(EP931035-A1)      Solid organic waste (2) is fed into a treatment tank (1) with a horizontal bottom. Screw propellers (7) stir and push the organic mass forwards in a continuous flow from inlet (3) to outlet (4). The propellers remain continuously immersed in the mass so that there is no idle phase as they move forwards and back along the length of the tank with incremental sideways movements.    The screw propellers are inclined at 10-50 to the vertical, the precise angle selected to secure the desired advance of the organic mass. The mass is moved from the inlet across longitudinal zones divided by furrows. At each cycle these gradually advance towards the outlet at such a speed that each particle of the mass remains in the tank for an equal time. A device at the outlet gradually extracts the treated material regardless of the operation of the propellers, and batches it to obtain a regular outflow. The screw propellers plough through the lower layers of the organic mass to prevent the formation at the bottom of the tank of a hardened layer of waste impermeable to air.    USE -   The plant is used for treating organic waste especially from agriculture and associated industries.    ADVANTAGE -   The apparatus eliminates dead time due to idle return of the screw propellers. It gives uniform treatment to the waste mass. The screw propellers are self-cleaned by eliminating threads and rags which become wrapped around the screws. The mass is subjected to forced aeration to minimise condensation inside the building holding the treatment tank. Heat is recovered and used to heat ventilated air circulating inside the building.    (US6284529-B1)      Solid organic waste (2) is fed into a treatment tank (1) with a horizontal bottom. Screw propellers (7) stir and push the organic mass forwards in a continuous flow from inlet (3) to outlet (4). The propellers remain continuously immersed in the mass so that there is no idle phase as they move forwards and back along the length of the tank with incremental sideways movements.    The screw propellers are inclined at 10-50 to the vertical, the precise angle selected to secure the desired advance of the organic mass. The mass is moved from the inlet across longitudinal zones divided by furrows. At each cycle these gradually advance towards the outlet at such a speed that each particle of the mass remains in the tank for an equal time. A device at the outlet gradually extracts the treated material regardless of the operation of the propellers, and batches it to obtain a regular outflow. The screw propellers plough through the lower layers of the organic mass to prevent the formation at the bottom of the tank of a hardened layer of waste impermeable to air.    USE -   The plant is used for treating organic waste especially from agriculture and associated industries.    ADVANTAGE -   The apparatus eliminates dead time due to idle return of the screw propellers. It gives uniform treatment to the waste mass. The screw propellers are self-cleaned by eliminating threads and rags which become wrapped around the screws. The mass is subjected to forced aeration to minimise condensation inside the building holding the treatment tank. Heat is recovered and used to heat ventilated air circulating inside the building.