DE202014010661U1 - Waste package fermenter - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular mobile system for the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, comprising: a plurality of sealed boxes, each containing waste to be fermented; a plurality of tunnels, each including a plurality of separately transportable containers sealed end to end and / or stacked one upon another to form a tunnel for receiving the waste in the boxes; Rails on which the plurality of boxes containing the organic waste are loaded into the tunnels at a first end; and rails on which the plurality of crates containing the fermented organic waste are discharged from the tunnels at a second end; wherein the tunnels are configured to receive the plurality of boxes and then gas-tightly seal and contain the boxes for a given fermentation period of the waste contained therein; the system further comprising a bundle of such tunnels arranged side by side, each tunnel including a plurality of gas tight containers sealingly connected end to end and / or stacked on top of each other, each tunnel having a number and / or size of containers which is selected to define a volume for the tunnel corresponding to a daily volume of waste to be processed, and wherein the number of side-by-side tunnels is selected such that the number of days, is required for all tunnels to be loaded from a first tunnel on a first day to a last tunnel on a final day, equal to the number of days of the fermentation period, so that when the last tunnel is loaded, the waste in the first tunnel for the fermentation period has been in the tunnel and is being unloaded; the system further comprising a gas outlet (33) common to all tunnels and exhaustable by the gas generated in the tunnel during the fermentation period and a valve assembly (32, 35) adapted to to insulate the tunnel to be charged and discharged from the gas outlet.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for the fermentation of large volumes of organic waste to produce methane gas. The present invention also relates to a method for maintaining the fermentation process in a sealed fermentation environment.

To date, landfills have been one of the more conventional means of disposal of (mostly) non-hazardous municipal waste. A large proportion of the total waste is of organic origin, which is largely derived from household and restaurant leftovers. These organic materials are degraded by bacteria or other natural processes, with by-products of these containing gases and liquids that can be hazardous. These emissions may be very harmful to humans and the wider environment, so that in recent years the operation of a landfill has been severely regulated in developed economies.

The major hazards include uncontrolled emissions of gases, methane (highly flammable), hydrogen sulphide (high levels for humans) and carbon dioxide and liquids (landfill leachate) that can contaminate groundwater and serve as a breeding ground for parasites, mosquitoes, insects and the like.

Most of the biodegradation that occurs at landfill sites occurs under anaerobic conditions (i.e., in the absence of oxygen). This particular environment causes colonization and the growth of anaerobic bacteria. One of their major waste by-products is methane gas and the liquid phase (seep liquid).

As a result, regulations have been imposed. In order to prevent contamination of groundwater, landfill sites have been lined with impermeable materials so that leachate circulation and recovery systems can be installed. A network of pipes and pumps are required for gas capture and it is also necessary to cover off-set locations to prevent the risk of fire from persistent volatile methane emissions lasting up to 25 years. These preventive measures are very expensive and require constant monitoring and maintenance to prevent the escape and contamination of the environment. In addition, landfills have a limited lifespan.

It is therefore common knowledge for the practitioner in the waste industry that the anaerobic fermentation of organic materials being decomposed produces as a by-product methane gas. It is also known in the waste industry that large volume anaerobic fermentation is a successful means of operating power generation generators with the methane gas that are in a disused mine or gorge, which are clad and have areas filled up as a landfill site are generated. Conventionally, the landfill site then naturally becomes what is known as a land bioreactor, the gas being able to be withdrawn through a pipe system installed in the landfill. It is also known to use fermenters or bioreactors that operate on a smaller scale in a vertical, horizontal or other orientation. Such fermenters operate on a stack basis or plug base, for example, for raw materials that are often made from agricultural waste.

A portable fermenter system is off DE 202010000437 in which modules are combined to create a tunnel through which waste can be conveyed in an uninterrupted process.

Continuous processes must always be monitored by a biologist who controls speed, input and the like based on monitored parameters. The amount of gas generated in such uninterrupted systems is highly variable, with scalability limited to particular situations.

