Waste recovery device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of waste treatment for carrying out biodegradation on organic substances through a fermentation device and generating related biogas. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for biodegrading organic substances and producing biogas resulting from the degradation. The technical result of the invention is that the harmful effects on the environment during the waste recovery process are reduced by the waste recovery device comprising at least one pretreatment module which is connected to at least one anaerobic digestion module by means of a first line, the anaerobic digestion module is connected to the at least one digest module through a second pipeline, and the pretreatment module contains a heater, an organic waste mixer / pulverizer, a high-pressure homogenizer and a centrifugal machine which are connected in series with one another; the anaerobic digestion module accommodates a heater, a coil-shaped pipeline connected with a centrifugal machine, and the biogas system module is connected to an outlet of the coil-shaped pipeline used for power generation, the biogas system module is provided with a gas purifier, and a membrane bioreactor is arranged in the digest module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of waste treatment technology involving the biodegradation of organic matter and the production of associated biogas using a fermentation device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for biodegrading organic matter and producing the resulting biogas. The device can operate in a variety of climates, including cold and extreme climates, such as temperate and subarctic regions. Background Art

[0002] Most known waste recovery vessels utilize methane bioreactors for the anaerobic degradation of waste.

[0003] Prior art Chinese patent CN216106569U published on March 22, 2022 discloses a similar device for treating biogas using anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. The device includes a solid-liquid separation treatment tank and a fermentation tank. The solid-liquid separation unit is located in the solid-liquid separation treatment tank. The solid-liquid separation unit is inclined, and the left end of the solid-liquid separation unit is located above the right end of the solid-liquid separation unit. A solid transmission pipe is fixedly connected to the right side of the solid-liquid separation treatment tank. The position of the solid transmission pipe is higher than the right end of the solid-liquid separation unit. A material inlet is provided on the top of the solid transmission pipe. A fermentation tank for producing biogas is provided on the right side of the solid-liquid separation treatment tank. A pressure vessel for storing biogas is provided on the right side of the fermentation tank. A first purification tank is provided on the left side of the solid-liquid separation treatment tank, and a second purification tank is fixedly connected to the bottom of the first purification tank, which solves the problem that kitchen waste contains extremely high moisture and organic matter, is easy to rot, emits a foul odor, and the illegal collection and recycling of kitchen waste causes harm to the environment and human health. The disadvantages of this device are the complexity of its design and operation, and the inability to adjust the scale of the device according to the demand for waste volume.

[0004] The closest similar technology in the existing technology is the container-type decentralized organic waste recycling system disclosed in CN216864150U published on July 1, 2021, which provides a container-type decentralized organic waste recycling system. The system includes a pretreatment unit, an environmentally friendly feed production unit, and a methane production and use unit connected in series. The pretreatment unit includes an automatic sorting machine for screening organic waste; the environmentally friendly feed production unit includes a slurry storage device, an ultrasonic treatment device, an integrated bioreactor, a sediment heating cylinder, a sediment dryer, and a granulator; the methane production and use unit includes a methane-producing bioreactor, a bag filter, a hydraulic sealing device, a gas purifier, a biogas tank, and a biogas generator. The system pre-treats kitchen waste at the source, reduces the retention time of garbage, and reduces the possibility of odor generation; the containers are arranged in an ascending manner, reducing the occupied space; it can improve the kitchen waste recycling capacity, increase methane production, and achieve zero emissions; the system is characterized by a high resource recovery rate. By extracting high-protein precipitates from kitchen waste and recycling them, environmentally friendly feed can be prepared.

[0005] Disadvantages of similar technologies include their inability to process a wide range of waste types, high energy consumption, and inability to operate in cold climates. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical effect of the present invention is to reduce the harmful impact on the environment during the waste recycling process.

[0007] The technical effect is achieved by the following method: the waste recycling device includes at least one pretreatment module, the pretreatment module being connected to at least one anaerobic digestion module via a first pipeline, and the anaerobic digestion module being connected to at least one digestate module via a second pipeline, wherein the pretreatment module houses a heater, an organic waste mixer / shredder, a pump, a high-pressure homogenizer, and a centrifuge connected in series, and the anaerobic digestion module houses a heater, a coiled pipe connected to a biogas system module and allowing power generation, wherein the biogas system module is equipped with a gas purifier, and the digestate module is provided with a membrane bioreactor. In particular, the digestate module is equipped with a solid separation line and a liquid separation line for returning the organic waste mixture to the pretreatment module.

[0008] In one embodiment, the pretreatment module and the anaerobic digestion module are equipped with insulation materials to prevent heat loss and maintain a stable temperature throughout the process.

[0009] In a specific embodiment, the pre-treatment module is equipped with a data processing system and sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, viscosity, pH, water dosage, reaction catalyst dosage, bio-additive feed and raw material dosage.

