EP1303467A1

EP1303467A1 - Method and apparatus for moving and stirring compost

Info

Publication number: EP1303467A1
Application number: EP01958163A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Claude Chenu
Original assignee: Comari Sarl
Current assignee: Comari Sarl
Priority date: 2000-07-24
Filing date: 2001-07-24
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Also published as: BR0113013A; AU2001279895A1; FR2811981A1; US20040005698A1; WO2002008153A1; CA2416857A1; KR20030029637A; MXPA03000671A; RU2003105220A; CN1443148A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for operating a machine stirring (M) fermentable matter (D) in a fermenting installation. Said method is characterised in that it consists in stirring the fermentable matter (D) by turning it and blowing it to the rear of the machine (M) so as to gradually move it along said passage of a first feeding end (Ce) towards a discharging end (Cs). The invention also concerns the machine (M) consisting of a stirring member (300) comprising a propeller shaft (310) peripherally provided with stirring tools (320) arranged peripherally around said propeller shaft (310) in a pair of reverse pitch turns symmetrically arranged relative to the perpendicular median plane of symmetry of said propeller shaft (310). The invention is useful for producing aerobic fermented mixtures.

Description

PROCESS FOR WORKING FERMENTABLE MATERIAL OF A FERMENTATION PLANT AND MACHINE FOR

ENFORCE

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the manufacture of fermented aerobic mixtures more commonly called compost and generally used for the improvement of agricultural land.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In general, the transformation into compost of fermentable materials takes place by a bioconversion of materials which, deposited in reservations (pits, containers, corridors) provided for this purpose, is subject to a degree sufficient humidity and oxygenation to maintain an active life of the bacterial microorganisms necessary for the proper conduct of the actual fermentation phase. The physicochemical balance of this fermentation is obtained more precisely by alternating brewing operations to promote the penetration of oxygen into the biomass of the fermentable material to resting operations during which the fermentation develops by generating heat promoting the proliferation of microorganisms and making it possible to eliminate most pathogens. The quality of compost obtained in the end is then characterized by its stability over time and by its homogeneity and therefore, is dependent on the brewing process implemented.

In the prior art, there are several categories of installations making it possible to implement a process for manufacturing compost from the transformation of fermentable material.

The first category of these installations consists of depositing on an external platform, the fermentable material in the form of swaths which will be stepped over by a self-propelled device which, mounted on tires and equipped with a mechanical stirring means, returns said swaths as it advances. Such a installation does not make it possible to homogenize the brewing which remains static nor to control the temperature and the humidity of fermentation of the biomass of the fermentable material due to unpredictable climatic variations. In addition, the width of the windrows is limited because it is limited to that of the mechanical stirring means which obviously cannot exceed the size of the self-propelled device authorized by the road network. A second category of installations consists in depositing the fermentable material in a pit in which one or more vertical mixing means in the form of propellers cause the fermentable material to rise and turn at the same time. These pits, very limited in volume, do not offer good oxygenation of the fermentable matter stirred.

A third category of installations consists in depositing the fermentable material in corridors of a few tens of meters comprising a flat hearth bordered by two walls serving as raceways for a stirring device constituted by a horizontal motor shaft arranged transversely and around which pallets are regularly arranged such as an impeller. The forces undergone by these pallets are considerable because they are concentrated at the ends of the pallets and transmitted at each impact with the material over the entire length of the latter. This results in considerable stirring forces that the motor shaft has to assume over lane widths of more than ten meters. In addition, such pallets have more of the effect of returning the fermentable material on the spot than of brewing it. It has been imagined to replace said "paddle wheel" by a gantry supporting a mixing screw of the type of that of the second category of pit installations and which moves along said gantry so as to ensure a sweeping across the width from the corridor and on the length of the latter under the effect of the step-by-step advancement of the gantry. The homogenization of the stirring is not thereby improved because it is disorganized by the fact that part of the fermentable material rises to the surface by the rotary movement of the screw and another part is projected laterally on the walls of the corridor and backwards by its sweeping movement.

