WO2008049582A2

WO2008049582A2 - Method of supplying diapers to homes or institutions, for example private households, hospitals, care homes or old people's homes

Info

Publication number: WO2008049582A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/009186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Widmer; Paul Schäll; Gabrielle Wirz
Original assignee: Christian Widmer; Schaell Paul; Gabrielle Wirz
Priority date: 2006-10-23
Filing date: 2007-10-23
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: DE102007051403A1; WO2008049582A3

Abstract

Method of supplying diapers to homes or institutions, for example private households, hospitals, care homes or old people's homes, in which incontinence products are used.

Description

description

Method for supplying facilities, such as private households, hospitals, nursing homes or nursing homes with diapers

In Germany, approx. 1.8 million tonnes of incontinence products (IKP) consisting of child diapers and diapers from nursing care facilities, which must be disposed of according to Waste Code 180104, accumulate per year. This is currently happening (usually together with household waste), incinerators or, since 2002, additional MBT (mechanical biological waste treatment).

Since the used and wet ICPs have a calorific value of less than 2500 kJ / kg, e.g. in a traditional waste incineration plant by the addition of high calorific fuels which have an average calorific value of over 9O00 kJ / kg, be fired.

By the invention according to the patent PCT / DE2006 / 001312 for diaper and pulp fermentation, monofractions of IPK can be completely degraded by a special methanation process, the pulp fraction within about 13 days and converted into biogas.

On the other hand, the object of the invention is to provide a method, with which institutions, which incur IKP cost can be supplied with diapers.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1.

In accordance with the invention, the incontinence products or cellulosic hygiene articles (for example diapers, disposable wipes, napkins) arising in the facilities (private households, hospitals, nursing homes, nursing homes) are collected after use, transported to a fermentation plant and the biogas produced in the fermentation plant for supplying energy to the diaper production or the Used cleaning of laundry, which is also obtained in the aforementioned facilities. Subsequently, fresh diapers are transported from an intermediate store or directly from the diaper manufacture to the facility. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to ensure the diaper supply with minimal energy expenditure.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the incontinence products are packaged substantially air- and odor-tight prior to transport. For this purpose, for example, suitable plastic bags can be used which are hermetically sealed, for example by vacuum, by passing the odor-laden exhaust air either via a central vent or through an exchangeable filter cartridge (eg activated carbon) which neutralises the odor.

The inventive method is particularly effective when the fresh diapers are transported from the laundry together with fresh laundry to the institution and the packaged incontinence products are transported together with dirty laundry to the digester or to the laundry.

In order to be able to adapt to a fluctuating need, it is preferred to store the diapers in a temporary storage and from there to supply the facilities or spend unnecessary fresh diapers in this interim storage.

From an energetic point of view, the process is particularly effective when fiber or pulp obtained in the laundry or diaper production is converted in the fermentation plant into biogas, for example.

According to the inventive concept, it is preferred if the fermentation plant and the laundry or diaper production are arranged as close as possible to each other.

The transport between the aforementioned devices preferably takes place via transport vehicles, which receive diapers and possibly fresh linen or incontinence products and soiled laundry.

The fermentation plant for the implementation of the incontinence products and the resulting in the laundry and diaper production fibers is preferably operated by the method according to PCT / DE2006 / 001312 and / or DPA 10 2007 038 876.6. In order to avoid odor, airtight bags with IKP, in particular from private households, can be vacuumed with a suction device, for example a vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, an odor filter is disposed at an interface between the suction device and the bag with IKP prior to the vacuuming step to neutralize the odor.

The bag with IKP is advantageously repeatedly opened and closed by a closure and can be vacuumed if necessary on this closure with the suction device. Thus, a multiple use of the bag is possible and this can be easily vacuumed without additional openings.

For preconditioning of incontinence products, the effluent of a laundry can be used for environmental reasons.

Advantageously, the sewage used for the preconditioning of the laundry, in particular by the process of the fermentation plant, be freed of pollutants, whereby the wastewater quality is improved.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of further subclaims.

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to two schematic drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows three logistics and utilization paths in a schematic representation according to a first embodiment; and

Figure 2 shows three logistics and Verwertungswege in a schematic representation according to a second embodiment.

