JP3121519U - Fermenter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a fermentation apparatus capable of reliably preventing ignition and fire of an object with a relatively simple structure in a process of fermenting the object using a high-temperature fermenting bacterium.
A fermenting apparatus using a high-temperature fermenting bacterium, comprising a fire extinguishing means for the fermentation chamber, and a temperature rise of a certain level in the fermentation chamber, a temperature rise of a certain level or more of a processed product, and generation of smoke. A means for detecting at least one and a control means for operating the fire extinguishing means with a signal from the abnormality detecting means are provided, and when an abnormality is detected, automatic fire extinguishing and temperature drop are performed by the fire extinguishing means.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fermenter, particularly a fermenter using a high-temperature fermenting bacterium having an automatic fire extinguishing function.

As one method for effectively utilizing various organic waste materials and waste such as bark, fertilizers and the like are obtained by fermenting objects using high-temperature fermenting bacteria.
In such a fermenting apparatus using high-temperature fermenting bacteria, after adding a flooring material (fermentation auxiliary material containing bacterial cells) and bacterial cells to the fermentation object, moisture adjustment is performed and stirring is performed in a high-temperature atmosphere of 60 ° C. or higher. It is customary to process with mixing.

As a method for obtaining the high temperature atmosphere, there are a method of heating the fermenter body with a heating wire heater, a method of blowing warm air of 100 ° C. or higher, a method of using both of them, and in any case, Usually, the moisture content is 30% to 60%, and the moisture content decreases and dries as the fermentation progresses.
Heating and drying are effective when the heating temperature is high, but if heating is continued under the same conditions in a dry state, there is a risk of fire occurring due to low temperature ignition (ignition at a temperature lower than the original ignition temperature).

  Conventionally, as a countermeasure, the operation of the heating means is controlled and the operation time is controlled so that the temperature of the processed product does not exceed a certain level. There was a problem in safety because there was an uncertain factor such as a change in speed and the rate of decrease in moisture content, and there was a possibility of fire due to carelessness.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to ignite an object with a relatively simple structure in a process of fermenting the object using a high-temperature fermenting bacterium. It is providing the fermentation apparatus which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of a fire reliably.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a fermentation chamber, a fermenter main body having an input portion and a discharge portion for a processed product containing high-temperature fermentation cells in an appropriate place, and a high-temperature fermentation having means for heating the fermentation chamber. A fungus-use fermentation apparatus, provided with a fire extinguishing means for the fermentation chamber, and means for detecting at least one of a temperature rise in the fermentation chamber above a certain level, a temperature rise above a certain level in the treated product, and smoke generation; And a control means for operating the fire extinguishing means in response to a signal from the abnormality detecting means.

  In the process of the present invention, in the process of fermenting and drying the processed material by the action of the high-temperature fermenting bacteria by adding the processed material mixed with high-temperature fermenting bacteria to the fermentation chamber of the fermenter body, abnormal heating conditions If the temperature of the fermentation chamber or processed material becomes abnormal due to contamination of easily ignited foreign matter in the fermentation chamber, sparks due to friction of the mechanism in the fermentation chamber, or low temperature ignition, these abnormalities It can automatically detect and forcibly extinguish or lower the temperature forcibly. The excellent effect that it can be enhanced is obtained.

The fire extinguishing means is a water discharge system having a watering nozzle and arranged in the fermentation chamber, and the control means is configured to operate a water discharge system pump or valve when an abnormality is detected by the detection means.
According to this, ignition can be prevented or extinguished directly by water discharge.

In addition to the water discharge system, the fire extinguishing means further includes at least one of a drive system for the heating means and an inflow / outflow system for the air into the fermentation chamber, and automatically activates the heating means with a signal from the control means when an abnormality is detected by the detection means. It is configured to stop or stop the inflow and outflow of air.
According to this, not only fire extinguishing by sprinkling water into the fermentation chamber, but also subsequent heating in the fermentation chamber or air inflow and outflow is automatically stopped, so that ignition and fire can be reliably prevented in a short time. can do.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a rotary type high-temperature fermenting bacteria using fermentation apparatus. 1 is a cylindrical fermenter main body, the lower half of which is supported by a roller 7 installed on the base. At the one-side opening in the longitudinal direction of the fermenter main body 1, a fixed end plate 100 that seals and defines the fermentation chamber 2 while allowing the rotation of the fermenter main body 1 is provided.