[0010] In a specific embodiment, the anaerobic digestion module is equipped with temperature sensors, pH sensors, liquid level sensors, and pressure sensors, whose data are transmitted to a computer for monitoring and adjusting organic waste parameters, a feedback control unit, and an organic waste recycling unit.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the biogas system module is equipped with a gas storage tank, a gas purifier and a gas compressor connected in series.

[0012] In a specific embodiment, the digestate module includes pressure and viscosity sensors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 Shows a structural diagram of a waste recycling device.

[0014] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the anaerobic digestion module is shown.

[0015] Figure 1 and Figure 2The numbers correspond to the following: 1-pretreatment module, 2-anaerobic digestion module, 3-digestate module, 4-mixer / pulverizer, 5-pump, 6-high-pressure homogenizer, 7-centrifuge, 8-distribution valve, 9-heater, 10-solid separator pipeline, 11-liquid separator pipeline, 12-biogas system module, 13-coiled pipeline, 14-first pipeline, 15-second pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The waste recycling device includes at least one pretreatment module 1, which is connected to at least one anaerobic digestion module 2 via a first pipeline 14, and the anaerobic digestion module 2 is connected to at least one digestate module 3 via a second pipeline 15. The pretreatment module 1 is equipped with: a heater 9, and an organic waste mixer / crusher 4, a pump 5, a high-pressure homogenizer 6, and a centrifuge 7 connected in series; the anaerobic digestion module 2 is equipped with: a heater 9, a coiled pipeline 13 connected to a biogas system module 12 via a distribution valve 8 and capable of generating electricity, wherein the biogas system module 12 is equipped with a gas purifier, and the digestate module is provided with a membrane bioreactor.

[0017] In addition, the digestate module is equipped with a solid separation pipeline 10 and a liquid separation pipeline 11, the pretreatment module 1 and the anaerobic digestion module 2 are equipped with insulation materials to maintain a stable temperature throughout the process, the pretreatment module 1 is equipped with a data processing system and sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, viscosity, pH value, water dosage, reaction catalyst dosage, biological additive feed and raw material dosage, and the anaerobic digestion module 2 is equipped with a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a liquid level sensor, a pressure sensor, a feedback control unit and an organic waste recycling unit, the biogas system module is equipped with a gas storage tank, a gas purifier and a gas compressor connected in series, and the digestate module includes pressure and viscosity sensors.

[0018] The technical effect is achieved by adding organic waste to the mixer / crusher of the pretreatment module, which undergoes preliminary crushing and the entire mixture is mixed to achieve a uniform viscosity. The organic waste is then pumped into a high-pressure homogenizer through an internal pipeline of the pretreatment module, which applies high pressure and mechanical impact to it. This causes the waste to be ground into tiny particles, thereby improving the biodegradation of the organic matter and its availability for further processing. Pre-treating organic waste using a high-pressure homogenizer can significantly increase the yield of biogas because the organic waste becomes more usable and easier to convert into biogas. The optimal parameters of the high-pressure homogenizer, such as pressure, temperature, moisture content and pH value, can vary depending on the type and composition of the organic waste and can be determined using various optimization techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM). The recycled waste is sent from the high-pressure homogenizer to the anaerobic digestion module through a first pipeline. In the anaerobic digestion module, waste ferments in coiled tubing at an ambient temperature of at least 0°C and a pressure of at least 1 atmosphere. The mixture moves along the coiled tubing toward the outlet, and a computer calculates the fermentation time. The temperature within the module is maintained by installed heaters. New waste introduced into the coiled tubing is "pushed" forward by the older waste through the tubing, continuing its fermentation process. As fermentation progresses, biogas is produced, accumulating in the tubing and moving through the liquid mixture toward the outlet. The anaerobic digestion module is equipped with a variety of sensors and instruments to monitor and measure key parameters such as temperature, oxygen levels, pH, ambient conditions, and air flow rate. These instruments enable monitoring and adjustment of conditions within the module to ensure optimal anaerobic digestion. During the digestion of recycled waste, biogas is produced and fed through a distribution valve into the biogas system module, which includes a gas storage tank. The tank can be constructed with larger diameter pipes to collect and store the biogas produced after anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Gas storage tanks are typically equipped with control and safety devices, such as pressure gauges, safety valves, and pressure relief systems, to prevent unnecessary pressure buildup or the formation of explosive mixtures. The biogas then passes through a gas purifier, which is used to remove impurities from the released biogas. The gas purifier may include filters, adsorbents, or other air purification systems to treat and purify the biogas. The gas purifier is connected to a gas compressor, which is responsible for compressing the biogas to the pressure level required for delivery to the power system.