The various categories of installations described above therefore all have significant shortcomings both in terms of the homogenization of the stirring and the permanent oxygenation of the fermentable material. These shortcomings then have serious repercussions on the duration of fermentation, making it possible to offer to date only installations ensuring the production of compost only over periods of approximately six months. Such a long fermentation period results in high stocks of raw materials and a delayed availability of compost due to the seasonal supply of fermentable materials. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of these findings and a pre-established specification, the applicant has conducted research which has led to a new concept of machine proposing dynamic mixing of the fermentable material, to oppose the static mixing of previous installations. To this end, it proposes a working method of a machine which consists in brewing the fermentable material by turning it over and projecting it at the rear of the machine so as to gradually move it along the said corridor from a first end. supply to a second discharge end. This way of brewing the fermentable material by creating a regular and continuous movement of it at each passage of the machine, allows to evacuate at one end of the corridor, compost for recovery purposes, and to supply material fermentable the installation at the other end. Thus, the fermentable material is stirred with a projection at the rear of the machine to reform an aerated heap therefore permanently oxygenated to maintain the proliferation of microorganisms.

To implement the working method of the invention, the applicant has also imagined an original concept of a brewing machine for compost production facilities of the third category, that is to say of the type which consists in brewing. fermentable materials deposited in at least one fermentation corridor. This machine conventionally consists of a stirring member consisting of a motor shaft fitted peripherally with stirring tools and which, arranged horizontally and transversely to said corridor, is driven on the one hand, by a rotational movement on itself to ensure the mixing of the fermentable material and on the other hand, a translational movement along said corridor to move from one end to the other of the latter. The original concept of this machine is based on the fact that the stirring tools of the stirring member making it possible to stir the fermentable material by projecting it at the rear of the machine, are arranged peripherally around said horizontal motor shaft according to at least a pair of reverse pitch turns arranged symmetrically with respect to the perpendicular median plane of symmetry of said motor shaft.

The tools of each of the turns of the same pair which are arranged symmetrically on either side of the perpendicular median plane of said horizontal motor shaft, thus exert two by two of identical forces distributed symmetrically over the entire length of said motor shaft which is then subjected to perfectly balanced mechanical stresses.

According to a particularly embodiment advantageous of the invention, the aforementioned stirring tools of the stirring member consist of a set of arms individually mounted on the motor shaft. This spiral and individual organization of the tools around the motor shaft allows, for a complete rotation of the motor shaft, to play on the frequency of mechanical impacts on the fermentable material by the definition of the number of tools placed on it. along each turn and multiply the pairs of arms acting simultaneously on either side of the vertical median plane of said drive shaft by defining the number of pairs of turns. Such an arrangement of the mixing tools around said motor shaft therefore offers a modular sequential distribution of the tools which, by acting on the frequency and amplitude of the mechanical impact of each tool for the same effort of the motor shaft, considerably improves the homogenization of the brewing operation over the entire width of the corridor. This spiroidal organization of the tools ensures by mechanical effect a better attack of the particles and therefore a grinding and a continuous surface bursting of the fermentable material which increases the exchange surfaces and therefore a permanent microbiological reseeding very favorable to the bioconversion of the material.

This improvement in the quality of stirring of the fermentable material added to good oxygenation of the biomass because the lower and upper layers are upset with each pass of the machine and in permanent microbiological reseeding, allows a significant reduction in the duration of fermentation going from six months to less than a month.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the machine consists of a framework which, serving as a logical structure for the functional organs, consists of: a rolling frame making it possible to move the entire machine in translation along two rolling tracks equipping the upper edge of the two longitudinal walls bordering the corridor, and a frame which, supporting said stirring member, is mounted movable relative to the first rolling frame to allow said stirring member to move from a low working position where said stirring tools are in contact with the fermentable material and a raised position where said stirring tools are not in contact with the fermentable material so that the whole machine can move freely above said fermentable material. The purpose of these kinematics is to authorize a faster movement of the machine along the corridor without any work of mixing the fermentable material.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the mobile frame will be mounted articulated on the first frame rolling around a horizontal support axis carried by the latter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor so that the aforesaid member stirring will be rocked around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor. According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable frame will be slidably mounted vertically with respect to the first rolling frame so that the above-mentioned stirring member will be driven in a translational movement along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor.

