Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Separating
Patent
1995-02-15
1997-10-21
Redding, David A.
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Separating
210787, 210519, 2105321, 210535, 210540, 2091725, 209173, 4352891, B03B 530, B01D 1200, B01D 3700
Patent
active
056792638
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a feed mixture suitable to an anaerobic bioreactor.
While the importance of environmental issues, with respect to people's welfare, increases daily, the created waste must be treated so that it causes as little damage as possible, or that it can be reused. The anaerobic bioreactor is a generally known waste treatment unit for solid organic waste, such as organic matter sorted out from ordinary municipal waste. However, an advantageous operation of the anaerobic bioreactor requires that the material treated in the reactor undergoes a suitable preliminary treatment prior to feeding.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate some of the drawbacks of the prior art and to create an improved method and apparatus for producing a feed mixture which is suitable to be fed for instance to an anaerobic bioreactor. The essential novel features of the invention are apparent from the appended patent claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, solid organic waste undergoes a preliminary treatment where the waste is turned into a feed mixture for an anaerobic bioreactor, which feed mixture has various predetermined qualities. Among these qualities, let us point out a suitable solid matter content defined by biological operation, technical applicability and economical profitability. Another requirement for the feed mixture is that the temperature of the mixture is advantageous for the functions of bacteria. Moreover, in order to improve flowing and mixing properties, heavy inorganic particles surpassing a predetermined grain size, for example stone, glass and metal, as well as light particles which easily rise to the surface of the feed mixture, such as plastic and cork, are separated from the mixture before feeding it into an anaerobic bioreactor.
The apparatus of the invention, i.e. the feed mixture reactor used for producing the said feed mixture, is advantageously for instance a cylindrical tank operated in an essentially vertical position, which tank is provided for example with essentially conical members, so that inside the feed mixture reactor, advantageous conditions are created for the material contained therein, for instance with respect to the flowing of the material, in order to create the desired feed mixture. Inside the feed mixture reactor, there is installed an agitating member for preparing an advantageously homogeneous feed mixture. The feed mixture reactor is also provided with conduits for feeding waste materials and liquids used in the feed mixture, as well as for removing ready-made feed mixture to be conducted to further treatment, for instance to a bioreactor. Moreover, there are specific conduits for discharging heavy and light particles to be separated from the waste.
In the method of the invention, into the feed mixture reactor there is first fed preheated liquid, so that the feed point of the solid waste supply conduit inside the feed mixture reactor is located underneath the liquid surface. The liquid fed into the feed mixture reactor can advantageously be water, but some other liquid matter, containing for instance components that are advantageous for the bioreactor process, can also be used. The liquid is fed into the feed mixture reactor through conduits installed advantageously to the bottom part of the reactor, on an essentially lower level than the agitating member. After supplying the liquid, solid waste is fed into the reactor so that the surface formed by the mixture of the feed material and liquid reaches the desired height level. The light particles contained on the surface of the mixture are removed as overflow, and when necessary, a scraping device provided in the feed mixture reactor is used. The heavy particles obtained along with the waste are discharged at the bottom part of the reactor, advantageously through an outlet conduit provided at the end of the conical member. In the removal of heavy particles, there is employed cou
REFERENCES:
patent: 2799396 (1957-07-01), Belaskas
patent: 3399775 (1968-09-01), Ciaffone
patent: 4994179 (1991-02-01), Keefer et al.
patent: 5061375 (1991-10-01), Oyler
patent: 5405530 (1995-04-01), Weiler et al.
Jormanainen Martti Johannes
Lilja Launo Leo
Makitalo Valto Johannes
ECO Technology JVV OY
Redding David A.
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