[0019] Recycled and digested waste is fed into the digestate module for separation into a liquid fraction and a solid fraction. The core component of the digestate module is a membrane bioreactor (MBR), which is used to further degrade and process the digestate. A MBR is a tank that performs the biological process of anaerobic degradation of residual organic matter. The organic waste fed to the digestate module may contain a solid fraction (solid fraction) in the form of residual organic waste, insoluble matter, or other solid particles. The digestate module may also be equipped with sensors to monitor various parameters within the bioreactor, such as pressure, temperature, and pH. These sensors provide information to monitor and optimize the anaerobic degradation process. Two pipelines exit the digestate module: one for the liquid fraction and the other for the solid fraction. The digestate module includes a system for separating and purifying the digestate, as well as for recycling, processing, or using it as fertilizer or soil conditioner. This system will include a composting or drying mechanism to stabilize and reduce the volume of the solid fraction for use as fertilizer or soil conditioner. The system should also have a nitrification / denitrification system or membrane bioreactor to treat and remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the liquid separate stream, which can be reused in the unit as inoculum or co-substrate.

[0020] If solid fractions of recycled waste need to be removed from the system, they are fed through the solid fraction line to the pre-treatment module's centrifuge for separation. This separation process involves vigorous rotation, generating strong centrifugal forces. The centrifuge is set to the desired water content to stop the vigorous rotation. This allows the mixture to be separated into solid and liquid fractions.

[0021] Therefore, the flow of organic waste when it arrives at the pre-treatment module is as follows:

[0022] a) Organic waste is fed into a mixer / grinder which grinds the waste into a homogeneous mass.

[0023] b) The organic waste is fed into a pump which raises the liquid pressure to the required level which can be in the range of 1 to 1500 bar.

[0024] c) Pressurization The liquid is then forced through the homogenizer's narrow slits or nozzles where it experiences a sudden drop in pressure and high shear forces.

[0025] d) The pressure drop and shear forces induce turbulence, cavitation and implosion in the homogenizer, breaking down cell walls and complex organic waste molecules into smaller fragments.

[0026] e) Therefore, the homogenizer produces liquid organic waste, which is a homogenous mixture of fine particles and soluble molecules with a larger surface area and is more easily utilized by enzymes and microorganisms involved in the anaerobic digestion process.

[0027] f) Next, the homogenized liquid waste is fed into the aerobic digestion module where it undergoes four stages of anaerobic digestion: hydrolysis, acidification, acetic acid production, and methanogenesis, ultimately producing biogas containing methane and carbon dioxide.

[0028] g) The biogas produced by the digestion of organic waste is fed into the biogas system module for purification and further utilization.

[0029] h) The recycled organic waste from the anaerobic digestion module is fed into the digestate module where it is separated into solid and liquid fractions.

[0030] The waste recycling unit is an environmentally friendly solution for treating organic waste. Firstly, it is based on anaerobic digestion, meaning the digestion process takes place in the absence of oxygen. This prevents the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the air.

[0031] The anaerobic digestion process also produces biogas, primarily composed of methane, a renewable and clean energy source. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat, and even fuel vehicles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

[0032] Another environmental benefit of the plant is its ability to recycle organic waste and convert it into valuable products. The liquid fraction obtained after anaerobic digestion can be used to produce fertilizer, thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and preventing soil and water pollution.

Claims

1. A waste recycling device, characterized in that: The system comprises at least one pretreatment module connected to at least one anaerobic digestion module via a first pipeline, and the anaerobic digestion module connected to at least one digestate module via a second pipeline, wherein the pretreatment module comprises: a heater, an organic waste mixer / shredder, a pump, a high-pressure homogenizer, and a centrifuge connected in series; the anaerobic digestion module comprises: a heater, a coiled pipeline connected to a biogas system module and allowing power generation, wherein the biogas system module is equipped with a gas purifier, and the digestate module is provided with a membrane bioreactor.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The digestate module is equipped with a solid separator line and a liquid separator line for returning the organic waste mixture to the centrifuge located in the pre-treatment module.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The pretreatment module and the anaerobic digestion module are equipped with insulation materials to maintain a stable temperature throughout the process.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The pre-treatment module is equipped with a data processing system and sensors for temperature, pressure, viscosity, pH value, water dosage, reaction catalyst dosage, bio-additive feed and raw material dosage.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The anaerobic digestion module is equipped with temperature sensors, pH sensors, liquid level sensors and pressure sensors, the data from which are transmitted to a computer for monitoring and regulating organic waste parameters, a feedback control unit and an organic waste recycling unit.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The biogas system module is equipped with a gas storage tank, a gas purifier and a gas compressor connected in series.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The digestate module includes pressure and viscosity sensors.

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