NL2004534C2 - Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device. - Google Patents

Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2004534C2
NL2004534C2 NL2004534A NL2004534A NL2004534C2 NL 2004534 C2 NL2004534 C2 NL 2004534C2 NL 2004534 A NL2004534 A NL 2004534A NL 2004534 A NL2004534 A NL 2004534A NL 2004534 C2 NL2004534 C2 NL 2004534C2
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
tank
tube
exit
entrance
sludge
Prior art date
Application number
NL2004534A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Joseph Gerardus Mari Colsen
Original Assignee
Colsen
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Colsen filed Critical Colsen
Priority to NL2004534A priority Critical patent/NL2004534C2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2004534C2 publication Critical patent/NL2004534C2/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/50—Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle
    • B01F25/52—Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle with a rotary stirrer in the recirculation tube
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
    • B01F27/50—Pipe mixers, i.e. mixers wherein the materials to be mixed flow continuously through pipes, e.g. column mixers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
    • B01F27/60—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • B01F27/71—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with propellers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
    • B01F35/92—Heating or cooling systems for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/90—Heating or cooling systems
    • B01F2035/99—Heating

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

Description

Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device
The invention relates to a homogeneity device for enhancing 5 homogeneity in a biodigestor tank.
A biodigestor tank is generally used for breaking down biodegradable material in order to produce biogas which contains methane and carbondioxide primarily. As such the material, also referred to as biomass, can provide for an 10 alternative source of energy, thereby replacing fossil fuels .
In the tank, a sludge is present which consists of the biomass and specific bacteria performing the degradation or digestion. The bacteria are usually mesophilic or 15 thermophilic, which typically perform an optimum activity at temperatures in the range of 20 up to 90°C, dependent on the specific type. For that reason, the tanks are provided with heat exchanging systems for achieving an optimum temperature in the tank. The bacteria use the biomass as a substrate, 20 for which reason an intensive contact between bacteria and biomass is needed. Because of the contents of the sludge, it is inherently prone to the formation of inhomogeneities, that compromise the degradation or digesting process. Especially the formation of layers floating on top of the 25 sludge are unwanted in this regard. The floating layers contain fats and foam which easily separate from the sludge mixture. Also in tanks in which a sludge of biomass mixture is stored (i.e. without digesting bacteria present), this problem of inhomogeneity occurs.
30 To promote a better homogeneity inside the known tank, it is equipped with one or more stirrers inside the tank. However, any maintenance of the stirrers inevitably necessitates an interruption of the biodigesting process.
2
Furthermore, the formation of inhomogeneities would rise during maintenance, as no stirring is performed.
The invention aims at solving the above homogeneity problems in known tanks for biomass sludge.
5 For that goal, the invention provides in a first aspect a homogeneity device for enhancing homogeneity in a tank filled with sludge, the device comprising: a longitudinal tube having an tube entry on the top and an tube exit at the bottom, and a pumping device situated in an 10 inner void of the tube between the tube entry and tube exit, the pumping device being adapted to pump fluid through the inner void in a direction from the tube entry to the tube exit, the tube entry and tube exit being connectable onto the outside of the tank, via a tank exit respectively a tank 15 entry.
The invention is typically aimed at homogenizing a sludge which contains 0 - 15 wt. % dry matter, preferably 5 - 15 wt. % .
When the device is used, it is connected onto the 20 outside of a tank in fluid communication, so that the sludge from the biodigestor tank also passes through the inner void of the tube. The pumping device establishes a streaming direction of the sludge through the tube from the tube entry to the tube exit. The tube entry is the entrance for sludge 25 from the tank exit, which is in a vertically higher position than the tube exit coupled to the tank entry. Thus sludge is circulated by the homogeneity device, from a high level of the sludge inside the tank, and re-introduced into the tank at a lower level. Effectively, the device establishes 30 circulating currents between different levels of the sludge inside the tank. Inside the tank, the formation of floating top layers is reduced or eliminated by this transfer through the device outside the tank. Further preferences when using 3 the device together with the tank, are explained in regard of the second and third aspect of the invention.
Preferably, in the device according to the invention, the pumping device comprises a propeller with blades. The 5 propeller may generally be coupled to a shaft, which is driven by a motor. The propeller is not only an expedient form of pumping device for pumping sludge, it also has another action of chopping the sludge, especially any inhomogeneties in the sludge which are of a solid or viscous 10 nature will be chopped by the propeller into smaller parts. The propeller thus has the additional advantage of fragmentizing any inhomogeneities, so that the re-introduced sludge has a higher degree of homogeneity.
As an alternative to the propeller, the same advantages 15 are obtained by using a pumping device of the type of an impeller, or similar alternatives known to the skilled person .
Expediently, a pumping device is used which is capable of pumping sludge having at least a dry matter content of 0 20 - 15 wt.%, preferably 5-15 wt. %.
By further preference, the pumping device is arranged at the bottom end of the tube. As the bottom end of the tube forms the tube exit, it is advantageous to situate the pumping device at this position, because it allows a minimum 25 pressure drop from the pump to the inside of the tank. Also, the orientation of the tube having an entry at a higher position than the tube exit, allows to take advantage of the gravity force which pulls the sludge inside the tube downwards, upstream of the pumping device.
