Biogas installation fermenter vessel and method for operating same
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NIEDERBACHER MICHAEL
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-15
AI Technical Summary
Biogas plant fermenter tanks face issues with biogas clogging and reduced substrate filling height due to the need for a large distance between the platform plate and the filling level, leading to inefficient biogas production and difficulties in maintaining gas-tightness during service operations.
A biogas plant fermenter container design with a gas storage film roof and a vertically aligned gas extraction system, where the gas outlet is positioned above the platform plate, allowing for reliable gas removal without clogging and enabling a higher substrate level, eliminating the need for a cumbersome collar and enhancing operational efficiency.
This design allows for increased substrate volume utilization, prevents biogas clogging, and simplifies maintenance by ensuring gas-tightness during service operations, thereby improving biogas production rates and reducing maintenance challenges.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024065170_12122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Biogas plant fermenter tanks and operating procedures
[0003] The invention relates to a biogas plant fermenter tank according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating it according to the preamble of claim 22.
[0004] A biogas plant fermenter tank with a service device is known from EP 2 497 822 B1. The tank has an interior formed by a bottom wall, a continuous side wall, and a film roof connected thereto in a gas-tight and, preferably detachable manner. A substantially liquid, fermentable substrate is accommodated in the tank interior up to a predeterminable fill level. The fermenter tank is equipped with a service device comprising a service platform as a walkable, flat platform plate, which is connected, on the one hand, to a top side wall of the tank in a gas-tight manner and, on the other hand, has a roof connection area to which the film roof is connected in a gas-tight manner.A service opening is provided in the platform plate, which can be closed in a gas-tight manner by means of a covering device and through which a submersible device, in particular a submersible mixer and / or a feed pump of an injection device, which is height-adjustable on a guide mast, can be moved out of the fermenter tank and back into the fermenter tank in a substantially gas-tight manner for maintenance and service work.
[0005] In a fermenter tank with such a platform plate, it is generally known and customary to discharge and extract the biogas produced directly via a gas extraction opening on the platform plate. This requires a relatively large distance between the underside of the platform plate and the fill level to ensure, on the one hand, that sufficient biogas is available for discharge and extraction under the platform plate. On the other hand, at higher fill levels, the gas extraction opening would become blocked, particularly due to substrate splashes, foam formation, etc., and clearing a blockage and cleaning the pipes would only be possible with great effort. Obviously, due to the required relatively large distance of the fill level of at least around 60 cm, the otherwise possible greater fill height of the fermenter tank with substrate cannot be utilized, so that the otherwise possible biogas production rate is adversely reduced.
[0006] A further disadvantage is that if the cover were removed without further measures, biogas would escape from the area beneath the platform plate to ensure a gas-tight opening of the service opening. In order to prevent gas from escaping, a rigid, pipe-socket-like collar is attached to the underside of the service opening in a gas-tight manner, as is known from the above prior art. This collar protrudes into the interior of the fermenter vessel with a length of at least approximately 60 cm below the substrate surface during operation and thus prevents gas from escaping from the service opening when the cover is open. The disadvantage of such a collar is that it is complex to attach, frequently buckles due to the stress caused by the substrate flow, which is expensive to repair, and it adversely slows down the substrate flow in its area.This means that when the siphon reaches the appropriate fill level, and especially above it, the collar is pushed into the depressurized area of the shaft due to the excess gas pressure created by the closure of the gas extraction opening in the gas area. The collar protrudes into the shaft area to such an extent that the operation of the agitator is immediately impeded. The removal of the collar is the result.
[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to further develop a biogas plant fermenter tank in such a way that the above disadvantages no longer occur and a further object of the invention is to propose a suitable method for operation.
[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0009] According to claim 1, a biogas plant fermenter tank is claimed with a tank interior formed by a bottom wall, a circumferential side wall, and a film roof connected to the side wall in a gas-tight, preferably gas-tight and detachable manner, and in which a substantially liquid, fermentable substrate is accommodated up to a predeterminable fill level. The fermenter tank further comprises a service device having a service platform as a walkable, preferably flat and / or horizontally oriented platform plate, which is connected in a gas-tight manner to a tank side wall, preferably in an upper region as viewed in the vertical axis direction, and further having a roof connection region to which the film roof is connected in a gas-tight, preferably gas-tight and detachable manner.
