EP1472163B1

EP1472163B1 - Method for processing kitchen waste

Info

Publication number: EP1472163B1
Application number: EP03700637A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christer Kihlström
Original assignee: Envac Centrlasug AB
Current assignee: Envac Centrlasug AB
Priority date: 2002-01-09
Filing date: 2003-01-07
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-07
Also published as: EP1472163A1; KR20040090964A; ES2264759T3; WO2003057603A1; DE60306117D1; DE60306117T2; SE520923C2; SE0200046D0; AU2003201936A1; DK1472163T3; CN1612833A; ATE329869T1; SE0200046L

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of providing appropriate kitchen waste management. According to the invention this is achieved by conveying waste, that has been fed into an insertion unit (2) and has been disintegrated in a disposer arranged adjacent thereto, to a container (6) arranged at another location by means of vacuum. Then, the waste may be periodically removed from the container, for example by interconnection to a vacuum system. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide a desired environment-friendly and efficient management of the waste from the point where it is produced and to a center where the waste can be removed in a rational way.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the management and processing or disposal of kitchen or food waste and in particular relates to such management performed on a larger scale, for example in commercial and institutional kitchens and restaurants.

BACKGROUND

The main trend within refuse management in general is towards an increased sorting of waste at source. It is desirable to sort out material from commercial and institutional kitchens and restaurants, for biological treatment. Such material may with advantage be treated in existing biogas plants. An object of such a development is to enable the production of a renewable vehicle fuel and at the same time to utilize the residue from the digestion process as a soil conditioner in farmland. This means that the ecocycle can come full circle. The development is desirable to such a high degree that the government in some cases supports it through financial contributions partly covering the costs of the projects.
For a long time now it has been common in households to use devices in the form of garbage disposers for disintegrating "wet refuse" like food leftovers. Such equipment has normally been positioned directly under a sink and traditionally the "shredded" waste has been discharged directly into the sewerage, resulting in a heavy load on sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants.
Equipment for managing and processing waste from restaurants and commercial or institutional kitchens has in certain cases also been designed in a corresponding way, discharging shredded or ground waste directly into the sewerage. In other cases waste from restaurants and commercial or institutional kitchens has been brought to an infeed hopper directly connected to a grinder or shredder, from which the ground or shredded waste in turn has been conducted to a storage container in the immediate vicinity of the infeed point. The shredded waste is stored in the storage container for one or several weeks. The waste in the storage container can be treated mechanically by means of a screw, pump or other equipment capable of circulating the stored material. Then, the storage container has been emptied at the same location, which has been an unhygienic handling, implying an obvious risk both of pure spillage of waste and of strong odors.
Within this field there are also various examples of systems that above all are intended for the type of waste disposer that is used directly at a kitchen sink, and the purpose of which is to reduce the amount of waste in the sewerage. These systems use different methods to primarily dehydrate the refuse or waste so that the purified water can be discharged into the sewerage whereas the solid constituents are processed separately. Although these known systems deal with some of the environmental problems that appear by this type of waste management by preventing the discharge of shredded or milled waste directly into the sewerage, they do not solve the problems of providing a rational, efficient and hygienic refuse management.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention eliminates the above drawbacks in an efficient and appropriate way.
A general object of the invention is to provide a non-expensive and practically feasible solution to the problems associated with processing kitchen waste and the like.
Hence, a basic object of the invention is to find a simple and appropriate way of managing waste. Briefly, according to the invention this object is achieved by connecting the outlet section of a waste disposer or the like to a storage container, to which the disintegrated waste or refuse is transported by means of vacuum. Thereby, it is possible to provide an environment-friendly and efficient transfer of the waste from the place where it is produced and to a remote container, from which the refuse or waste may be removed in a secure manner.
In one embodiment of the invention, waste stored in the container is periodically removed by means of vacuum, for example by being connected to a vacuum system. In this way, waste can be removed to a center where it can be processed and transported away in a rational way.
Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention are evident from the accompanying dependent claims.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and appropriate system for managing and processing kitchen waste.
Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, a system is suggested for the efficient and environment-friendly processing of kitchen waste. In accordance with the basic principles of the invention, this system consists of a waste disposer positioned adjacent to the point where the waste is produced. Said waste disposer is connected to a storage container and is functionally connected to a suction or vacuum unit.
According to another embodiment of this aspect of the invention, it is proposed that the storage container of the waste management system has a non-return valve provided in the outlet from a separator arranged in the vicinity of the storage container. Other embodiments of this aspect of the invention are also evident from the other accompanying dependent claims.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the invention as defined in the appended patent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, specific features and advantages of the invention, as well as further embodiments thereof, are specified in the patent claims and in the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: is a partly schematic illustration of the waste management system according to the invention and the main components thereof;
Fig. 2A -B: are side perspective and side elevational views, respectively, of an insertion cabinet in the system of fig. 1, the insertion cabinet being shown with various parts thereof removed for clarifying purposes;
Fig. 3A: is a side perspective view of a separator with a non-return valve in the system of fig. 1; and
Fig. 3B: is an illustration showing the separator of fig. 3A in a partly disassembled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, the basic principles of the invention will now be described by means of embodiments thereof, and thereby the differences compared to the technique employed in the prior art will also be clarified.
The invention and the basic principles thereof will now be described with reference to the partly schematic illustration in figure 1. Thus, this drawing discloses a currently preferred embodiment of a waste management system where the kitchen waste management method proposed according to the invention can be employed in order to provide an efficient and environment-friendly processing of the waste.
More specifically, fig. 1 shows equipment adapted for processing waste from e.g. commercial and institutional kitchens. The equipment or system according to the invention comprises an inlet cabinet 2 having a waste disposer 3 mounted therein and a control unit 5 (see fig. 1). The inlet cabinet 2 is intended for positioning in a kitchen, i.e. adjacent to the point where the waste is produced. A ventilation line 15 is preferably drawn from the inlet cabinet 2 to prevent odors.
The system further comprises a storage or collection container 6 with the required peripheral equipment, which is normally placed in a space separate from the kitchen and connected to the disposer 3 through an electrically controlled cut-off valve 3A and a suction line 7. Vacuum is generated in the suction line 7 by means of a suction unit 8 that is controlled by a control unit (not shown). A filter 9 is arranged between the suction unit 8 and the storage container 6.
In the storage container 6 is provided a discharge pipe 14 that is connected to a discharge line 13 having a connector means 12 for connection to an emptying vehicle. The emptying vehicle is not shown in the drawings but is equipped with a vacuum unit and is preferably of a conventional type used for mobile vacuum waste management.
A ventilation line 11 leads also from the storage container 6. The ventilation line 11 has an exhaust 11A provided for instance on the roof of the building 10 in question.
A description of the technical functionality of the system according to the invention follows below. An insertion unit 2 for food waste is located at a specific place. The insertion unit is designed as a work cabinet having a lid 2A, a utility surface 2B and an insertion opening 2C (see fig. 2B) of e.g. 180mm. The insertion unit 2 is connected to the waste disposer 3 through an insertion hopper 2D and the waste disposer 3 is in turn connected to a mixing container 4 via the cut-off valve 3A. Through the pipe system 7 the mixing container 4 is connected to the storage container 6 that is positioned at another location and that is provided with a separator 6A, as well as to the associated vacuum source/suction unit 8. Trough the pipe system 13 the storage container 6 is connected to an outer wall (not shown) for emptying of the container by means of a vacuum truck or the like. The connector means/cut-off valve 12 is arranged at the discharge end of the emptying pipe 13. The storage container 6 and also the insertion cabinet 2 are ventilated through the separate ventilation pipes 11 and 15, respectively. The important functions are controlled by a relatively small PLC system, not shown. The control unit 5 of the insertion cabinet 2 comprises a selector function 5A for selecting "Manual operation" or "Automatic operation".

