Various types of feed systems are available for MCSTM systems. Conventional ram feeders are typically used on smaller installations, while larger systems may utilize a conveyer system to carry the feed to the ram. The hydraulic ram pushes the waste through a pair of "sealing doors" into the combustion chamber near the top of the V-hearth. The waste material then slowly dries and burns while it migrates down the slanted hearth by the force of gravity and the weight of the material added behind it. Ash collection is greatly simplified by the V-hearth configuration. Ash collects at the bottom of the hearth where it is ejected out of the incinerator by a hydraulic ram into an ash pit. During combustion, the waste is reduced by approximately 90% by volume and 80% by weight depending on composition. The ash can be manually removed from the ash pit by a front end loader, or an ash conveyer may be installed to automatically transfer the ash to a hopper or truck for sale or for transport to a landfill.
