DEVICE FOR DRYING MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR BIOMASS, FOR EXAMPLE SEWAGE SLUDGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for drying material, in particular biomass, for example sewage sludge. The biomass can also be milk sludge, brewer's grains, digestate, liquid manure, animal manure, or biogas digestate. The material can also be moistened or moisture-containing mass or sludge, or moistened or moisture-containing parts or granules, such as metal shavings or wood chips.

[0002] Known devices, for example, spread sewage sludge onto a drying surface for drying. These devices have conveying mechanisms that distribute or transport the sewage sludge across the drying surface. It is also known to arrange several drying surfaces one above the other. A known problem with such devices is that significant odors can develop in the drying systems, especially at higher temperatures.

[0003] A device for drying, in particular, sewage sludge, according to the preamble of claim 1, is known from DE 20 2021 102 132 U1.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a new device for drying material. In particular, a device is to be proposed in which the odor intensity of the exhaust air of the device is reduced and / or particles are filtered from the exhaust air and / or disinfection and / or sterilization of the exhaust air takes place.

[0005] This problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The device according to the invention for drying material, in particular biomass, for example sewage sludge, comprises a housing with at least one drying chamber and an exhaust air chamber, the exhaust air chamber having one or more air outlets. The invention is characterized in that an exhaust air filter system, in particular for particle and / or odor filtration and / or for disinfection and / or sterilization, is arranged between the drying chamber and the exhaust air chamber.

[0007] The advantage of the exhaust air filter system lies particularly in its odor filtration. With the device according to the invention, it is possible to significantly reduce the odor intensity of the exhaust air. A further advantage lies in the particle filtration and in the disinfection and / or sterilization of the exhaust air.

[0008] The exhaust air filter system is located in a partition wall separating the drying chamber and the exhaust air chamber.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the exhaust air filter system comprises one or more UV lamps, preferably UV-C lamps, wherein the UV lamps are specifically intended for disinfecting and / or sterilizing the exhaust air. In addition to disinfecting and sterilizing the exhaust air by means of the UV radiation emitted by the UV lamps, this can also achieve odor reduction through oxidation, for example of ammonia.

[0010] The exhaust air filtration system can include one or more particle filters, each of which is specifically designed using a fleece. The particle filters can be or include coarse dust filters and / or fine dust filters.

[0011] Furthermore, the exhaust air filter system can include one or more activated carbon filters. The particle filter(s) are located upstream of the activated carbon filter(s) in the direction of exhaust air flow. The exhaust air flow is directed from the drying chamber to the exhaust air chamber and / or the air outlets.

[0012] Using one or more particle filters, especially multiple particle filters for different particle sizes, odor-causing particles can be filtered out and odors significantly reduced. If this is insufficient, an activated carbon filter is also recommended, as it absorbs at least a large portion of the odors.

[0013] It may also be provided that the UV lamp or UV lamps or one or more of the UV lamps are arranged in the direction of the exhaust air flow between the particle filter(s) and the activated carbon filter(s).

[0014] The exhaust air filter system can be designed as a slide-in filter system with one or more, in particular one to eight, for example four, replaceable filter inserts, each filter insert being equipped, for example, with one or more particle filters and / or one or more activated carbon filters and / or one or more UV lamps. This offers the advantage of increased flexibility. The device can thus be adapted to the specific filter requirements, which may arise, for example, during approval or acceptance testing, at the respective installation site without effort or high investment costs, by replacing or retrofitting suitable filter inserts. Preferably, the slide-in filter system is arranged in the partition wall, with the filter inserts being slid into the partition wall, in particular into recesses in the partition wall.For example, each filter insert in the direction of exhaust air flow can have one or more particle filters on the inlet side and one or more activated carbon filters on the outlet side, with one or more UV lamps arranged between the particle filter(s) and the activated carbon filter(s).

