Fermentation system

Abstract

To provide a fermentation system which can be simplified and can easily cope with layout change and variation in production amount.SOLUTION: A fermentation system 1 for fermenting a raw material 2 comprises: a plurality of fermentation tanks 10 each having an opening 11 and a lid 12 for sealing the opening 11; and a fermentation shelf 30 for storing the plurality of fermentation tanks 10. The fermentation system is characterized in that: a raw material charging position P1 at which the raw material 2 is charged into the fermentation tank 10, a fermentation position P2 at which the fermentation shelf 10 is arranged and the raw material 2 is fermented in the fermentation tanks 30 stored on the fermentation shelf 10, and a post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 at which a post-fermentation raw material having been subjected to fermentation is discharged are arranged at different positions, respectively. The fermentation tanks 10 are movable among the raw material charging position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fermentation system for treating raw materials such as organic waste through fermentation, and more particularly to a fermentation system for recovering biogas such as methane gas by fermenting raw materials such as organic waste. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a batch-type fermenter for methane fermentation has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). The fermenter for methane fermentation described in Patent Document 1 is intended to share the equipment and reduce equipment costs by using one stirring device to pretreat the fermentation raw materials in multiple fermenters. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4354504 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Meanwhile, in batch-type fermentation plants, there is a demand for further improvements in the efficiency of biogas recovery and reductions in equipment costs, and there is a need for even greater efficiency than the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1. However, although the methane fermentation fermenter described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is a batch-type, it does not specifically disclose means for recovering the generated biogas (e.g., methane gas) or for maintaining the fermenter at an appropriate temperature.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fermentation system that can be simplified and can easily accommodate layout changes and fluctuations in production volume. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The fermentation system of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a fermentation system for fermenting raw materials, and comprises a plurality of fermentation tanks each having an opening and a lid for sealing the opening, and a fermentation shelf for accommodating the plurality of fermentation tanks, wherein a raw material input position for inputting the raw materials into the fermentation tanks, a fermentation position where the fermentation shelf is arranged and the raw materials are fermented in the fermentation tanks accommodated in the fermentation shelf, and a post-fermentation raw material discharge position for discharging the fermented raw materials after fermentation are all located at different positions, and the fermentation tanks are freely movable between the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position.

[0007] In the above-described fermentation system, the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position are located at different positions, and the multiple fermenters are movable between the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can perform fermentation processing individually in the multiple fermenters. As a result, even if an abnormality occurs in one of the fermenter tanks, the other fermenter tanks can still collect biogas (e.g., methane gas). For example, by replacing the abnormal fermenter tank with another functioning fermenter, a decrease in the operating efficiency of the fermentation system can be prevented. The above-described fermentation system can use organic waste with various moisture contents as raw materials, such as beef cow manure with a low moisture content (e.g., a moisture content of 90% or less) and dairy cow manure with a high moisture content (e.g., a moisture content of more than 90%). That is, the above-described fermentation system can be used in both so-called dry fermentation (raw material moisture content of 90% or less) and wet fermentation (raw material moisture content of more than 90%).

[0008] Furthermore, in the above-described fermentation system, the multiple fermenters can be freely moved between the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position, eliminating the need for piping between these positions. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can reduce piping installation costs and maintenance costs due to pipe clogging and other issues. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system can prevent the fermentation system from shutting down due to pipe clogging and other issues. This allows the above-described fermentation system to maintain system operation, thereby efficiently fermenting the raw materials and efficiently recovering biogas such as methane gas. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system can easily be expanded by simply adding more fermenters. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can be expanded without incurring additional costs even if the amount of raw material processed increases. Thus, the above-described fermentation system does not require the installation of large fermenters, thereby reducing costs and facilitating the expansion or contraction of the fermentation plant.

[0009] (2) The fermentation system of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the fermentation shelf includes a fermentation tank holding section that holds the plurality of fermentation tanks, the fermentation tank holding section is provided with a biogas recovery pipe that recovers biogas generated from the plurality of fermentation tanks, and the plurality of fermentation tanks are provided with connecting members for connecting the biogas recovery pipes.

[0010] In the above-described fermentation system, the multiple fermenters are equipped with connecting members that are connected to a biogas recovery pipe disposed in the fermenter holder, so that the biogas generated in each fermenter can be collected and discharged from the biogas recovery pipe. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can simplify the installation of the biogas recovery pipe for recovering biogas and reduce the cost of the piping.

[0011] (3) In the fermentation system of the present invention described above, the connecting member may be connected to the biogas recovery pipe in conjunction with the fermentation tank being placed in a predetermined position on the fermentation shelf.

[0012] By configuring the above-described fermentation system in this manner, the fermenter and the biogas recovery pipe on the fermentation shelf can be easily connected. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can be easily automated. Here, the connecting member can be configured, for example, by a connecting adapter provided on the fermentation shelf and a connected adapter provided on the fermenter. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system can be configured, for example, by providing a biasing means such as a hydraulic cylinder as a power source between the fermenter and the fermentation shelf, so that the weight of the fermenter presses down the hydraulic cylinder against hydraulic pressure, and the hydraulic pressure presses down the biogas recovery pipe to connect the biogas recovery pipe to the fermenter. By configuring the above-described fermentation system in this manner, the fermenter and the biogas recovery pipe can be easily connected using hydraulic pressure.

[0013] (4) The fermentation system of the present invention may be characterized in that the connecting member and the biogas recovery pipe are connected via water displacement.

[0014] With this configuration, the above-described fermentation system can easily connect the connecting member and the biogas recovery pipe simply by inserting the pipe of the connecting member into, for example, a water tank for water displacement, etc. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can simplify the piping routes of the pipes of the connecting member, the biogas recovery pipe, etc.

[0015] (5) The fermentation system of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the raw material introduced into the fermenter at the raw material introduction position is completely discharged at the post-fermentation raw material discharge position.

