TH25641B - Methods and equipment for fermentation of organic matter Hypoxia - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (09/07/45) This invention relates to a method for the fermentation of biodegradable organic material by anaerobic microbial growth in the environment in which the material is mixed with a quantity of a pre-fermented starter material for anaerobic microbial growth in the environment and this mixture is introduced from the top into the fermentation chamber (1A) in which a fermentation block is placed. Once fermented, it moves from the inlet (6A) located at the top to the outlet (8) located at the bottom. Before this mixture is added to the fermentation block, it is initially expanded to a density approximately the same as the fermentation block that existed at the beginning of the downward movement. See Figure 1. This invention relates to a method for the fermentation of biodegradable organic material by anaerobic microbial growth in the environment in which the material is mixed with a quantity of a pre-fermented starter material for anaerobic microbial growth in the environment. The mixture is fermented in an oxygen-deficient environment and introduced into the upper chamber (1A) of the fermentation block, which contains the fermenting block. Once fermented, it moves from the upper inlet (6A) to the lower outlet (8). Before the mixture is added to the fermenting block, it is initially expanded to a density approximately equal to that of the fermenting block that existed at the beginning of the downward movement. See Figure 1.

Claims (19)

1. Method for anaerobic fermentation: Biodegradable organic material is mixed with a quantity of fermentable substances to form a starter culture for anaerobic fermentation. This mixture is then introduced from the top into a fermentation chamber containing the fermenting block. As fermentation occurs, the mixture moves from the inlet (at the top) to the outlet (at the bottom), progressing through several stages: - Expansion of the mixture before it is added to the fermenting block; and - Downward movement of the expanding mixture during fermentation until its compactness approximately matches the initial compaction of the fermenting block. 2. The method under claim 1, in which the mixture is expanded or compressed beforehand as it moves upward. 3. The method under claim 1, in which the mixture is made with a certain amount of fresh material, together with one to ten amounts of fermented material. 4. Method pursuant to claim paragraph 3, in which the mixture includes biologically fresh and fermented materials, and the mixture contains 10 to 45% dry matter impurities. 5. The method under claim 1, in which the downward movement of the fermenting mass in the fermentation chamber occurs in a fermentation tank without any mixing equipment, and the mixture is introduced to the top of the fermentation tank after it has been expanded in the expansion vessel. 6. The method under claim 1, in which the mixture is expanded by a selection of methods from a group comprising: preceding biological fermentation; gas injection into the mixture; crushing of the mixture; and chemical addition to the mixture which causes gas to be produced; and a combination of these methods. 7. The method under claim 6, in which expansion is achieved by biological pre-fermentation to be accomplished in an expansion tank, where the mixture must remain for at least 5 minutes. 8. The method under claim 6, where the residence time of the mixture in the expansion tank during expansion is 3 to 72 hours. 9. Equipment for anaerobic microbial fermentation of organic waste, including a vertical fermenter, an outlet for the fermented material at the bottom of the tank, and an outlet for biogas at the top of the tank, and feeding equipment including a mixer that drains into the fermentation tank at its upper level, which includes at least one vertical expansion vessel located between the mixer and the fermenter. 10. The equipment under claim 9, in which the feeder has a pump connected to the mixer, and in which the expansion vessel is located between the pump and the fermenter. 11. Equipment as per claim 9, in which the expansion vessel is situated at least partially within the fermentation tank. 12. The device pursuant to claim clause 9, in which an expansion vessel is mounted on the outer side of the fermenter. 13. The equipment under claim 9, in which the expansion vessel includes a partition confined by at least one partition wall and the inner wall of the tank, and the tank chambers adjacent to the partition, together constitute the fermentation tank. 14. Equipment as per claim 9, in which an expansion vessel completely surrounds the fermentation tank. 15. Equipment under claim 9, which includes expansion vessels and water pipes. 16. Equipment under claim 9, including an injection device for the gas, or an inlet for at least one chemical agent producing the gas, such injection device or an inlet connected to an expansion vessel, to a mixer or to a pump connected to the mixer. 17. Devices under claim 9, including striking devices in expansion vessels. 18. The equipment under claim 15, which includes water pipes including branch pipes, drains to the top of the fermenter, and which branch pipes include several chambers, each containing a crushing device. 19. The equipment referred to in claim 9, which involves fermentation, has a flat bottom.