[0015] The UV lamp(s), or one or more of the UV lamps, can be arranged such that the UV lamps shine into the drying chamber, particularly into the area of ​​the drying chamber in front of the partition. According to a further embodiment, this UV lamp or these UV lamps are arranged on the side of each filter insert facing the drying chamber.

[0016] One embodiment of the invention provides that the air exhaust system includes an air exhaust fan to assist in the removal of air from the housing. This air exhaust fan ensures airflow within the device, and particularly in the exhaust chamber, and also facilitates the removal of the moisture-enriched air during drying, thereby accelerating the drying process.

[0017] Preferably, a chimney shaft is arranged adjacent to the air outlet(s) on the outside of the housing, in particular for the discharge of exhaust air into the environment.

[0018] Furthermore, the housing may be provided with one or more air inlets which, together with the air outlet(s), are arranged in such a way that the air is guided through the device to dry the material.

[0019] According to the invention, the exhaust air chamber has a door, and the exhaust air chamber can be accessed from outside the housing via the door. This allows, for example, service personnel easy access to the exhaust air filter system, for example for maintenance purposes and / or for replacing or retrofitting filter elements and / or filter inserts.

[0020] In the drying chamber, one or more pairs of drying surfaces are arranged, each pair of drying surfaces comprising an upper drying surface and a lower drying surface over which the material can be conveyed for drying, each pair of drying surfaces being associated with a conveying device circulating around the upper drying surface with conveying elements for conveying the material over the upper drying surface and the lower drying surface, the upper drying surface and the lower drying surface as well as the conveying device and its conveying elements being designed and arranged relative to each other such that the conveying elements for conveying the material over the upper drying surface and for conveying the material over the lower drying surface are moved in opposite directions, the upper drying surface being arranged relative to the lower drying surface in such a way thatthat the material, after being conveyed over the upper drying surface, falls from the upper drying surface to the lower drying surface for subsequent conveying over the lower drying surface.

[0021] It may be provided that at least four, at least eight, or at least sixteen pairs of drying surfaces are arranged one above the other in such a way that the material can be conveyed or is conveyed successively over all drying surfaces, falling from the lower drying surface of the respective upper pair of drying surfaces to the upper drying surface of the respective lower pair of drying surfaces, until the lower drying surface of the lowest pair of drying surfaces is reached.

[0022] The invention is further explained below with regard to its features and advantages by means of a description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. These show FIG. 1 an embodiment of a drying device according to the invention in a schematic, three-dimensional sectional view, FIG. 2 the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in a further schematic, three-dimensional sectional view, without showing the exhaust air filter system, and FIG. 3 a further embodiment of a device according to the invention for drying in a schematic, three-dimensional sectional view.

[0023] Corresponding parts and components are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0024] FIG 1 Figure 1 shows a device 1 for drying biomass, for example sewage sludge. The device 1 comprises a housing 2 with a drying chamber 3 and an exhaust chamber 4, wherein the drying chamber is in FIG. 1 is only partially depicted. According to the depiction according to FIG. 1The device is cut both lengthwise and crosswise through drying chamber 3.

[0025] In drying chamber 3, several pairs of drying surfaces (not shown in the figures) are arranged, each pair comprising an upper drying surface and a lower drying surface over which the material can be conveyed for drying. Each pair of drying surfaces is associated with a conveying device circulating around the upper drying surface, with conveying elements for conveying the material over the upper and lower drying surfaces. The upper and lower drying surfaces, as well as the conveying device and its conveying elements, are designed and arranged such that the conveying elements for conveying the material over the upper and lower drying surfaces move in opposite directions.The upper drying surface is arranged relative to the lower drying surface in such a way that, after being conveyed over the upper drying surface, the material falls from the upper drying surface to the lower drying surface before being conveyed over the lower drying surface. At least four, eight, or even sixteen pairs of drying surfaces can be arranged one above the other in such a way that the material is conveyed successively over all drying surfaces, falling from the lower drying surface of each uppermost pair of drying surfaces to the upper drying surface of each lowermost pair of drying surfaces, until the lower drying surface of the lowest pair of drying surfaces is reached.