[0010] The platform plate has at least one service opening that can be closed gas-tight by means of a covering device and through which a diving device, in particular a submersible mixer and / or a feed pump of an injection device, which is height-adjustable on a guide mast, can be moved essentially gas-tight out of the container interior and back into the container interior for maintenance and service work. The film roof is designed as a supported air roof with an outer roof skin film and, as viewed in the vertical axis direction, a gas storage film arranged gas-tight beneath the outer roof skin film as a sub-roof film above the substrate level. The outer roof skin film is preferably kept inflated in a predetermined roof shape, for example by means of a supporting air blower with a predetermined supporting pressure.
[0011] The gas storage foil forms a volume-variable gas storage in which the produced biogas is collected and can be expanded towards the outer roof skin foil depending on the gas filling volume.
[0012] Furthermore, the fermenter tank comprises a gas extraction device by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage can be discharged and / or withdrawn from the tank interior via a gas outlet opening into the gas storage, for example by means of a conveying device such as a pump.
[0013] In addition, at least one vertical support is provided which is aligned in the vertical axis direction in the fermenter vessel, preferably at least one vertical central support arranged approximately centrally and / or centrally in the vessel interior, which, preferably starting from the bottom wall, projects above a maximum substrate level with an upper head part in relation to the vertical axis direction, wherein the upper head part, preferably the upper end of the upper head part as seen in the vertical axis direction, is designed as a belt carrying and belt connecting part, from which a plurality of support belts are stretched above the substrate level to the side wall regions, onto which the gas storage film rests when the gas storage is not or only slightly filled with gas, preferably without dipping into the substrate.
[0014] According to a first aspect of the invention, it is provided that the gas outlet connected to the gas extraction device, preferably by means of at least one gas line of the gas extraction device, is arranged, viewed in the vertical axis direction, above the plane of the platform plate and / or above the plane of a container upper edge defined by the side wall upper edge.
[0015] This advantageously means that the gas outlet or gas extraction opening from the gas storage unit is always above the substrate level, thus enabling reliable gas removal that is permanently free of clogging, even when the tank is fully filled, i.e., when the substrate level is at the level of the platform plate and / or the level of the tank's upper edge. Since the gas extraction does not occur at the platform plate, no gas volume is required below the platform plate, allowing the substrate level to be higher up to the platform plate, allowing for better utilization of the fermenter volume due to the larger substrate volume. Furthermore, raising the substrate level in this way advantageously eliminates the critical collar protruding downwards from the service opening.
[0016] In a first specific embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the support itself or a component arranged in the region of the support, preferably indirectly or directly coupled to the support, has or forms the gas outlet opening into the gas storage in the region of the upper head part, preferably in such a way that the gas outlet is connected by means of at least one gas line of the gas extraction device, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage is guided in the direction of the bottom wall and can be extracted from the fermenter container.In a particularly simple, functionally integrated, and therefore particularly preferred embodiment, the support extending from the bottom wall can be tubular and form a gas line of the gas extraction device leading to the bottom wall. This gas line, either by itself or coupled to at least one other gas line of the gas extraction device, is routed from the region of the fermenter vessel on the bottom wall side, preferably below the bottom wall and / or within the bottom wall. In this embodiment, the gas outlet is then advantageously formed by an inlet opening formed on the upper head section of the support, requiring minimal component work.
[0017] Alternatively or in addition to such a gas line in a support tube, at least one gas line of the gas extraction device can be arranged laterally on the support, preferably connected to it. This gas line has an inlet opening forming the gas outlet and extends to the bottom wall, where it is led out of the region of the fermenter vessel, either by itself or coupled with at least one further gas line of the gas extraction device, on the bottom wall side, preferably below the bottom wall and / or in the bottom wall. Such configurations, even if they involve additional component expenditure, are technically quick and easy to implement and are therefore particularly suitable for retrofitting existing systems.
[0018] A protective hood is expediently positioned at a distance and, as seen in the vertical axis direction, above the respective inlet opening. This serves, in particular, to protect the inlet opening from being covered by a lowered gas storage foil of an unfilled or partially filled gas storage device and / or to ensure that the gas in the area below the spaced protective hood flows unhindered through the inlet opening into the associated gas line.
[0019] With a downward-directed gas discharge, the formation of condensate cannot be ruled out and may require flushing. Therefore, the gas extraction device can optionally have a cleaning and / or maintenance device in the area outside the fermenter tank, in particular for separating condensate and / or for flushing the at least one gas line of the gas extraction device, to which the gas extracted from the fermenter tank can be fed via the gas line leading from the fermenter tank. Specifically, for example, a condensate line can be attached to the bottom of the support tube, which drains condensate under the floor wall via a siphon into a collecting container. Slightly above the lower end of the support, dewatered biogas can also be fed in using a lateral connection to the support tube as a gas extraction opening and led out of the container area laterally.
