Membrane attachment system for biodigesters.

Description

1 / 9 Membrane attachment system for biodigesters. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention describes a membrane fastening system for lagoon-type biodigesters that use a tarp-type cover fixed to the ground.

[002] The present invention has application in biodigestion tanks for biogas production. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION

[003] Biogas is a fuel formed from the gasification of organic material, through its biodigestion which occurs by contact of such material with decomposing bacteria.

[004] In this context, the three main sources for biogas production are residual lignocellulosic material, urban and domestic sewage, and wastewater from industrial processes.

[005] The release of residual organic material into the environment without proper treatment leads to increased air pollution by increasing the release of greenhouse gases, in addition to promoting other harmful impacts on the environment, such as favoring the emergence of pathogenic agents that can be harmful to health.

[006] One of the main gases formed from the biodigestion of organic matter is methane, which shows Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 5 / 25 2 / 9 if excellent gaseous fuel due to its calorific value (8,500 kcal / m3) can be used in various applications such as direct combustion, heating, lighting, etc. (Souza, J.; Modeling and simulation of mixers for bioreactors; 2012).

[007] Biodigestion is carried out in bioreactors, also called biodigesters, which preferably comprise structures that may vary according to the material to be biodigested, the amount of material to be processed per unit of time, the percentage of solids contained in the material, etc.

[008] Some of the more common types of biodigesters are structured so that their tank is below ground level, which allows for less temperature variation, and they have a dome made of tarpaulin structures that allow for variation in the volume of the biodigester according to the amount of gas produced.

[009] There are, however, some limitations in the way the canvas dome is attached to the biodigesters, so that the attached canvas is not damaged and the generated gas is not allowed to leak.

[010] The system described in the present invention therefore seeks to optimize the fixing of biodigester membranes that use tarpaulin-type covering, in such a way as to preserve the structure of the tarpaulins used, and to facilitate the maintenance procedures of such tarpaulins, Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 6 / 25 3 / 9 as well as allowing for perfect sealing of the tank, preventing any leaks and thus making the biogas generation process more efficient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Oil] The present invention describes a membrane fastening system for lagoon-shaped biodigesters that use a tarp-type cover fixed to the ground, used for biogas generation.

[012] The present invention comprises a fitting that is positioned on the foundation beam and along the entire edge of the biodigester, which is covered by a tarp-type membrane.

[013] This fitting has an entry point in its upper portion that has a reduced width in relation to the width of the opening at the bottom. In this way, the fitting is shaped so that it is possible to accommodate a flexible tube along its entire length, which is capable of varying its volume.

[014] The region close to the limits of the covering membrane is accommodated in the embedment gap along the entire margin of the biodigester and, above the membrane and inside the embedments, flexible tubes are accommodated, which allow variation in their volume, also along the entire margin of the biodigester.

[015] After positioning the flexible tube of potentially variable volume inside the housing and over the membrane Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 7 / 25 4 / 9 of the cover, compressed air is injected internally into the pipe in order to increase its volume.

[016] The increased volume of the tube contained within the covering membrane inside the embedment, which in turn is positioned on the foundation beam, allows the membrane to remain fixed and stable, while providing cover for the reactor, in addition to functioning as a gasometer for biogas storage. Thus, the present invention is preferably applied in a biodigester for biogas generation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[017] Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the embedment that is inserted into the foundation beam. The geometry of the embedment can be made of a material that exhibits hardness and resistance, such as cement, concrete, metal, or plastic in a mold of soft material, such as polystyrene, and has an entry in its upper portion and a width smaller than the bottom, the bottom being, therefore, shaped in such a way that it is possible to accommodate a flexible tube and whose volume and pressure can be increased.

[018] In Figure 2 it is possible to observe the embedment already installed in the foundation beam that surrounds the entire structure of the biodigester, which is covered using tarpaulins.

[019] Figure 3 shows us the detail of one of the embodiments of the present invention, in which the engagement is Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 8 / 25 5 / 9 covered with plastic material, so that it does not cause friction to the material of the flexible tube or hose, in order to avoid the occurrence of any crack in such pipe, impairing the sealing system, favoring the leakage of the generated gas.

[020] In Figure 4 we observe two filling points of the flexible pipes with potentially variable volumes. In this figure it is possible to verify that the tarp that will cover the entire biodigestion tank is already installed, passing through the embedding. After positioning the tarp inside the embedding, the flexible pipe with potentially variable volume is positioned on the tarp, also inside the embedding.

[021] Figure 5 shows details of the compressed gas pumping points into the flexible tube that is positioned on the tarp, inside the embedding. The increase in the volume of the tubes due to the presence of compressed air favors the fixation of the tarp and prevents biogas leakage.