[0016] By configuring the above-described fermentation system in this manner, the number of pipes and pumps for transporting raw materials, post-fermentation raw materials, post-fermentation residue, etc. between the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position can be minimized, or no pipes or pumps need to be installed. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system can reduce maintenance costs due to pipe clogging, etc. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system can prevent the fermentation system from stopping due to pipe clogging, etc. As a result, the above-described fermentation system can maintain system operation, and therefore can efficiently perform fermentation processing of raw materials.

[0017] (6) In the above-described fermentation system of the present invention, the fermentation shelf may be characterized by having a heating section for heating the fermenter housed therein.

[0018] By configuring the above-described fermentation system in this manner, the fermenter housed in the fermentation shelf can be heated to a temperature suitable for fermentation (e.g., 35 to 40°C, more preferably 37°C). This allows the above-described fermentation system to efficiently ferment the raw materials and efficiently extract biogas (e.g., methane gas). Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system is preferably characterized by being able to heat the fermenter to a fermentation temperature suitable for each individual raw material.

[0019] (7) The fermentation system of the present invention may be characterized in that the fermenter holding section has a heat insulating section.

[0020] By configuring the above-mentioned fermentation system in this way, the fermentation shelf (fermentation tank holding section) can be prevented from being affected by the external environment (external temperature), and the fermentation shelf can be maintained at a temperature suitable for fermentation.

[0021] (8) The fermentation system of the present invention described above may be characterized in that it includes a solid-liquid separation position for filtering the fermented raw material discharged at the fermented raw material discharge position to separate the raw material into solid and liquid, and the digested liquid separated at the solid-liquid separation position is added to the raw material at the raw material input position.

[0022] By configuring the above-described fermentation system in this way, the digestion liquid (e.g., containing methane bacteria) separated from the solid-liquid in the solid-liquid separation position can be reused. This allows the above-described fermentation system to reduce raw material costs and also reduce raw material disposal costs and waste associated with processing. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system is expected to further contribute to reducing environmental impact.

[0023] (9) The fermentation system of the present invention described above may include a solid-liquid separation position for separating the fermented raw material discharged at the fermented raw material discharge position into solid and liquid by filtering, and a residue drying position for drying the fermented residue separated from the solid and liquid at the solid-liquid separation position, and may be characterized in that dried pellets are produced by drying the fermented residue at the residue drying position.

[0024] The above-described fermentation system, configured as described above, can dry and pelletize the post-fermentation residue obtained by solid-liquid separation at the solid-liquid separation position. The dried pellets can be used as compost, etc., reducing the cost of disposing of raw materials and the amount of waste generated by processing. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system is expected to further contribute to reducing the environmental impact.

[0025] (10) The fermentation system of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the moisture content of the raw material is 90% or less, and the raw material is fermented by dry fermentation.

[0026] The above-described fermentation system, by adopting such a configuration, can reduce the amount of water in the waste liquid separated by solid-liquid separation. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system does not require a large-scale water treatment device for waste liquid treatment, and therefore, reduction in equipment costs can be expected.

[0027] (11) In the fermentation system of the present invention described above, the fermentation shelf has a heating unit that heats the fermenter housed therein, and the biogas recovery pipe is connected to a heating furnace that heats components, and the heating furnace has a gas supply unit that supplies the biogas as fuel, a cooling water supply unit that circulates cooling water for cooling the heating furnace, and a recovered cooling water discharge unit that discharges the recovered cooling water after being used for cooling, and the heating unit has a heated water supply unit that supplies heated water for heating the fermentation shelf, and the biogas recovery pipe is directly or indirectly connected to the gas supply unit, and the recovered cooling water discharge unit is connected to the heated water supply unit, so that the recovered cooling water is supplied to the heating unit as the heated water.

[0028] In the above-described fermentation system, biogas (e.g., methane gas) generated in the fermenter is used as fuel for heating the heating furnace. In addition, in the above-described fermentation system, cooling water (hot water) used to cool the heating furnace is supplied as heated water to the heating section of the fermentation shelf. In addition, in the above-described fermentation system, the fermenter housed in the fermentation shelf is heated using the heated water supplied to the heating section of the fermentation shelf. In this way, in the above-described fermentation system, biogas is used as fuel for heating the heating furnace, and the cooling water of the heating furnace is used to heat the fermenter. Furthermore, after fermentation in the fermenter, the raw material is subjected to solid-liquid separation and reused as digested liquid and dried pellets. In this way, the above-described fermentation system can efficiently process organic waste, etc., and can provide a fermentation plant with a low environmental impact.

[0029] (12) In the fermentation system of the present invention described above, the raw material may be characterized in that it contains 250 to 300 parts by weight of cow dung with a moisture content of 40 to 70%, 65 to 150 parts by weight of digested liquid with a moisture content of 70 to 80% recovered by solid-liquid separation of the raw material after fermentation at the fermentation position, and 150 to 285 parts by weight of water, and is prepared so that the overall moisture content is 75 to 90% and the total weight is 590 to 610 parts by weight.

[0030] The above-described fermentation system, with its configuration, can efficiently process organic waste (cow manure) and efficiently recover biogas (methane gas). Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system can reduce the amount of water (wastewater) generated during processing by using dry fermentation with cow manure, which has a relatively low moisture content. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system does not require a large-scale water treatment device for wastewater treatment, which is expected to reduce equipment costs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to the present invention, a fermentation system can be provided that can be simplified and easily accommodate layout changes and fluctuations in production volume. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a fermentation system can be provided that can individually manage a variety of raw materials by individually managing fermenters. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a fermentation system can be provided that can set optimal raw material input positions, fermentation positions, and post-fermentation raw material discharge positions for each waste material, and can also set optimal conditions for each of these positions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall explanatory diagram showing an outline of a fermentation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an embodiment in which methane gas generated in a fermentation system according to an embodiment of the present invention is utilized in a heating furnace. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment in which a fermenter constituting a fermentation system of the present invention is connected to a biogas recovery pipe. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example in which the fermenter constituting the fermentation system of the present invention is connected to a biogas recovery pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] A fermentation system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing is a schematic representation for ease of understanding, and may differ from the actual shape, size, and arrangement of components.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic overall explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a fermentation system 1 of the present invention. The fermentation system 1 of the invention is intended to ferment raw material 2, which is organic waste such as cow manure. The raw material 2 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, for example, beef cow manure with a moisture content of 90% or less is used. In addition to cow manure, raw material 2 also contains digested fluid containing methane bacteria and water for adjusting the moisture content. The mixing ratio of raw material 2 will be described in detail below.

