An online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor

Abstract

The application provides an online monitoring system of an anaerobic reactor, which is applied to the field of anaerobic reactor operation monitoring, and discloses the online monitoring system of the anaerobic reactor which is composed of a gas constant pressure device, a gas liquid discharge device, a sensor and a counter, wherein the gas constant pressure device receives the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor, balances the partial pressure of the gas, the gas liquid discharge device is filled with brine, receives the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device, and generates bubbles, and the bubbles are stable and uniform, thereby solving the problem that the anaerobic reactor cannot be monitored when small gas is generated or irregular gas is generated.

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 pressure regulator, a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter;

[0007] The gas constant pressure device is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is transferred to the gas discharge device.

[0008] The gas drainage device is connected to the gas constant pressure device, and the gas drainage device is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device and generate bubbles.

[0009] The sensor is connected to the gas discharge device and is used to detect the bubbles, and send a signal to the counter when the bubbles are detected.

[0010] The counter is connected to the sensor and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor and perform counting.

[0011] Optionally, the gas pressure regulator is a container with a fixed elastic wall.

[0012] Optionally, the gas drainage device is a U-shaped tube.

[0013] Optionally, the U-shaped tube includes: a downcomer, a capillary tube, and an ascender connected in sequence; the gas pressure regulator is connected to the downcomer; the ascender is connected to the sensor; and the salt water level in the ascender exceeds the connection point between the ascender and the sensor.

[0014] The gas, receiving a preset amount from the gas constant pressure device, is transmitted downwards along the downcomer to the capillary tube, where bubbles are generated at the exhaust port of the capillary tube. The bubbles are transmitted upwards along the riser to the exhaust port of the riser tube and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor detects that the bubbles have been transmitted to the connection position between the riser tube and the sensor, it sends a signal to the counter.

[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 riser tube.

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

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

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

[0020] The above-described embodiment of the present invention discloses an online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor, comprising a gas constant pressure device, a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter. The gas constant pressure device receives the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor and balances the partial pressure of the gas. The gas discharge device is filled with brine, receives the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device, and generates bubbles. These bubbles are stable and uniform, thus solving the problem of not being able to monitor the anaerobic reactor when it produces small amounts of gas or irregular gas production. Attached Figure Description

[0021] 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:

[0022] 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;

[0023] 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;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a U-shaped tube disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a potential sensor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical sensor disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] 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.

[0032] The online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor includes: a gas pressure regulator 1, a gas discharge device 2, a sensor 3, and a counter 4.

[0033] The gas constant pressure device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is transferred to the gas discharge device 2.

[0034] In this application, the gas constant pressure device 1 can be a container with a fixed elastic wall. As the amount of gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1 increases, the pressure gradually increases. Due to the elastic wall, the partial pressure of the gas can be balanced, so that when the amount of gas received 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 2 under a fixed pressure.

[0035] The gas drainage device 2 is connected to the gas constant pressure device 1, and the gas drainage device 2 is filled with salt water to receive the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device 1 and generate bubbles.

[0036] In this application, due to the differences between the gas constant pressure device 1 and the gas discharge device 2 under different experimental conditions, it is necessary to correct the bubble volume. Under experimental conditions, a certain amount of gas produced is collected and its average value is calculated. After multiple measurements, the same bubble volume can be obtained.

[0037] The sensor 3 is connected to the gas discharge device 2 and is used to detect the bubbles and send a signal to the counter 4 when the bubbles are detected.

[0038] In this application, sensor 3 is connected to a power source, which supplies power to sensor 3.

[0039] The counter 4 is connected to the sensor 3 and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor 3 and perform counting.

[0040] In this application, counter 4 is connected to a power supply, which supplies power to counter 4. Counter 4 displays and saves signals. The user can obtain the gas production volume of the anaerobic reaction based on the volume of the bubbles and the number of times recorded by counter 4. Then, based on the recorded start and end times of gas production in anaerobic reactor 2, the gas production rate of the anaerobic reaction can be obtained.