[022] In Figure 6 we observe a limit situation in which the volume of the biodigester is very high, causing extreme pressure on the canvas walls. In situations like this, before the hose covering the biodigester ruptures, it tends to detach from the hose and the fitting. In this way, the excess gas contained in the biodigester is released, without any damage to the membrane covering it. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 9 / 25 6 / 9

[023] Figure 7 shows the situation where the excess gas has already been released from the biodigester, however, the flexible tube is outside the embedment. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the volume of the flexible tube and manually reposition it in the embedment of the foundation beam. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[024] The present invention describes a membrane fastening system for biodigesters that use a tarp-type cover.

[025] More specifically, the invention described in this document describes a system that allows the fixing to the ground of canvas-type membrane covers in lagoon-type biodigesters used for biogas generation.

[026] The present invention comprises a fitting that is positioned on the foundation beam and along the entire edge of the biodigester that is covered by a tarp-type membrane.

[027] This fitting has an entry point in its upper portion that has a reduced width in relation to the width of the opening at the bottom. In this way, the fitting is shaped so that it is possible to accommodate a flexible tube along its entire length, which is capable of varying its volume.

[028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the geometry of the embedment can be made of hard and resistant material such as, for example, cement, concrete, metal or Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 10 / 25 plastic, in a mold of soft wood, such as, for example, styrofoam.

[029] After installing the embedding along the entire edge of the biodigester that is intended to be covered with a membrane, preferably of the canvas type, in one of the embodiments of the present invention, the embedding can be covered with plastic material, in order to reduce friction with the materials that will be inserted inside it, favoring the preservation of such materials, by reducing the chance of cracks, which could cause rupture of the material and leakage of the biogas contained internally in the biodigester covered with a canvas-type membrane.

[030] After the plastic material is fitted into the embedment, the part closest to the limits of the covering membrane is fitted into the same gap and along the entire edge of the biodigester.

[031] In turn, after the boundary regions or edges of the membranes are fitted into the embedments, the flexible tubes of variable volume are also positioned inside the embedments, on the edge of the membrane and along the entire margin of the biodigester.

[032] After positioning the flexible tube of potentially variable volume inside the housing and over the cover membrane, compressed air is injected internally into the tube, in order to increase its volume and internal pressure in the housing. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 11 / 25 8 / 9

[033] The increased volume of the tube contained within the covering membrane inside the embedment, which in turn is positioned on the foundation beam, allows the membrane to remain fixed and stable, while providing cover for the reactor, in addition to functioning as a gasometer for biogas storage. Thus, the present invention is preferably applied in a biodigester for biogas generation.

[034] In this way, any leaks of the generated biogas are avoided, which could occur due to inadequate fixing of the covering membrane.

[035] Additionally, in cases of excessive biogas production by the biodigester that could cause an accident or even rupture of the covering membrane, the present invention allows the membrane to have sufficient force to detach from the sealing system, thus preventing it from rupturing and causing damage to the entire structure of the biodigester, since, in that case, all the biogas production from that biodigester would be lost in order to replace or repair the damaged membrane.

[036] After the release of excess biogas resulting from the membrane detachment, it is necessary to reduce the volume of compressed air pumped into the flexible tube, thus allowing a decrease in its volume.

[037] Thus, it is possible for the membrane that detached from the sealing system to be re-accommodated inside the Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 12 / 25 9 / 9 engagement, as well as new packaging of the flexible tube over the membrane and, finally, pumping compressed air into the flexible tube, in order to increase its volume again, so that it fixes the membrane and seals any unforeseen escape of biogas generated in the biodigester. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 13 / 25

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters characterized by comprising a fitting and a flexible tube.

2. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the embedding being positioned in a foundation beam along the entire edge of the biodigester.

3. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the embedding having an inlet in its upper portion with a reduced width in relation to the width of the opening at the bottom.

4. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the embedding being made of hard and resistant material.

5. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 4, characterized in that the embedment is made of cement, concrete, metal or plastic.

6. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 5, characterized by the embedding being able to be covered with plastic material. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 21 / 25 2 / 3 7. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the biodigester cover membrane having its limits accommodated internally within the embedment gap along the entire margin of the biodigester.

8. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the embedding accommodating a flexible tube along its entire length.

9. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the flexible tube being accommodated internally within the embedding gap over the membrane limits already accommodated in the same gap.

10. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the flexible tube being able to exhibit volume variation.

11. Membrane fixation system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by the volume of the flexible tube being enlarged by injecting compressed air internally into the tube. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, page 22 / 25 3 / 3 12. Membrane fixation system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by being applied in biodigesters for biogas generation.

13. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by allowing the cover membrane to detach in case of excessive volume and pressure of biogas inside the biodigester.

14. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 12, characterized by allowing reduction in volume of flexible tubes of variable volume for reinstallation of detached membrane.

15. Membrane fastening system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover membrane is made of canvas.

16. Membrane fixation system for biodigesters, according to claim 1, characterized by its applicability to lagoon-type biodigesters. Petition 870240108826, dated 12 / 20 / 2024, pp. 23 / 25

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