According to another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotational movement of the above-mentioned motor shaft of the stirring member is controlled by strain gauges making it possible to regulate the movement and rotation movements of the stirring member. stirring with respect to the stirring force opposed by the fermentable material with the tools of the above organ. This enslavement of the machine to the brewing force by controlling in particular the intensity of the drive motor of the brewing member could for example trigger the stopping of the machine (to avoid that said force does not affect the whole machine and does not cause a breakdown), or implement an original phase of the working process which will be described in detail a little later and which consists of taking up, with a previous return to the back of the machine, the fermentable material having a higher resistance to stirring but with a lower forward speed. Similarly, associated with a digital display, this strain gauge can give the user the possibility of adjusting the forward speed of his machine as a function of the resistance measured and displayed.

The fundamental concepts of the invention having just been exposed above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, giving by way of 'nonlimiting example, an embodiment of a brewing machine of a compost manufacturing installation according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of such a brewing machine in the lowered position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine of Figure 1 in the raised position and / or stopped. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a member of the machine of Figure 1, ensuring the actual brewing operation.

Figure 4 is a side view of the machine of Figure 1 in the lowered position and during a brewing cycle.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, .... 51 are views profile diagrams illustrating the different phases of a round-trip work cycle of a machine according to the invention, in a corridor filled with fermentable material. Figure 6 is a side view of the machine of Figure 1 in the lowered position and equipped with two optional devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 1, the brewing machine referenced M as a whole and intended to evolve above a fermentable material resting in a fermentation corridor C rests on a framework produced from a metallic assembly of profiles and conventional mechanically welded tubes previously sandblasted to remove any rust spots, then treated with respect to the corrosive environment where they will evolve before being painted. This framework conventionally developed to serve as a logical structure for the functional organs of the machine M is composed in particular:

- a rolling frame 100 making it possible to move the machine M in translation (Arrows T and T ') along two rolling tracks equipping the upper edge of the two longitudinal walls bordering the corridor C, _ and an articulated frame 200 (arrows A and A ') on the first frame 100 around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor C.

The rolling frame 100, evolving on two tracks defined by two rails anchored on the upper edges of the two longitudinal walls C (of which only one is shown in phantom) bordering the corridor C, is equipped at its four ends and via box springs , of four rollers 110 motorized independently to allow the machine M to flow without imbalance along the walls C (arrows T and T '). This rolling frame 100, suitably stowed on the rails, is also loaded from limit switches not shown to limit the displacements T and T 'of the machine at the ends of lane C.

The frame 200, meanwhile, shown here in an articulated mode, supports a stirring member 300 and is pivotally mounted (arrows A and A ') around a horizontal support axis 120 associated with the rolling frame 100, under the effect of the extension (arrow A) or of the retraction (arrow A ') of two lifting jacks 130 fixed on each side of the machine M between the rolling frame 100 and the articulated frame 200. This articulated frame 200 thus allows said audit stirring member 300 to move from a low working position as illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 1 to a raised position as illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 2 to allow the assembly of the machine M to move freely above the said fermentable material deposited in the corridor C between the two walls C '.

.According to the fundamental concept of the invention, the stirring member 300 illustrated in more detail in the drawing of FIG. 3 consists of a motor shaft 310 fitted peripherally with stirring tools 320 arranged peripherally in two pairs of turns not reversed with respect to the perpendicular median plane of symmetry of said motor shaft 310. Thus, with respect to the theoretical vertical median plane of symmetry passing through position 0 of the central tool 320, the other tools 320 are arranged symmetrically two in two at the same positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ... 16 so that the two pairs of tools n ° 8 and n ° 16 will always act simultaneously on both sides of the middle tool n ° 0 as the two pairs of tools n ° l and n ° 9, or even the two pairs of tools n ° 2 and n ° 10, and so on for the eight tools of each turn. As explained at the beginning of this specification, this arrangement has the advantage of distributing uniformly over the entire length of the support shaft 310, the forces that tools undergo 320. Obviously, the number (two) of pairs of turns and the number (eight) of tools for each turn can be adapted to the size of the machine and the volume of fermentable material to work.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the stirring tools 320 are constituted by individual arms 320a removably mounted (by pinning) on the drive shaft 310 for quick replacement purposes.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the arms 320a of the above stirring tools 320 are terminated by an enlarged end 320b forming a pallet whose rectangular or trapezoidal shape will be adapted to favor the tangential scraping, transport and projection functions. of the fermentable material at the rear of the machine M as shown in the drawing of FIG. 4 where it is represented in a work cycle where the articulated frame 200 is in the lowered position bearing on the rolling frame 100, the rollers of bearing 110 of the rolling frame slowly move the machine in the direction of arrow T and the stirring member 300 is rotated in the direction of arrow R. Another object of the invention is to control the speed of rotation of the motor shaft 310 to the stirring force of the material opposite to the tools 320. To achieve this, the rotational movement of the above motor shaft e st controlled by strain gauges which control the intensity of the rotary drive motors making it possible to stop the rotation of the drive rollers 110 of the rolling frame 100 and to initiate a new phase of the working cycle of the machine M which consists of make it operate a backtrack over a predetermined distance with or without lifting the stirring member 300 in order to again stir this section of fermentable material more resistant to grinding, for example with a slower forward speed.