[0026] The exhaust chamber 4 has two air outlets 5. Each air outlet 5 has an air exhaust fan 13 to assist the air extraction from the housing 2. Adjacent to the air outlets 5, a chimney shaft 14 is arranged on the outside of the housing 2. The exhaust chamber 4 has a door (not shown in the figures), which allows access to the exhaust chamber 4 from outside the housing 2, for example, for maintenance purposes such as changing the filter.

[0027] Between the drying chamber 3 and the exhaust air chamber 4, an exhaust air filter system 6 is arranged for particle and / or odor filtration, wherein the exhaust air filter system 6 is arranged in a partition wall 7 separating the drying chamber 3 and the exhaust air chamber 4.

[0028] The exhaust air filter system 6 comprises several particle filters 8, each of which is formed by a fleece. The particle filters 8 can each include both coarse dust filters and fine dust filters. Furthermore, the exhaust air filter system 6 also includes activated carbon filters 9, with the particle filters 8 being positioned upstream of the activated carbon filters 9 in the direction of exhaust air flow. The exhaust air flow is directed from the drying chamber 3 to the exhaust air chamber 4 or the air outlets 5.

[0029] The exhaust air filter system 6 is a slide-in filter system with four replaceable filter inserts 10, each filter insert 10 being equipped with a particle filter 8 and an activated carbon filter 9. The slide-in filter system is arranged in the partition wall 7, with the filter inserts 10 being able to be inserted into recesses 11 in the partition wall 7.

[0030] FIG. 2The device 1 is shown without the exhaust air filter system 6, with the recesses 11 in the partition 7 visible. These recesses 11 are designed and provided for receiving the filter inserts 10.

[0031] How FIG. 1 As shown, the exhaust air filter system 6 comprises several UV-C lamps 12, the UV lamps 12 being intended for disinfecting and / or sterilizing the exhaust air. The UV lamps 12 are arranged such that they shine into the area 15 of the drying chamber 3 in front of the partition 7. One UV lamp 12 is arranged in the upper area of ​​the side of each filter insert 10 facing the drying chamber 3.

[0032] The housing 2 also has air inlets (not shown in the figures) which, together with the air outlets 5, are arranged such that the air for drying the material is guided through the device 1 and in particular the drying chamber 3 and the exhaust chamber 4.

[0033] FIG. 3 Figure 1 shows a further, alternative embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention, wherein the similarities to the preceding descriptions are noted. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2Reference is made to [reference to relevant section]. In this embodiment, the recesses 11 in the partition wall 7 are designed as shafts 17 in the partition wall. These recesses 11, designed here as shafts 17, are designed and provided for receiving the filter inserts 10. Each filter insert 10 has, on the inlet side in the direction of exhaust air flow, one or more particle filters 8, for example, one or more nonwoven filters, and on the outlet side, one or more activated carbon filters 9. Several UV lamps 12 are arranged in each filter insert 10 between the particle filter(s) 8 and the activated carbon filter(s) 9. Each shaft 17 or each filter insert 10 is provided, at least between the particle filter(s) 8 and the activated carbon filter(s) 9, with a lining 16 that prevents the escape of UV radiation emitted by the UV lamps. This lining 16 can, for example, be a sheet metal lining.The UV lamps 12 thus irradiate the exhaust air in a covered room. Reference symbol list

[0034] 1 Device 2 Housing 3 Drying chamber 4 Exhaust chamber 5 Air discharge 6 Exhaust air filter system 7 Partition wall 8 Particle filter 9 Activated carbon filter 10 Filter insert 11 Recess 12 UV lamp 13 Air discharge fan 14 Chimney shaft 15 Area of ​​drying chamber 3 in front of partition wall 7 16 Lining of filter insert 10 17 Shaft in partition wall 7 for filter insert 10