The stationary end plate 100 is provided with a processed material input portion 8 having a feed screw in the upper half portion in a stationary state, and a discharge portion 9 in the lower half portion.
Here, the processed product A is a mixture obtained by adding a fermentation auxiliary material (floor material) containing bacterial cells to a desired fermentation target such as bark, wood chips, livestock dung, food residue and the like, and a high-temperature fermented bacterial cell. About half of the cross-sectional area of the fermentation chamber is charged from the material charging unit 8.
The discharge unit 9 is closed during the fermentation process, the fermentation is sufficiently finished by the action of the high-temperature fermentation cells, and the discharge tube 9a is opened when the dried fermented product is taken out. It has a conveyor 9b such as a screw type that conveys the finished fermented product.

A closing plate 101 having a rotating shaft 102 projecting is integrally fixed to the other opening in the longitudinal direction of the fermenter main body 1, and the rotating shaft 102 is communicated with a driving motor 10 provided on a base and a conduction means. Thus, the fermenter body 1 is rotated at a required speed.

  On the inner surface of the fermenter body 1, multiple rows (for example, 4 to 8 rows) of feed blades 11 projecting inward are fixed at predetermined intervals on the circumference. Each feed blade 11 has an inclination of about 15 degrees with respect to the axis of the fermentation chamber, and with the rotation of the fermenter body 1, the processed product A collapses at an inclination angle of about 45 degrees in the fermentation chamber while the feed Stirred by the blade 11. Further, when discharging, it is sent in the direction of the discharging unit 9.

Reference numerals 3A and 3B denote heating means. In this embodiment, an electric heater is used as the heating means 3A, and a hot air (hot air) supply mechanism is used as the heating means 3B. The heating means 3A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fermenter main body 1 in a planar or coiled form. The heating means 3 </ b> B extends into the fermentation chamber through the fixed end plate 100, and is connected to the hot air inlet tube 30 disposed outside the fermenter body 1 and having a hot air inlet tube 30 having an opening at the tip or intermediate region. A hot air generator 31 is provided. The hot air generator 31 is optional such as a burner or a sheathed heater.
An exhaust pipe 32 that faces the fermentation chamber through the fixed end plate 100 is provided, and a cyclone type dust collector 320 is interposed in the exhaust pipe 32 in this example.

4 is a fire extinguishing means, and a water discharge system is essential. The water discharge system includes a water discharge pipe 40 extending to the upper half region of the fermentation chamber through the fixed end plate 100 of the fermenter main body 1, a water tank 41 disposed outside the fermenter main body 1, Is provided with a pump 42 for supplying the water to the water discharge pipe 40. In this example, the water discharge pipe 40 extends in parallel with the hot air supply pipe 30 in the second heating means, and the watering nozzles 400 are arranged at a required interval. The water discharge system may be connected to a water pipe. In this case, valves such as an electromagnetic on-off valve and a motor valve are used instead of the pump.

  The fire extinguishing means may include power on / off of the driving system of the heating means 3A, 3B. Specifically, a drive electric system of a heat source such as the electric heater 3A and the hot air generator 31, such as a pump and an arc discharger, can be mentioned. In addition, the fire extinguishing means 4 includes a remote control type gas inflow / outflow control device for the heated air fermentation chamber 2. This includes, for example, an electromagnetic valve or a motor valve 43 interposed in the suction pipe 300 of the hot air inlet pipe 30 and an electromagnetic valve or motor valve 44 interposed in the exhaust pipe 32.