[0020] Alternatively or in addition to the lower, floor-wall-side gas vent, an equally advantageous upper gas vent can also be provided, in which the gas storage foil has or forms the gas outlet opening into the gas storage, preferably in such a way that the gas outlet is connected to the gas vent device by means of at least one roof-side gas line, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage is guided in the direction of the roof outer skin film and can be withdrawn from the fermenter vessel, preferably in the region of the roof outer skin film. Particularly preferably, a roof-side gas line can be provided, which forms the gas outlet with a lower opening end, relative to the vertical axis direction, and is connected to the gas storage foil, preferably above the upper head part and / or in a gas-tight manner, as viewed in the vertical axis direction.Furthermore, it is then provided that the roof-side gas line has or forms a primary line section that extends at least partially upwards in the vertical axis direction toward the roof outer skin membrane, preferably extending to the highest point or dome tip of the roof outer skin membrane. Here, again, there are several options for ensuring effective gas extraction from the primary line section:
[0021] Thus, the primary line section can be connected, with an upper outlet end relative to the vertical axis, for conducting the biogas outside the fermenter tank, preferably in a gas-tight manner, to a roof opening in the roof outer skin foil, preferably in the area of the dome tip of the roof outer skin foil. To this opening, in turn, another gas line is connected as a secondary line section for conducting the biogas outside the fermenter tank. Alternatively, the primary line section can also penetrate the roof outer skin foil, preferably in a gas-tight manner, and continue with a secondary line section outside the fermenter tank.
[0022] Further alternatively, it can be provided that a further gas line is connected to the primary line section, preferably in the region of the dome tip, as a secondary line section, which is guided as an internal gas line, preferably along the inside of the gas outer skin film downwards towards the top edge of the container and out of the fermenter container, preferably up to the top edge of the container and there through the roof outer skin film out of the fermenter container.
[0023] The connection of the roof-side gas line to the gas storage foil shifts upwards and downwards depending on the gas storage's fill level. The connected roof-side gas line should be able to follow this gas-volume-dependent movement of the gas storage foil with as little force as possible and without restoring forces. For this reason, it can be provided that the roof-side gas line can move with the gas storage foil, preferably essentially without restoring forces. Preferably, the roof-side gas line is designed like a bellows and / or with support rings spaced longitudinally from the roof-side gas line.
[0024] Furthermore, an embodiment is also advantageous in which - alternatively or in addition to the possibilities described above - it is provided that the platform plate has a mounting wall that projects upwards in the vertical axis direction and extends in the region above the plane of the platform plate and above the upper edge of the container, wherein the mounting wall, preferably an upper edge region of the mounting wall that is upper in the vertical axis direction, forms at least part of the roof connection region, to which at least a partial region of the gas storage foil is connected, so that the mounting wall adjoins the gas storage. Furthermore, it is provided that the mounting wall has or forms the gas outlet opening into the gas storage, preferably in such a way that the gas outlet is connected by means of at least one gas line of the gas extraction device, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage can be extracted from the fermenter container.Even with such an embodiment, the advantages mentioned above are achieved, whereby the mounting wall can also be used in an advantageous dual function for the arrangement of further components.
[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the fermenter tank has an injection device which has at least one feed pump by means of which injection liquid can be sucked off, preferably from the substrate of the fermenter tank or from another fermenter tank of the biogas plant, wherein the injection device has at least one injection nozzle element which is fluidly connected to the at least one feed pump and by means of which the injection liquid sucked off by means of the at least one feed pump can be injected into the fermenter tank in such a way that, with respect to the vertical axis direction, it impacts the surface of a floating layer of the substrate from above as a liquid jet and wets it. This ensures that these floating layers can participate in the fermentation process even without being stirred into the substrate.Due to the jagged surface structure of the floating layer, the bacteria in the liquid jet also find a sufficient attack surface for an effective fermentation process with high biogas yield.
[0026] And in connection with such an injection device, it is now particularly advantageous if the injection nozzle element is also held on the mounting wall, preferably held and guided through it.
[0027] The above features and measures can be advantageously and expediently implemented in conjunction with a cylindrical fermenter tank, which is why it is preferably provided that the fermenter tank has a cylindrical circumferential side wall with a support forming a central support in the cylinder axis. However, other tank shapes are also possible in principle.
