US 12,252,422 B2
Process for treating sludge
Richard W. Christy, Wayne, PA (US)
Assigned to RDP TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Conshohocken, PA (US)
Filed by RDP TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Conshohocken, PA (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/517,277.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,280, filed on Nov. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135460 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. C02F 11/145 (2019.01); C02F 11/18 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 11/145 (2019.01) [C02F 11/185 (2013.01); C02F 2209/006 (2013.01); C02F 2209/02 (2013.01); C02F 2209/40 (2013.01); C02F 2303/04 (2013.01); C02F 2303/14 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for treating sludge, the process comprising:
a) providing sludge;
b) providing a heat treatment apparatus, the heat treatment apparatus including, a mixing device and a further processing device,
the mixing device including
a mixing chamber having an inlet and an outlet for mixing the sludge to form a treatment mixture,
a conveying means for transporting the treatment mixture from the inlet to the outlet of the mixing chamber, and transferring the treatment mixture to the further processing device; and
at least one heating device for providing heat to the treatment mixture in the mixing chamber,
c) transferring the sludge to the inlet of the mixing chamber to form the treatment mixture;
d) conveying the treatment mixture from the inlet to the outlet of the mixing chamber;
e) transferring the treatment mixture from the outlet of the mixing device to the further processing device;
f) controlling the temperature of the at least one heating device such that the temperature of the at least one heating device conforms to a predetermined program, the predetermined program having at least a first segment and a second segment;
g) maintaining the temperature of the at least one heating device at a first predetermined operational temperature while the treatment mixture is being conveyed to the outlet of the mixing device during the first segment of the predetermined program; and
h) maintaining the temperature of the at least one heating device at a second predetermined temperature after the treatment mixture has been conveyed to the further processing device and the mixing chamber is free of the treatment mixture during the second segment of the predetermined program, the second predetermined temperature being less than the first predetermined temperature.