Abstract: A method for receiving animal waste from animal confinements or other concentrated animal waste sources and for converting the waste into a complex hydrocarbon is described. The waste contains both liquids and solids. The method includes separating the liquids and solids into separate waste streams, controlling an amount of moisture in the solids waste stream such that the amount of moisture in the solid waste stream is compatible with a selected energy conversion process, and feeding the moisture controlled solid waste into the energy conversion process. The complex hydrocarbon may be suitable for use as a substitute or additive to petroleum-based asphalt binder.

Abstract: A multi-chambered pumping system is provided comprising an input cylinder configured to pump a source substance into a vessel and an effluent cylinder configured to receive an effluent from the vessel. The cylinders regulate the pressure of the source substance input into the vessel and recover the pressure of an effluent output from the vessel to pump additional quantities of source substance into the vessel. In each cylinder, a piston creates a boundary between two sections: a fluid section configured to receive working fluid and an effluent or input process section to receive the same. The fluid sections of the cylinders are in fluid communication. A guide rod is attached to each piston and may be operably sized to compensate for a pressure difference between a pressure at which the source substance is pumped into a vessel and the pressure at which an effluent is output from the vessel.

Abstract: A method for receiving animal waste from animal confinements or other concentrated animal waste sources and for converting the waste into a complex hydrocarbon is described. The waste contains both liquids and solids. The method includes separating the liquids and solids into separate waste streams, controlling an amount of moisture in the solids waste stream such that the amount of moisture in the solid waste stream is compatible with a selected energy conversion process, and feeding the moisture controlled solid waste into the energy conversion process. The complex hydrocarbon may be suitable for use as a substitute or additive to petroleum-based asphalt binder.

Abstract: A method for receiving animal waste from animal confinements or other concentrated animal waste sources and for converting the waste into a complex hydrocarbon is described. The waste contains both liquids and solids. The method includes separating the liquids and solids into separate waste streams, controlling an amount of moisture in the solids waste stream such that the amount of moisture in the solid waste stream is compatible with a selected energy conversion process, and feeding the moisture controlled solid waste into the energy conversion process. The complex hydrocarbon may be suitable for use as a substitute or additive to petroleum-based asphalt binder.

Abstract: A multi-chambered pumping system is provided comprising an input cylinder configured to pump a source substance into a vessel and an effluent cylinder configured to receive an effluent from the vessel. The cylinders regulate the pressure of the source substance input into the vessel and recover the pressure of an effluent output from the vessel to pump additional quantities of source substance into the vessel. In each cylinder, a piston creates a boundary between two sections: a fluid section configured to receive working fluid and an effluent or input process section to receive the same. The fluid sections of the cylinders are in fluid communication. A guide rod is attached to each piston and may be operably sized to compensate for a pressure difference between a pressure at which the source substance is pumped into a vessel and the pressure at which an effluent is output from the vessel.

Abstract: A method for receiving animal waste from animal confinements or other concentrated animal waste sources and for converting the waste into a complex hydrocarbon is described. The waste contains both liquids and solids. The method includes separating the liquids and solids into separate waste streams, controlling an amount of moisture in the solids waste stream such that the amount of moisture in the solid waste stream is compatible with a selected energy conversion process, and feeding the moisture controlled solid waste into the energy conversion process. The complex hydrocarbon may be suitable for use as a substitute or additive to petroleum-based asphalt binder.