An online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor

Abstract

This invention provides an online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors, applicable to the field of anaerobic reactor operation monitoring. The online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors disclosed in this invention consists of a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter. The gas discharge device is filled with brine and receives the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is detected, solving the problem of not being able to monitor small-volume or irregular gas production in anaerobic reactors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of anaerobic reactor operation monitoring, and more specifically to an online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors. Background Technology

[0002] Anaerobic biotechnology is widely used in many fields such as the digestion of organic matter to produce natural gas. It is a mature and effective environmental protection technology and energy production method. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the gas produced by anaerobic reactors.

[0003] In existing technologies, gas flow meters are often used to monitor the gas produced by anaerobic reactors.

[0004] However, laboratory-scale anaerobic reactors are generally between 1 and 50 cubic meters, producing small gas flow rates, and during startup, gas production is as low as 100 cubic centimeters per hour. Gas production is unstable, and gas flow meters are not suitable for laboratory-scale anaerobic reactors with small gas production and irregular gas production. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides an online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors to solve the problem of the inability to monitor anaerobic reactors when they produce small amounts of gas or irregular gas production.

[0006] An online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor includes: a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter;

[0007] The gas discharge device is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted by the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0008] The sensor is connected to the gas discharge device and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0009] The counter is connected to the sensor and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor and perform counting.

[0010] Optionally, the gas drainage device is a U-shaped tube.

[0011] Optionally, the U-shaped tube includes: a downcomer, a buoyancy tube, and a rising safety tube, with one end of the downcomer connected to the anaerobic reactor and the other end connected to the sensor;

[0012] When the brine level in the downcomer exceeds the connection point between the downcomer and the sensor, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube closes. The downcomer receives gas from the anaerobic reactor, causing the brine level in the downcomer to drop and the brine level in the safety riser to rise. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube opens, and the received gas is transported upward along the buoyancy tube to the exhaust port of the buoyancy tube and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor detects that the gas has been transported to the connection point between the downcomer and the sensor, it sends a signal to the counter.

[0013] Optionally, the buoyancy tube includes: a float;

[0014] When the saltwater level in the downcomer exceeds the connection point between the downcomer and the sensor, the float connects to the opening of the buoyancy tube, and the buoyancy tube switch is in the closed state. As the saltwater level in the downcomer decreases and the saltwater level in the rising safety tube increases, when the received gas reaches a preset amount, the float leaves the opening of the buoyancy tube, and the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube is opened.

[0015] Optionally, the sensor is a potential sensor or an optical sensor;

[0016] The potential sensor includes two sensor probes, which are connected to the downcomer tube.

[0017] The optical sensor includes a sensor probe, which is connected to the downcomer tube.

[0018] Optionally, the online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor further includes:

[0019] A power supply connected to the sensor and the counter is used to power the sensor and the counter.

[0020] Optionally, the online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor further includes:

[0021] A gas storage chamber, with one end connected to the anaerobic reactor and the other end connected to the gas discharge device, is used to collect the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor and transfer the collected gas to the gas discharge device.

[0022] Optionally, the gas storage chamber is a container with a fixed elastic wall.

[0023] The above-described embodiment of the present invention discloses an online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor, comprising a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter. The gas discharge device is filled with brine and receives gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is detected, thus solving the problem of not being able to monitor small-volume or irregular gas production in the anaerobic reactor. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a U-shaped tube disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another U-shaped tube structure disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a potential sensor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical sensor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate; this is merely a way of distinguishing objects with the same attributes in the description of embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of units is not necessarily limited to those units, but may include other units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0034] As is known from the background art, existing technologies often use gas flow meters, which cannot monitor small-volume or irregular gas production in anaerobic reactors. Therefore, this invention discloses an online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors. The structure of this online monitoring system for anaerobic reactors is described in detail through the following embodiments.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0037] The online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3.

[0038] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0039] In this application, due to the differences in gas discharge device 1 under different experimental conditions, it is necessary to correct the gas production volume each time. The gas produced each time is collected under experimental conditions and its average value is calculated. The gas production volume can be obtained each time after multiple measurements.

[0040] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0041] In this application, sensor 2 is connected to a power source, which supplies power to sensor 2.

[0042] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0043] In this application, the counter 3 is connected to the power supply, the power supply provides power to the counter 3, the counter 3 displays and saves the signal, and the user can obtain the gas production volume of the anaerobic reaction based on the gas production volume each time and the number of times recorded by the counter 3, and then obtain the gas production rate of the anaerobic reaction based on the recorded start time and end time of gas production in the anaerobic reactor 1.

[0044] In summary, the online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in this embodiment of the invention, consisting of a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter, uses a gas discharge device filled with brine to receive gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the system detects the received gas, thus solving the problem of not being able to monitor small-volume or irregular gas production in the anaerobic reactor.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] refer to Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0047] The online monitoring system of the anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3. The gas discharge device 1 is a U-shaped tube.

[0048] The gas discharge device 1, sensor 2, and counter 3 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 1.

[0049] Specifically:

[0050] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0051] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0052] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0053] Based on the above embodiment 1, the gas drainage device 1 is a U-shaped tube.

