Hydrolysis treatment device

Abstract

To provide a hydrolysis treatment device for separating an organic matter from a foreign matter, without damaging a device and a stirring blade.SOLUTION: A hydrolysis treatment device for hydrolyzing an organic matter under a high temperature and high pressure condition that an organic matter is mixed with water includes a container storing the organic matter, and a driving part for rotating the container around a rotation shaft, wherein the extension direction of the rotation shaft is a direction crossing a gravity direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrolysis treatment apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Raw materials containing organic matter, such as food waste, cannot be completely separated into organic matter and foreign matter, and prior to wet methane fermentation, foreign matter such as plastics, metals, glass fragments, and ceramics must be manually separated again. For this reason, recent hydrolysis treatment devices are equipped with a rotating separating basket structure that can automatically separate raw materials into organic matter and foreign matter (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-099891 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the prior art, there was a possibility that foreign matter would get into the gap between the basket and the stirring blade, causing a malfunction of the stirring blade or damage to the wire mesh of the basket.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a hydrolysis treatment apparatus that separates organic matter from foreign matter without damaging the apparatus or the stirring blades. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hydrolysis treatment apparatus according to the present invention employs the following configuration. (1): A hydrolysis treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a hydrolysis treatment apparatus that hydrolyzes a mixture of organic matter and water under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and includes a container that contains the organic matter and a drive unit that rotates the container around a rotation axis, the extension direction of the rotation axis being a direction that intersects with the direction of gravity.

[0007] (2) In the above aspect (1), at least a part of the container is provided with a passage through which a fluid passes.

[0008] (3) In the above embodiment (1) or (2), the container has an internal stirring blade for stirring the contents contained therein.

[0009] (4) In the above aspect (3), the internal stirring blade is provided inclined toward the rotation direction with respect to the direction from the attachment point in the container toward the rotation shaft.

[0010] (5) In the above aspect (2), the container is provided with an external stirring blade on the outside for stirring the contents that have passed through the passage.

[0011] (6): In the above embodiment (1) or (2), the container is detachable from the hydrolysis treatment device.

[0012] (7): In the above embodiment (1), at least a portion of the container is disposed apart from the inner wall of an outer container located outside the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first aspect, the container rotates around the rotation axis, which allows the separation of organic matter from foreign matter without damaging the device or the agitator blades. For example, organic matter mixed with inorganic matter can be agitated without damaging the inner wall of the hydrolysis device. According to the aspect (2), by separating the solubilized organic matter from the unsolubilized matter, only the solubilized organic matter can be extracted, and the hydrolysis of the unsolubilized matter can be continued, thereby increasing the efficiency of the hydrolysis treatment. According to the embodiment (3), the organic matter in the vessel is stirred by the internal stirring blade, and the organic matter moves back and forth between the aqueous phase and the gas phase, thereby accelerating the reaction of the hydrolysis treatment. According to the aspect (4), the container is tilted in the direction of rotation from the mounting point toward the rotation axis, thereby stirring the contents so that they move toward the outside of the container, and the low molecular weight fluid in the contents passes through the passage, allowing the fluid to be separated. According to the fifth aspect, by stirring organic matter of a size that can pass through the passage section, further hydrolysis of the organic matter can be promoted, and the organic matter can be broken down into smaller molecules. According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to reduce the possibility that inorganic substances too large to pass through the passage will remain in the container and damage the inner wall of the hydrolysis treatment device. According to the sixth aspect, the container is detachable from the hydrolysis treatment device, so that the solid matter remaining in the container can be easily removed. According to the aspect (7), the container is positioned away from the inner wall of the outer container, so that a space is created between the container and the inner wall of the outer container, and the hydrolyzed organic matter can continue to be stirred in the space even after passing through the passage section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a hydrolysis treatment apparatus 1. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of a container 10. [Figure 2B] 10 is a diagram showing another example of a cross section of an outer container 60 and a container 10. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of state changes depending on the treatment temperature of the hydrolysis treatment of the contained contents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the hydrolysis treatment device of the present invention will be described. The hydrolysis treatment device of the embodiment enables the recovery of biogas (fuel gas) from organic waste, such as food residues, livestock manure, plastics, fibers, and wood chips, by decomposing the organic waste through processes such as fermentation and anaerobic digestion. In this embodiment, it is assumed that methane is mainly recovered as biogas, but gases other than methane obtained by decomposition may also be collected as biogas. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that waste containing organic matter (organic waste) is treated, but the target of treatment does not necessarily have to be waste, and may be organic matter such as biomass generated as a raw material for recovering biogas.

[0016] The hydrolysis treatment device of the embodiment is used in one step of a series of organic matter decomposition processes, which involves hydrolysis followed by methane fermentation. Specifically, organic waste treatment begins by subjecting the organic waste to subcritical water treatment in the hydrolysis treatment device to rapidly decompose the waste into smaller molecules. The treated material hydrolyzed by subcritical water treatment is called a treated organic material. The organic waste treatment further involves methane fermentation of the treated organic material in a high-temperature fermenter or a mesophilic fermenter to produce methane gas.

[0017] When organic matter is fed into a hydrolysis treatment device and treated with subcritical water, the organic waste is broken down into smaller molecules. This subcritical water treatment also promotes the solubilization of some of the organic waste. For example, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids contained in the organic matter are broken down into smaller molecules through hydrolysis, and are broken down into monosaccharides, amino acids, and higher fatty acids.

[0018] The organic waste containing decomposed acetic acid, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide is transferred to a fermenter. Fermenters are classified as high-temperature fermenters or low-temperature fermenters. In the high-temperature fermenter, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are converted into methane gas by the action of hydrogen-utilizing methanogens. For example, in the high-temperature fermenter, monosaccharides and amino acids are decomposed into low-molecular-weight fatty acids, valeric acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid by the action of acid-producing bacteria. These are then decomposed into acetic acid by the action of volatile organic acid-degrading bacteria. In the low-temperature fermenter, acetic acid is converted into methane gas by the action of acetic acid-utilizing methanogens. Organic waste treatment does not necessarily have to follow the flow described above, but the hydrolysis treatment device in the following explanation will be described assuming that the above treatment is performed.

[0019] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a hydrolysis treatment apparatus 1. The hydrolysis treatment apparatus 1 includes, for example, a vessel 10, a rotating shaft 20, a drive unit 30, an internal stirring blade 40, and an external stirring blade 50. The parts that perform various controls are realized, for example, by a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software).

[0020] The container 10 contains organic matter. At least a portion of the container 10 is provided with a passage 11 through which a fluid passes. The passage 11 is, for example, a mesh-like hole formed on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical container 10. Furthermore, an outer container 60 is provided on the outside of the container 10. For example, the outer container 60 is cylindrical like the container 10. This is preferable because the clearance between the outer container 60 and the container 10 is constant and minimized regardless of location. The organic matter contained in the container 10 is hydrolyzed to become small molecules, finely crushed, or solubilized, and flows through the passage 11 toward the outer container 60 (in the -Z-axis direction). The mesh size of the passage 11 is preferably designed to match the objects to be separated. Furthermore, the container 10 may be equipped with a magnetic material to separate metals.

[0021] The container 10 is detachable from the hydrolysis treatment apparatus 1. The detachable container 10 facilitates maintenance of the hydrolysis treatment apparatus 1. Furthermore, at least a portion of the container 10 is disposed spaced apart from the inner wall of the outer container 60. Disposing the container 10 spaced apart from the inner wall of the outer container 60 creates a space through which organic matter crushed or solubilized finer than the mesh size can flow.

[0022] The drive unit 30 is provided outside the outer container 60. The drive unit 30 rotates the container 10 around the rotation axis 20. Arrow A in FIG. 1 indicates the rotation direction of the container 10. The rotation axis 20 extends in a direction intersecting the direction of gravity (dashed arrow B). Here, the rotation axis extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity, but may be tilted within a range of up to about 30 degrees. In the former case, the -Z axis direction in FIG. 1 is the direction of gravity. For example, the container 10 and the central member 21 are connected near the end face in the X direction in the figure and are supported so as to rotate together. The drive unit 30 rotates them together.

[0023] The internal agitator 40 is provided in the container 10 and agitates the contents contained within the container 10. FIG. 2A shows an example of a cross section of the container 10. The internal agitator 40 is installed at an angle from the attachment point D toward the rotation direction (arrow A) with respect to the direction toward the center of the rotation shaft (dashed arrow C). In this case, the internal agitator 40 agitates the contents so that they move toward the lower side of the container 10, so that low-molecular-weight fluid from the contents passes through the passage 11 and moves to the lower part (in the −Z-axis direction) of the space between the inner wall of the outer container 60 and the container 10. The drive unit 30 may also rotate the container 10 in the reverse direction, in which case the contents will move toward the center of the container 10. The hydrolysis treatment device 1 can accelerate the hydrolysis reaction by agitating the organic matter using rotational motion and gravity-induced falling motion.

[0024] The external agitating blades 50 agitate the organic treatment material that has passed through the passage 11 and accumulated in the outer container 60. In the hydrolysis treatment device 1, high-temperature water accumulates below the center of the container 10, and steam accumulates above the center of the container 10. The external agitating blades 50 can agitate the high-temperature water and steam by alternately moving them back and forth, thereby promoting the decomposition reaction of fine organic treatment material contained in the fluid between the container 10 and the outer container 60. Specifically, the promotion of the decomposition reaction means that moisture enters the gaps between the organic treatment material, and the organic treatment material containing moisture is vaporized, resulting in decomposition.

