JPH1177001A - Treating apparatus for organic waste - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent contents in a fermenter from drying excessively by adjusting dehumidifying capacity by a method wherein the temperature of a heating medium on the way returning to a heating medium circulating device from a cooling pipe is detected, and control of apparatuses related to the dehumidifying capacity such as the heating medium circulating device, a circulation fan, etc., is executed according to its temperature. SOLUTION: A cooling pipe 11 is connected in a line to a heating medium circulating device 15 via a heating medium supply pipe 17 and a heating medium returning pipe 16. The heating medium circulating device 15 compresses a heating medium returning from the heating medium returning pipe 16 to release heat, and the temperature of the heating medium is lowered by reducing pressure thereafter. After lowering the temperature, the heating medium is supplied again to the cooling pipe 11 from the heating medium supply pipe 17. In an organic waste treating apparatus, a temperature sensor 18 is installed to a heating medium returning pipe. The temperature of the heating medium returning pipe detected with the temperature sensor 18 is sent to a control circuit 19, and a dry degree of contents in a fermenter is judged from that value with the control circuit 19 to stop operation of the heating medium circulating device for a certain time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dehumidifier for an organic waste treatment apparatus for treating organic waste including garbage, livestock dung, and residues from food processing, and more particularly to fermentation of organic waste by fermentation bacteria. Dehumidifier for organic waste treatment equipment

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the technology related to composting (composting) by aerobic fermentation treatment of organic waste including garbage, animal dung, residue from food processing and the like is, of course, a pollution-free treatment method. In addition, the recycling of such waste has been reconsidered as a technology that enables natural recycling.

Conventionally, as a method of composting such organic waste, the organic waste introduced for treatment is mixed with a moisture control material such as sawdust or a treated compost in a fermentation tank. Mixing, thereby
There is already known a method of performing biological fermentation treatment by utilizing microorganisms mixed into a fermenter along with the organic waste to be input, or seed bacteria previously input into the fermenter. However, the garbage, animal dung, and residue from food processing are often supplied with water that is greater than the amount of water suitable for fermentation. Therefore, it is necessary to dry the fermented organic waste (hereinafter referred to as fermenter contents) during or after the fermentation.

[0004] However, if the drying is performed simply without considering the amount of the input organic waste and the moisture content in the organic waste, the moisture in the input organic waste is reduced. When the amount is larger than the dehumidifying performance of the treatment device, the contents of the fermenter in the organic waste treatment device become insufficiently dried and become muddy. In addition, when the amount of water in the input organic waste is smaller than the dehumidifying performance of the organic waste treatment device, the contents of the fermenter become fine powder due to excessive drying and scatter in the ventilation path, causing clogging of piping. .

As a countermeasure against the above problem, a method has been disclosed in which the degree of drying of the contents of a fermenter is detected, the dehumidifying performance of an organic waste treatment apparatus is controlled in accordance with the detected value, and excessive drying is suppressed. ing.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-251146 discloses a method for measuring the degree of dryness of the contents of a fermenter. (1) A part of the contents of a fermenter is sandwiched between electrode pairs, and the current flowing when a voltage is applied thereto is applied. A method for measuring the degree of drying of the contents of the fermenter according to the value, (2) a method for measuring the degree of drying of the contents of the fermenter by changing the stirring torque of the stirrer, and (3) a method of measuring the degree of humidity in the upper space of the fermenter Methods for measuring the degree of dryness of articles are disclosed.

Further, as a means for controlling the dehumidifying performance, there is disclosed a method of adjusting the operation interval of the stirring device, the control temperature of the heating device for the fermenter, the flow rate of the ventilation device, and the like.

[0008]

However, the conventional dryness detection method disclosed in the art has problems in detection accuracy and life. That is, (1). When measuring the amount of current flowing through the contents of the fermenter, it is necessary to install the space between the electrodes in the fermenter, and the life is a problem due to damage, corrosion, etc. due to agitation (2). In the method of measuring the degree of dryness of the contents of the fermenter by changing the agitation torque, the accuracy of detecting the degree of dryness of the contents of the fermenter becomes a problem because the agitation torque fluctuates according to the type of the organic waste to be charged.

(3). The method of measuring the dryness of the contents of the fermenter based on the humidity in the upper space of the fermenter has a problem in terms of the life of the humidity sensor.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of accuracy and life of the method for detecting the degree of drying of the contents of a fermenter, the present invention detects the degree of drying of the contents of a fermenter with high accuracy and detects a long life. The invention invents a method, controls the dehumidification performance of an organic waste treatment device according to the value, and provides an organic waste treatment device such that the contents of the fermenter do not become fine powder.

The method for detecting the degree of dryness of the contents of a fermenter in the present invention is based on detecting the amount of steam generated from the contents of the fermenter by the amount of temperature rise of a heat medium in a cooling pipe installed in a dehumidifier. This is a long-life detection method capable of accurately detecting the degree of drying of the contents of the fermenter.

Specifically, a closed fermenter having a heating device capable of heating the inside to a predetermined temperature, and stirring and fermenting the contents of the fermenter.
Stirring device for mixing, suction duct for introducing air in fermenter into cooler housing, cooler housing with cooling pipes inside, return air duct for returning air in cooler housing to fermenter, return air duct And a heat medium circulating device for circulating a heat medium in the cooling pipe, the heat medium being circulated between the heat pipe and the cooling pipe. The temperature of the heat medium returning to the circulation device is detected, and the heat medium circulation device,
The dehumidifying capacity is adjusted by controlling the operation of devices related to the dehumidifying capacity, such as a circulation fan, a heating device, and a stirring device.
Prevents overdrying of fermenter contents.

More specifically, a refrigerant for an air conditioner is used as the heat medium, and a compressor for an air conditioner is used as a heat medium circulation device.
Further, water may be used as a heat medium, and a circulation pump may be used as a heat medium circulation device.

The method of controlling the dehumidifying capacity is to adjust the heating temperature of the fermenter, the operating rate of the stirrer, the operating rate of the heat medium circulating apparatus, and the operating rate of the circulating fan independently or in combination.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

The inside of the fermenter 1 is filled with a water conditioner 2 to which microorganisms for decomposing organic waste are attached.
A heating means 4 is provided at the bottom of the fermenter 1 to heat the inside of the fermenter to a predetermined temperature suitable for fermentation. Further, the outer periphery of the fermenter 1 is surrounded by a heat insulating material 3 to prevent heat in the fermenter 1 from dissipating to the outside. The organic waste fed into the fermenter from an inlet 8 provided in the upper part of the fermenter 1 is rotated by a sprocket 7 by a stirring motor (not shown), and the stirring arm 6 attached to the stirring shaft 5 is rotated. Rotates and is mixed with the moisture adjusting material 2. The organic waste put into the fermenter 1 is heated by a heating means, mixed with a water conditioning material,
Fermentation is rapidly started by air supply by stirring.

The air containing steam in the fermenter is supplied to the fermenter 1
The air in the fermenter is introduced into the dehumidifier housing 10 from the intake duct 9 connected to the dehumidifier. A cooling pipe 11 is provided in the dehumidifier housing 10 to cool and dehumidify the air containing steam introduced into the dehumidifier housing. The dehumidified air is returned to the fermenter 1 again by the circulation fan 12 via the return air duct 13. A drain duct 14 for draining dehumidification water is provided at the bottom of the dehumidifier housing 10 to drain dehumidified water accumulated in the dehumidifier housing to the outside.

The cooling pipe 11 is connected to a heat medium circulating device 15 via a heat medium supply pipe 17 and a heat medium return pipe 16. The heat medium circulating device 15 compresses and radiates the heat medium returning from the heat medium return pipe 16 to reduce the pressure of the heat medium by reducing the pressure. The heat medium whose temperature has dropped is supplied again from the heat medium supply pipe 17 to the cooling pipe 11.

In the organic waste treatment apparatus having the above-described basic configuration, the temperature sensor 18 is provided on the heat medium return pipe.
Is installed. The temperature of the heat medium return pipe detected by the temperature sensor 18 is sent to the control circuit 19, and the control circuit 19 determines the degree of dryness of the fermenter contents from the value, and stops the operation of the heat medium circulation device for a certain time. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of the heat medium return pipe and the amount of wastewater per unit time (dehumidification rate) from the dehumidifier and the elapsed time in the organic waste treatment apparatus having the above configuration. In FIG. 2, the solid line indicates a change in the dehumidification rate, and the broken line indicates the temperature of the heat medium return pipe. FIG. 2 shows that the temperature of the heat medium return pipe increases as the dehumidification rate increases, and the temperature of the heat medium return pipe decreases as the dehumidification rate decreases.
This decrease in the dehumidification rate is due to the fact that the fermenter contents are dried and the amount of steam generated from the fermenter contents is reduced.If the dehumidification performance is controlled at the point where the dehumidification rate starts to decrease, the fermenter The contents are less likely to be dried than when the control of the dehumidifying performance is not performed.

