GB2215363A - Disposing of sludge waste - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the disposal of filter press sludge comprises forming an elongate cavity by depositing rubble or household waste onto a support (10). The sludge is passed through a pipe (14) in the apparatus to the cavity. When the cavity has been filled up, the apparatus is slid back and to elongate the cavity and further rubble, or refuse, is dropped onto the support. The cavity is finally closed off by more rubble, or refuse. <IMAGE>

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPOSING OF SLUDGE WASTE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for disposing of sludge waste.

Until recently, filter press sludge was dumped at sea. Now, due to environmental considerations, disposal is preferably carried out on land.

Land disposal has a number of inherent problems.

The sludge cannot be simply poured into a hole and then covered up with soil or household refuse as the earth or refuse moving equipment tends to sink.

Secondly, pumping the sludge into existing tips is ineffective as compacting of the refuse leaves very small volumes to be filled.

A further problem of land disposal is that the smell of the sludge is such that rapid burial is essential.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of disposing of sludge waste including the steps of creating a cavity by depositing from above a layer of solid material to surround a rigid support, filling the cavity with said waste and subsequently removing said support from said layer.

In this way there is no need to bore any hole into the ground or to tip landfill onto already poured sludge.

With the method of the invention, the sludge is totally encapsulated by the layer of solid material so no unpleasant odours are given off.

Preferably a cavity is formed below the said support, by holding the support at a level above the ground on which the solid layer is to be deposited.

Advantageously the support is partially removed thereby to elongate the said cavity.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided said apparatus for disposing of sludge waste, an apparatus including rigid support means capable of supporting solid material deposited thereon from above to form a cavity and means for transferring the waste into said cavity.

Whilst the support means can be placed directly on the ground it is preferably placed above the ground so that a cavity is formed below it when said solid material is deposited on top of the support means.

Advantageously a pipe is used to pass the waste from one end of the apparatus outside the solid layer to its other end inside the cavity.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for rapid and efficient disposal of sludge waste.

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained from the following description, which is given merely by way Df example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 (a to d) are schematic representations of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 in operation.

The apparatus 10 consists of a support 12. The support 12 includes a pipe 14 having a slanted end 16 and a flange 18 at its other end. A flange 18 provides means for fixing a secondary pipe or tubing to the pipe 14 for the transferal of the sludge waste. As better seen in Figure 2 the support further includes fins 20 and 22 and a lug 24 with a hole 26 for engagement with a hook or other means to move the apparatus.

The support is fixed to a stand having two legs 28 and 30 mounted on a base 32 which is preferably planar. The edge 34 of the base furthermost from the end 16 of the pipe is upturned to form a skid. At this end, there is a second lip 36 with a second hole 38. The base may have more than one of its edges upturned.

The support 12 extends beyond the end 40 of the base. Preferably, the distance from the end of the support 16 to the edge 42 to the lip 26 is about 3 metres.

In operation, as can be seen from Figure 3a, the apparatus is first positioned opposite a mound or in a pit.

The end 16 of the support is placed closed to the edge of the mound or pit. Rubble, or refuse, is dropped onto the support, as shown in Figures 3b and c, forming an elongate cavity 41 underneath the support 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the pipe lies on the ground and itself forms the whole of the cavity.

The sludge waste is passed through the pipe 14 to fill the cavity as shown in Figure 3c. Preferably, a helical rotor pump is used to pump the sludge through the pipe 12.

This figure further shows a flexible tube 44 connected to the pipe of the apparatus. The flexible tube will connect the apparatus to, say, a tanker containing the sludge.

The apparatus is from time to time or continuously slid back to extend the cavity 41 at 43 and more rubble, or refuse, is then dropped onto the support 12 to keep it covered. More sludge is then transferred to the cavity.

Once all the sludge is disposed of, or the original cavity reaches a certain size, the apparatus is removed from the cavity and the cavity is subsequently closed off with more rubble, or refuse.

By this method, the sludge is kept covered for as much time as possible.

Claims (17)

1. A method of disposing of sludge waste including the steps of creating a cavity by depositing from above a layer of solid material to surround a rigid support, filling the cavity with said waste and subsequently removing said support from said layer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein a cavity is formed below said support.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 including the step of partially removing said support thereby to elongate said cavity.

4, A method according to any preceding claim wherein said support is slid substantially horizontally out of said cavity.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said support is withdrawn from said cavity whilst simultaneously passing said waste into said cavity

6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein said waste is passed into said cavity through pipe means.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said waste is passed through a rigid pipe fixed to or forming said support.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein said support means is covered by said solid material for a length of about 3 metres.

9. An apparatus for disposing of sludge waste, said apparatus including rigid support means capable of supporting solid material deposited thereon from above to form a cavity and means for transfering the waste into said cavity.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said support means includes a pipe to pass said waste from one end of said apparatus outside the cavity to its other end inside the cavity.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 including a stand fixed to a base at its lower end and to said rigid pipe at its upper end.

12. An apparatus according to claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein said support means includes a plate assembly capable of supporting said solid material.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said base is substantially planar and at least one of the edges of said base is upturned to enable said apparatus to be slid out of said solid material.

14. An apparatus according to any claim 10 to 13 wherein said apparatus further includes fins protruding laterally from said pipe, the fins being able to cause the solid material to form an enlarged cavity when said solid material is deposited thereon.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the end of the pipe outside the cavity has a flange, said flange providing means to fix the pipe to apparatus for transferring said waste to said pipe.

16. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.