The Visiam Thermal Vessel and Vacuum Explosion Process
 
The Vacuum Explosion Process entails the following discrete steps:
First, unsorted MSW, or any other biomass feedstock, is loaded into a Visiam Thermal Vessel and non-potable water is added to the mix.
Second, the vessel door is then closed and a vacuum is drawn, after which, the water and MSW are heated by internal radiant coils and the vessel is rotated slowly for sixty minutes. During this time, the MSW is pasteurized at a heat level of approximately 270°F so that cellulosic components such as paper, cardboard, leaves, vegetable and food wastes undergo a mild chemical degradation and are structurally broken down.
Third, once the pressure reaches approximately 20psig, the Visiam Thermal Vessel is depressurized and the steam created in the process is vented to a water storage tank and condensed for reuse in the next load. At this stage, the contents of the Visiam Thermal Vessel have been pasteurized and the cellulosic material is reduced to a nearly odorless, damp, easily screened mass while the metal and aluminum cans as well as plastic bottles are washed and de-labeled. In addition, the light plastic materials are in a long string-like form and any glass has been shattered.
Finally, the Visiam Thermal Vessel is unloaded and passed via conveyors to a trommel, a rotating 3/4” screen, where essentially the entire cellulosic/organic residue is separated from the recyclable elements. The cans, plastics and oversized objects emerge from the end of the trommel and are sent on to a separation system.
The separated organic material is then available for land spreading, anaerobic digestion to methane or fermentation to ethanol or chemical conversion through further processing. The total process consumes only 285 Btu/lb of material processed and significantly reduces the volume of MSW requiring landfilling – the process results in an 80 – 85% reduction in the volume of MSW placed in a landfill.
VIDEO OF VISIAM PROCESS http://www.thinkvisiam.com/media/visiam.wmv
The VEP:
Accelerates the degradation of the cell walls of organic material through its Vacuum Explosion Process in combination with the tumbling and heating effects of the Visiam Thermal Vessel thus resulting in a higher release of sugars and other fermentable elements than any other processes.
Processes the feedstock up to 2700F and 15-20 psig, thus eliminating the use of high-pressure steam which degrades the quality of the organics
Reduces the volume of MSW, before separation (organics, metals, plastics), by up to 65%
Recovers up to 25% of the input energy by utilizing a closed loop system which heats the water used to mix in with the subsequent loads
Operates at heat levels which causes light plastics to become long and string-like which allows for separation, recovery and recycling in a rotary trommel screen
Does not require a boiler and the water loop is closed thus allowing for a wide variety of water inputs including leachate from a landfill or other non-potable water sources
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Process