FIG. 3 shows a change in the temperature of the heat medium return air when the dehumidifying performance is controlled by the temperature of the heat medium return pipe. The method of controlling the dehumidifying performance was performed by stopping the operation of the heat medium circulating device and the circulating fan for a certain period of time. The solid line in the figure shows the change in the temperature of the heat medium return pipe when the control of the dehumidification performance is not performed, and the broken line in the case when the control of the dehumidification performance is performed. When the operation control of the heat medium circulating device is performed, the operation is stopped for the heat medium circulating device stop setting time (td) from the time when the heat medium return pipe temperature becomes equal to or lower than the heat medium circulating device stop setting temperature (Ts).

For a while after the organic waste is put into the fermenter, the temperature of the heat medium return pipe is lower than Ts because the steam generated from the contents of the fermenter is small, and the operation of the heat medium circulating apparatus is stopped. . Thereafter, as the temperature of the fermenter contents increases, the amount of steam generated from the fermenter contents increases, and the temperature of the heat medium return air pipe also increases. Thereafter, the amount of steam generated from the contents of the fermenter decreases as the drying of the contents of the fermenter proceeds, and as the amount of generated steam decreases, the temperature of the heat medium return pipe also decreases.

When the temperature of the heat medium return pipe reaches point A at which the temperature of the heat medium return pipe becomes lower than Ts, the operation of the heat medium circulating apparatus is stopped by td. The heating medium circulating apparatus restarts operation after stopping for the time td, but if new organic waste is not charged into the fermenter, the temperature of the heating medium return pipe falls to Ts or less in a short time, and the heating medium circulating apparatus is restarted. Is stopped for the time td.

FIG. 4 shows the moisture content of the fermenter contents when the operation of the heat medium circulator is controlled by the temperature of the heat medium return pipe, and the water content of the fermenter contents when the operation of the heat medium circulator is not controlled. FIG. When the operation control of the heat medium circulating device is not performed, the water content of the fermenter contents gradually decreases and falls below the water content region where the fermenter contents are pulverized.

However, when the temperature is controlled by the temperature of the heat medium return pipe of the heat medium circulating apparatus, FIG.
At point A, since the operation of the heat medium circulating apparatus is stopped, the drying speed of the contents of the fermenter is reduced, and the rate of decrease in the water content is smaller than when the operation of the heat medium circulating apparatus is not controlled. Therefore, when the operation of the heat medium circulation device is controlled,
The time required for the water content of the fermenter contents to fall to or below the moisture content at which the content of the fermenter is reduced becomes longer, and the fine content of the fermenter can be suppressed. Therefore, the time required for the water content of the fermenter contents to drop below the water content at which the powder is pulverized can be arbitrarily set by adjusting Ts and td.

Thus, the operation can be stopped before pulverization.

The particle size of the fine powder is 0.3 mm or less,
The moisture content depends on the type of fermenter contents. For example,
When the amount is 5% or less for general household garbage and the like and 30% or less for herbivorous feces as a special matter, fine powdering starts, and the amount of fine powder increases at about 10%.

[0029]

As described above, by using the structure of the present invention, it is possible to detect the degree of dryness of the contents of the fermenter from the amount of steam generated from the contents of the fermenter, and the content of the fermenter can be detected from the value. By controlling the dehumidification performance of the organic waste treatment equipment so that it does not fall below the water content range where it becomes a fine powder, the contents of the fermenter become fine powder and scatter in the ventilation path, causing clogging of piping This can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a fermenter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in a heat medium return pipe temperature and a dehumidification rate when the dehumidification control of the present invention is not performed.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing a heat medium return pipe temperature when control according to the present invention is performed and when control is not performed.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in the water content of the contents of the fermenter when control according to the present invention is performed and when control is not performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fermentation tank, 2 ... Moisture adjusting material, 3 ... Heat insulation material, 4 ... Heating device, 5 ... Stirring shaft, 6 ... Stirring arm, 7 ... Sprocket, 8 ... Input port, 9 ... Intake duct, 10 ... Dehumidifier housing , 11: cooling pipe, 12: circulation fan, 13: return air duct, 14: drain duct, 15: heat medium circulation device, 16: heat medium return pipe, 17: heat medium supply pipe, 18: temperature sensor, 19 ... Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fermenter for fermenting organic waste, a heating device for heating the inside of the fermenter, a stirring device for stirring the contents of the fermenter, and an intake duct for sucking air inside the fermenter. A dehumidifier connected to the intake duct to cool and dehumidify the intake air, a circulation fan for returning the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier to the fermentation tank, and a return connecting the circulation fan and the fermentation tank. In an organic waste treatment device including an air duct, a dehumidifier includes a cooling pipe for circulating a heat medium therein,
It has a heat medium circulating device for circulating a heat medium through the cooling pipe, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the surface of the cooling pipe. An organic waste treatment apparatus characterized in that: