Microwave waste heating system and related features

1 . A system for continuously processing waste material, comprising:

at least one microwave generator;

a first conveyor unit;

at least a first microwave guide operatively connecting the at least one microwave generator to the first conveyor unit;

the first conveyor unit provided in a first housing that comprises at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via the first microwave guide; and

at least one microwave suppression tunnel comprising at least one flexible and/or movable microwave reflecting component within the tunnel, wherein the microwave reflecting component is a mesh flap configured to absorb, deflect, and/or block microwave energy,

wherein the first conveyor unit is configured to receive and continuously process a quantity of flowing waste material in accordance with a target specification, at a first processing step comprising heating the waste material, as it flows within the first housing, to a first temperature for a first time period to reduce contaminants of the waste material in accordance with the target specification, wherein the first processing step is configured to perform a sterilizing, pasteurizing, or other heat treatment of the waste material in accordance with the target specification, the system being configured such that contaminants of the waste material are reduced to or below a predetermined target level specified by the target specification, and the waste material is caused to be suitable for at least one of reuse, resale, disposal, and consumption, and

wherein at least a portion of the at least one microwave reflecting component is configured to be deflected as the flowing waste material passes through the tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the waste material is no longer passing through the tunnel.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second conveyor unit, the second conveyor unit provided in a second housing that comprises at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via a second microwave guide, wherein the second conveyor unit is configured to receive the quantity of flowing waste material, and is further configured to heat the waste material within the second housing at a second processing step, and wherein the second processing step comprises heating the waste material to a second temperature.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the second temperature is equal to or greater than the first temperature.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is at least 50 degrees C., and wherein the first time period is at least 15 seconds.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is at least 98.9 degrees C.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the waste material comprises at least one of human waste, fecal sewage, animal waste, plant waste, food waste, contaminated waste, hazardous waste, industrial waste, semi-solid waste, solid waste, chemical waste, biowaste, biological waste, pharmaceutical waste, medication waste, hormone waste, biosludge, and waste-activated sludge.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein after the first processing step, the waste material is substantially free of the contaminants.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the received waste material contains at least a first percent water by weight, and the first percent water by weight of the waste material is reduced to a second percent water by weight lower than the first percent water by weight during or after the first processing step.

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a processing speed of the system is adjustable such that the processing speed can be reduced to increase heating and/or moisture reduction of the waste material, or can be increased to reduce heating and/or moisture reduction of the waste material being processed within at least the first conveyor unit.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the tunnel is either:

a) an inlet microwave suppression tunnel associated with an inlet of the first conveyor unit, or

b) an outlet microwave suppression tunnel associated with an outlet of the first conveyor unit.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is at least 50 degrees C., and wherein the first time period is at least 20 minutes.

12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the target specification is a waste regulatory specification.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the waste regulatory specification comprises a level meeting sewage sludge pathogen reduction requirements set forth in 40 CFR § 503.32.

14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise microbial matter.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the microbial matter comprises pathogens.

16 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microwave reflecting component and the first housing is coated with a non-stick coating.

17 . A method for continuously processing waste material, comprising the steps of:

receiving a quantity of waste material at a first conveyor unit, wherein the waste material passes through an inlet microwave suppression tunnel before entering the first conveyor unit;

continuously transporting a flow of the waste material along the first conveyor unit;

emitting microwave energy from at least one microwave generator operatively connected to a respective microwave guide, and heating the flowing waste material within a first housing of the first conveyor unit when the microwave energy is absorbed by at least a portion of the flowing waste material within the first housing, wherein the waste material is heated to a first temperature for a first time period at a first processing step to reduce contaminants of the waste material in accordance with a target specification;

performing a sterilizing, pasteurizing, or other heat treatment of the waste material in accordance with the target specification as part of the first processing step;

processing the waste material such that contaminants of the waste material are reduced to or below a predetermined target level of the target specification and the waste material is caused to be suitable for at least one of reuse, resale, disposal, and consumption; and

causing the processed flowing waste material to exit through an outlet microwave suppression tunnel,

wherein at least one of the inlet or the outlet microwave suppression tunnel comprises at least one flexible and/or movable mesh flap within the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel,

wherein the at least one mesh flap is configured to perform at least one of absorbing, deflecting, and blocking microwave energy, and

wherein at least a portion of the at least one mesh flap is configured to be deflected as the flowing waste material passes through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the waste material is no longer passing through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving the flowing waste material at a second conveyor unit provided in a second housing; and

performing a second processing step to the flowing waste material within the second housing using the at least one microwave generator coupled to the second housing of the second conveyor unit,

wherein the second processing step comprises heating the waste material to a second temperature.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the target specification is a waste regulatory specification that comprises a level meeting sewage sludge pathogen reduction requirements set forth in 40 CFR § 503.32.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first temperature is at least 50 degrees C., and wherein the first time period is at least 15 seconds.