5A, 5B and 5C are abnormality detection means for detecting ignition and fire occurrence, and the first detection means 5A is a processed material temperature sensor such as a thermocouple, and passes through the fixed end plate 100 of the fermenter main body 1. A signal is sent out when the processed product A is inserted to the processed product accumulation level in the fermentation chamber and the processed product A is at a set temperature or higher, for example, 90 ° C. or higher.
The second detection means 5B is a temperature sensor in the fermentation chamber, and is a thermocouple. The second detection means 5B is inserted through the fixed end plate 100 of the fermenter main body 1 to an appropriate level above the treatment deposit level in the fermentation chamber. A signal is transmitted when the atmosphere of 2 is equal to or higher than a set temperature, for example, 90 ° C. or higher. The third detection means 5C is a smoke detector and is arranged in the exhaust pipe 32.

6 is a control means (controller) which is connected to the abnormality detection means 5A, 5B, 5C, transmits or processes a signal from the abnormality detection means, and includes a relay circuit or a CPU for operating the fire extinguishing means 4; It is built into the control panel outside the main unit 1.
As shown in FIG. 7, the output side of the control means 6 includes a temperature abnormality alarm device such as a warning lamp 12, a drive circuit for a pump 42 that feeds the water discharge pipe 40, or the hot air generator 31 and the electric heater 3A. The remote control type inflow / outflow control device of the suction pipe 300 and the exhaust pipe 32 (in this example, it is connected to the electromagnetic valve and the motor valve 43, the electromagnetic valve and the motor valve 44 of the exhaust pipe 32, It is also connected to the power supply circuit of the rotation drive motor 10 of the fermenter main body 1.
The control means 6 emits a signal for turning on or off each of the driving devices according to a certain program when a signal is sent from any one of the exhaust pipe first to third detection means.

  Explaining the operation of the first embodiment, the processed material A is charged into the fermentation chamber 2 of the fermenter body 1 from the processed material charging section 8. The processed product is a mixture of high-temperature fermentation cells and has a moisture content of about 30 to 60%. In this example, the electric heater 3A is operated as a heating means, and the air sucked by opening the electromagnetic valve or the motor valve 43 is heated to 100 ° C. or more by the hot air generator 31 and supplied to the fermentation chamber 2 through the hot air inlet pipe 30. Then, the electromagnetic valve or the motor valve 44 of the exhaust pipe 32 is opened to derive waste heat, which is released to the atmosphere through the dust collector 320. At the same time, the rotation drive motor 10 is operated to rotate the fermenter body 1 at a predetermined speed.

By such an operation, the processed product A accumulated in the fermentation chamber 2 is lifted by the feed blade 11 protruding from the inner wall of the fermenter body 1 and moves while being repeatedly stirred with a behavior of collapsing at a constant angle. The surface of the deposited layer is heated by heating from the outer periphery of the tank by means 3A, 3B and hot air blown in the fermentation chamber 2. As a result, the high-temperature fermenting bacteria exert an active action, and the organic matter to be treated is fermented. Along with this, the moisture content of the treated product is reduced and dried.
In this fermentation process, the temperature of the processed product A is detected by the first detection means 5A, the temperature of the fermentation chamber 2 is detected by the second detection means 5B, and the third detection is whether smoke is present in the exhaust. It is detected by the device 5C.

Usually, the treatment temperature is about 70 ° C. and the inside temperature of the bath is 80 ° C. or less. However, the treatment temperature or / and the fermentation chamber temperature is set to a set temperature, for example, 90 due to malfunction of the heating means, management error of the operation time, etc. If the temperature has reached or higher, the abnormal signal is sent to the control means 6 from the first or / and second detection means 5A, 5B. In addition, when a spark is caused by a spark caused by friction of foreign matter in the fermentation chamber, or when a fire due to low temperature ignition occurs and the smoke reaches the exhaust part, control is performed from the third detector 5C. An abnormality signal is sent to the means 6.
Upon receiving any of these signals, the control means 6 issues a command to perform the next fire extinguishing activity.