Existing systems are more for low-capacity production and not for large urban businesses that could serve a large city. In addition, conventional fermentation systems are designed primarily for agricultural applications that have losses due to the nature of their loading operations and their discharge openings. These losses release gas into the atmosphere in a dangerous manner.

The present invention aims to market these natural processes and substantially eliminate all associated hazards by using a tunneling, containment and material handling system and a process which substantially eliminates all of the gas produced by the anaerobic fermentation the selected degradation period in an efficient and effective batch process can be created.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a system for the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, comprising: a plurality of boxes, each containing waste to be fermented; a plurality of containers sealingly connected end-to-end and / or stacked to form a tunnel for receiving the waste, rails on which the plurality of boxes containing the organic waste are loaded into the tunnel; and rails on which the multiple crates containing the fermented organic waste are discharged from the tunnel; wherein the tunnel is configured to receive the plurality of boxes and then to be sealed to contain the boxes for a given period for the fermentation of the waste contained therein; the system including a bundle of such tunnels arranged side by side, each tunnel containing a plurality of containers sealingly connected end to end and / or stacked one on top of the other, the number and / or size of the containers forming one Define tunnels are selected to define a daily volume of waste to be processed, and the number of tunnels arranged side by side is selected based on the number of days of the given fermentation period.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a process for the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, comprising: sealingly connecting a plurality of containers end to end and / or one above the other to form a tunnel to receive the waste; Providing the waste for the tunnel in several boxes across rails in the tunnel, sealing the closed tunnel containing the boxes for a given fermentation period; and unloading the boxes via rails after the fermentation period; wherein the tunnels are provided in a bundle containing a tunnel for each day of the fermentation period, and wherein the number of tunnels is such that when a tunnel is being loaded another tunnel has been included in the waste for the entire fermentation period is, can be unloaded.

By separating substantially all of the organic material from the waste and receiving this material in a completely closed system in a batch process, substantially all the methane gas produced by the biological activity can be captured and used to generate electricity. Leachate is completely trapped and the remaining organic content is diluted to a degree that allows it to be safely emptied into a sewer without further treatment.

In addition, in preferred embodiments, the garbage can fermenter uses doors and loading stalls at each end to facilitate the loading and unloading of garbage in packages, e.g. In boxes, containers and the like. The doors are closed once a batch of waste has been loaded to ensure a total area or airtight closure and to ensure that the gas is held in the tunnel. The packages roll or drive or glide or run into the tunnel. The tunnel is thus loaded end-to-end with boxes of organic waste. After the fermentation period, the stack is removed from the other end of the tunnel. The embodiment is not limited to doors and could have other means for closing the ends of the tunnel to trap the waste, e.g. As flaps, grilles and other structures or closures, which are made of parts, so that the tunnel is sealed at its ends.

The preferred waste container fermenter is designed to ensure that all contents are contained within two barriers of an overflow container. A mechanism or air lance or similar means may be used to rupture the surface of formed scum so that the gas can escape.

In the preferred embodiment, the waste fermenter is supplied with organic waste in cartridges from smaller packages or boxes, containers or buckets or cups, and when the tunnel is filled, the doors at the ends of the tunnel are closed and any remaining air is discharged (deflated) so that high-quality methane production can begin as soon as possible.

In the preferred embodiment, other loading, door operation, and other draining may be used to operate the system without affecting the primary process of producing methane gas in the containerized tunnel gas tank system.

The present invention is preferably configured to be made from containers, e.g. As transport containers, which are stacked end to end and are sealed to form a tunnel that collects the gases from the process and transmits to a gas pipeline. A bin tunnel with doors at each end to form a closed chamber would meet the required throughput of a city or a waste collection process. As such, the garbage can fermenter can meet a high requirement and consequently produce large volumes of methane gas. The system is useful for cities, but not it may also be used, for example, for industrial or household applications. The invention may employ containers that are, for example, vertical, stacked, horizontal, circular, rectangular, square, long, or short, and in some preferred embodiments use shipping containers as are known in the freight industry.

The waste package fermentation system is preferably configured as described herein.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

1 shows a waste container fermentation system in a plan view and in a side view;

2 shows a waste package fermentation system depicted as an assembly or stack of individual fermentation tunnels as in FIG 1 shown formed;

3 is a simple diagram showing how the array should be configured;

4 a high level process flowchart of how the present invention could be used;

5 shows an example of a system for marrying the organic waste before fermentation; and

6 is a schematic view showing the piping for an embodiment of the invention.

Now, with respect to 1 a preferred embodiment of the invention in a rough outline. This invention preferably utilizes a tunnel formed by one or more containers or tubular structures as means for containing / receiving degrading organic waste ( 1 ) is joined together. The tunnels may contain two or more rows of containers or tubular structures (eg made of steel) which depend on the desired capacity of the available floor space one above the other ( 2 ) can be stacked. The stacking of the containers means that the gas produced by the fermentation process naturally rises and can be discharged at the top of the tunnel, with connecting pipes, etc., necessary. The tunnel extends from ( 3 ) to ( 4 ), which is the length of the tunnel. The preprocessed mainly organic waste is sent to the tunnel z. In packages or boxes ( 5 ). The packages or boxes of mainly organic waste move into the tunnel ( 6 by mechanical means, by gravity or by other means. The packages or boxes ( 7 ) of mainly organic waste are ready to be removed ( 7 ) when they have left the tunnel after they have been in the tunnel for the mining or fermentation period. The packages or boxes ( 6 ) and ( 7 Rolling, gliding, wedging, blending, stopping, moving in and out of the tunnel, as required by the design and choice of operator. A door or opening ( 9 ) and a door or opening ( 10 ) allow the mainly organic waste to be locked in a batch process and to form an airtight seal which thus contains the generated gas. The final container or scaffolding ( 11 ) allow unloading and loading ( 12 ). If multiple containers are used to form the tunnels, the containers or tubular structures are mechanically attached (e.g., welded) or bonded together and sealed to provide an airtight seal (e.g. 13 ) to build. A double seal can be used. The containers or structures may be based on foundation structures ( 14 ) or anchored. The rising methane gas is at high altitude from each tunnel section (each tank) at the highest point through a piping system ( 15 ) sucked off.

Now, with respect to 2 a preferred embodiment of the invention described. 2 shows a bundle of tunnels (as in 1 shown) as high and as long as required by the process volumes and the fermentation period. Organic waste is fed, kept and, once fermented, discharged. This invention preferably uses cargo containers stacked one above the other and connected end-to-end. Preferably, the height and length of the tunnel correspond to the daily volume of waste to be processed, and the bundle also contains one tunnel per day of the fermentation period. This allows for uninterrupted batch processing throughout the fermentation period. For example, every day a tunnel is loaded with packages or boxes of mainly organic waste. The next day (or after any selected period) a next tunnel is loaded, etc. The number of tunnels is chosen so that every day (or any other selected period) a new tunnel is filled and then at the end of the number of days of the fermentation period the first tunnel (which was loaded before this number of days) can be emptied because the waste is now fermented. This tunnel can then be loaded with new waste. The next day is the next tunnels ready to be unloaded and refilled, etc.

The new rotating batch / batching concept can be described with reference to the simple schedule of 3 be explained. The length and height of the tunnels are chosen so that each tunnel has a volume corresponding to a desired production lot volume - that is, how much waste is loaded into a production lot. This is preferably a daily volume, but it could also be, for example, a half-day, two-day volume, or other volume, depending on the site's requirements and capabilities. Each tunnel is therefore filled with a production lot, sealed and left to fermentation. The tunnels are arranged side by side with the number of tunnels (width of the number of tunnels) determined by the length of the fermentation period such that by the time the last tunnel is loaded, the first tunnel is loaded for the entire fermentation period been and can be unloaded.

The tunnels can be installed at all corner casting positions 15 be interlocked as shown. The bundle lies or rests on foundation supports or sockets or strips 17 . 18 , The bundle is made in this example by a machine from a hard rack 17 laden and from a raised rack 18 unload at the opposite end of the tunnel. Of course, other charging methods can be used.