30 In another preferred version of the homogeneity device, the outside of the wall of the tube is partly surrounded by a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger enables the tube to be warmed or cooled so that sludge led through the inner void 4 is kept at an optimum temperature for biodigesting processes. As such, a specific control of the temperature at which the sludge is re-introduced in the tank is possible, which is of concern because for most bacteria involved in 5 biodigestion, there is a narrow range of operational temperatures. Effectively, it was found that the heat exchanging feature of the tube, could replace the heat exchanging devices which are used in the tanks. Thus, the device of the invention provides not only an alternative for 10 stirring a tank, but also for controlling the temperature inside .
Expediently, the heat exchanger is capable of maintaining a temperature inside the tube of 20 to 90°C, which comprises the optimum temperature ranges for bacteria 15 used in biodigestion processes. A very common temperature range to be achieved in the tank itself lies in the range of 30 to 70 °C, preferably 40 to 60 °C.
With further preference, the heat exchanger is provided in the form of a surrounding mantle of a fluid contacting 20 the outside of the wall of the tube. Especially preferred is in this regard that the heat exchanger comprises a surrounding space around a part of the tube, which is enclosed between the outside of the wall of the tube and a second wall that surrounds the outside of the tube, the 25 surrounding space being adapted to contain a fluid for heat exchange, and having an exit and entry for said fluid.
Such heat exchange is expedient for the invention, because a fluid accomplishes a fast exchange of heat to the sludge that travels through the inner void of the tube.
30 Moreover, by a surrounding space through which the heat exchange fluid is led, a further enhanced exchange of heat is possible.
5
Preferably, in the device of the invention, the tube exit, preferably also the tube entry, is equipped with a valve for closing said entry or exit. The valves make it possible to close the inner void when the device is removed 5 from the tank, while the sludge is kept inside. After the device is dislodged from the tank, the device can be cleaned, or inspected for maintenance, and the sludge may be deposited in an appropriate container if necessary.
In a second aspect, the invention relates to an 10 assembly of a tank filled with sludge and at least one device according to the invention, wherein each device is connected onto the outside of the tank via a tank exit and a tank entry, by coupling of the tube entry to the tank exit, and coupling of the tube exit to a tank entry, so that the 15 inside of the tank is in fluid communication with the inside of the tube, and wherein the tank exit is at a vertically higher position than the tank entry. In this configuration, the advantageous circulating motion of the sludge inside the tank is achieved, as explained above.
20 Both the tank exit and tank entry extend through the outside wall of the tank.
Preferably, the assembly contains more than one device according to the invention is connected onto the outside of the tank. As such, one device may be removed from the tank, 25 while another is still operable. Thus, the assembly allows maintenance of one device, while the other device remains active, so that the sludge is still stirred and the temperature is still controlled by the heat exchanger.
Preferably, the tank entry and the tank exit, is 30 equipped with a valve for closing said entry and exit. When the valves of the tank are in closed position, they allow the dislodging of a device from the tank, without unwanted spilling of sludge from the tank through the tank exit or 6 the tank entry. After removing the device from the tank, the tank can be kept in operation with the remaining devices.
In a third aspect the invention relates to the use of a homogeneity device according to the invention, by connecting 5 the device onto the outside of a tank filled with sludge, by coupling of the tube entry to the tank exit, and coupling of the tube exit to a tank entry, wherein the upper surface of the sludge inside the tank is kept at the height of the tank exit, while the pumping device is in operation. In this way, 10 the upper surface of the sludge directly enters the homogeneity device, which has proven to be the most effective mode in reducing inhomogeneities in the sludge. In this way, any floating layers are directly re-mixed with the sludge and dispersed at the lower tank entry, away from the 15 upper surface.
Preferably, in the use according to the invention, the heat exchanger is set to establish a temperature of the sludge inside the tank of 20 to 90°C.
The invention will be further illustrated by the 20 appended figure 1, which shows a cross-section of a device according to the invention, coupled to a biodigestor tank.
In figure 1, a biodigestor tank 1 is depicted, which is filled with sludge 3, and comprises a bottom 5, a top 7 and a side wall 8. Provided through the side wall are a conduit 25 10 which functions as a tank exit, and another conduit 11 which functions as a tank entry. The upper surface 2 of the sludge 3 is held at a level similar to the level of the tank exit 10. To the tank exit 10 and tank entry 11, a homogeneity device 20 is coupled via tube entry 22, 30 respectively tube exit 24. Both entry 22 and exit 24 are provided with valves 26 schematically depicted by a cross. The main longitudinal tube 25 of the device 20, is surrounded by a mantle reservoir 30 containing a heat 7 exchanging fluid such as water. The mantle reservoir 30 is provided with an entry 32 and exit 34 for transportation of the heat exchanging fluid through the mantle reservoir, so that an optimal working temperature of the fluid can be 5 maintained. This can be accomplished by circulation of the fluid through a not depicted thermostatic apparatus.
At the bottom part of the main tube 25, a propeller 40 is provided which is driven by shaft 42 and an external motor 44. The propeller is directed so that it pumps the 10 sludge in the main tube 25 out of the tube exit 24, into the tank entry 11. The top layer of the sludge 3 is thereby mixed with the bottom layer of the sludge 3.
The arrows inside the main tube 25 and the tank entry 11, show the direction of the sludge stream. The tank entry 15 11 and tube exit 24 are coupled by conventional means such as corresponding flanges 50 which are fixed to each other. The same mode of coupling is provided between tank exit 10 and tube entry 22.

