Concentration system and concentration method

Abstract

A concentration system for concentrating a substance to be concentrated includes: a separation device for separating a first substance to be concentrated which has a tendency to float and a second substance to be concentrated which has a tendency to sediment from the substance to be concentrated; a first concentration device for concentrating the first substance to be concentrated in a way corresponding to the first substance to be concentrated; and a second concentration device for concentrating the second substance to be concentrated in a way corresponding to the second substance to be concentrated.

Description

Concentration system and concentration method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a concentration system and method.

[0002] For example, algae (hereinafter also referred to as "concentrated material") may be used for biomass fuel, food, etc. Specifically, such algae are cultured in a culture solution, and then recovered from the culture solution by various processes such as concentration (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] JP 2023-135069 A JP 2016-214151 A

[0004] Here, in a system for concentrating algae as described above (hereinafter also referred to as a concentration system), it is desired to reduce the energy required for concentrating the algae, for example.

[0005] The concentration system in the present disclosure is a concentration system for concentrating a substance to be concentrated, and includes a separation device that separates a first substance to be concentrated that tends to float and a second substance to be concentrated that tends to sink from the substance to be concentrated, a first concentration device that concentrates the first substance to be concentrated in a manner corresponding to the first substance to be concentrated, and a second concentration device that concentrates the second substance to be concentrated in a manner corresponding to the second substance to be concentrated.

[0006] The concentration system and concentration method disclosed herein make it possible to reduce the energy required to concentrate algae.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a concentration system 100 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a concentration method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration example of a concentration system 200 according to a second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the function of a control device 10. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the control device 10. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating supply destination control according to the second embodiment.

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, such descriptions should not be interpreted in a limiting sense, and do not limit the subject matter described in the claims. Furthermore, various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, different embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

[0009] [Concentration system 100 according to the first embodiment] First, a configuration example of the concentration system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the concentration system 100 according to the first embodiment. Note that the positions and numbers of pumps and lines (pipes) in the following example are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0010] 1 , the concentration system 100 includes, for example, a storage tank 1, a separation device 2, a concentration device 3 (hereinafter also referred to as the first concentration device 3), a concentration device 4 (hereinafter also referred to as the second concentration device 4), and a concentration device 5 (hereinafter also referred to as the third concentration device 5). The concentration system 100 also includes, for example, a pump P1, a pump P2, a pump P3, a pump P4, a pump P5, and a pump P6. Note that, hereinafter, the pumps P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 will be collectively referred to simply as pumps P or supply devices P.

[0011] The storage tank 1 is a tank that stores a culture solution W (hereinafter also referred to as water to be treated W) containing algae A cultured by a culture device (not shown), for example.

[0012] The pump P1 is disposed, for example, on a line L1 that connects the storage tank 1 and the separation device 2. The pump P1 supplies the culture solution W from the storage tank 1 to the separation device 2 in an amount and at time intervals designated, for example, by an administrator of the concentration system 100 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the administrator).

[0013] The separation device 2 separates the culture solution W containing the algae A that tend to settle from the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2, for example, by settling the algae A that tend to settle out of the algae A contained in the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1 via the line L1. Hereinafter, the algae A that tend to settle out will also be referred to as the second algae Ab.

[0014] That is, the separation device 2 in this embodiment separates the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2 into a culture solution W containing algae A that tends to settle and a culture solution W containing algae A that does not tend to settle (algae A that tends to float), for example, by separating the culture solution W containing algae A that tends to settle from the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2. Hereinafter, the algae A that tends to float will also be referred to as the first algae Aa or the first concentrated material Aa. Hereinafter, the algae A that tends to settle will also be referred to as the second algae Ab or the second concentrated material Ab. Hereinafter, the culture solution W containing the first algae Aa will also be simply referred to as the first algae Aa. Hereinafter, the culture solution W containing the second algae Ab will also be simply referred to as the second algae Ab.

[0015] The second algae Ab discharged from the separation device 2 (the second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2) is supplied to the concentration device 4, for example, via a line L3 connecting the separation device 2 and the concentration device 4. The culture solution W discharged from the separation device 2 (the culture solution W after separation of the second algae Ab in the separation device 2) is supplied to the concentration device 3, for example, via a line L2 connecting the separation device 2 and the concentration device 3.

[0016] The separation device 2 may be, for example, a device having a settling tank (not shown) into which the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1 by the pump P1 flows, and a plurality of inclined settling plates (not shown) arranged in the settling tank at an angle with respect to the inflow direction of the culture solution W in the separation device 2. In this case, the algae A contained in the culture solution W may, for example, settle on the inclined surfaces of the inclined settling plates as the culture solution W rises along the inclined surfaces of the inclined settling plates, and then slide down the inclined surfaces of the inclined settling plates to be deposited at the bottom of the settling tank. Furthermore, the algae A (second algae Ab) deposited at the bottom of the settling tank may, for example, be extracted from the bottom of the settling tank by an extraction device (not shown) and supplied to the line L3.

[0017] Furthermore, each of the multiple inclined settling plates may be disposed in the settling tank in a state inclined with respect to the outflow direction of the culture solution W in the separation device 2. The multiple inclined settling plates may, for example, move the culture solution W down along a slope, thereby concentrating the algae A contained in the culture solution W (the algae A contained in the culture solution W after passing through the multiple inclined settling plates) near the surface of the culture solution W, making the algae A (second algae Ab) easily recoverable.

[0018] The pump P2 is disposed, for example, on the line L2, and supplies the culture solution W (the culture solution W after separation of the second algae Ab in the separation device 2) from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 3 in an amount and at time intervals specified, for example, by an administrator.