Now, with respect to 4 an example of the waste management process is described. In step 20 waste is collected. This can of course be collected from any source and in any way and brought to the site of the fermenter. The invention is particularly useful in handling municipal waste on a relatively large scale, but it could be used for any waste containing organic material.

For example, in one particular application it is suggested that a truck / trailer / container has loaded 60 m ³ of waste and preferably transports city waste during the night and at non-peak times to minimize any congestion on the roads.

Operationally, upstream workers deliver their loads to, for example, a truck, truck, or compressor at one of several stations (step 21 ). The incoming loads can be weighed and recorded and the load visually inspected for illicit items such as medical waste.

The reloading of waste from the transhipment stations around a city is unified in a preferred embodiment by standardized garbage containers z. B. with a length of 40 feet and a maximum capacity of 70 m ³ , each of which is locked on its own skeletal trailer, can be used.

During the day, the containers can be filled and parked at the transfer stations ready for later shipment. To minimize odors, it is best if the transhipment takes place within 24 or 48 hours. This should apply to any accepted waste, if the transfer stations preferentially accept 24/7.

The containers are preferably reloaded at night to benefit from the illuminated traffic.

When the full bins have reached the recycling facility, they are unloaded from the stack at the site and the empty bins are loaded onto the trailers. The full containers are stacked. The recycling plant will then be loaded overnight and ready to start the morning recycling spurt.

Tilt racks can allow for longitudinal lifting of the containers and therefore tailgate discharge by specifically designed machines.

Before the light of day, recycling plant filling hoppers are filled. The funnel size is preferably at least 150% of a container capacity.

During the recycling relapses preferably no deliveries are made by the reloading stations. The forklift truck is dedicated to the operation of supporting the tipping racks to fill the hopper. The storage area of the containers has a minimum area, so that the fork transfer times for tilting the rack are minimized.

The waste is sorted to remove, for example, recyclable waste and the like. First, medical waste is removed as described above. This can be done with magnets and highly trained personnel.

The remainder of the waste may be sorted, for example, by picking on the main sorting lines which preferably pass through a machine shop which mechanically slits any film or plastic low density bags (LDP bags) around the view of the collectors to optimize the waste. This is for safety and efficiency.

The waste then moves down the main conveyors, which may be of any desired size. Each collector has been trained to identify a particular waste stream (eg clear film or bottles and the like). Each collector has between them and the conveyor a translucent clear plexiglass tube. These pipes have mechanical level flaps on ground level directly above the transverse conveyors which are filled by the workers. In addition, line inspectors check what is collected by the workers before random investigations are made. This allows the inspectors to correct any imperfections before the transhipment conveyors reach the run below the main lines. The effect is to stop / continue quality control, which proves effective if line inspectors are well trained.

The collectors select the recyclable materials from the main conveyor and arrange the collected waste through their Plexiglas tubes, which deliver down on the transverse conveyors and then deliver in boxes. These boxes are then stacked and processed away from the recycling lines, as required by different recycled material and buyers of these recyclable fabrics (step 27 ).

In addition, an automatic sorting of the waste is possible to remove everything except for the organic waste to be fed to the fermenter.

Although such sorting is preferred, the invention could operate without this step, but such operation is not ideal.

The main conveyors are set at a constant speed in this embodiment to process the waste.

The organic waste remains on the conveyor to be preferably macerated and placed in boxes which are finally loaded into the fermentor.

Of course, the organic waste for fermentation may be separated in any other suitable manner.

In this preferred method, the system of waste transport quickly moves the waste through the transfer stations in the city, it moves the waste in closed boxes, it stacks the waste in closed boxes until it is ready for sorting, it can sort in the cool of the nighttime To minimize perspiration and odor, it quickly sorts the large volume sorting lines so that each container is open and the organic (more odorous) waste is entrapped in the bioreactor within an hour of exposure to the local atmosphere the bioreactor seals all waste odors.