[0028] According to a second aspect of the invention, alternatively or in addition to the first aspect of the invention, the platform plate has an edge frame which projects downwards into the container interior and / or dips into the substrate during operation of the biogas plant and which runs around the edge at least on the area of the platform plate which projects into the container interior. This ensures in a particularly simple and reliable manner that gas tightness is still ensured even when the service opening is open and the substrate level is just below the level of the platform plate, with the substrate fill level in the fermenter container also still being set high. This advantageously utilizes the entire contents of the fermenter container up to the film roof connection for substrate filling and the associated biogas production, and ensures gas tightness when the service opening is open.In addition, such a frame also contributes to the advantageous stiffening and stabilization of a platform plate, which can then be constructed relatively thin. Accordingly, the edge frame is preferably designed as a rigid, inflexible frame, preferably made of metal. It can, for example, protrude only approximately 5 cm to 20 cm downwards from the platform plate.
[0029] In addition, the edge frame can expediently only run around the edge of the platform plate that protrudes into the container interior and then directly connect to the side wall, possibly also in a gas-tight manner. Alternatively, the edge frame could also be provided—at least in sections—in the area of the platform plate that adjoins the side wall, for example, to form a corresponding stop on the side wall.
[0030] The platform plate can advantageously be designed as a stable metal or stainless steel plate, for example relatively thin with a thickness of, for example, 3 to 5 cm.
[0031] Specifically, the covering device which closes the service opening in a gas-tight manner can be formed by at least one cover and / or by a mast housing which projects upwards away from the service opening and forms a receiving space for a mast upper part of the guide mast.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the platform plate is trapezoidal, preferably isosceles trapezoidal, with the longer trapezoidal base side being connected gas-tight to the top of the container side wall, and the platform plate being supported downwards toward the inside of the housing wall by means of at least one platform plate support. Furthermore, a method for operating a biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding features is claimed such that during biogas plant operation, but at least during the time a service opening is open, the fill level of the substrate in the fermenter tank is set so high that the platform plate, optionally with an edge frame, is at least partially immersed in the substrate at its edge.This advantageously utilizes the entire contents of the fermenter tank up to the foil roof connection for substrate filling and associated biogas production, and ensures gas tightness when the service opening is open.
[0033] Using a drawing, examples of biogas plant fermenter tanks according to the invention with a service facility are explained.
[0034] They show:
[0035] Fig. 1 shows an example of a section through a biogas plant fermenter tank with a service device and with a gas extraction point in the middle downwards through a tubular support,
[0036] Fig. 2 a section through a biogas plant fermenter tank with a service facility with a biogas extraction point in the middle upwards over a foil roof,
[0037] Fig. 3 the biogas plant fermenter tank according to Figure 2 with a more heavily filled gas storage,
[0038] Fig. 4 a top view of a platform plate of the service facility without
[0039] foil roof,
[0040] Fig. 5 a section along the line AA through an edge area of the
[0041] Platform plate according to Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment with a mounting wall of the platform plate extending in the area above the plane of the platform plate and above the upper edge of the container, on which the gas outlet leading into the gas storage device is formed.
[0042] Figure 1 shows, by way of example, a section through a biogas plant fermenter tank 1 with an exemplary service device 2. The tank interior 3 is formed by a bottom wall 4, a cylindrical peripheral side wall 5, and a foil roof 6 connected thereto in a gas-tight manner. During plant operation, the tank is filled with essentially liquid, fermentable substrate 7 up to the height of the side wall 5.
[0043] The service facility 2 has a service platform as a walkable, preferably flat platform plate 8, as shown in detail in Figure 4 with its lateral gas-tight connection to the side wall 5. Opposite this is a roof connection area 9 to which the foil roof 6 is connected in a gas-tight manner. In the area of the service facility 2, the otherwise dome-like foil roof is indented and, for the sake of clarity, is not shown in this area in Figure 1.
[0044] As is clearly evident from Figure 4, the platform plate 8 has a large rectangular service opening 10, which, as shown in Figure 1, can be closed gas-tight by means of a cover device 11. The cover device 11 here merely comprises, by way of example, a cover 12 and a portion of a mast housing 13 projecting upwards above the platform plate 8, which forms a receiving space for the upper section of a guide mast 14, which is pivotally mounted on the base wall 4 in a pivot bearing 15. A submersible mixer 17 is held in height on the guide mast 14, by way of example, by means of a cable winch 16. When the cover is open, the submersible mixer 17 can be lifted upwards over the platform plate 8 through the service opening 10 for maintenance and service work, as shown by way of example in Figure 2.