[0035] The fermentation system 1 includes a plurality of fermenters 10, fermentation shelves 30, and a transport device 40 for transporting the fermenters 10. In addition to the above, the fermentation system 1 also includes a mixing tank 3 for kneading the raw material 2, a filtration device 4 for performing solid-liquid separation of the fermented raw material, a dryer 5 for drying the post-fermentation residue, a dehumidifier 6, and a desulfurizer 7. In the fermentation system 1, the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 are each located at different positions. In addition to the above, the fermentation system 1 also includes a solid-liquid separation position P4 and a residue drying position P5.

[0036] First, an overview of each position and an overview of the fermentation system 1 will be described. At the raw material charging position P1, raw materials 2 supplied to the raw material storage area 60 are carried in by a conveying device 40. A mixing tank 3 is arranged at the raw material charging position P1. At the raw material charging position P1, raw materials 2 consisting of a plurality of compositions are charged into the mixing tank 3, and the charged raw materials 2 are mixed. The mixed raw materials 2 are then charged into the fermentation tank 10. The fermentation tank 10 into which the raw materials 2 have been charged at the raw material charging position P1 is transported by the conveying device 40 to the fermentation position P2.

[0037] The fermentation position P2 is equipped with a fermentation shelf 30 that houses the fermenter 10. The fermenter 10 is transported by a transport device 40 and housed on the fermentation shelf 30. At the fermentation position P2, the fermenter 10 is heated and the fermentation treatment of the raw material 2 is carried out. Also, at the fermentation position P2, the generated biogas is collected through a biogas recovery pipe 15. After the fermentation treatment is completed, the fermenter 10 is transported by the transport device 40 to a post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3. At the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3, the post-fermentation raw material that has been fermented in the fermenter 10 is discharged and transported to the filtration device 4. The discharged post-fermentation raw material is transported to a solid-liquid separation position P4.

[0038] A filtration device 4 is disposed at solid-liquid separation position P4, and the post-fermentation raw material is separated into solid and liquid by filtration in the filtration device 4. Of the post-fermentation raw material after solid-liquid separation, the digestion liquid (containing methane bacteria), which is the liquid component, has its concentration adjusted in a digestion liquid adjustment section 65 and is then supplied back to the mixing tank 3 at the raw material charging position P1. Furthermore, of the post-fermentation raw material after solid-liquid separation, the post-fermentation residue is transported to a residue drying position P5. A dryer 5 is disposed at the residue drying position P5, and the post-fermentation residue is dried by the dryer 5. At the residue drying position P5, the dried post-fermentation residue is pelletized to produce dried pellets 2A. The above is an overview of the overall processing of the fermentation system 1 of the present invention, and next, the configuration of the fermentation system 1 will be described in detail.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the mixing tank 3 is disposed at the raw material charging position P1. The mixing tank 3 (see FIG. 3) is open at the top, and the raw material 2 can be charged through the opening. The raw material 2 may be mixed, for example, with 250 to 300 parts by weight of cow manure (e.g., beef cattle manure) having a moisture content of 40 to 70%, 65 to 150 parts by weight of digested sap having a moisture content of 70 to 80% recovered by solid-liquid separation of the raw material 2 after fermentation at the fermentation position P2, and 150 to 285 parts by weight of water, resulting in an overall moisture content of 75 to 90% and 590 to 610 parts by weight. Furthermore, the raw material 2 preferably has a moisture content of 90% or less (more preferably, a moisture content of 80%). This allows the raw material 2 to be fermented by dry fermentation. The mixing tank 3 is provided with a stirring device (not shown) that can stir and knead the charged raw material 2. A discharge port (not shown) for discharging the mixed raw material 2 is provided below the mixing tank 3. The discharge port has a drain valve (not shown), and the raw material 2 can be discharged at any time by opening and closing the drain valve. A fermentation tank 10, which is transported by a transport device 40 (described later), can be positioned below the discharge port.

[0040] The fermenter 10 is formed as a rectangular box and has an opening 11 that is, for example, rectangular, on the upper side. The raw material 2 can be charged into the fermenter 10 through the opening 11 at a raw material charging position P1. The fermenter 10 also has a lid 12 (see FIG. 3) for sealing the opening 11. In this embodiment, a plurality of fermenters 10 are provided. The fermenter 10 can ferment the raw material 2 charged therein.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the lid 12 can be opened and closed freely. Lids 12 of various types can be used, for example, a type that can be opened and closed by a hinge, a detachable type, or a shutter type. The lid 12 can seal the opening 11 of the fermenter 10 with an appropriate sealing member (not shown). The lid 12 has a through-hole 13 formed therein for discharging biogas generated inside the fermenter 10. A biogas recovery pipe 15 is connected to the through-hole 13 via a connecting member 20, as will be described in detail later.

[0042] 1, a plurality of fermentation shelves 30 (three in this embodiment) are arranged at fermentation position P2. The fermentation shelves 30 are provided with, for example, 25 sets of fermenter holding sections 31 formed in three upper and lower stages (only one stage is shown in the figure). In other words, the fermentation shelves 30 are provided with 75 sets of fermenter holding sections 31.

[0043] The fermenter holding unit 31 is configured to hold and house the fermenter 10. A biogas recovery pipe 15 is disposed in the fermenter holding unit 31 to recover biogas generated from the multiple fermenter 10. The fermenter holding unit 31 (fermentation shelf 30) also includes a heating unit 35 (see FIG. 2) that heats the housed fermenter 10. The fermenter holding unit 31 also includes a heat insulating unit 33 that transfers heat from the heating unit 35 to the fermenter 10 and insulates against heat from outside other than the heating unit 35. Therefore, the fermenter holding unit 31 can heat the fermenter 10 to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 37°C) while keeping the fermenter 10 warm.