Once the organic waste has been separated from other waste, it is conveyed to the fermenter. Preferably, the organic material becomes 60 in a machine like in 5 shown marched. This unites the material and makes the degradation process more efficient. It is an important factor in achieving a reliable known fermentation period, but it is not essential to the operation of the invention.

The (often malodorous) organic material is loaded into boxes or the like during a time of collection and sorting that is as short as possible. These boxes (which may be similar to gold mine boxes) are loaded into the tunnel that has been selected for daytime operation. The tunnels are filled from end to end with boxes filled with organic waste, then the doors are closed. The preferably gas-tight doors remain closed during the fermentation period (eg 45 days). The odors or the gas can only escape via the exhaust pipe. The next day the next tunnel is loaded. The next day the next tunnel is loaded. This is continued day in and day out. Preferably, the number of tunnels is equal to the number of days of the fermentation period, so that when all tunnels are filled, the nutrients (digested sludge or compost) are simply dumped from the first (step 23 ) and new gas-producing organic material is filled. The nutrients are then processed, pasteurized (if necessary) and safely returned to the land.

In embodiments in which the tunnels are loaded with boxes of waste, there is a gas-tight and double overflow container effect provided by the sealed boxes in the sealed tunnels, which provides an advantage over landfill sites.

Another advantage of using boxes in containers is that any contamination on the box containing the contaminant is restricted / contained and is not scattered, thereby causing contamination throughout the collected waste, such as, for example could happen to a landfill site.

The gas is passed through a pipe (step 25 ) at extremely low and therefore safe pressures to encounter a generator for generating electricity, e.g. For example, a Clarke Energy Jenbacher (by GE) gas powered reciprocating generator, a tracked generator, or another generator to generate electricity.

The system uses "rotary batch processing" and can achieve high volumes per day at a fraction of the cost of landfill bioreactor systems.

The crates remain closed in their tunnels during the fermentation period, in one example 45 days (which, of course, may be a longer or shorter period), where the organic contents of the crates are decomposed and gas is taken out.

The organic material in the boxes may be static during the fermentation period. Alternatively, the boxes could have an interconnecting tubing or means for pumping leachate, gas, or mixing a premixed accelerator through, up through, or into, the bulk of organic material, for example, with rod or tubing risers, to allow them to pass into the individual A seepage takes place or their contents experience some movement, if an increase in performance is required. This could require pumping from outside to inside the tunnel.

Furthermore, the tunnels can be heated, cooled or temperature controlled according to the operator's request.

Fermentation rates are well known and well documented. The fermentation rate may change due to the effects of temperature, waste content and waste quality. This in turn gives different degrees of gas volumes and quality. It is well known that food waste gives a good quality gas.

The fermenter or digester of the invention provides a unitized assembly or bundle of tunnels for the fermentation to take place. In the most preferred embodiment, the bundle includes a plurality of tunnels connected side by side. The tunnels each contain a plurality of containers connected end-to-end and, in some embodiments, stacked one upon the other according to the daily volume of waste. The number of tunnels connected side by side in the bundle corresponds to the number of days of the selected fermentation period. In an example where the fermentation period is about 45 days, the bioreactor preferably has 45 groups of tunnels. For example, if they have a set capacity per tunnel, operators will fill a tunnel every day with organic material to capacity.

The present invention therefore provides fermenters for high mass waste in static bundles wherein large volumes of waste are constantly subjected to fermentation without any intervention or any monitoring by scientists or the like. The only movement in the process is unloading from the containers and loading the boxes into the containers.

In addition, the fact that this large volume or high mass fermentation waste is substantially static (as compared, for example, to movement through the tunnels in a dynamic manner) creates a substantially constant volume of gas which is removed by pipes and fed to the generator. The resulting generated energy is therefore fairly constant and reliable.

After the fermentation period, the selected tunnel for filling this day can be isolated from the other tunnels by closing valves on the main gas extraction manifold. The tunnel can then be opened by opening the doors at each end. The stacked boxes can then be lifted out of the digester, and new boxes can be loaded into the other end, pushing the rolling stock through the tunnel.

When the boxes are stacked at the discharge end of the bioreactor, a fork-lift truck with rotator operates to push the contents of the fermented waste into the provided pit area.

The system of the invention provides a highly environmentally friendly system with limited overflow and limited emission of nitrogen oxides or toxic gases.

Any residual liquid may be dumped and pumped into a EU-sanitized water treatment facility before being discharged into local waterways.

The solids (nutrients) remaining in the fermented waste are then loaded into waste containers by a front loader and transported by trucks to a rural area defined for this "compost" intake.

This operation should preferably be done during the day so that lorries, trailers and waste containers are best used can be. At night, these trailers transport waste from the transfer stations.

The fermenter and generator plant is preferably by a piping system as in 6 connected shown. In one example, the gas is aspirated from the fermentor using a blower. A well-designed gas collection system flexibly captures the gas from various pumps and handles high temperature seep liquid, condensate and air content - ensuring cost-effective collection and stable gas quality.

When the doors are opened for loading, the valve, through which the gas is extracted, is closed (manually or automatically). The doors then close when the tunnel has been loaded, and a valve is opened to create a partial vacuum (ie to create anaerobic conditions). The valve for the pipe for sucking off the generated gas is then opened. Accurate will be on 6 Referenced, wherein 6 an arrangement of tunnels 31 shows that are stacked on top of each other only three examples. In practice, one or more levels of tunnels may be used. The gas produced by the fermentation of the waste flows upward through the connections between the stacked tunnels.

Before allowing the gas through the valves 32 is sucked off, is another valve 35 opened (as soon as the tunnels have been loaded and closed) to remove air and to create a vacuum or a partial negative pressure. The valve 35 is then closed and the valves 32 will be opened. The generated gas is passed through the pipe 33 to the generator 34 sucked.

The gas generated from the organic material is trapped throughout the fermentation process.

The system is relatively inexpensive in terms of materials, installation, operation and maintenance. The system can be operated continuously and has few moving parts. It is structurally strong and robust and makes land more efficient as landfill. The system is portable, salable and reusable; while landfills are permanent. The overground system can be emptied and reordered as a workstation, for example, if an area should be developed for inclusion. The system has a lower energy consumption; apart from the rolling stock wheels, there are no moving parts. This means that the system is different from normal mechanical systems. No heating or mechanical intervention is required. The process simply carries out its fermentation in a natural way. The operating cost savings are significant.

There is also an area for greater energy gains. The roof of the bioreactor provides the perfect platform for solar panels if additional energy is needed to generate heat in the bioreactor. The grid structure provides the most cost-effective effective insulation and a safe, clean environment for the solar panels. The solar energy, for example, contribute to the power supply of the system.

The sides of the bundle of containers are ideal marketing and advertising media. This contributes to the promotion and this space could even be sold.

Unlike landfills, the organic material feed can be selected and added (eg seep liquid), optimizing gas production. It has long been established that the cargo container industry has the ability to easily build such volumes, enabling this solution to all countries and cities worldwide.

Since container factories are capable of building hundreds of containers a day, a system can be delivered and installed within a year. That means a gas production and therefore an electricity generation that can be started within a year. Other forms of "downstream" waste management can take five or more years to build and work.

• – Landfill, Gas, Anaerobic Digestion and Chartered Engineering Consultants, SLR Consultants Ltd. aus UK (SLR sind weltweit anerkannte Experten auf dem Gebiet, die bestätigen, dass die Gasentnahme die Projekterwartungen erfüllt).
• – Die Gasversorgung erfüllt die Bedürfnisse von Gasgeneratoren hinsichtlich der Gasqualität und des Gasvolumens, um die Erzeugung zu ermöglichen.
• – ASME-Druckbehältnis-Codes und -Normen für Methangas bei den niedrigen Arbeitsdrücken der Systeme.
• – Britische Baucodes und -normen für industrielle Gebäude und Anlagen.
• – NFPA-Brandschutz-Bestimmungen.
• – UK HSE-Anforderungen an Gesundheit und Sicherheit des Personals und der Arbeitsumgebung.
• – UK Code PPG2 und alle Normen für die sichere statische Aufbewahrung und Umschließung gefährlicher Flüssigkeiten.
• – Britische Normen für den Korrosionsschutz von Maschinen, die in Kontakt mit hochgradig korrodierenden Substanzen sind.

The system fulfills and meets the following requirements:

• - Landfill, Gas, Anaerobic Digestion and Chartered Engineering Consultants, SLR Consultants Ltd. from the UK (SLR are world-renowned experts in the field who confirm that gas sampling meets project expectations).
• - The gas supply meets the needs of gas generators in terms of gas quality and gas volume to enable production.
• - ASME pressure vessel codes and standards for methane gas at low working pressures of systems.
• - British building codes and standards for industrial buildings and facilities.
• - NFPA fire safety regulations.
• - UK HSE requirements for health and safety of personnel and working environment.
• - UK Code PPG2 and all standards for safe static storage and containment of hazardous liquids.
• - British standards for the corrosion protection of machines in contact with highly corrosive substances.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202010000437 [0007]

Claims (7)

Modular mobile system for the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, comprising: a plurality of sealed boxes, each containing waste to be fermented; a plurality of tunnels, each including a plurality of separately transportable containers sealed end to end and / or stacked one upon another to form a tunnel for receiving the waste in the boxes; Rails on which the plurality of boxes containing the organic waste are loaded into the tunnels at a first end; and rails on which the plurality of crates containing the fermented organic waste are discharged from the tunnels at a second end; wherein the tunnels are configured to receive the plurality of boxes and then gas-tightly seal and contain the boxes for a given fermentation period of the waste contained therein; the system further comprising a bundle of such tunnels arranged side by side, each tunnel including a plurality of gas tight containers sealingly connected end to end and / or stacked on top of one another, each tunnel having a number and / or size of containers which is selected to define a volume for the tunnel corresponding to a daily volume of waste to be processed, and wherein the number of side-by-side tunnels is selected such that the number of days, is required for all tunnels to be loaded from a first tunnel on a first day to a last tunnel on a final day, equal to the number of days of the fermentation period, so that when the last tunnel is loaded, the waste in the first tunnel for the fermentation period has been in the tunnel and is being unloaded; the system further comprising a gas outlet ( 33 ), which is common to all tunnels and can be sucked off by the gas generated in the tunnel during the fermentation period, and a valve assembly ( 32 . 35 ) designed to insulate the tunnel to be charged and discharged from the gas outlet. The system of claim 1, wherein the containers include cargo containers. A system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the containers comprise tubes. A system according to any one of the preceding claims for carrying out anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, comprising: sealingly connecting a plurality of containers end-to-end and / or one above another to form a gas-tight sealed tunnel for receiving the waste, the number and / or the size of the containers define a tunnel having a volume corresponding to a daily volume of waste to be processed; Providing the waste for the tunnel in a plurality of sealed boxes via rails into the tunnel at a first end, sealing the closed tunnel, containing the boxes for a given fermentation period; and unloading the boxes from a second end of the tunnel via rails after the fermentation period; wherein the tunnels are provided in a bundle containing a tunnel for each day of the fermentation period, and wherein the number of tunnels is selected such that the number of days for all tunnels to be loaded from a first tunnel on the first day to a last tunnel on the last day is equal to the number of days of the fermentation period, so that when the last tunnel is loaded, the waste in the first tunnel has been in the tunnel for the fermentation period and is discharged; the method further comprising: Aspirating gas generated from the waste during the fermentation period via a gas outlet common to all tunnels, and Isolating the tunnel to be unloaded and loaded relative to the gas outlet via a valve arrangement. The system of claim 4, further comprising means for providing the gas to drive a generator for generating electricity. A system according to any one of claims 4 and 5, further comprising means for collecting waste from a plurality of locations and for providing the waste into boxes in the tunnels. The system of claim 6, wherein the boxes are configured to be loaded into the tunnels on rails.

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