1) An abnormal temperature alarm device, for example, a warning lamp 12 is energized and turned on to notify that there is an emergency.
2) The heat source of the heating means in the operating state, for example, the hot air generator 31 and the power supply circuit of the electric heater 3A are opened, their operation is stopped, and the temperature rise of the fermentation chamber 2 and the processed product A is stopped.
3) The electromagnetic valve or motor valve 43 of the suction pipe 300 and the electromagnetic valve or motor valve 44 of the exhaust pipe 32 are closed from the open state to stop the flow of heated air into the fermentation chamber 2 and the discharge of waste heat air, Cut off oxygen supply.
4) The drive circuit of the pump 42 that was in a stopped state of the water discharge pipe 40 is closed and operated, and water is supplied to the water discharge pipe 40 and sprinkled from the water spray nozzle 400 to the processed product A in the fermentation chamber 2 to cause ignition. Prevent fire or extinguish when ignited. The driving of the pump 42 may be empirically determined, or may be stopped by a signal from the control means when the abnormality detection signal is no longer issued by the detection means.
5) The drive circuit of the drive motor 10 of the fermenter body 1 is opened after the time set by the timer has elapsed, and the rotation of the fermenter body 1 is stopped. The setting of the time is a time during which water is sufficiently diffused into the processed material A after the start of water discharge in 4).
The operation order of the above 2) to 4) is arbitrary and may be performed in parallel.

  By the above operation, ignition is prevented or extinguished automatically, so that a huge fire is prevented in advance, and a safe fermentation process can be continued while using high-temperature fermentation bacteria. Thus, when an abnormality detection signal is no longer issued from the detection means, a return signal is issued from the control means 6, and each part returns to a normal state.

5 and 6 show an example in which the present invention is applied to a small-capacity fermentation apparatus in which the fermenter main body 1 is a non-rotating type.
In this embodiment, the fermenter main body 1 is configured as a hermetic drum having an arcuate surface 10a at least on the bottom half of the circumference, and a rotating shaft 14 penetrating in the longitudinal direction in the center of the fermentation chamber 2. Are horizontally driven and driven by an external drive motor 10. A stirring blade 140 forming a spiral shape is fixed to the rotating shaft 14.

The fermenter main body 1 is provided with a processing product input part 8 in the upper central region and a fermented product discharge part 9 in the lower part. In addition, several hot air inlets 30 are provided as heating means 3B in the upper region, and piping is connected to a hot air generator arranged outside the fermenter body 1 (not shown) in these hot air inlets 30. Connected through.
Further, an exhaust part 32 is provided at a part out of phase with the hot air inlet part 30, and an exhaust pipe is connected to the exhaust part 32 as in the first embodiment although not shown.

In the upper level of the fermentation chamber 2, a water discharge system as a fire extinguishing means 4 is provided. That is, the water discharge pipe 40 is extended through the fixed end board 100 of the said fermenter main body 1, and the water discharge pipe 40 arrange | positions the watering nozzle 400 by the required space | interval. In this example, the water discharge pipe 40 is connected to a water pipe, and an electromagnetic on-off valve 45 is interposed therebetween. Instead of this, as in the first embodiment, a water tank arranged outside the fermenter main body 1 and a pump for supplying water in the water tank may be used.

In this example, the first to third abnormality detection means are also used in order to reliably detect ignition and fire occurrence. The first detection means 5A is a treatment thermometer, which is a thermocouple, and is arranged at the bottom position of the fermenter body 1 or inserted through the fixed end plate 100 toward the treatment deposit level in the fermentation chamber. A signal is sent when the processed product is at a set temperature or higher, for example, 90 ° C. or higher. The second detection means 5B is a fermentation chamber thermometer, which is a thermocouple, and is inserted through the fixed end plate 100 of the fermenter main body 1 to an appropriate level above the level of processed material in the fermentation chamber. A signal is sent when the atmosphere is higher than a set temperature, for example, 90 ° C. or higher. The third detection means 5C is a smoke detector and is disposed in the exhaust section.

The control means 6 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and in addition to a temperature abnormality alarm device such as a warning light 12, an electromagnetic on-off valve 45 of a water pipe for supplying water to the water discharge pipe 40 or a drive circuit for a pump 42, or It is connected to at least the drive power supply circuit of the hot air generator, and further connected to the power supply circuit of the rolling drive motor 10 of the agitation rotating shaft 14.
The control means 6 emits a signal for turning on or off each of the driving devices according to a certain program when a signal is sent from any one of the exhaust pipe first to third detection means.