[0045] The platform plate 8 is designed here, for example, as a relatively thin metal or stainless steel plate with a thickness or material thickness of approximately 5 cm, for example, and has an approximately isosceles trapezoidal shape, with the longer trapezoidal base side being connected in a gas-tight manner to the top of the container side wall 5. Furthermore, the platform plate 8 is supported towards the inside of the housing by platform plate supports 18 (shown only schematically). As can be seen in particular from the sectional view according to Figure 5, the platform plate 8 has a frame 19 at its edge that projects downwards into the container interior and into the substrate. This frame is designed here as a rigid and inflexible frame.
[0046] The edge frame 19 is preferably connected to the underside of the platform plate.
[0047] In addition, the edge frame 19 here only extends around the edge of the platform plate 8 that protrudes into the container interior and adjoins the side wall 5 directly, possibly in a gas-tight manner. Alternatively, the edge frame 19 can also be provided—at least in sections—in the area of the platform plate 8 adjoining the side wall 5, for example, to form a corresponding stop on the side wall 5.
[0048] The foil roof 6 is designed as a supporting air roof with a roof outer skin foil 20, which blows air 22 with a predetermined supporting pressure into an air space 23 under the roof outer skin foil 20 by means of a supporting air blower 21, whereby the roof outer skin foil 20 is kept inflated in a dome-like roof shape.
[0049] Beneath the outer roof skin foil 20 and beneath the air space 23 lies a gas storage foil 24 arranged gas-tight at its edges, forming a variable-volume gas storage 25 above the substrate level 26, into which the generated biogas 27 flows. Depending on the filling level of the gas storage 25, the gas storage foil 24 expands more or less upwards toward the outer roof skin. For example, the gas storage foil is shown in dashed lines with reference numeral 24a in a lower area at a low gas filling level.
[0050] In the fermenter vessel 1, a stable support 28, here as a central support, is arranged centrally and vertically, which has an upper head part 29 projecting above the substrate level 26. A plurality of support belts 30 extend from the upper end of this head part 29 and are stretched radially above the substrate level toward the side wall 5, onto which the gas storage foil 24 rests when the gas storage 25 is filled with little or no gas, thus preventing it from immersing itself in the substrate 7.
[0051] The gas is extracted and removed from the gas storage 25 through a gas line of a gas extraction device, specifically in the center and viewed in the vertical axis direction from top to bottom, as an example, in such a way that the support 28 is used as a gas line and is designed with an inlet opening 31 as a gas outlet, which is covered from above by a spaced-apart protective hood 32 against a closure by a downwardly sagging gas storage film 24 and under which the biogas 27 can flow into the inlet opening 31 (arrows 33). From the upper inlet opening 31 of the support 28, the biogas 27 is guided downwards through this to the base wall 4 and from there, via a further gas line 34, for example, under the base wall 4 to outside the fermenter area for further use.Instead of the support 28 or in addition to it, a gas line could also run downwards along it, which could then be conveniently connected to the support 28.
[0052] With the gas line used here running from top to bottom (viewed in the vertical axis direction) through the area of the substrate 7, condensate formation cannot be ruled out, so a drainage device 35 is provided schematically and exemplarily outside the fermenter vessel 1 as a cleaning and / or maintenance device. Condensed water is collected in a collecting tank 36.
[0053] As can be seen from Figure 1, the fill level 39 with substrate 7 during plant operation corresponds to the side wall height, thus utilizing the full potential fill level of the fermenter vessel. The substrate level 26 is directly at the height of the platform plate 8, with the frame 19 slightly immersed in the substrate 7, but sufficiently so that no biogas escapes when the service opening 10 is open.
[0054] Figure 2 shows a biogas plant fermenter 1 that largely corresponds to the biogas plant fermenter tank shown in Figure 1, so that identical parts are designated by identical reference numerals. In particular, the basic structure and the service device 2 are identical. However, the embodiment shown in Figure 2 differs with regard to the gas extraction from the gas storage 25:
[0055] In contrast to Figure 1, the biogas gas is extracted from the center upwards, with a gas line 40 in the form of a bellows 41 with a variable length being used above the support area. The gas line 40 forms a primary line section, which here, for example, extends upwards in the vertical axis direction to the highest point or dome tip 44 of the roof outer skin film 20. Biogas 27 thus flows from below into the gas line 40, the lower outlet end 37 of which forms the gas outlet, while the upper outlet end of which is connected, for example, in a gas-tight manner to an opening in the roof outer skin film 20 and from there is passed on via a further gas line 42 as a secondary line section for further use.Alternatively, the gas line 40 and the gas line 42 can also be formed by a single gas line, which then penetrates the roof outer skin film 20 in the region of the dome tip 44 of the roof outer skin film 20, preferably in a gas-tight manner.
[0056] As an alternative to this, this further gas line 42, as shown only in dashed lines and extremely schematically in Figure 2, can also be connected to the gas line 40 forming the primary line section in the region of the dome tip 44 and can be led as an internal gas line along the inside of the gas outer skin film 20 downwards to the container upper edge 45 and there through the roof outer skin film 20 out of the fermenter container 1.
[0057] It is essential that the gas line 40 or the primary line section can be varied in its length without significant restoring forces, since the connection area 43 to the gas storage foil 24 changes in height depending on the filling level of the gas storage 25. To support this, additional, spaced-apart support rings 53 can be provided on the bellows 41.
[0058] The gas line 40 preferably has a relatively large diameter.
[0059] Figure 3 shows the biogas plant fermenter tank 1 from Figure 2 again, but with a significantly more filled gas reservoir 25, whereby the connection area 43 is located significantly higher and closer to the outer roof skin foil 20 compared to Figure 2. As a result, the gas line 40, in the form of a bellows 41, is clearly shortened and pushed together compared to the state shown in Figure 2.
[0060] Figure 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which the platform plate 8 has a mounting wall 46 which projects upwards in the vertical axis direction and extends in the area above the plane of the platform plate 8 and above the upper edge 45 of the container.
[0061] An upper edge region 47 of the mounting wall 46, which is in the vertical axis direction, forms part of the roof connection region 9, to which a partial region of the gas storage foil 24 is connected, so that the mounting wall 46 adjoins the gas storage 25.
[0062] The mounting wall 46 here forms the gas outlet 54 opening into the gas storage 25, preferably in such a way that the gas outlet 54 is connected by means of at least one gas line 55 of the gas extraction device, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage 25 can be extracted from the fermenter container 1.
[0063] Furthermore, an injection device 48 is provided, which has a feed pump 49, by means of which injection liquid can be sucked off, here for example from the substrate 7 of the fermenter container 1, as is shown here only schematically by the arrow 50.
[0064] The injection device 48 here further comprises an injection nozzle element 51 which is fluidly connected to the feed pump 49 and by means of which the injection liquid sucked off by means of the feed pump 49 can be injected into the fermenter container 1 in such a way that, with respect to the vertical axis direction, it strikes the surface of a floating layer 52 of the substrate 7 from above as a liquid jet and wets it.
[0065] As can be further seen from Figure 6, the injection nozzle element 51 is also mounted on the mounting wall 46, preferably mounted and guided through it. Overall, all of the preferred embodiments shown here in the description of the figures are characterized in that the gas outlet, viewed in the vertical axis direction, is always arranged above the plane of the pedestal plate 8 and / or above the plane of a container upper edge 45 defined by the side wall upper edge of the side wall 5, which has the effect of enabling functionally reliable gas removal, which is permanently not at risk of clogging even when the container is fully filled, i.e., a substrate level at the level of the pedestal plate 8 and / or the plane of the container upper edge 45.
[0066] List of reference symbols
[0067] 1 biogas plant fermenter tank 25 gas storage tanks
[0068] 2 Service facility 26 Substrate level
[0069] 3 Tank interior 27 Biogas
[0070] 4 floor wall 28 support
[0071] 5 Side wall 29 Headboard
[0072] 6 foil roof 30 support straps
[0073] 7 Substrate 31 Inlet opening
[0074] 8 Platform plate 32 Protective cover
[0075] 9 Roof connection area 33 arrow
[0076] 10 Service opening 34 Gas line
[0077] 11 Covering device 35 Drainage device
[0078] 12 lids 36 collection containers
[0079] 13 Mast housing 37 lower muzzle end
[0080] 14 Guide mast 38 Connection area
[0081] 15 Pivot bearing 39 Filling height
[0082] 16 cable winch 40 gas line
[0083] 17 Submersible mixer 41 Bellows
[0084] 18 Platform support 42 Gas pipe
[0085] 19 Frame 43 Connection area
[0086] 20 Roof outer skin foil 44 Dome tip
[0087] 21 Supporting fan 45 Container top edge
[0088] 22 Air 46 Mounting wall
[0089] 23 Airspace 47 Upper edge area
[0090] 24 Gas storage foil 48 Injection device
[0091] 49 Feed pump 53 Support rings
[0092] 50 Arrow 54 Gas outlet
[0093] 51 Injector element 55 Gas line
[0094] 52 Floating layer
Claims
Patent claims 1. A biogas plant fermenter tank, comprising a tank interior (3) formed by a bottom wall (4), a circumferential side wall (5), and a film roof (6) connected to the side wall (5) in a gas-tight, preferably gas-tight and detachable manner, and in which a substantially liquid, fermentable substrate is accommodated up to a predeterminable fill level, comprising a service device (2) comprising a service platform as a walkable, preferably flat and / or substantially horizontally oriented platform plate (8), which is connected in a gas-tight manner to the side wall (5), preferably to an upper region viewed in the vertical axis direction, and further comprising a roof connection region (9) to which the film roof (6) is connected in a gas-tight, preferably gas-tight and detachable manner, wherein the platform plate (8) has at least one service opening (10),which can be closed in a