[0044] 2, in this embodiment, the heating section 35 is formed as a circulation flow path 35A that circulates hot water (heated water) for heating the fermentation shelf 30. The heating section 35 is equipped with a heated water supply section 36 that supplies heated water. In this embodiment, cooling water for the heating furnace 50, which will be described later, is used as the heated water. Note that the heating section 35 may be configured with an electric heater or the like instead of or together with the circulation flow path 35A, as necessary.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 , the transport device 40 can hold and transport the fermenter 10. The transport device 40 is configured to be freely movable and can move freely among a raw material input position P1, a fermentation position P2, a post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3, and a solid-liquid separation position P4. In this embodiment, a plurality of transport devices 40 are provided. Furthermore, the transport device 40 is equipped with an appropriate robot arm and can move the fermenter 10 vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the transport device 40 can transport the fermenter 10 from the raw material input position P1 to the fermentation position P2 and place it on the fermenter holding unit 31.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting member 20 constitutes an adapter that connects the through hole 13 and the biogas recovery pipe 15. In this embodiment, the connecting member 20 is formed as a bellows-shaped cushion rubber, and is attached to the tip of the biogas recovery pipe 15. The connecting member 20 can be pressed by a connecting mechanism 25, which will be described later. The connecting member 20 can be moved toward the through hole 13 of the lid 12 by being pressed.

[0047] The connection mechanism 25 includes a hydraulic cylinder 26 and hydraulic piping 27 that transmits the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 26. The hydraulic cylinder 26 is erected so as to protrude from the upper surface side of the fermentation shelf 30 (fermentation tank holding section 31). When the fermentation tank 10 is placed on the fermentation tank holding section 31, the hydraulic cylinder 26 is compressed by the weight of the fermentation tank 10.

[0048] The hydraulic piping 27 is connected to a spindle (not shown) provided on the upper side of the fermentation shelf 30, and can move the spindle up and down hydraulically. The spindle is connected to the biogas recovery piping 15, and can move the biogas recovery piping 15 up and down. Therefore, when the hydraulic cylinder 26 is compressed by the weight of the fermenter 10, hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the spindle through the hydraulic piping 27, and the biogas recovery piping 15 is pressed toward the through-hole 13 in the lid 12. This connects the through-hole 13 in the lid 12 and the biogas recovery piping 15 via the connecting member 20. In other words, the connecting member 20 is connected to the biogas recovery piping 15 in conjunction with the fermenter 10 being placed in a predetermined position (fermenter holding portion 31) on the fermentation shelf 30.

[0049] One end of the biogas recovery pipe 15 is connected to a plurality of fermenters 10, and is capable of recovering biogas (methane gas) generated in each of the fermenters 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the biogas recovery pipes 15 connected to the plurality of fermenters 10 are combined into a single pipe, and the other end of the combined pipe is connected to a dehumidifier 6. The biogas recovery pipe 15 is also connected to a desulfurizer 7 via the dehumidifier 6. The dehumidifier 6 removes moisture contained in the biogas to dry it. The desulfurizer 7 removes sulfur contained in the biogas.

[0050] The biogas recovery pipe 15 passes through the desulfurizer 7 and is stored in gas packs 8, 8. As will be described in detail later, the gas packs 8, 8 are connected to a gas supply unit 51 of a heating furnace 50 as shown in FIG.

[0051] The heating furnace 50 is, for example, a melting furnace for melting various metals and other materials. The heating furnace 50 is equipped with a gas supply unit 51 for supplying biogas (methane gas) as fuel for heating. The heating furnace 50 also includes a cooling water supply unit 52 for supplying cooling water for cooling, and a recovered cooling water discharge unit 55 for discharging the recovered cooling water after being used for cooling.

[0052] The gas supply unit 51 is connected to the gas supply pipe 8A in the gas packs 8, 8. In other words, the biogas recovery pipe 15 is indirectly connected to the gas supply unit 51. Therefore, the biogas discharged from the fermenter 10 is supplied to the gas supply unit 51 as fuel.

[0053] The cooling water supply unit 52 is connected to an appropriate chiller or the like (not shown) and can supply cooling water. The cooling water supply unit 52 is connected to the upstream side of the circulation flow path 53 and can supply cooling water to the circulation flow path 53. The downstream side of the circulation flow path 53 is connected to a recovered cooling water discharge unit 55. Therefore, the recovered cooling water after being supplied to the cooling water supply unit 52 is supplied to the circulation flow path 53, used to cool the heating furnace 50, and then discharged from the recovered cooling water discharge unit 55 as recovered cooling water.

[0054] A cooling water discharge pipe 56 is connected to the recovered cooling water discharge unit 55. The cooling water discharge pipe 56 is connected to the heated water supply unit 36 in the fermentation shelf 30. A liquid pump 57 is provided in the middle of the cooling water discharge pipe 56. Therefore, the recovered cooling water (heated water) after being used to cool the heating furnace 50 is supplied to the heated water supply unit 36. In this way, in the fermentation system 1 of the present invention, the recovered biogas is used as fuel for the heating furnace 50, and the recovered cooling water used to cool the heating furnace 50 is used as heated water to heat the fermentation in the fermenter 10. The heated water is circulated through the circulation flow path 35A in the fermentation shelf 30 and then discharged from the heated water discharge unit 58. Although not shown, the heated water discharged from the heated water discharge unit 58 is sent again to the chiller and cooled.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 1, a filtration device 4 is provided at solid-liquid separation position P4. The filtration device 4 is equipped with an appropriate filter (not shown) and is able to filter the post-fermentation material discharged from the fermenter 10 to separate it into solid and liquid. In this embodiment, the entire amount of the post-fermentation material in the fermenter 10 is removed (discharged) at post-fermentation material discharge position P3 and supplied to the filtration device 4 at solid-liquid separation position P4 by a transport device 40 or the like. Here, in the solid-liquid separation by the filtration device 4, the digestion liquid (containing methane bacteria) is separated as a liquid component, and the post-fermentation residue is separated as a solid component.

[0056] A digestive fluid delivery pipe 4A for delivering the digestive fluid is connected to the filtration device 4. The digestive fluid delivery pipe 4A is connected to the mixing tank 3 via a digestive fluid adjustment unit 65, and the digestive fluid whose concentration has been adjusted can be introduced (added) into the mixing tank 3. The digestive fluid delivery pipe 4A can be provided with a valve or a delivery pump as necessary.

[0057] The digested fluid adjusting unit 65 adjusts the concentration of the digested fluid by adding water or methane bacteria to the recovered digested fluid. The digested fluid whose concentration has been adjusted is fed into the mixing tank 3 via a digested fluid feed pipe 4A connected to the mixing tank 3.

[0058] The dryer 5 is disposed at a residue drying position P5. The dryer 5 can heat the post-fermentation residue after solid-liquid separation. The post-fermentation residue dried in the dryer 5 is pelletized to produce dried pellets 2A. The dried pellets 2A can be reused as compost or the like. In this way, the fermentation system 1 of the present invention can significantly reduce waste, thereby reducing the environmental load.

[0059] The dry pellets 2A are transported to a dry pellet storage area 61 by the transport device 40. In this embodiment, the dry pellets 2A transported to the dry pellet storage area 61 are shipped by an appropriate vehicle or the like.

[0060] The above is one embodiment of the fermentation system 1 of the present invention. Next, the effects achieved by the fermentation system 1 of the present invention will be described below.

[0061] The above-described fermentation system 1 has the following characteristic configurations (A) to (K). Therefore, the fermentation system 1 of the present invention can achieve the following unique effects that cannot be achieved by conventional techniques.

[0062] (A) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is a fermentation system 1 for fermenting raw materials 2, and is equipped with a plurality of fermentation tanks 10 each having an opening 11 and a lid 12 that seals the opening 11, and a fermentation shelf 30 that houses the plurality of fermentation tanks 10. The system is characterized in that a raw material input position P1 at which the raw materials 2 are input into the fermentation tanks 10, a fermentation position P2 at which the fermentation shelf 30 is arranged and the raw materials 2 are fermented in the fermentation tanks 10 housed in the fermentation shelf 30, and a post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 at which the fermentation raw materials are discharged after fermentation are all located at different positions, and the fermentation tanks 10 are freely movable between the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3.

[0063] In the above-described fermentation system 1, the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 are located at different positions, and the multiple fermenters 10 are movable between the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can individually perform fermentation treatment in the multiple fermenters 10. As a result, even if an abnormality occurs in one of the fermenters 10, the above-described fermentation system 1 can recover biogas (e.g., methane gas) using the other fermenters 10. For example, by replacing the abnormal fermenter 10 with another normal fermenter 10, a decrease in the operating efficiency of the fermentation system 1 can be prevented. Here, the above-described fermentation system 1 can use organic waste with various moisture contents as the raw material 2, such as beef cow manure with a low moisture content (e.g., a moisture content of 90% or less) or dairy cow manure with a high moisture content (e.g., a moisture content of more than 90%). That is, the above-described fermentation system 1 can be used in both so-called dry fermentation (raw material moisture content of 90% or less) and wet fermentation (raw material moisture content of more than 90%).

[0064] Furthermore, in the above-described fermentation system 1, the multiple fermenters 10 can freely move between the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3, respectively, eliminating the need for piping between the positions. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can reduce piping installation costs and maintenance costs due to pipe clogging and the like. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can prevent the fermentation system 1 from shutting down due to pipe clogging and the like. This allows the above-described fermentation system 1 to maintain system operation, thereby efficiently fermenting the raw material 2 and efficiently recovering biogas such as methane gas. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can easily be expanded by simply adding more fermenters 10. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can be expanded without incurring additional costs even if the processing volume of the raw material 2 increases. Thus, the above-described fermentation system 1 does not require the installation of large fermenters 10, thereby reducing costs and facilitating the expansion or contraction of the fermentation plant.

[0065] (B) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that the fermentation shelf 30 is provided with a fermentation tank holding section 31 that holds multiple fermentation tanks 10, the fermentation tank holding section 31 is provided with a biogas recovery pipe 15 that recovers biogas generated from the multiple fermentation tanks 10, and the multiple fermentation tanks 10 are provided with connecting members 20 for connecting the biogas recovery pipes 15.

[0066] In the above-described fermentation system 1, the multiple fermenters 10 are provided with connection members 20 that are connected to biogas recovery pipes 15 that are arranged in the fermenter holding unit 31, so that the biogas generated in each fermenter 10 can be collected and discharged through the biogas recovery pipes 15. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can simplify the installation of the biogas recovery pipes 15 for recovering biogas, and can reduce the cost associated with the piping.

[0067] (C) In the fermentation system 1 of this embodiment, the connecting member 20 is characterized in that it is connected to the biogas recovery pipe 15 in conjunction with the fermenter 10 being placed at a predetermined position on the fermentation shelf 30 .

[0068] By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 in this manner, the fermenter 10 and the biogas recovery pipe 15 on the fermentation shelf 30 can be easily connected. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can be easily automated. Here, the connection member 20 can be configured, for example, by a connection adapter provided on the fermentation shelf 30 and a connected adapter provided on the fermenter 10. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can be configured, for example, by providing a hydraulic cylinder 26 between the fermenter 10 and the fermentation shelf 30, so that the weight of the fermenter 10 presses down the hydraulic cylinder 26 against hydraulic pressure, and the hydraulic pressure presses down the biogas recovery pipe 15 to connect the biogas recovery pipe 15 to the fermenter 10. By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 in this manner, the fermenter 10 and the biogas recovery pipe 15 can be easily connected using hydraulic pressure.

[0069] (D) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that the raw material 2 introduced into the fermenter 10 at the raw material introduction position P1 is completely discharged at the raw material discharge position P3 after fermentation.

[0070] By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 in this manner, the number of pipes and pumps for transporting the raw material 2, the post-fermentation raw material, the post-fermentation residue, etc. between the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 can be minimized, or no pipes or pumps need to be installed. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can reduce maintenance costs due to pipe clogging, etc. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can prevent the fermentation system 1 from stopping due to pipe clogging, etc. As a result, the above-described fermentation system 1 can maintain system operation, and therefore can efficiently perform the fermentation treatment of the raw material 2.

[0071] (E) In the fermentation system 1 of this embodiment, the fermentation shelf 30 is characterized by having a heating section 35 that heats the fermenter 10 housed therein.

[0072] By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 as described above, the fermenter 10 housed in the fermentation shelf 30 can be heated to a temperature (e.g., 35 to 40°C, more preferably 37°C) suitable for fermenting the introduced raw materials 2. This allows the above-described fermentation system 1 to efficiently ferment the raw materials 2 and efficiently extract biogas (e.g., methane gas). Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 is preferably characterized by being able to heat the fermenter 10 to a fermentation temperature suitable for each individual raw material 2.

[0073] (F) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that the fermenter holding section 31 has a heat insulating section 33 .

[0074] By configuring the above-mentioned fermentation system 1 in this manner, the fermentation shelf 30 (fermentation tank holding section 31) can be prevented from being affected by the external environment (external temperature), and the fermentation shelf 30 can be maintained at a temperature suitable for fermentation.

[0075] (G) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized by including a solid-liquid separation position P4 that separates the fermented raw material discharged at the fermented raw material discharge position P3 into solid and liquid by filtering, and the digested liquid separated into solid and liquid at the solid-liquid separation position P4 is added to the raw material 2 at the raw material input position P1.

[0076] By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 in this manner, the digestion liquid (containing, for example, methane bacteria) separated from the solid-liquid at the solid-liquid separation position P4 can be reused. This allows the above-described fermentation system 1 to reduce raw material costs and also reduce the disposal costs of the raw material 2 and waste generated during processing. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 is expected to further contribute to reducing the environmental load.

[0077] (H) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized by comprising a solid-liquid separation position P4 which separates the post-fermentation raw material discharged at the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 into solid and liquid by filtering, and a residue drying position P5 which dries the post-fermentation residue separated into solid and liquid at the solid-liquid separation position P4, and by drying the post-fermentation residue at the residue drying position P5, dried pellets 2A are produced.

[0078] By configuring the above-described fermentation system 1 in this manner, the post-fermentation residue obtained by solid-liquid separation at solid-liquid separation position P4 can be dried and pelletized. Here, the dried pellets 2A can be used as compost or the like, which reduces the disposal cost of the raw material 2 and the waste generated by its treatment. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 is expected to further contribute to reducing the environmental load.

[0079] (I) The fermentation system 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that the moisture content of the raw material 2 is 90% or less, and the raw material 2 is fermented by dry fermentation.

[0080] The above-described fermentation system 1 can reduce the amount of water in the waste liquid separated by solid-liquid separation by this configuration. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 does not require a large-scale water treatment device for waste liquid treatment, and therefore, a reduction in facility costs can be expected.

[0081] (J) In the fermentation system 1 of this embodiment, the fermentation shelf 30 has a heating section 35 that heats the fermenter 10 housed therein, and the biogas recovery piping 15 is connected to a heating furnace 50 that heats the components, and the heating furnace 50 has a gas supply section 51 that supplies biogas as fuel, a cooling water supply section 52 that circulates cooling water for cooling the heating furnace 50, and a recovered cooling water discharge section 55 that discharges the recovered cooling water after being used for cooling, and the heating section 35 has a heated water supply section 36 that supplies heated water for heating the fermentation shelf 30, and the biogas recovery piping 15 is directly or indirectly connected to the gas supply section 51, and the recovered cooling water discharge section 55 is connected to the heated water supply section 36, so that the recovered cooling water is supplied to the heating section 35 as heated water.

[0082] In the above-described fermentation system 1, biogas (e.g., methane gas) generated in the fermenter 10 is used as fuel for heating the heating furnace 50. Furthermore, in the above-described fermentation system 1, cooling water (hot water) used to cool the heating furnace 50 is supplied as heated water to the heating section 35 of the fermentation shelf 30. Furthermore, in the above-described fermentation system 1, the fermenter 10 accommodated in the fermentation shelf 30 is heated using the heated water supplied to the heating section 35 of the fermentation shelf 30. Thus, in the above-described fermentation system 1, biogas is used as fuel for heating the heating furnace 50, and the cooling water for the heating furnace 50 is used to heat the fermenter 10. Furthermore, the post-fermentation raw material in the fermenter 10 is subjected to solid-liquid separation and reused as digested liquid and dried pellets 2A. Thus, the above-described fermentation system 1 can efficiently treat organic waste and the like, thereby providing a fermentation plant with a low environmental impact. Furthermore, the hot water for heating the fermentation shelf 30 can be supplied by recovering exhaust heat from the heating furnace 50. The hot water for heating the fermentation shelf 30 may be supplied from a source other than the heating furnace 50 that uses biogas.

[0083] (K) In the fermentation system 1 of this embodiment, the raw material 2 is characterized by containing 250 to 300 parts by weight of cow dung with a moisture content of 40 to 70%, 65 to 150 parts by weight of digested liquid with a moisture content of 70 to 80% recovered by solid-liquid separation of the raw material 2 after fermentation at the fermentation position P2, and 150 to 285 parts by weight of water, and is prepared so that the overall moisture content is 75 to 90% and the total weight is 590 to 610 parts by weight.

[0084] The above-described fermentation system 1, with such a configuration, can efficiently process organic waste (cow manure) and efficiently recover biogas (methane gas). Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can reduce the amount of water (wastewater) generated during the process by using dry fermentation with cow manure, which has a relatively low moisture content. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 does not require the installation of a large-scale water treatment device for wastewater treatment, and thus, a reduction in wastewater treatment costs can be expected. Furthermore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can also be expected to reduce equipment costs (e.g., initial costs, running costs, etc.).