[0041] In summary, the online monitoring system for an anaerobic reactor disclosed in this embodiment of the invention, consisting of a gas constant pressure device, a gas discharge device, a sensor, and a counter, provides a solution to the problem of monitoring when the anaerobic reactor produces small amounts of gas or irregular gas production. The gas constant pressure device receives the gas produced by the anaerobic reactor and balances the partial pressure of the gas. The gas discharge device is filled with brine, receives the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device, and generates bubbles. These bubbles are stable and uniform, thus solving the problem of monitoring when the anaerobic reactor produces small amounts of gas or irregular gas production.

[0042] Example 2

[0043] 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.

[0044] The online monitoring system of the anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas pressure regulator 1, a gas drainage device 2, a sensor 3, and a counter 4. The gas drainage device 2 is a U-shaped tube.

[0045] The gas pressure regulator 1, gas drainage device 2, sensor 3, and counter 4 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 1. Specifically:

[0046] The gas constant pressure device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is transferred to the gas discharge device 2.

[0047] The gas drainage device 2 is connected to the gas constant pressure device 1, and the gas drainage device 2 is filled with salt water to receive the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device 1 and generate bubbles.

[0048] The sensor 3 is connected to the gas discharge device 2 and is used to detect the bubbles and send a signal to the counter 4 when the bubbles are detected.

[0049] The counter 4 is connected to the sensor 3 and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor 3 and perform counting.

[0050] Based on the above embodiment 1, the gas drainage device 2 is a U-shaped tube.

[0051] 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 and bubble generation process.

[0052] In summary, the gas drainage device 2 disclosed in this embodiment of the invention is a U-shaped tube. The brine level in the U-shaped tube can automatically return to its initial state, without needing to consider the drop in the brine level and the problem of venting.

[0053] Example 3

[0054] The online monitoring system of this anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas pressure regulator 1, a gas drainage device 2, a sensor 3, and a counter 4. The gas drainage device 2 is a U-shaped tube, which includes: a downcomer 5, a capillary tube 6, and an ascender 7. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the U-shaped tube disclosed in this invention.

[0055] The gas pressure regulator 1, gas drainage device 2, sensor 3, and counter 4 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 2. Specifically:

[0056] The gas constant pressure device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is transferred to the gas discharge device 2.

[0057] The gas drainage device 2 is connected to the gas constant pressure device 1, and the gas drainage device 2 is filled with salt water to receive the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device 1 and generate bubbles.

[0058] The sensor 3 is connected to the gas discharge device 2 and is used to detect the bubbles and send a signal to the counter 4 when the bubbles are detected.

[0059] The counter 4 is connected to the sensor 3 and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor 3 and perform counting.

[0060] Based on the above embodiment 2, the U-shaped tube includes: a downcomer 5, a capillary tube 6, and an upcomer 7.

[0061] The downcomer 5, capillary tube 6 and riser 7 are connected in sequence. The gas pressure regulator 1 is connected to the downcomer 5. The riser 7 is connected to the sensor 3. The salt water level in the riser 7 exceeds the connection position between the riser 7 and the sensor 3.

[0062] The gas receiving the preset amount of gas from the gas constant pressure device 1 is transmitted downward along the downcomer 5 to the capillary tube 6, and bubbles are generated at the exhaust port of the capillary tube 6; the bubbles are transmitted upward along the riser 7 to the exhaust port of the riser 7 and discharged into the atmosphere; when the sensor 3 detects that the bubbles have been transmitted to the connection position between the riser 7 and the sensor 3, it sends a signal to the counter 4.

[0063] In this application, a preset amount of gas received from the gas constant pressure device 1 is transmitted downward along the downcomer 5 to the capillary 6. According to the Ramakrishnan formula, the capillary 6 can generate stable and uniform bubbles under a constant pressure difference. Subsequently, the bubbles are transmitted upward along the riser 7 to the exhaust port of the riser 7 and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor 3 detects that the bubbles have been transmitted to the connection position between the riser 7 and the sensor 3, the sensor generates a signal due to the difference in refractive index and conductivity between the bubbles and the liquid, and transmits the signal to the counter 4.

[0064] It should be noted that the Ramakrishnan formula is as follows: Where D b ρ is the bubble diameter, and D0 is the capillary opening diameter. l and ρ gHere, ρ represents the liquid density and ρ represents the gas density, respectively, and σ is a relevant parameter. Due to the presence of the constant pressure device, σ can remain constant during operation, thus generating uniform bubbles.