Claims (12)

1. Homogeniseerinrichting voor het verhogen van de homogeniteit in een tank gevuld met slijk, waarbij de 5 inrichting omvat: een langwerpige buis met een huisingang aan de bovenzijde en een buisuitgang aan de benedenzijde, en een pompinrichting opgesteld in een binnenruimte van de buis tussen de huisingang en de buisuitgang, 10 waarbij de pompinrichting is aangepast om een fluïdum te pompen door de binnenruimte in een richting van de huisingang naar de buisuitgang, waarbij de huisingang en buisuitgang verbindbaar zijn met de buitenzijde van de tank, via een tankuitgang 15 respectievelijk een tankingang.A homogenizing device for increasing the homogeneity in a tank filled with mud, the device comprising: an elongated tube with a housing entrance at the top and a tube output at the bottom, and a pumping device arranged in an inner space of the tube between the housing entrance and the pipe outlet, wherein the pumping device is adapted to pump a fluid through the inner space in a direction from the housing entrance to the pipe outlet, the housing entrance and pipe outlet being connectable to the outside of the tank, via a tank outlet 15 or a tank entrance, respectively . 2. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de pompinrichting een propeller met bladen omvat.Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pumping device comprises a propeller with blades. 3. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij de pompinrichting aan het benedenuiteinde van de buis is 20 opgesteld.3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pumping device is arranged at the lower end of the tube. 4. Inrichting volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de buitenzijde van de wand van de buis gedeeltelijk is omgeven door een warmtewisselaar.Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the outside of the wall of the tube is partially surrounded by a heat exchanger. 5. Inrichting volgens conclusie 4, waarbij de 25 warmtewisselaar is verschaft in de vorm van een omgevende mantel van een fluïdum dat de buitenzijde van de wand van de buis aanraakt.5. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger is provided in the form of a surrounding jacket of a fluid that touches the outside of the wall of the tube. 6. Inrichting volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de warmtewisselaar een omgevende ruimte rondom een deel van de 30 buis omvat, welke ruimte is ingesloten tussen de buitenzijde van de wand van de buis en een tweede wand die de buitenzijde van de buis omgeeft, waarbij de omgevende ruimte is aangepast om een fluïdum voor warmtewisseling te bevatten, en een uitgang en ingang voor het genoemde fluïdum bevat.6. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a surrounding space around a part of the tube, which space is enclosed between the outside of the wall of the tube and a second wall which surrounds the outside of the tube, the surrounding space is adapted to contain a fluid for heat exchange, and includes an outlet and inlet for said fluid. 7. Inrichting volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de buisuitgang, bij voorkeur ook de huisingang, is 5 uitgevoerd met een klep voor het sluiten van de ingang of uitgang.7. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the pipe outlet, preferably also the housing entrance, is provided with a valve for closing the entrance or exit. 8. Samenstel van een tank gevuld met slijk en ten minste één inrichting volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij elke inrichting verbonden is met de 10 buitenzijde van de tank via een tankuitgang en een tankingang, door koppeling van de huisingang aan de tankuitgang, en koppeling van de buisuitgang aan een tankingang, zodat de binnenzijde van de tank in vloeibare verbinding staat met de binnenzijde van de buis, en waarbij 15 de tankuitgang een verticaal hogere positie heeft dan de tankingang.8. Assembly of a tank filled with mud and at least one device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each device is connected to the outside of the tank via a tank exit and a tank entrance, by coupling the housing entrance to the tank exit, and coupling the tube outlet to a tank inlet, so that the inside of the tank is in fluid communication with the inside of the tube, and wherein the tank outlet has a vertically higher position than the tank inlet. 