Manual operation

When the operator closes the lid 2A of the insertion cabinet 2 the vacuum motor of the suction unit 8 is started, and then the cut-off/main valve 3A between the suction container 4 and the disposer 3 opens and water is injected through a line 2E into the insertion hopper 2D at pulsed time intervals. The disposer 3 is started and runs for a predetermined period of time and grinds the waste stored in the insertion unit 2. The ground or shredded waste is sucked by means of vacuum to the storage container 6 through the suction line 7. Thereby, an appropriate amount of transport air is automatically mixed into the mixing container 4 in a controlled manner. This transport air comes from the ventilation 15 and the controlled mixing of said air with waste from the disposer 3 enables a secure vacuum transport of the waste to the storage container 6. When the predetermined time for the disposer 3 has passed, the disposer stops, the water is turned off, the main valve is shut off and the suction unit 8 is stopped. The procedure is repeated every time the lid 2A closes. Should the lid 2A be opened before the time for the disposer 3 has run out, the disposer stops and the cycle is terminated in a controlled sequence. The disposer cannot be started until the cycle is completely finished.

Automatic operation

In the position for automatic operation the unit is intended to cooperate with another machine, not shown, connected to the insertion hopper 2D through an enclosed intermediate piece, likewise not shown. The unit is then started through a service switch on the other machine. Otherwise, the function is identical to the one in manual operation. The unit may also be provided with a specific insertion hopper designed in accordance with the CE security standard. In such a position, the unit runs continuously and can be fed uninterruptedly. A control lamp 5B at the front or the control panel 5 of the insertion unit 2 indicates that the disposer 3 is in operation, and there is also an alarm lamp 5C for the indication of a possible interruption.
From the above description, it is evident that the solution proposed according to the invention provides a waste management system that well meets the specified object. A very environment-friendly system is obtained since the entire management procedure is performed in a closed system from the in-feed into the insertion unit immediately adjacent the point where the waste is produced, to the emptying into the emptying vehicle. The system is very hygienic both with regard to odors and to the actual waste that is removed without spillage in the closed system, such as directly to the emptying vehicle. Moreover, the described system works in a very efficient manner, due to its design with suction conveying directly from the insertion unit 2/disposer 3 to the storage container 6 as well as from the latter to the emptying vehicle.
The drawings illustrate an embodiment where the lower outlet 6B from the separator 6A opens into the storage container 6 and is provided with a non-return valve 16. In the illustrated embodiment the non-return valve 16 consists of a shutter 17 of sheet metal that has a rubber plate 18 vulcanized onto its side facing the outlet 6B and that is pivotally suspended at the outlet 6B by means of hinges 19. In practical tests, such a non-return valve design has shown to work very satisfactory, since the pivotal sheet 17, or more specifically its rubber plate 18, sealingly engages the outlet when there is an vacuum in the pipe system 7 and the separator 6A, i.e. when the suction unit 8 operates. When the suction unit 8 is stopped, the closing action of the vacuum against the shutter 17 of the non-return valve 16 disappears, so that the waste separated in the separator 6A opens the shutter and falls down into the storage container 6.
Although the invention has been described above with reference to the specific embodiments disclosed in the drawings, it shall be emphasized that it also covers other variants that uses the basic principles of the invention. The method according to the invention is therefore very well suited for an embodiment where more than one insertion unit with associated disposer is connected to the storage container. In this way, one and the same system may be used for managing or processing waste produced at several places or stations in a building.
Furthermore, it is also possible within the scope of the invention to use it together with a conventional stationary waste suction system, by means of which the storage container 6 is emptied at demand or in regular cycles. In other possible modifications, the solution according to the invention is employed to process other waste or refuse than specifically kitchen waste. Thus, in this description, the term kitchen waste is used to generally denote waste or refuse that contains organic fractions and that often contains a certain amount of liquid. Accordingly, the term is not to be considered as limiting the invention to be used solely in the direct vicinity of a kitchen.
A man skilled in the art recognizes that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A method of managing waste containing an organic fraction, such as kitchen waste, whereby waste is fed into at least one insertion unit (2) and from there is conducted into a disposer (3), provided adjacent to the insertion unit or each insertion unit, to be shredded, whereupon the waste is disposed of, characterized in that the shredded waste that is discharged from the disposer/disposers (3) is conveyed by means of suction to a storage container (6) spaced from the disposer/disposers (3) and the insertion unit/insertion units (2).
The method of claim 1, characterized in that the waste is periodically conveyed from the storage container (6) by being connected to a stationary or mobile vacuum system.
The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that waste conveyed from the disposer/disposers (3) by means of vacuum is separated from the transport air in a separator (6A) arranged with an outlet (6B) therefrom opening into the storage container (6).
The method of claim 3, characterized in that discharge of separated waste from the separator (6A) to the storage container (6) is controlled by means of a non-return valve (16) arranged at the outlet (6B).
The method of claim 4, characterized in that the opening and closing, respectively, of the non-return valve (16) is controlled by means of the vacuum.
A system for managing waste containing an organic fraction, such as kitchen waste, having at least one insertion unit (2) and a disposer (3) arranged adjacent to the insertion unit or each insertion unit and connected to a storage container (6) for shredded waste, characterized in that the disposer or each disposer is connected to a suction unit (8) and to the storage container (6) through a pipe system (7), whereby the storage container can be positioned at a distance from the insertion unit/ insertion units and the associated disposer/disposers.
The system of claim 6, characterized in that the storage container (6) is connected to a stationary or mobile vacuum system for periodical removal of the refuse.
The system of claim 7, characterized in that a separator (6A) is arranged having an outlet (6B) therefrom opening into the storage container (6), whereby waste that is conveyed from the disposer/disposers (3) by means of vacuum is separated from the transport air in the separator.
The system of claim 8, characterized in that a non-return valve (16) is provided at the outlet (6B) from the separator (6A) to the storage container (6) for controlling the discharge of separated waste from the separator (6A).
The system of claim 9, characterized in that the non-return valve (16) is a shutter (17) that is suspended at the outlet (6B) by means of hinges (19), so as to be freely pivotal, and that consists of sheet metal having a rubber plate (18) vulcanized thereon.