In 2nd Example, a processed material is thrown into the fermentation chamber 2 of the fermenter main body 1 from the processed material input part 8. FIG. In this example, the heated air is heated to 100 ° C. or more by a hot air generator as a heating means, supplied to the fermentation chamber 2 through the hot air input pipe 30, waste heat is led out from the exhaust pipe 32, and is discharged to the atmosphere through a dust collector. . At the same time, the drive motor 10 is operated to rotate the stirring blade 140 at a predetermined speed in the fermenter body 1.

By such an operation, the processed product A deposited in the fermentation chamber 2 is repeatedly held and stirred by the stirring blade 140, and the surface of the deposited layer is heated by the hot air blown in the fermentation chamber 2. As a result, the high-temperature fermenting bacteria exert an active action, and the organic matter to be treated is fermented. Along with this, the moisture content of the treated product is reduced and dried.
In this fermentation process, the temperature of the processed product A is detected by the first detection means 5A, the temperature of the fermentation chamber 2 is detected by the second detection means 5B, and the third detection is whether smoke is present in the exhaust. When detected by means 5C and an abnormality is detected, automatic fire extinguishing and temperature drop are performed as in the first embodiment.

1) An abnormal temperature alarm device, for example, a warning lamp 12 is energized and lit to inform it of an emergency.
2) The heat source of the heating means 3 in the operating state, for example, the power circuit of the hot air generator is opened, their operation is stopped, and the temperature rise of the fermentation chamber 2 and the processed product A is stopped.
3) The electromagnetic on-off valve 45 of the water discharge pipe 40 in the stopped state is opened, and water is sprinkled from the watering nozzle 400 to the processed material A in the fermentation chamber 2 to prevent ignition from occurring or to extinguish when in the ignition state. The opening time of the electromagnetic on-off valve 45 may be determined empirically, or may be stopped by a signal from the control means when the abnormality detection signal is no longer issued by the detection means.
4) The drive circuit of the drive motor 10 of the stirring blade 140 is opened after the time set by the timer has elapsed, and the rotation is stopped.
As described above, it is possible to automatically prevent the occurrence of a fire due to low temperature ignition and to manufacture a fermented product safely. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, remote control means for stopping the supply of oxygen by stopping the inflow of heated air and the discharge of waste heat air into the suction pipe and the exhaust pipe, for example, electromagnetic A valve or a motor valve may be provided. In this case, the remote control means is changed from the open state to the closed state by the control means by a signal from the detection means 5A, 5B, 5C. This is also included in the present invention.

It is a vertical side view which shows 1st Example of the fermentation apparatus by this invention. It is a rear view of 1st Example. It is a front view of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. It is a vertical side view which shows 2nd Example of the fermentation apparatus by this invention. It is a vertical front view of 2nd Example. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fermenter main body 2 Fermentation chamber 3A, 3B Heating means 4 Fire extinguishing means 5A, 5B, 5C Abnormality detection means
6 Control means 8 Processed material input part 9 Discharge part 40 Water discharge pipe 42 Pump 43, 44 Remote control type gas inflow / outflow control device 400 Water spray nozzle

Claims (3)

  A fermenter body having a fermentation room, a fermenter main body having an input part and a discharge part of a processed product containing high-temperature fermentation cells in a proper place, and a high-temperature fermenter-use fermentation apparatus having means for heating the fermentation room, A fire extinguishing means for the fermentation chamber is provided, and means for detecting at least one of a certain temperature rise in the fermentation chamber, a temperature rise above a certain level of the processed material, and smoke generation, and a signal from the abnormality detection means A fermentation apparatus comprising control means for operating fire extinguishing means.   The fire extinguishing means is a water discharge system having a watering nozzle and disposed in the fermentation chamber, and the control means is configured to operate a water discharge system pump or valve when an abnormality is detected by the detection means. The fermentation apparatus as described.   The fire extinguishing means includes, in addition to the water discharge system, at least one of a driving system of the heating means and an inflow / outflow system of air into the fermentation chamber, and automatically stops the operation of the heating means by a signal from the control means when an abnormality is detected by the detection means The fermentation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fermentation apparatus is configured to stop the inflow or outflow of air.

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