gas-tight manner by means of a covering device (11) and through which a diving device (17), in particular a submersible mixer and / or a feed pump of an injection device, which is height-adjustable on a guide mast (14), can be moved essentially gas-tight out of the container interior (3) and back into the container interior (3) for maintenance and service work, wherein the film roof (6) is designed as a supported air roof with a roof outer skin film (20) and a gas storage film (24) arranged gas-tight below the roof outer skin film (20) as a sub-roof film above the substrate level (26), viewed in the vertical axis direction, wherein the gas storage film (24) forms a volume-variable gas storage device in which generated biogas collects and is expandable towards the roof outer skin film (20) depending on the gas filling volume, with a gas extraction device, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage (25) is discharged via a gas outlet (31; 37;54) can be led away and / or removed from the container interior (3), with at least one vertical support (28) aligned in the vertical axis direction in the fermenter container (1), preferably at least one vertical central support arranged approximately centrally and / or centrally in the container interior (3), which, preferably starting from the bottom wall (4), projects above a maximum substrate level with an upper head part (29) relative to the vertical axis direction, wherein the upper head part (29), preferably the upper end of the upper head part (29) viewed in the vertical axis direction, is designed as a belt carrying and belt connecting part, from which a plurality of support belts (30) are stretched above the substrate level to the side wall regions, onto which the gas storage foil (24) rests when the gas storage is not or only slightly filled with gas, characterized in that the gas storage foil (24) is connected to the gas extraction device, preferably by means of at least one gas line (34;40) of the gas extraction device, is arranged, as seen in the vertical axis direction, above the plane of the platform plate (8) and / or above the plane of a container upper edge (54) defined by the side wall upper edge, and / or that the platform plate (8) has an edge-side frame (19) which projects downwards into the container interior (3) and / or dips into the substrate during operation of the biogas plant and which runs around the edge at least on the region of the platform plate (8) which projects into the container interior (3).
2. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (28) itself or a component arranged in the region of the support (28), preferably indirectly or directly coupled to the support (28), has or forms the gas outlet (31; 37; 54) opening into the gas storage (25) in the region of the upper head part, preferably in such a way that the gas outlet (31; 37; 54) by means of at least one gas line (34; 40; 55) of the Gas extraction device is connected, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage (25) is guided in the direction of the bottom wall (4) and can be extracted from the fermenter container (1).
3. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 2, characterized in that the support (28) extending from the bottom wall (4) is tubular and forms a gas line (34) of the gas extraction device leading to the bottom wall (4), which gas line is guided out of the region of the fermenter tank (1) on the bottom wall side, preferably below the bottom wall (4) and / or in the bottom wall (4), itself or coupled to at least one further gas line of the gas extraction device, that the gas outlet is formed by an inflow opening (31) formed on the upper head part of the support.
4. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one gas line of the gas extraction device is arranged laterally on the support (28), preferably connected thereto, which has an inflow opening forming the gas outlet and is led to the bottom wall, where it is led out of the region of the fermenter tank on the bottom wall side, preferably below the bottom wall and / or in the bottom wall, either by itself or coupled to at least one further gas line of the gas extraction device. 5 Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a protective hood (32) is arranged at a distance and, viewed in the vertical axis direction, above the inflow opening (31), in particular as protection against the inflow opening (31) being covered by a lowered gas storage film (24) of a gas storage which is not or only slightly filled and / or so that the gas in the area below the spaced-apart protective hood (32) flows unhindered via the inflow opening (31) into the associated gas line.
6. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas extraction device in the area outside the fermenter tank (1) a cleaning and / or maintenance device (35), in particular for separating condensate water and / or for flushing the at least one gas line of the gas extraction device, to which the gas extracted from the fermenter tank (1) can be fed by means of the gas line (34) leading from the fermenter tank (1).
7. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas storage film (24) has or forms the gas outlet opening into the gas storage (25), preferably in such a way that the gas outlet is connected by means of at least one roof-side gas line (40) of the gas extraction device, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage (25) is guided in the direction of the roof outer skin film (20) and, preferably in the region of the roof outer skin film (20), can be withdrawn from the fermenter tank (1).
8. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 7, characterized in that the roof-side gas line (40) forms the gas outlet with a lower mouth end (37) in relation to the vertical axis direction and is connected to the gas storage film (24), preferably above the upper head part (29) and / or in a gas-tight manner, as seen in the vertical axis direction, and in that the roof-side gas line (40) has or forms a primary line section which extends at least partially in the vertical axis direction upwards in the direction of the roof outer skin film (20), preferably extending to the highest point or to the dome tip (44) of the roof outer skin film (20).
9. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 8, characterized in that the primary line section is connected with an upper mouth end, relative to the vertical axis direction, preferably gas-tight, to a roof opening in the roof outer skin film (20), preferably in the region of the dome tip (44) of the roof outer skin film (20), to which in turn a further gas line (42) is connected as a secondary line section for a Forwarding of the biogas is connected outside the fermenter tank or that the primary line section penetrates the outer roof skin film (20), preferably gas-tight, and is continued with a secondary line section outside the fermenter tank (1).
10. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 8, characterized in that the primary line section, preferably in the region of the dome tip (44), is followed by a further gas line (42) as a secondary line section, which is guided as an internal gas line, preferably along the inside of the gas outer skin film (20) downwards towards the top edge of the tank and out of the fermenter tank, preferably up to the top edge of the tank and there through the roof outer skin film (20) out of the fermenter tank (1).
11. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the roof-side gas line (40) is movable with the gas storage film (24), preferably substantially without reset, wherein it is preferably provided that the roof-side gas line (40) is designed in the manner of a bellows and / or with supports (53) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the roof-side gas line (40).
12. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform plate (8) has a mounting wall (46) projecting upwards in the vertical axis direction and extending in the region above the plane of the platform plate (8) and above the container upper edge (45), that the mounting wall (46), preferably an upper edge region of the mounting wall (46) in the vertical axis direction, forms at least part of the roof connection region (9), to which at least a partial region of the gas storage film (24) is connected, so that the mounting wall (46) adjoins the gas storage (25), that the mounting wall (46) has or forms the gas outlet (54) opening into the gas storage (25), preferably in such a way that the gas outlet (54) is connected by means of at least one gas line (55) of the Gas extraction device is connected, by means of which the gas collected in the gas storage (25) can be extracted from the fermenter container (1).
13. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an injection device (48) is provided, that the injection device (48) has at least one feed pump (49) by means of which injection liquid can be sucked off, preferably from the substrate of the fermenter tank (1) or from another fermenter tank of the biogas plant, that the injection device (48) has at least one injection nozzle element (51) which is fluidly connected to the at least one feed pump (49), by means of which injection nozzle element the injection liquid sucked off by means of the at least one feed pump (49) can be injected into the fermenter tank (1) in such a way that, with respect to the vertical axis direction, it strikes the surface of a floating layer (52) of the substrate (7) from above as a liquid jet and wets it.
14. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to claim 12 and 13, characterized in that the injection nozzle element (51) is held on the mounting wall (46), preferably held and guided through it.
15. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fermenter tank (1) has a cylindrically circumferential side wall (5) with a support (28) forming a central support in the cylinder axis.
16. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge frame (19) only runs around the edge of the area of the platform plate (8) projecting into the tank interior (3) and is directly connected, preferably in a gas-tight manner, to the side wall (5).
17. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform plate (8) is formed by a metal plate, in particular by a stainless steel plate.
18. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge frame (19) of the platform plate (8) projecting downwards into the tank interior (3) is connected to the underside of the platform plate (8).
19. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge frame (19) is designed as a rigid frame, preferably made of metal and / or projects downwards from the platform plate by approximately 5 cm to 20 cm.
20. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover device (11) closing the service opening (10) in a gas-tight manner is formed by at least one cover (12) and / or by a mast housing (13) projecting upwards away from the service opening (12) and forming a receiving space for a mast upper part of the guide mast (14).
21. Biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform plate (8) is trapezoidal, preferably isosceles trapezoidal, and that the longer trapezoidal base side is connected gas-tight to the side wall (5) at the top and the platform plate (8) is supported downwards towards the tank interior (3) by means of at least one platform plate support (18).
22. Method for operating a biogas plant fermenter tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during biogas plant operation, but at least during the time of an open service opening (10), the filling level of the substrate in the fermenter tank (1) is set so high that the platform plate (8) is at least partially immersed in the substrate at the edge, optionally with an edge frame (19).