[0085] Here, the moisture content range of the cow dung used as raw material 2 may be, for example, 30 to 70%, the moisture content range of the digested liquid added to raw material 2 may be, for example, 70 to 90%, and the moisture content range of the adjusted raw material 2 (slurry) may be, for example, in the range of 70 to 90%.

[0086] The above is the configuration and effects of the embodiment of the present invention, but the fermentation system 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and can be configured as the following modified examples.

[0087] <<Variations>> Next, a fermentation system 1 according to a modified example of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The fermentation system 1 according to the modified example is the same as the embodiment described above except for the different connection form of the connection mechanism 25. Therefore, only the configuration of the different parts will be described and a description of the similar parts will be omitted. Also, please note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts and similar configurations.

[0088] In the connection mechanism 250, a connection pipe serving as the connection member 200 is connected to one end of the biogas recovery pipe 15. The connection member 200 can be detachably connected to the biogas recovery pipe 15 via a detachable adapter (not shown). The connection member 200 is preferably configured so that it can be automatically attached and detached (for example, by means of a plunger) as the fermenter 10 is placed in the fermenter holder 31. The tip side of the connection member 200 is immersed in the water in the water tank 210.

[0089] The water tank 210 includes a connecting member immersion section 211 in which the connecting member 200 is immersed, and an above-water replacement section 212 in which the collected biogas is replaced by above-water replacement. The water tank 210 is filled with a predetermined amount of water. The connecting member immersion section 211 and the above-water replacement section 212 have open underwater portions to allow water to flow between them. The above-water replacement section 212 is provided with a biogas discharge section 213 above the above-water portion for discharging the biogas that has been replaced by above-water replacement. The tip side of the connecting member 200 is immersed in water from the connecting member immersion section 211 to the above-water replacement section 212. Therefore, the biogas supplied from the connecting member 200 is discharged to the above-water replacement section 212 while being replaced by above-water replacement, and then discharged from the biogas discharge section 213. In other words, because the fermentation system 1 is connected by the above-water replacement section 212, it is possible to prevent oxygen and the like from flowing back into the fermenter 10. This allows efficient anaerobic fermentation to be carried out in the fermenter 10. If necessary, the atmosphere inside the fermenter 10 may be replaced with an inert gas or the like.

[0090] The biogas discharge section 213 is connected to a biogas recovery pipe 15. The biogas recovery pipe 15 is connected to the gas pack 8 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

[0091] The above is the configuration of the fermentation system 1 according to the modified example of the present invention. The fermentation system 1 according to the modified example has the following characteristic configuration (L). Therefore, the fermentation system 1 of the present invention can achieve the following unique effects that cannot be achieved by conventional techniques.

[0092] (L) The fermentation system 1 of this modified example is characterized in that the connection member 200 and the biogas recovery pipe 15 are connected via water displacement.

[0093] With this configuration, the above-described fermentation system 1 can easily connect the connection member 200 and the biogas recovery pipe 15 simply by inserting the piping in the connection member 200 into, for example, a water tank for water displacement. Therefore, the above-described fermentation system 1 can simplify the piping paths of the piping in the connection member 200, the biogas recovery pipe 15, etc.

[0094] The above are modified examples of the fermentation system 1 according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the examples given in the above-mentioned embodiments and modified examples, and various modifications can be made.

[0095] For example, the number of fermenters 10 provided may not be limited to multiple fermenters, but may be a single fermenter. Furthermore, various numbers of fermenters 10 can be provided depending on the scale of the plant, not just the number described in the embodiment. Various shapes and sizes of fermenters 10 can be used. In this embodiment, 25 sets of fermenter holders 31 are provided on the fermentation shelf 30, each arranged in three upper and lower stages. However, various numbers, sizes, and shapes of fermenter holders 31 can be used depending on the fermenters 10. In this embodiment, the raw material input position P1, the fermentation position P2, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 are located at different positions, but these positions may overlap at least partially. In other words, the fermentation system 1 of the present invention can adopt various position arrangements as long as it can use a combination of multiple fermenters 10. Furthermore, each fermenter 10 may be individually managed (e.g., slurry moisture content, temperature, fermentation days, etc.).

[0096] Furthermore, as a modified example of this embodiment, the following configuration can also be adopted. For example, the raw material charging position P1 may be characterized by including a mixing and adjusting section that mixes and adjusts the raw materials 2 after receiving the raw materials and the digested liquid obtained by filtration, and a heating section 35 (temperature control section 35) that heats the mixing and adjusting section during mixing and adjusting in the mixing and adjusting section. In this way, the above-described fermentation system 1 can more efficiently raise the temperature of the raw materials 2 to a predetermined temperature by heating the raw materials during mixing before heating in the fermentation shelf 30. Furthermore, water for moisture adjustment may be added to the raw material charging position P1 during mixing and adjusting in the mixing and adjusting section. In this way, the above-described fermentation system 1 can adjust the moisture content of each fermenter 10 in accordance with the raw materials 2 to be charged by providing each independent fermenter 10. Furthermore, the above-described mixing and adjusting section may be provided with a heating section 35. This allows the water and digested liquid to be heated. Furthermore, the above-described mixing and adjusting section may be provided with a heating section 35 to adjust the temperature during mixing and adjusting of the raw materials 2. In this way, the fermentation system 1 described above can produce a uniform slurry by the above-described mixing adjustment unit, so that stirring during fermentation at the fermentation position P2 can be omitted.

[0097] Here, when raw material is adjusted at raw material charging position P1, the ratio of solids (methane bacteria) in the digestion liquid to the organic matter (solids) in the fermentation raw material is adjusted to a predetermined ratio. For example, raw material (solids) / digestion liquid (solids) is 8.7 or less, and for example, 8.4 is preferable for cow dung and 0.5 is preferable for food waste. Here, the above-mentioned raw material 2 (solids) is the weight of raw material 2 heated at 110°C for 12 hours and water removed, and the digestion liquid (solids) is the weight of raw material 2 heated at 110°C for 12 hours and water removed.

