes disposed along a circumference of the inner wall of said drum, said plurality of internal angled vanes oriented so that waste material is moved progressively through the drum from said first end towards said discharge outlet within said second end. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled)