Liquid purification or separation – With gas-liquid surface contact means
Patent
1984-08-24
1986-09-23
Castel, Benoit
Liquid purification or separation
With gas-liquid surface contact means
210218, 210261, 48111, 435311, 435819, 435801, C02F 1104, C12P 502
Patent
active
046134336
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to apparatus for the anaerobic fermentation of organic liquid materials or especially organic waste materials.
The anaerobic fermentation of organic waste materials is a well established process and has conventionally been carried out in a closed vessel which may be provided with stirring or agitation means. It has, further, been proposed to carry out anaerobic fermentation in a packed vessel, that is a vessel packed with an ordered or random array of packing elements such as are used in the chemical enginerring industry in, for example, distillation towers, scrubbers and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found, in accordance with the present invention, that a layer of packing material may be used in an anaerobic fermentor not to serve as a medium in which anaerobic fermentation is carried but, rather, as a pervious barrier to define an anaerobic fermentation zone. By using such a layer of packing material it is possible to construct a reactor containing two or more anaerobic fermentation zones, thereby to provide a reactor capable of enhanced capacity.
According to the invention, therefore, there is provided an anaerobic fermentor comprising:
(i) a container vessel divided into at least two compartments each having a floor and a roof, a layer of liquid-pervious packing material disposed horizontally across the compartment at a position intermediate the roof and the floor with its lower surface upwardly spaced from the floor to define a fermentation zone therebetween and its upper surface downwardly spaced from the roof;
(ii) liquid conduits connecting successive compartments in series and connecting the space between the roof and packing layer of one compartment to the space between the floor and packing layer of a succeeding compartment;
(iii) means for introducing liquid to be treated into the space between the packing layer and the floor of the first of the successive compartments; and
(iv) means for removing treated liquid from the space between the packing layer and roof of the last of the successive compartments.
In operation, the liquid to be treated is introduced, via the appropriate conduit, into the first compartment in the space between the floor and packing layer of that compartment (the fermentation zone). The liquid passes upwardly through the packing layer and is then conveyed, by the appropriate conduits, to the space between the floor and packing layer of the succeeding compartment and then flows upwardly through the packing layer of that compartment and is thence conveyed downwardly to the next successive compartment or, in the case of a two compartment reactor is discharged as treated liquid material.
Generally such compartment will be provided with means for discharging gas evolved during the anaerobic fermentation (typically methane) and such means will connect with the space intermediate the upper surface of the packing layer and the roof of the compartment. Further, one or more compartments may be provided with means for discharging solids (sludge) accumulating in the fermentation zone thereof.
The successive compartments of the fermentor in accordance with the invention may be arranged vertically or horizontally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be well understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of fermentor in accordance with the invention in which the compartments are arranged vertically; and
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a fermentor in accordance with the invention in which the compartments are arranged horizontally.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a reactor in accordance with the invention comprises a closed containing vessel comprising a generally cylindrical shell 1 having a roof 2 and a floor 3. The containing vessel is divided into three superimposed compartments by means of divid
REFERENCES:
patent: Re27721 (1973-08-01), Klock
patent: 3773660 (1973-11-01), Hopwood
patent: 4248972 (1981-02-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 4336135 (1982-06-01), Price
Biomass Limited
Castel Benoit
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