[0098] In this embodiment, the connecting member 20 is formed from bellows-shaped cushion rubber, but various types of connecting members can be used for the connecting member 20. In this embodiment, the connecting member 20 is connected to the biogas recovery piping 15 in conjunction with the placement of the fermenter 10 in a predetermined position on the fermentation shelf 30, but the connection with the placement of the fermenter 10 can be made as needed, and it can also be made not to be linked with the placement of the fermenter 10. In addition, the connection between the biogas recovery piping 15 and the fermenter 10 can be made in various connection modes, not just those involving water displacement or those using a hydraulic cylinder 26.

[0099] In this embodiment, the biogas in the fermenter 10 is replaced by water displacement, but the biogas in the fermenter 10 can be replaced by various means (for example, an inert gas).

[0100] In this embodiment, the raw material 2 introduced into the fermenter 10 at the raw material introduction position P1 is discharged in its entirety at the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3, but the fermentation system 1 of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the post-fermentation raw material discharged at the post-fermentation raw material discharge position P3 may be a portion of the entire raw material, or may be discharged in stages, partially or entirely.

[0101] In this embodiment, the fermentation shelf 30 has a heating section 35, but the fermentation shelf 30 need not be directly heated; for example, the fermentation shelf 30 may be placed in a temperature-controlled room and the temperature-controlled room itself may be heated. Also, in this embodiment, the fermenter holding section 31 has a heat insulating section 33, but the heat insulating section 33 may be provided as needed, and a configuration without the heat insulating section 33 is also possible.

[0102] In this embodiment, the digested liquid separated from the solid-liquid mixture at the solid-liquid separation position P4 is reused, but the digested liquid may be reused as needed, or may not be reused. Furthermore, the post-fermentation residue may be made into dried pellets 2A or used as compost as needed, or the post-fermentation residue may be disposed of.

[0103] In the present embodiment, the biogas recovery pipe 15 in the fermentation system 1 is indirectly connected to the heating furnace 50. However, the fermentation system 1 of the present invention is not limited to being connected to the heating furnace 50, and can be connected to various devices that utilize biogas. The fermentation system 1 may not only be connected to various devices such as the heating furnace 50, but also simply store biogas. The recovered biogas is not limited to methane gas, and various other gases can be used as needed. The biogas recovery pipe 15 may not only be connected indirectly to a device, but may also be connected directly to a device. In the present embodiment, the cooling water supplied to the heating furnace 50 is used as heated water to heat the fermenter 10. However, the heat source in the heating unit 35 is not limited to being one that reuses the cooling water, and may be a separate electric heater or other means for heating.

[0104] In this embodiment, the mixing ratio (composition ratio) of the raw material 2 is exemplified, but the mixing ratio of the raw material 2 is not limited to this, and various mixing ratios can be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example in which processing is performed by dry fermentation is exemplified, but the fermentation system 1 of the present invention can also be used for wet fermentation. Furthermore, the raw material 2 is not limited to beef cattle manure, but can also be dairy cattle manure, other animal manure, and various organic wastes. Furthermore, various moisture contents can be used for the raw material 2.

[0105] The above are various embodiments and modifications of the fermentation system according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the examples in the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, and it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the claims based on the teachings and spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0106] The fermentation system of the present invention can be suitably used to ferment raw materials such as organic waste, such as cow dung, to obtain biogas, such as methane gas. The fermentation system of the present invention can also use the generated methane gas as a heat source for a metal heating furnace. In addition to the above, the fermentation system of the present invention can also extract and use electric power as an energy source for a generator. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1: Fermentation system 2: Raw materials 2A: Dry pellets 3: Mixing tank 4:Filtration device 4A: Digestive fluid delivery tube 5: Dryer 6:Dehumidifier 7: Desulfurizer 8: Gas pack 8A: Gas supply pipe 10: Fermentation tank 11: Opening 12: Lid 13:Through hole 15: Biogas recovery piping 20: Connection member 25: Connection mechanism 26: Hydraulic cylinder 27: Hydraulic piping 30: Fermentation shelf 31: Fermentation tank holding section 33: Insulation section 35:Heating section (temperature control section) 35A: Circulation flow path 36:Heating water supply section 40:Transportation device 50:Heating furnace 51: Gas supply unit 52: Cooling water supply section 53: Circulation flow path 55: Recovered cooling water discharge section 56: Cooling water discharge piping 57: Liquid transfer pump 58: Warming water discharge section 60: Raw material storage area 61: Dry pellet storage area 65: Digestive fluid adjustment section 200: Connection member 210: Aquarium 211: Connection member immersion part 212: Above water displacement part 213: Biogas discharge section 250: Connection mechanism P1: Raw material input position P2: Fermentation position P3: Post-fermentation raw material discharge position P4: Solid-liquid separation position P5: Residue drying position

Claims

1. 1. A fermentation system for fermenting a feedstock, comprising: a plurality of fermenters each having an opening and a lid sealing the opening; a fermentation shelf that accommodates the plurality of fermenters; Equipped with a raw material input position for inputting the raw material into the fermenter; a fermentation position where the fermentation shelf is arranged and where the raw material is fermented in the fermenter housed in the fermentation shelf; a post-fermentation raw material discharge position for discharging the post-fermentation raw material after fermentation; are located in different positions, A fermentation system characterized in that the fermenter is freely movable among the raw material input position, the fermentation position, and the post-fermentation raw material discharge position.

2. The fermentation shelf includes a fermentation tank holder that holds the plurality of fermentation tanks, the fermenter holding unit is provided with a biogas recovery pipe for recovering biogas generated from the plurality of fermenters, The fermentation system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fermenters are provided with connecting members for connecting the biogas recovery pipes.

3. The fermentation system according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is connected to the biogas recovery pipe in conjunction with the fermenter being placed at a predetermined position on the fermentation shelf.

4. 3. The fermentation system according to claim 1, wherein the raw material introduced into the fermenter at the raw material introduction position is entirely discharged at the post-fermentation raw material discharge position.

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