[0054] In this application, the U-shaped tube is directly connected to the atmosphere, and the salt water level in the U-shaped tube can automatically return to its initial state, waiting for the next venting process.

[0055] In summary, the gas drainage device disclosed in this embodiment of the invention is a U-shaped tube, in which the brine level can automatically return to its initial state, eliminating the need to consider the drop in brine level and the issue of venting.

[0056] Example 3

[0057] The online monitoring system for this anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3. The gas discharge device 1 is a U-shaped tube, which includes: a downcomer 4, a buoyancy tube 5, and a safety riser 6. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the U-shaped tube disclosed in this invention.

[0058] The gas discharge device 1, sensor 2, and counter 3 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 2.

[0059] Specifically:

[0060] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0061] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0062] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0063] Based on the above embodiment 2, the U-shaped tube includes: a downcomer tube 4, a buoyancy tube 5, and an ascending safety tube 6.

[0064] One end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the anaerobic reactor, and the other end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the sensor 2.

[0065] When the brine level in the downcomer 4 exceeds the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is closed. The downcomer 4 receives gas from the anaerobic reactor, which causes the brine level in the downcomer 4 to drop and the brine level in the safety riser 6 to rise. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is opened, and the received gas is transmitted upward along the buoyancy tube 5 to the exhaust port of the buoyancy tube 5 and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor 2 detects that the gas has been transmitted to the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, it sends a signal to the counter 3.

[0066] In this application, when sensor 2 detects that gas is transmitted to the connection position between downcomer 4 and sensor 2, the sensor generates a signal due to the difference in refractive index and conductivity between gas and liquid, and transmits the signal to counter 3.

[0067] In summary, the U-shaped tube disclosed in this embodiment of the invention includes a downcomer tube, a buoyancy tube, and a rising safety tube. When the gas received by the U-shaped tube reaches a preset amount, the received gas is detected, which solves the problem that monitoring cannot be performed when the anaerobic reactor produces small amounts of gas or irregular gas production.

[0068] Example 4

[0069] The online monitoring system of this anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3. The gas discharge device 1 is a U-shaped tube, which includes: a downcomer 4, a buoyancy tube 5, and a safety riser 6. The buoyancy tube includes: a float 7. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another U-shaped tube structure disclosed in this invention.

[0070] The gas discharge device 1, sensor 2, counter 3, downcomer 4, buoyancy tube 5, and rising safety tube 6 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 3. Specifically:

[0071] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0072] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0073] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0074] One end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the anaerobic reactor, and the other end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the sensor 2.

[0075] When the brine level in the downcomer 4 exceeds the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is closed. The downcomer 4 receives gas from the anaerobic reactor, which causes the brine level in the downcomer 4 to drop and the brine level in the safety riser 6 to rise. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is opened, and the received gas is transmitted upward along the buoyancy tube 5 to the exhaust port of the buoyancy tube 5 and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor 2 detects that the gas has been transmitted to the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, it sends a signal to the counter 3.

[0076] Based on the above embodiment three, the buoyancy tube includes: float 7.

[0077] When the salt water level in the downcomer 4 exceeds the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, the float 7 connects to the opening of the buoyancy pipe 5, and the buoyancy pipe 5 switch is in the closed state; the salt water level in the downcomer 4 decreases, and the salt water level in the rising safety pipe 6 increases. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the float 7 leaves the opening of the buoyancy pipe 5, and the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy pipe 5 is opened.

[0078] In this application, since the float 7 is initially connected to the opening of the buoyancy tube 5, the buoyancy tube 5 switch is in the closed state, the salt water level in the descending tube 4 drops, the salt water level in the rising safety tube 6 rises, the float 7 in the buoyancy tube continues to descend, and when the received gas reaches the preset amount, the float 7 leaves the opening of the buoyancy tube 5, and the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is opened.

[0079] In summary, the buoyancy tube disclosed in this embodiment of the invention includes a float, and the position of the float controls the opening and closing of the buoyancy switch to facilitate obtaining a preset amount of gas.

[0080] Example 5

[0081] The online monitoring system for this anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3. The gas discharge device 1 is a U-shaped tube, which includes: a downcomer 4, a buoyancy tube 5, and a safety riser 6. The sensor 2 is a potential sensor 8 or an optical sensor 9. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 5 The diagram below is a structural schematic of the potential sensor disclosed in this invention; please refer to... Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical sensor disclosed in this invention.

[0082] The gas discharge device 1, sensor 2, counter 3, downcomer 4, buoyancy tube 5, and rising safety tube 6 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 3. Specifically:

[0083] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0084] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0085] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0086] One end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the anaerobic reactor, and the other end of the downcomer 4 is connected to the sensor 2.

[0087] When the brine level in the downcomer 4 exceeds the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is closed. The downcomer 4 receives gas from the anaerobic reactor, which causes the brine level in the downcomer 4 to drop and the brine level in the safety riser 6 to rise. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube 5 is opened, and the received gas is transmitted upward along the buoyancy tube 5 to the exhaust port of the buoyancy tube 5 and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor 2 detects that the gas has been transmitted to the connection point between the downcomer 4 and the sensor 2, it sends a signal to the counter 3.

