System for forming a solid fuel composition from mixed solid waste

Abstract

Systems and methods of producing a solid fuel composition are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for producing a solid fuel composition by heating and mixing a solid waste mixture below atmospheric pressure to a maximum temperature sufficient to melt the mixed plastics within the solid waste mixture is disclosed.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A system for processing a solid waste mixture, the system comprising:
 a process vessel comprising one or more walls extending along a length of the process vessel, the process vessel defining an interior volume;   a mixer disposed within the interior volume of the process vessel; and   an extruding element spaced apart from the mixer and disposed within a partially enclosed channel defined by the one or more walls of the process vessel, wherein the extruding element is configured to move the solid waste mixture toward an outlet;   wherein the system is configured to form, from the solid waste mixture, a solid fuel composition.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the mixer comprises one or more blades oriented within the interior volume, and wherein an axis of rotation of the one or more blades is aligned along the length of the process vessel. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the mixer comprises a first blade and a second blade. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first blade is configured to rotate in a first direction and the second blade is configured to rotate in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second blades are laterally spaced from one another by a gap, wherein the gap is sized to pass hard particles between the first and second blades while maintaining the first and second blades in close proximity. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the mixer moves the solid waste mixture between the first and second blades in a direction toward the partially enclosed channel. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the extruding element is configured to move the solid waste mixture within the partially enclosed channel in a direction along the length of the process vessel and toward the outlet. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the extruding element comprises a screw conveyer. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the mixer is configured to move the solid waste mixture toward the extruding element within the interior volume of the process vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a cutter disposed adjacent to the extruding element, wherein the cutter is configured to cut the solid fuel composition into pieces as it emerges from the extruding element. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the extruding element is configured to rotate in a first direction to mix the solid waste mixture within the interior volume; and the extruding element is configured to rotate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, wherein rotation in the second direction moves the solid waste mixture out through the outlet. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a heater operatively coupled to the process vessel to heat the interior volume. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the heater is configured to heat the one or more walls of the process vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the heater comprises a jacket at least partially surrounding the process vessel and configured to heat a liquid circulating within an interior space of the jacket. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solid waste mixture comprises plastics.