[0025] The outer container 60 may have a shape as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing another example of the cross sections of the outer container 60 and the container 10. An outlet EX is provided at a predetermined position (for example, at or near the center) on the bottom of the outer container 60 on the negative Z direction side. A bottom R is provided in the positive X direction from the outlet EX, and a bottom L is provided in the negative X direction from the outlet EX. The bottom R and the bottom L are tapered so that the contents at the bottom fall into the outlet EX. Furthermore, the shape of the container 10 may be tapered like the shape of the outer container 60. By tapering the container 10 and the outer container 60 in this way, the contents fall into the bottom R or bottom L of the outer container 60 and then into the outlet EX, making it easier to remove the contents.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an example of changes in the state of the stored material depending on the treatment temperature of the hydrolysis treatment. The vertical axis in FIG. 3 indicates changes in the state of the stored material treated in the hydrolysis treatment device 1. The state changes, for example, from solid to liquefied to carbonized. Food waste, which is part of the stored material, may be carbonized if the treatment temperature is too high. The horizontal axis in FIG. 3 indicates the treatment temperature of the hydrolysis treatment device 1. The temperature increases as the horizontal axis moves further to the right. Dashed line E indicates the optimum temperature for the hydrolysis treatment device 1 of this embodiment. Food waste is organic and therefore liquefied at the treatment temperature indicated by dashed line E. If food waste is hydrolyzed at a treatment temperature above dashed line E, it may be carbonized, and carbonization will make subsequent methane fermentation impossible. Therefore, it is desirable to control the treatment temperature of the hydrolysis treatment device 1 to dashed line E.

[0027] Plastics are liquefied when hydrolysis is performed at a temperature higher than the dashed line E, but hydrolysis at a high temperature carbonizes food waste. After the food waste is liquefied and passes through the passage 11, it is removed from the outer container 60 and subjected to another hydrolysis treatment at a high temperature, which decomposes plastics. With the hydrolysis treatment device 1 of this embodiment, the liquefied food waste can be separated, so it does not carbonize even when hydrolysis is performed at a high temperature.

[0028] The hydrolysis treatment device 1 stores organic matter in a container 10 and performs hydrolysis, ultimately leaving unsolubilized matter that cannot pass through the passage 11 in the container 10. Because the container 10 is detachable, it is possible to remove the container 10 and remove the unsolubilized matter from the hydrolysis treatment device 1. Examples of unsolubilized matter include inorganic matter such as metal and glass. Conventionally, inorganic matter contained in organic matter has been removed manually, but the hydrolysis treatment device 1 of the embodiment can automatically separate the inorganic matter from the organic matter.

[0029] The hydrolysis treatment device 1 can be configured to input organic matter multiple times, repeatedly perform hydrolysis, and then collectively recover the inorganic matter remaining in the container 10. Furthermore, the hydrolysis treatment device 1 that performs treatment multiple times can first perform hydrolysis at a low temperature at which the organic matter does not carbonize, and then perform hydrolysis at a higher temperature at which plastics and other materials become soluble, thereby decomposing a larger amount of organic matter and collectively recovering the inorganic matter by attaching and detaching the container 10 once. The hydrolysis treatment device 1 separates as much organic matter adhering to the inorganic matter to be separated as possible, thereby hydrolyzing a larger amount of organic matter necessary for methane fermentation while minimizing loss due to carbonization.

[0030] The hydrolysis treatment device 1 performs hydrolysis while separating materials to be separated from materials other than the materials to be separated into the inside and outside of the container 10, thereby preventing materials other than the materials to be separated from damaging the inner wall of the outer container 60. Furthermore, since the container 10 of the hydrolysis treatment device 1 is detachable, even if the container 10 is worn down by solid matter such as inorganic matter, it can be replaced with a new container 10. Therefore, the life of the hydrolysis treatment device 1 is longer than that of conventional devices, and the frequency of maintenance can be reduced.

[0031] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Hydrolysis treatment equipment 10 containers 11 Passage section 20 Rotation axis 21 Central member 30 Drive unit 40 Internal stirring blade 50 External stirring blade 60 Outer container

Claims

1. A hydrolysis treatment apparatus for hydrolyzing a mixture of organic matter and water under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, comprising: A container for containing the organic matter; a drive unit that rotates the container around a rotation axis, The extension direction of the rotation axis is a direction intersecting the direction of gravity. Hydrolysis treatment equipment.

2. At least a portion of the container is provided with a passage through which a fluid passes. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 1.

3. The container is provided with an internal stirring blade that stirs the contents contained therein. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The internal stirring blade is provided so as to be inclined toward the rotation direction with respect to a direction from an attachment point on the container toward the rotation shaft. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 3.

5. The container is provided with an external stirring blade on the outside that stirs the contents that have passed through the passage. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 2.

6. The container is detachable from the hydrolysis treatment device. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. At least a portion of the container is spaced apart from an inner wall of an outer container that is outside the container. The hydrolysis treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

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