9. Samenstel volgens conclusie 8, waarbij meer dan één inrichting volgens conclusies 1-7 is verbonden met de buitenzijde van de tank.An assembly according to claim 8, wherein more than one device according to claims 1-7 is connected to the outside of the tank. 10. Samenstel volgens conclusie 8 of 9, waarbij de tankingang en de tankuitgang zijn uitgevoerd met een klep voor het sluiten van de ingang en uitgang.An assembly according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the tank entrance and the tank exit are provided with a valve for closing the entrance and exit. 11. Toepassing van een homogeniseerinrichting volgens conclusies 1-7, door het verbinden van de inrichting met de 25 buitenzijde van een tank gevuld met slijk, door het koppelen van de huisingang aan de tankuitgang, en het koppelen van de buisuitgang met een tankingang, waarbij het bovenoppervlak van het slijk binnen de tank wordt gehouden op de hoogte van de tankuitgang, terwijl de pompinrichting in bedrijf is.11. Use of a homogenizing device according to claims 1-7, by connecting the device to the outside of a tank filled with sludge, by coupling the house entrance to the tank exit, and coupling the tube exit to a tank entrance, wherein the upper surface of the sludge inside the tank is kept at the height of the tank outlet while the pump device is in operation. 12. Toepassing volgens conclusie 11, waarbij de warmtewisselaar is ingesteld om een temperatuur van het slijk binnen de tank te bereiken van 20 tot 90°C.The use of claim 11, wherein the heat exchanger is adjusted to reach a temperature of the sludge within the tank from 20 to 90 ° C.
NL2004534A 2010-04-12 2010-04-12 Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device. NL2004534C2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2004534A NL2004534C2 (en) 2010-04-12 2010-04-12 Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2004534 2010-04-12
NL2004534A NL2004534C2 (en) 2010-04-12 2010-04-12 Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device.

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NL2004534C2 true NL2004534C2 (en) 2011-10-13

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NL2004534A NL2004534C2 (en) 2010-04-12 2010-04-12 Homogeneity device for a tank, use thereof and assembly of a tank and said device.

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3078999A (en) * 1959-06-18 1963-02-26 Earl M Kelly Sludge digester
FR2487222A1 (en) * 1980-07-23 1982-01-29 Alemany Pierre Anaerobic digester with pumped recycling mixing system - pref. re-injects surface crust bacteria into digester base to accelerate fermentation
DE202007018465U1 (en) * 2007-05-30 2008-08-14 Stirl Anlagentechnik Gmbh Biogas fermenter with separate agitator
EP1992405A1 (en) * 2007-05-14 2008-11-19 Karl Buschmann Maschinenbau GmbH Conveying system of a fermentation/digestion tank

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3078999A (en) * 1959-06-18 1963-02-26 Earl M Kelly Sludge digester
FR2487222A1 (en) * 1980-07-23 1982-01-29 Alemany Pierre Anaerobic digester with pumped recycling mixing system - pref. re-injects surface crust bacteria into digester base to accelerate fermentation
EP1992405A1 (en) * 2007-05-14 2008-11-19 Karl Buschmann Maschinenbau GmbH Conveying system of a fermentation/digestion tank
DE202007018465U1 (en) * 2007-05-30 2008-08-14 Stirl Anlagentechnik Gmbh Biogas fermenter with separate agitator

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