[0088] Based on the above embodiment 3, the sensor 2 is a potential sensor 8 or an optical sensor 9.

[0089] The potential sensor 8 includes two sensor probes, which are connected to the downcomer tube.

[0090] In this application, the potential sensor 8 utilizes the fact that when gas passes through two potential probes that are close to each other without contacting them, the gas replaces the liquid and has low conductivity, causing the probes to open circuit and generating a pulse signal.

[0091] The optical sensor 9 includes a sensor probe, which is connected to the downcomer tube.

[0092] In this application, the optical sensor 9 generates a pulse signal by utilizing the difference in refractive index caused when gas passes through the optical probe.

[0093] Example 6

[0094] refer to Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in Embodiment Six of the present invention.

[0095] The online monitoring system of the anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas discharge device 1, a sensor 2, and a counter 3. The gas discharge device 1 is a U-shaped tube.

[0096] The gas discharge device 1, sensor 2, and counter 3 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 1.

[0097] Specifically:

[0098] The gas discharge device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted from the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is discharged into the atmosphere.

[0099] The sensor 2 is connected to the gas discharge device 1 and is used to detect the preset amount of gas, and send a signal to the counter 3 when the preset amount of gas is detected.

[0100] The counter 3 is connected to the sensor 2 and is used to receive the signal sent by the sensor 2 and perform counting.

[0101] Based on the above embodiment 1, the online monitoring system of the anaerobic reactor further includes: a gas storage chamber 10 with one end connected to the anaerobic reactor and the other end connected to the gas discharge device 1.

[0102] The gas storage chamber 10 is used to collect the gas produced by the anaerobic reactor and to transfer the collected gas to the gas discharge device 1.

[0103] In this application, the gas storage chamber 10 can be a container with a fixed elastic wall. As the gas stored chamber 10 receives more gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1, the pressure gradually increases. Due to the elastic wall, the partial pressure of the gas can be balanced, so that when the received gas reaches a preset amount, the pressure is stable at a fixed value slightly higher than atmospheric pressure, and the received gas is transmitted to the gas discharge device 1 under a fixed pressure.

[0104] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0105] It should also be noted that the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings of the device embodiments provided by this invention, the connection relationships between modules indicate that they have communication connections, which can be specifically implemented as one or more communication buses or signal lines. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0106] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the present invention can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware, and of course, it can also be implemented by special hardware including application-specific integrated circuits, special CPUs, special memory, special components, etc. Generally, any function performed by a computer program can be easily implemented by corresponding hardware, and the specific hardware structure used to implement the same function can also be diverse, such as analog circuits, digital circuits, or special-purpose circuits. However, for the present invention, software program implementation is more often the preferred implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a computer floppy disk, USB flash drive, portable hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk, or optical disk, etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0107] In summary, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor, characterized in that, The utility model relates to an anaerobic reactor gas exhaust device, sensor and counter, comprising: The gas exhaust device is connected with the anaerobic reactor, and the gas exhaust device is filled with brine for receiving the gas transmitted by the anaerobic reactor and discharging the received gas into the atmosphere when the received gas reaches a preset amount; The sensor is connected with the gas exhaust device for detecting the preset amount of gas and sending a signal to the counter when the preset amount of gas is detected; The counter is connected with the sensor for receiving the signal sent by the sensor and counting; The gas exhaust device is a U-shaped tube, which comprises a descending tube, a buoyancy tube and an ascending safety tube, and the buoyancy tube comprises a float; When the brine level in the descending tube exceeds the connection position of the descending tube and the sensor, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube is closed, the descending tube receives the gas transmitted by the anaerobic reactor, the gas causes the brine level in the descending tube to drop, and the brine level in the ascending safety tube rises, when the received gas reaches a preset amount, the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube is opened, the received gas is transmitted upwards along the buoyancy tube to the gas exhaust port of the buoyancy tube and discharged into the atmosphere, and the sensor sends a signal to the counter when the gas is transmitted to the connection position of the descending tube and the sensor; When the brine level in the descending tube exceeds the connection position of the descending tube and the sensor, the float is connected with the pipe opening of the buoyancy tube, so that the buoyancy tube switch is in the closed state; the brine level in the descending tube drops, the brine level in the ascending safety tube rises, and when the received gas reaches a preset amount, the float is away from the pipe opening of the buoyancy tube, so that the buoyancy switch of the buoyancy tube is opened. The sensor is a potential sensor or an optical sensor; 2. The online monitoring system of an anaerobic reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The potential sensor comprises two sensor sensing probes connected with the descending tube; The optical sensor comprises one sensor sensing probe connected with the descending tube. Further comprising:

3. The online monitoring system of an anaerobic reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, A power supply connected with the sensor and the counter for supplying power to the sensor and the counter. Further comprising:

4. The online monitoring system of an anaerobic reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, A gas storage chamber connected at one end with the anaerobic reactor and at the other end with the gas exhaust device for collecting the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor and transmitting the collected gas to the gas exhaust device. The gas storage chamber is a container with a fixed elastic wall.

5. The on-line monitoring system of an anaerobic reactor according to claim 4, characterized in that, ​

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