Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
  • C10L5/00—Solid fuels
  • C10L5/40—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
  • C10L5/46—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin on sewage, house, or town refuse
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
  • C05F17/00—Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
  • C05F9/00—Fertilisers from household or town refuse
  • C05F9/04—Biological compost
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
  • C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
  • Y02A40/20—Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
  • Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
  • Y02E50/30—Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
  • Y02P20/141—Feedstock
  • Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
  • Y02W30/40—Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Definitions

• the present invention generally involves the conversion of biodegradable waste materials. More specifically, the invention relates to the production of useful products from a mixture of solid refuse and sewage sludge through enhanced aerobic fermentation.
• the biological decomposition of organic mate- rials through aerobic fermentation and thermal rotting is a well known natural process which has been utilized to advantage in converting municipal and industrial waste products into stable and useful materials.
• biodegradable mixtures of vegetation and manure have produced soil conditioners and fertilizers.
• Fuel products suitable for combustion in furnaces and stoves have also been made from mixtures of solid refuse and sewage sludge which have been compacted into discrete shapes and decomposed through aerobic fermentation. In order for a mixture of waste materials to undergo aerobic fermentation, the mixture must include a microbial organic component.
• biodegradable mixture For complete aerobic fermentation of a biodegradable mixture to be realized in a minimum of time, it is essential that the mixture be provided with sufficient air circulation therethrough to confine the fermentation process to one that is achieved entirely by aerobic bacteria.
• Biological de ⁇ composition in the absence of sufficient air circulation is accompanied by the evolution of gases having undesir ⁇ able odors produced through the putrifaction of the organic material by anaerobic bacteria which reproduce and thrive in the absence of oxygen.
• the present invention provides an improved system of achieving efficient and complete aerobic fer ⁇ mentation of biodegradable mixtures to produce discrete shapes that are particularly useful as a fuel product in combustion applications.
• This is achieved by forming a precursor mixture of waste materials that includes a mixture of a solid refuse and a microbial source, such as raw sewage sludge, having a moisture content of from about 50-55% by weight.
• the mixture is compacted into discrete shapes, preferably of substantially rectangular or block configuration, each of which includes an open air channel formed in at least one face thereof, whereby the ratio of the total transverse cross-sectional area of the block to the transverse cross-sectional area of the air channel is in the range of from about 6 to 31.
• the blocks are then stacked in a spaced manner, with the spacings between adjacent blocks and air channels defin ⁇ ing a pluarlity of open air circulation passageways between and through the blocks in three dimensions.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a block made according to the invention depicting an open air channel formed along one longitudinal face thereof;
• FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the block depicted in FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view depicting a plurality of the blocks shown in FIGURE 1 stacked accord ⁇ ing to the invention on a pallet for undergoing aerobic fermentation;
• FIGURE 4 is a top view of the stack of blocks depicted in FIGURE 3, partially broken away at one corner to show the orientation of individual block layers.
• FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of a block made according to the invention depicting an open air channel having a triangular cross- sectional configuration
• FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of a third embodiment of a block made according to the invention depicting an open air channel having a semicircular cross-sectional configuration.
• the present invention is advantageously prac ⁇ ticed by utilizing a mixture of waste materials which include solid refuse and raw sewage sludge, both of which are readily obtained from municipal and industrial sources.
• the solid refuse is generally characterized by the inclu ⁇ sion of cellulosic and fibrous materials which serve as binders for maintaining the structural integrity of the blocks formed according to the invention.
• the solid refuse also provides a desired porosity to the block to facilitate oxygenation of the mixture for enhanced aero ⁇ bic decomposition.
• the sewage sludge provides the neces- sary microbial source for effecting the aerobic fermenta- tion process.
• the solid refuse such as wood chips, sawdust
• Of ⁇ PI and paper wastes is derived from municipal and industrial sources and initially reduced to a workable particle size by utilizing conventional shredding and grinding apparatus.
• the particulated solid refuse is then subjected to stan- dard separation treatment during which inert solids such as metals, ceramics, glass and the like are removed.
• the microbial component is preferably raw sewage sludge, though other suitable organic materials, such as animal and septic tank wastes may also be utilized to advantage in practicing the invention.
• the raw sewage sludge is generally derived from municipal sewage disposal plants in a partially dehydrated condition, with the mois ⁇ ture content being in the range of from about 75-80% by weight.
• the particulated solid refuse and sewage sludge are mixed in such desired proportions so as to result in a mixture having a moisture content in the range of from about 50-55% by weight.
• the mixture is then compacted or molded into block form by utilizing conventional concrete block molding machines that are well known in the art.
• suitable machines of this type are manufac ⁇ tured by the Besser Company of Avea, -Michigan 49707.
• the molding pressure be such as to provide a density of about 30-40 pounds per cubic foot, preferably 33-37 pounds per cubic foot, in order to assure sufficient porosity in the molded product for maximum oxygenation of the mixture.
• the molded blocks are then stacked on pallets, preferably in the open atmosphere, and permitted to under ⁇ go undisturbed aerobic bacteria fermentation and thermal rotting during which the blocks are self-dehydrated.
• the blocks normally complete fermentation at about seven to twenty-one days, with the final dehydrated moisture con- tent being in the range of from about 15-40% by weight. If the blocks are ultimately used for combustion purposes, increased fuel value is realized in proportion to decreased final moisture content. Thus, for fuel applications, it is preferable to permit the blocks to undergo undisturbed fermentation and thermal rotting for a time period of about twenty-one days, thereby resulting in dehydration - to a final moisture content in the range of from about 515-20% by weight.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 A block 1 made according to a preferred embodi- 5 ent of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• block 1 is of a substantially rectangu ⁇ lar configuration and provided with an open air channel 3 which extends along the .entire length of a longitudinal face 5 of block 1.
• channel 3 longitudinally or ⁇ transversely across one or more longitudinal faces 5 of block 1, or even across a transverse face 7 thereof.
• the transverse cross-sectional configuration of channel 3 as shown in FIG. 2 is substantially rectangular, 5 it is understood that such configuration may assume a variety of designs, including semicircular, triangular, square or any other geometrical configuration deemed suitable for the practice of the invention.
• the cross-sectional area of channel 3 be of a certain size relative to the total cross-sectional area of transverse face 7, the latter area being deter ⁇ mined by multiplying the height and width of block 1. If the cross-sectional area of channel 3 is too small, suffi ⁇ cient air ciruclation therethrough will not be realized, thereby resulting in improper and inefficient fermentation. If the cross-sectional area of channel 3 is too large, the natural characteristics of the mixture making up block 1 will not afford sufficient structural-integrity and strength to permit the necessary manual and mechanical handling of block 1.
• block 1 in order to realize the basic advantages of structural integrity, sufficient oxygenation for proper fermentation of the biodegradable mixture, and adequate air circulation for efficient and complete fermentation, block 1 must be designed in accordance with an optimum relationship between the cross-sectional areas of block 1 and air channel 3. This relationship has been established in the form of a ratio of the total cross-sectional area of block 1 to the cross-sectional area of air channel 3, taken across a common transverse plane, as being within the range of about ⁇ to 31.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 The manner in which a plurality of blocks 1 undergo complete and efficient aerobic decomposition in accordance with the invention shall be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown therein, a plurality of blocks 1 are placed in a stack 9 and disposed on a pallet 11 or similar device for supporting stack" 9 in a raised manner to permit air circulation across the bottom thereof. As seen in FIG. 3- individual blocks 1 forming
• ( - ⁇ - the lowermost layer of stack 9 are disposed endwise with spacings 13 between . adjacent blocks.
• the second layer of stack 9 is disposed lengthwise across the first layer with spacings 15 being provided between transverse end faces 7 of adjacent blocks.
• the third layer is disposed on top of the second layer in the same orientation as the first layer, with succeeding layers being alternated in this manner so that the longitudinal axes of the blocks . of each layer are perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of blocks forming adjacent layers.
• stack 9 places air channels 3 of blocks 1 in coaxial alignment to define continuous air passageways 17 that extend completely through stack 9 in two directions and for each layer of blocks 1. Therefore, air circulation is provided for stack 9 through passageways 17 and spac ⁇ ings 13 and 15 in three directions, as generally indicated by arrows A, B and C in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since stack 9 realizes complete air circulation therethrough, maximum oxygenation of the biodegradable mixture making up blocks 1 is provided, thereby resulting in complete aerobic fer ⁇ mentation and thermal rotting of blocks 1 in the most efficient manner possible.
• FIG. 5 Another embodiment of a block made in accord- ance with the invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a rectangular block 19 is provided with an air channel 21 having a substantially triangular-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
• FIG. 6 A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 wherein rectangular block 23 is provided with an air channel 25 having a substantially semicircu ⁇ lar-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
• the respective ratio of the transverse cross- sectional areas of their respective air channels 21 and 25 is within the preferred optimum range of 6 to 31.
• a block was made in accord ⁇ ance with the invention and having the general configura ⁇ tion of block 1, with a height of 9 inches, width of 7 inches and length of 23 inches.
• the air channel had a
• the .transverse cross-sectional area of the block is the product of its width and height or 63 square inches.
• the transverse cross-sectional area of the air channel is the product of its width and height or 3 square inches.
• the ratio of these areas is 63/3 or 21, a value which is intermediate the optimum range of 6 - 31 and represents a preferred embodiment of the inven ⁇ tion.
• the block of this example was tested for combustion characteris ⁇ t ⁇ cs " a7Td ⁇ revealed a fuel value of about 9000 BTU's per block, a value which is substantially equal to that for a grade 3 subbituminous coal having a low sulfur emission.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Biotechnology (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)

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• 1981
  • 1981-04-16 WO PCT/US1981/000504 patent/WO1981003029A1/en unknown
  • 1981-04-16 EP EP81901245A patent/EP0050153A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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