The drawings of Figures 5a, 5b, 5d, ... 51 are intended to illustrate the different phases of a work cycle that the machine M can implement, this cycle being given by way of illustration and capable of different settings easily implemented by a skilled person. To implement this process, all the motor members of the machine which ensure the movements of displacements T, T 'and T "of the rolling frame 100, of articulation A and A' of the frame 200 and of rotation R of the member 300, are subject to a programmed central unit on board the machine M which, depending on limit switch detectors, strain gauges, safety instructions (thermal and electrical protection) and pre-established instructions, coordinates the smooth operation of the following operations.

In the drawing in FIG. 5a illustrating the start of the work cycle, the machine M is positioned at an outlet end Cs of the corridor C filled with fermentable material D, with its stirring member 300 lowered and the motor shaft 310 animated of the rotational movement R.

In the drawing of FIG. 5b, the machine M moves slowly (arrow T) along the corridor C with its stirring member 300 lowered and in rotation (arrow R) so that a volume d of fermentable material coming from being stirred is moved to the rear of the machine M. In fact, this volume d of ermentable material which has undergone a displacement equivalent to each preceding passage of the machine M and gradually from the entry end

This from corridor C where it was supplied corresponds to a volume of compost which can be disposed of for recovery purposes. This volume d can be recovered at any time during the journey from the machine M to the entry end Ce of the corridor C.

In the drawing of FIG. 5c, the machine M progresses (arrow T) along the corridor C with its stirring member 300 lowered and rotating (arrow R), still moving volumes d of fermentable material at the rear of the machine M. In the drawing of FIG. 5d, where it will be noted that the volume has been removed, the tools 310 of the stirring member 300 encounter a volume of fermentable material D 'much more compact therefore more resistant to stirring so that the force opposed to the stirring tools 320 , via the strain gauges, is transmitted to a control module of the programmed central unit which triggers the stop of the machine M.

In the drawing in FIG. 5e, the machine M, after having stopped, moves slightly backwards in the direction of the arrow T 'opposite to that of the arrow T, over a preprogrammed period (of the order of five to ten minutes), at the end of which it stops, as shown in the drawing in FIG. 5f in order to start again in the direction of the arrow T "in the same direction QT and the arrow T and with the member stirring 300 driven by the rotation R (cf. drawing of FIG. 5g) but with a lower translation speed.

In the drawing in FIG. 5h, the more compact fermentable material D ′ no longer opposes the passage of the machine M, so that at the end of a preprogrammed period, the machine M resumes its initial normal speed (arrow T of Figure 5i) and progresses to the entry end Ce of the corridor C, while projecting at the rear of the machine M volumes of fermentable material d.

In the drawing in FIG. 5j, the machine M arrives at the entry end Ce of the corridor C at the end of which end-of-travel stops trigger the stopping of the rotation of the drive rollers 110 and of the rotation R of the motor shaft 310.

In the drawing of FIG. 5k, the articulated frame 200 is articulated (arrow A) in the raised position releasing the stirring member 300 from the fermentable material D.

In the drawing in FIG. 51, the machine M is moved rapidly in the direction of the arrow T ′ to the end Cs of the corridor C where end-of-travel stops trigger the stop of the rotation of the drive rollers 110 and machine M is ready for a new work cycle. As soon as the machine M has reached the outlet end Cs, the inlet end Ce can be supplied with raw material again.

It goes without saying that the above process can be arranged for example by commanding the stirring member 300 to move and reverse rotation to those of the arrows T and R so as to stir the fermentable material by moving it in the two sense to delay the evacuation of the compost.

It is understood that the method of making compost and the brewing machine which have just been described and shown above, were for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements could be made to the above example, without going beyond the ambit of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, protective sheets or covers 220 may cover the transmission part which drives the stirring member 300, in order to avoid projections of fermentable material upwards and to channel the release of gases (vapors of ammonia, of water, etc.) to an exhaust hood 400 which can be judiciously installed at the rear of the machine M, as shown in the drawing in FIG. 6.

Likewise, it will be possible to detachably attach to the front of the machine M, a hopper 500 (cf. FIG. 6) for supplying liquid or sludge with a drain system which can be actuated manually or automatically to regulate the humidity level of the mass of fermentable material over the entire width and / or length of lane C.

Claims

1. Working process of a brewing machine (M) of a fermentable material (D) of a fermentation installation, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in brewing the fermentable material (D) by turning it over and projecting the machine at the rear (M) so as to move it gradually along said corridor from a first supply end (Ce) to a second discharge end (Cs).

2. The working method as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it consists in causing said machine (M) to move in translation (arrow T) along the passage (C) while simultaneously ensuring the mixing of the fermentable material (D ).

3. Machine making it possible to implement the working method according to claims 1 and 2 ensuring the mixing of the fermentable materials (D) deposited in at least one fermentation corridor (C) of a composting installation, of the type of that constituted a stirring member (300) consisting of a motor shaft (310) fitted peripherally with stirring tools (320) and which, arranged horizontally and transversely to said passage (C), is driven on the one hand, a rotational movement (arrow R) on itself to ensure mixing of the fermentable material (D) and secondly, a translational movement (arrow T, T 'or T ") along said corridor (C) to evolve from one end (Ce) to the other (Cs) of the latter, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the stirring tools (320) of the stirring member (300) making it possible to stir the fermentable material (D) projecting it to the rear of the machine (M), are arranged peripherally around d udit motor shaft (310) according to at least one pair of inverted pitch turns arranged symmetrically with respect to the perpendicular median plane of symmetry of said motor shaft (310).

4. Machine according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT It is made up of a framework which, serving as a logical structure for the functional organs, consists

- a rolling frame (100) making it possible to move the entire machine in translation (arrows T, T 'or T ")

(M) along two raceways equipping the upper edge of the two longitudinal walls (C) bordering the corridor (C),

- And a frame (200) which, supporting said stirring member (300), is mounted movable (arrows A and A ') relative to the first rolling frame (100) to allow said stirring member (300) to move from a low working position where said stirring tools (320) are in contact with the fermentable material (D) and a raised position where said stirring tools (320) are not in contact with the fermentable material so that the 'the whole machine (M) can evolve freely (arrows T and T') above said fermentable material (D).

5. Machine according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above-mentioned stirring tools (320) of the stirring member (300) consist of a set of arms individually mounted on the motor shaft (310).

6. Machine according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the rotational movement (arrow R) of the above motor shaft (310) of the stirring member (300) is controlled by strain gauges for regulating the movements movement (arrows T and T ') and / or rotation (arrow R) of the stirring member (300) relative to the stirring force opposed by the fermentable material (D') to the tools (320) of the said organ

(300).

7. Machine according to claims 3 and 4, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above-mentioned movable frame (200) is mounted articulated (arrows A and A ') on the first rolling frame (100) around a horizontal support axis (120 ) carried by the latter perpendicular to the axis longitudinal of the corridor (C) so that the aforementioned stirring member (300) is driven in a tilting movement (arrow A or A ') around a horizontal axis (120) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor ( VS) .

8. Machine according to claims 3 and 4, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid movable frame (200) is slidably mounted vertically relative to the first rolling frame (100) so that the above stirring member (300) is animated by a translational movement along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corridor (C).

9. Machine according to claims 3 and 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the arms (320a) of the above stirring tools (320) of the stirring member (300) are removably mounted on said motor shaft (310) .

10. Machine according to claims 3 and 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the arms (320a) of the above stirring tools (320) are terminated by an enlarged end (320b) forming a pallet.