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for drying material, comprising a housing (2) with at least one drying chamber (3) and an exhaust air chamber (4), wherein the exhaust air chamber (4) has one or more air outlets (5), wherein an exhaust air filter system (6) is arranged between the drying chamber (3) and the exhaust air chamber (4), wherein one or more pairs of drying surfaces are arranged in the drying chamber (3), wherein each pair of drying surfaces comprises an upper drying surface and a lower drying surface over which the material can be conveyed for drying, wherein each pair of drying surfaces is associated with a conveyor device encircling the upper drying surface, comprising conveyor elements for conveying the material over the upper drying surface and the lower drying surface, wherein the upper drying surface and the lower drying surface, as well as the conveying device and its conveying elements, are designed and arranged relative to one another such that the conveying elements are moved in opposite directions for conveying the material over the upper drying surface and for conveying the material over the lower drying surface, and wherein the upper drying surface is arranged relative to the lower drying surface such that, after being conveyed over the upper drying surface, the material falls from the upper drying surface onto the lower drying surface for subsequent conveyance over the lower drying surface, and wherein the exhaust air filter system (6) is arranged in a partition wall (7) separating the drying chamber (3) and the exhaust air chamber (4), characterised in that the exhaust air chamber (4) comprises a door, whereby the exhaust air chamber (4) can be accessed from outside the housing (2) via the door.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the exhaust air filter system (6) comprises one or more UV lamps (12), preferably UV-C lamps, wherein the UV lamps (12) are provided in particular for disinfecting and / or sterilising the exhaust air.

3. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exhaust air filter system (6) comprises one or more particle filters (8), wherein the particle filter(s) (8) are each formed in particular by a fleece.

4. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exhaust air filter system (6) comprises one or more activated carbon filters (9).

5. Apparatus (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the particle filter(s) (8) are arranged upstream of the activated carbon filter(s) (9) in the direction of flow of the exhaust air.

6. Apparatus (1) according to claim 5 and claim 2, characterised in that the UV lamp (12) or the UV lamps (12) or one or more of the UV lamps (12) are arranged in the direction of flow of the exhaust air between the particle filter(s) (8) and the activated carbon filter(s) (9).

7. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exhaust air filter system (6) is a plug-in filter system comprising one or more, in particular one to eight, for example four, replaceable filter inserts (10), wherein each filter insert (10) is equipped, for example, with one or more particle filters (8) and / or one or more activated carbon filters (9) and / or one or more UV lamps (12).

8. Apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the plug-in filter system is arranged in the partition wall (7), wherein the filter inserts (10) can be inserted into the partition wall (7), in particular into recesses (11) in the partition wall (7).

9. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims and according to claim 2, characterised in that the UV lamp (12) or the UV lamps (12) or one or more of the UV lamps (12) are arranged such that the UV lamps (12) irradiate the drying chamber (3), in particular the region (15) of the drying chamber (3) in front of the partition wall (7).

10. Apparatus (1) according to claim 9 and one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the UV lamp (12) or UV lamps (12) emitting light into the drying chamber (3) are arranged on the side of each filter insert (10) facing the drying chamber (3).

11. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the air outlet (5) comprises an air exhaust fan (13) to assist in the extraction of air from the housing (2).

12. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a chimney shaft (14) is arranged on the outside of the housing (2) adjacent to the air outlet(s) (5).

13. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (2) comprises one or more air inlets which, together with the air outlet(s) (5), are arranged such that the air for drying the material is guided through the apparatus (1).

14. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least four, or at least eight, or at least sixteen pairs of drying surfaces are arranged one above the other in such a way that the material can be or is conveyed successively over all the drying surfaces, falling in the process from the lower drying surface of the respective upper pair of drying surfaces onto the upper drying surface of the respective lower pair of drying surfaces, until the lower drying surface of the lowest pair of drying surfaces is reached.