By virtue of this invention, a simple and inexpensive logistics concept can be developed in which laundries cooperate with IKP manufacturers and provide care facilities and hospitals with the same transport vehicle with fresh laundry and IKP and both treat or dispose of used products at the same time. Today, fresh and used clothes are transported in the same vehicle. What is new is that a special packaging device for IKP (vacuuming and welding of the transport bags) now these contaminated and contaminated IKP _{1 are} hygienically safe to handle and can be transported in the same vehicle together with the dirty laundry and fresh produce. The preferred detection in air, odorless and germ-free vacuum-sealed plastic bags at the place of actual waste generation (nursing home or care area) leads to a significant reduction of germs and the odor nuisance in, for example, a nursing home or child flu is also significantly reduced.

In Figure 1, three logistics and recycling routes are shown, which can work individually, but are drastically reduced in the composite, transport, storage and energy costs.

Thus, the disposal costs of IKP can be reduced from currently € 180.- to € 220.- / ton to less than € 100.- / ton and, for example, a connected laundry via the feed with biogas, heat energy to be operated independently.

The route 1 shows in Figure 1 that a diaper manufacturer (1) via the transport (1.1) the care facilities (3.5) are supplied with fresh IKP (1.2) and recorded with the same transport vehicle used and bagged in IKP (1.3) become. On the return transport, the used IKP (1.5) are spent in the biogas plant (1.6) and further care facilities (3.5) are supplied and disposed of on the further transport (1.1) and fresh products are supplied to the intermediate trade (1.4).

From the biogas plant (1.6), the biogas (1.7) is led via a gas pipeline to the diaper manufacturer (1) and used for the production of energy.

Production residues in the form of pulps (1.8) are supplied by the diaper manufacturer (1) of the biogas plant.

The path 1 is shown in FIG. 2 in a second embodiment. The used IKP (1.5) are converted directly into ethanol or butanol (1.7.1) in an installation for IKP and pulp ethanolization (1.6). From the Ethanolisieruπgsanlage (1.6), the ethanol or butanol (1.7.1) is passed to the diaper manufacturer (1).

The following routes are the same in both embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2 and will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 or 2, which are the same except for route 1. The path 2 shows that the products (2) from the middlemen such as children's diapers (2.1) and IKP for adults (2.2) after use in special bags (2.3) are packed and most likely brought by a delivery system to a central office (2.4) , stand on the exchange container. These swap bodies are transported via the transport route (2.5) to the biogas plant (2.6) and emptied there.

The resulting biogas (1.7) can then be used as an energy source by generating electricity and heat via a combined heat and power plant (CHP) or via a gas pipeline for energy use to commercial enterprises or public facilities.

The route 3 shows that the diaper manufacturer (1) cooperates with a laundry company (3) and the diaper manufacturer (1) creates a diaper storage during the laundry operation (3). The clean IKP and linen products (3.2) are delivered together with a transport vehicle (3.3) via the path (3.4) to the care facility (3.5) and into the same transport vehicle (3.3) the dirty laundry (3.10) and the sacks with the hygienically packed and polluted IKP uploaded. Several stations (3.5) are approached until the transport vehicle (3.3) has loaded only dirty laundry (3.10) and dirty IKP (3.9). The ICPs (3.9) are fed to the biogas plant (3.12). The dirty laundry (3.10) is taken to the laundry (3). It would also be possible to transport the used ICPs (3.9) from the facilities (3.5) directly to the biogas plant (3.12) (as route 4).

The fibrous materials (3.11) obtained in the washing processes, which consist predominantly of cotton (pulp), are fed to the biogas plant (3.12). It is obvious that the biogas plant (3.12) should be in the immediate vicinity of the laundry (3), or at least in the same industrial park, so that the gas (1.7) via a buried pipeline to the laundry (3) for heat and steam generation are supplied can.

If the laundry or the diaper manufacturer is not the user of the biogas, then only the pre-treatment plant at the laundry or the diaper manufacturer can be set up and the gas production by another user, such as a glassworks, a commercial kitchen or a combined heat and power plant. For economic and energy reasons, it makes sense to implement the routes 1 to 3 in the network.

1. Manufacturer of Incontinence Products (IKP) Diapers for infants and adults.

1.1 Transport of fresh diapers to care facilities (3.5) and the intermediate trade (1.4) with the transport vehicle (1.1).

1.2 and 1.2.1 Delivery in nursing homes and in hospitals (3.5).

1.3 Simultaneously with the same transport vehicle (1.1), including used IKP. The transport vehicle (1.1) has separately retracted transport trolleys: a) for fresh IKP b) for used IKP.

1.4 Supply of intermediaries with the same transport vehicle (1.1).

1.5 Spend the used IKP (1.3a) for energetic and material recovery in a biogas plant and / or ethanol production plant (1.6) with the function according to the patent application PCT / DE2006 / 001312 and / or ethanol recovery plant according to DE 10 2007 038 876.6.

1.6 This biogas plant and / or ethanol production plant is advantageously placed in the vicinity of the diaper manufacturer (1) so that the biogas (1.7) as heat energy for steam generation, or burned in a combined heat and power plant (CHP) heat in the form of 120 ° C. Hot water for heating purposes, as well as electrical energy is generated.

1.7 biogas and / or ethanol for use as energy sources for the production of e.g. Steam for diaper production (1), energy supply for laundries (3) or for other energy users (1.9).

1.7.1 Instead of a biogas plant can also be made from the pulps according to the

2, or the exhaust gases from a biogas combustion process in conjunction with a carbon source by gas conversion are processed indirectly to ethanol or butanol. In the production of storable Liquid fuels, it is obvious that these are used as a gasoline substitute for vehicle operation and / or added to the gasoline.

1.8 At the same time, organic cellulose-containing production waste from diaper production (1) can be added to the biogas reactor of the biogas plant (1.6) to increase gas production (1.7).

1.9 Other large consumers (for example for the production of electrical energy and heat). These are, for example, commercial kitchens.

1.9.1 Other ethanol consumers, for example commercial kitchens.

2. Sale of IKP by intermediary trade (1.4) to:

2.1 Families with infants (child diapers).

2.2 Private I KP products for adults.

2.2.1 Outpatient home care which also supplies incontinence patients with fresh ICPs (2) and at the same time ingests the contaminated ICPs (2.3) (2.5.1) and either via the transport route (2.5.2) to the collection center (2.4), or directly via spend the transport route (2.5.5) to the biogas plant (1.6 / 3.6 / 3.12).

2.3 Special bags for private household IPPs (2.1 and 2.2) with airtight closures, which depending on the collection system e.g. are provided for identification with a bar code. These special bags can be vacuumed via a special attachment in the form of a detoxification cartridge or filter cartridge (eg activated carbon) with a suction device, for example a commercial vacuum cleaner, and can also be repeatedly opened and closed via a closure, with this closure being required the suction device is connected.

2.4 Municipal or private IKP collection and collection system with a pick-up or pick-up system where by identifying (2.3) households may be rewarded by the municipality, by reducing waste fees. The delivery system is, for example, container systems which have a ventilation system in which, for example via activated carbon, the exhaust air from odor is substantially neutralized. About a rotary lock the bag (2.3) in the container (2.4) introduced. However, the lock can only be moved if the identification of origin has been carried out beforehand (eg by bar code or code input via a numeric keypad).

2.5 Transport (eg of interchangeable containers) by the municipality or a contractor to a biogas plant (2.6).

2.6 Biogas plant and / or ethanol production plant for the methanization of the IKP for the production of electricity and heat via a CHP plant. It is advantageous if the plant is located in a commercial area in which the waste heat can be fully utilized by industrial companies, or the gas (1.7) can be fed directly to a steam generating plant.

3 Laundry service, which apart from other products (such as, for example, hotel and restaurant laundry) mainly receives and treats the laundry of old people's homes, nursing homes and hospitals (3.5).

3.1 In a collective agreement with one or more I KP manufacturers (1), the laundry company (3) is supplied with IKP (1.1) or picked up by the laundry company (3) himself at the IKP manufacturer and transported directly onwards (3.3) to the consumer (3.5 ) or in laundry (3) set up its own IKP (1.1) - delivery system.

3.2 The clean laundry is loaded with the fresh diapers in the / the transport vehicles (3.3) and spent in transport (3.4) to the hospital and care facilities (3.5).

3.3 Transport vehicles with separate roll container facility for clean laundry and new diapers (3.3).

3.4 Transport route with fresh material to the consumers (3.5).

3.5 Consumers of linen and IKP (3.2) like

- retirement homes

- Nursing homes

- hospitals.

3.6 Used, contaminated and contaminated ICPs. 3.7 On each care and care station there is a packaging device consisting of a preferably vacuuming device with which the IKP packed in special bags is deprived of air and then the sacks are hermetically sealed or welded.

3.7.1 Highly contaminated laundry from epidemic stations or surgical underwear are vacuumed in sterile sacks, which consist of materials which are introduced unopened into the laundry device and dissolved in the wash liquor without residue by the water and the effect of temperature.

3.8 Subsequently, the hygienically safe to handle IKP sacks can be transferred to an intermediate storage or transport container.

3.9 The used ICPs (3.6) are picked up together with the dirty laundry from the dirty laundry intermediate storage (3.10) with the transport vehicle (3.3) in which except the soiled ICP (3.9) and dirty laundry (3.10), fresh products not yet delivered (3.2) are located. On the return transport, the used IKP (3.9) are taken to the biogas plant (3.12) and the dirty laundry (3.10) is delivered to the laundry (3).

3.9.1 Direct transport from the used IKP (3.7) from hospitals and nursing homes (3.5) to the biogas plant (3.12).

3.10 Dirty laundry in laundry.

3.11 The pulp from laundry, which consists mainly of cotton, is transferred to the biogas plant (3.12) and fed to the fermentation process.

3.12 It is advantageous if the biogas plant (3.12) and / or ethanol production plant is near the laundry (3), thus the biogas (1.7) can be routed through a (eg buried) gas line to the heat energy and steam generation to the laundry (3) become. An approximate calculation on the basis of experimental data and mass flow calculations have shown that for each nursing station the consumption of laundry (3.10) and IKP (3.9) via the utilization of IKP (3.9) in a biogas plant (3.12) is sufficient for the heat yield via biogas (1.7). to make the washing process (3) heat energy self-sufficient.

Claims

claims

1. A method for supplying facilities, such as private households, hospitals, nursing homes or old people's homes, in which incontinence products (IKP) and / or cellulosic hygiene articles are incurred, with diapers, with the steps:

- collecting IKP in the facility,

- transport of IKP to a fermentation plant for the production of biogas,

- Use of the biogas for energy supply in the diaper production or the cleaning of the laundry

- Transport fresh diapers to the facility.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the IKP before transport air- and odor-tight and germ-free packaging.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fresh diapers are transported from the laundry together with fresh laundry to the institution and the packaged IKP are transported together with dirty laundry to the fermentation plant or to the laundry.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein not taken from the device fresh diapers are stored in a temporary storage.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein private households and small institutions are supplied with diapers and resulting in IKP are removed and transported to an intermediate storage, from which these are then transported to the fermentation plant.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein spent in laundry or diaper production pulp spent for fermentation and fermented there.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fermentation plant and the laundry or diaper production are arranged in local proximity to each other.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport is carried out with a transport vehicle, the diapers and, if necessary. Fresh linen to set up, small or private household leads, there packaged IKP receives and possibly. Transported together with dirty laundry for further processing according to the preceding claims.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fermentation plant is operated by the method according to PCT / DE2006 / 001312 and / or DE 10 2007 038 876.6.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein air-tight bags are vacuumed with IKP with a suction device, in particular a vacuum cleaner.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein an odor filter is disposed at an interface between the suction device and the bag with IKP, prior to the step of vacuuming.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the bag with IKP is repeatedly opened and closed via a closure and this is vacuumed if necessary on this closure with the suction device.

13. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein for the preconditioning of the incontinence products, the wastewater of a laundry can be used.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sewage used for the preconditioning of the laundry, in particular by the process of the fermentation plant, is freed of pollutants.