[0065] In summary, the U-shaped tube disclosed in this embodiment of the invention includes a downcomer 5, a capillary tube 6, and an ascender 7, which makes the generated bubbles stable and uniform, and solves the problem that monitoring is not possible when the anaerobic reactor produces small amounts of gas or irregular gas production.

[0066] Example 4

[0067] The online monitoring system of this anaerobic reactor mainly includes: a gas pressure regulator 1, a gas drainage device 2, a sensor 3, and a counter 4. The gas drainage device 2 is a U-shaped tube, which includes: a downcomer 5, a capillary tube 6, and an ascender 7. The sensor 3 is a potential sensor 8 or an optical sensor 9. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4 The diagram below is a structural schematic of the potential sensor disclosed in this invention; please refer to... Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical sensor disclosed in this invention.

[0068] The gas pressure regulator 1, gas drainage device 2, sensor 3, counter 4, downcomer 5, capillary tube 6, and riser 7 have the same structure as those disclosed in Embodiment 3. Specifically:

[0069] The gas constant pressure device 1 is connected to the anaerobic reactor and is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor 1. When the received gas reaches a preset amount, the received gas is transferred to the gas discharge device 2.

[0070] The gas drainage device 2 is connected to the gas constant pressure device 1, and the gas drainage device 2 is filled with salt water to receive the gas transmitted by the gas constant pressure device 1 and generate bubbles.

[0071] The sensor 3 is connected to the gas discharge device 2 and is used to detect the bubbles and send a signal to the counter 4 when the bubbles are detected.

[0072] The counter 4 is connected to the sensor 3 and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor 3 and perform counting.

[0073] The downcomer 5, capillary tube 6 and riser 7 are connected in sequence. The gas pressure regulator 1 is connected to the downcomer 5. The riser 7 is connected to the sensor 3. The salt water level in the riser 7 exceeds the connection position between the riser 7 and the sensor 3.

[0074] Based on the above embodiment 3, the sensor 3 is a potential sensor 8 or an optical sensor 9.

[0075] The potential sensor 3 includes two sensor probes, which are connected to the riser tube.

[0076] In this application, the potential sensor 8 utilizes the fact that when a bubble passes close to but does not contact two potential probes, the bubble replaces the liquid and has low conductivity, causing the probe to open circuit and generating a pulse signal.

[0077] The optical sensor 3 includes a sensor probe, which is connected to the riser tube.

[0078] In this application, the optical sensor 9 generates a pulse signal by utilizing the difference in refractive index caused by the passing of a bubble through the optical probe.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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, include: Gas pressure regulator, gas drainage device, sensor and counter; The gas constant pressure device is connected to the anaerobic reactor. The gas constant pressure device is a container with a fixed elastic wall. It is used to receive the gas generated by the anaerobic reactor, balance the partial pressure of the gas using the elastic wall, and transmit the received gas to the gas discharge device under a fixed pressure when the received gas reaches a preset amount. The gas drainage device is connected to the gas pressure regulator and is filled with brine to receive the gas transmitted by the gas pressure regulator and generate bubbles. The gas drainage device is a U-shaped tube, comprising a downcomer, a capillary tube, and an ascender tube connected in sequence. The gas pressure regulator is connected to the downcomer tube, and the ascender tube is connected to the sensor. The brine level in the ascender tube exceeds the connection point between the ascender tube and the sensor. A preset amount of gas received from the gas pressure regulator is transmitted downwards along the downcomer tube to the capillary tube, where stable and uniform bubbles are generated under a constant pressure difference through the capillary tube's exhaust port. The bubbles are transmitted upwards along the ascender tube to the exhaust port of the ascender tube and discharged into the atmosphere. When the sensor detects that the bubbles have reached the connection point between the ascender tube and the sensor, it sends a signal to the counter. The sensor is connected to the gas discharge device and is used to detect the bubbles, and send a signal to the counter when the bubbles are detected. The counter is connected to the sensor and is used to receive signals sent by the sensor and perform counting.

2. The online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor is a potential sensor or an optical sensor; The potential sensor includes two sensor probes, which are connected to the riser tube. The optical sensor includes a sensor probe, which is connected to the riser tube.

3. The online monitoring system for the anaerobic reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The power supply connected to the sensor and the counter is used to power the sensor and the counter.

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