Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting shredded solid waste material to a boiler is provided. The system includes a flighted drag chain conveyor positioned within a trough-like enclosure. The conveyor includes a number of drag elements mounted to each flight, the drag elements including spring mounted tines which urged the shredded waste material through the enclosure. The tines are deflectable about the axes of the respective springs so that they can deflect about difficult to move items within the conveyor enclosure. The drag elements are preferably arranged in a staggered configuration to aid in dislodging items which may be stuck within the conveyor enclosure. One or more discharge outlets are mounted to the conveyor enclosure for receiving the shredded solid waste material from the enclosure.

Abstract: A fuel feeder for feeding refuse fuel to a boiler/incinerator which includes a pair of opposed inclined conveyors defining end boundaries of the conveyor, the conveyors being independently driven so that the fuel required for variable firing rates in plural boilers can independently be supplied.

Abstract: A hopper for use in a dry ash removal system is structured with a front elevational profile which converges from top to bottom while the side elevational profile of same diverges from top to bottom to allow substantially uniform hopper cross-sectional area from top to bottom and thereby reduce incidence of ash bridging within the hopper.

Abstract: Method and system for recovering useful constituents from the bottom ash residue resulting from burning process refuse fuel as well as non-hazardous disposal of fly ash generated during the burning.