[0019] The concentrating device 3, for example, concentrates the first algae Aa supplied from the separating device 2 via the line L2.

[0020] Specifically, the concentration device 3 has, for example, a filter membrane (not shown) that filters the culture solution W to separate the algae A contained in the culture solution W. The concentration device 3 then concentrates the first algae Aa by filtering the first algae Aa supplied from the separation device 2 using, for example, the filter membrane.

[0021] The filtration membrane of the concentrator 3 may be, for example, a ceramic or polymer microfiltration membrane (MF membrane). The filtration membrane of the concentrator 3 may be pre-coated to prevent clogging.

[0022] The first algae Aa discharged from the concentrating device 3 (the first algae Aa after concentration in the concentrating device 3) is supplied to the concentrating device 5, for example, via a line L4 connecting the concentrating devices 3 and 5. The culture solution W discharged from the concentrating device 3 (the culture solution W after separation of the first algae Aa in the concentrating device 3) is supplied to downstream equipment (not shown) of the concentrating device 3, for example, via a line L8 connecting the concentrating device 3 and downstream equipment of the concentrating device 3.

[0023] The culture solution W discharged from the concentrator 3 may be supplied (returned) to the line L1 (for example, to a position on the line L1 upstream of the pump P1) via the line L8, for example.

[0024] Furthermore, the first algae Aa may be supplied from the concentrator 3 to the concentrator 5, for example, at the timing when the filtration membrane of the concentrator 3 is backwashed.

[0025] The concentrating device 3 may also be composed of a plurality of devices arranged in series. Specifically, the concentrating device 3 may be composed of a plurality of devices including, for example, a concentrating device 3a (e.g., a cross media filter) that concentrates the first algae Aa supplied from the separating device 2, and a concentrating device 3b (e.g., a ceramic filter) that concentrates the first algae Aa contained in the culture solution W supplied from the concentrating device 3a (the culture solution W after separation of the first algae Aa in the concentrating device 3a).

[0026] The pump P3 is disposed, for example, on the line L3, and supplies the second algae Ab from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4 in an amount and at time intervals specified, for example, by an administrator.

[0027] The concentrating device 4, for example, concentrates the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 via line L3. Specifically, the concentrating device 4 may be, for example, a device (for example, a filter press) that concentrates the second algae Ab by pressurizing it.

[0028] The second algae Ab discharged from the concentrator 4 (the second algae Ab after concentration in the concentrator 4) is supplied to the concentrator 5, for example, via a line L5 connecting the concentrators 4 and 5. The culture solution W discharged from the concentrator 4 (the culture solution W after separation of the second algae Ab in the concentrator 4) is supplied to the line L1, for example, via a line L6 connecting the concentrator 4 and the line L1 (for example, a position on the line L1 upstream of the pump P1).

[0029] In addition, when the concentrating device 3 is composed of multiple devices including the concentrating device 3a and the concentrating device 3b, the concentrating device 4 may, for example, in addition to further concentrating the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2, also further concentrate the first algae Aa after it has been concentrated by the concentrating device 3a.

[0030] The pump P4 is disposed, for example, on the line L4, and supplies the first algae Aa (the first algae Aa after concentration in the concentrator 3) from the concentrator 3 to the concentrator 5 in an amount and at time intervals specified, for example, by an administrator.

[0031] The pump P5 is disposed, for example, on the line L5, and supplies the second algae Ab (the second algae Ab after concentration in the concentrator 4) from the concentrator 4 to the concentrator 5 in an amount and at time intervals specified, for example, by an administrator.

[0032] The concentrating device 5, for example, concentrates at least one of the first algae Aa supplied from the concentrating device 3 via line L4 and the second algae Ab supplied from the concentrating device 4 via line L5. Specifically, the concentrating device 5 may be, for example, a separation device (for example, a centrifugal separator or a filter cloth dehydrator) that separates the liquid (culture solution W) from the first algae Aa or the second algae Ab.

[0033] The algae A discharged from the concentrator 5 (the algae A after concentration in the concentrator 5) is supplied to downstream equipment of the concentrator 5, for example, via a line L10 that connects the concentrator 5 to the downstream equipment (not shown). The culture solution W discharged from the concentrator 5 (the culture solution W after separation of the algae A in the concentrator 5) is supplied to another downstream equipment of the concentrator 5, for example, via a line L9 that connects the concentrator 5 to the other downstream equipment of the concentrator 5 (not shown).

[0034] The culture solution W discharged from the concentrator 5 may be supplied (returned) to line L1 (e.g., a position on line L1 upstream of pump P1) via line L9. Hereinafter, lines L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L8, L9, and L10 will also be collectively referred to simply as lines L.

[0035] That is, in the concentration system 100 of this embodiment, for example, the first algae Aa and the second algae Ab are separated in the separation device 2, and then the separated first algae Aa and the second algae Ab are concentrated using a method (device) suitable for each of them.

[0036] As a result, the concentration system 100 in this embodiment can, for example, efficiently concentrate the algae A contained in the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1.

[0037] Specifically, the concentration system 100 of the present embodiment can increase the concentration efficiency of each of the first algae Aa and the second algae Ab, for example, by concentrating the first algae Aa in the concentrator 3 and concentrating the second algae Ab in the concentrator 4. Therefore, the concentration system 100 of the present embodiment can reduce, for example, the amount of culture solution W containing algae A that needs to be concentrated in the concentrator 5 (the sum of the amount of culture solution W containing the first algae Aa supplied from the concentrator 3 and the amount of culture solution W containing the second algae Ab supplied from the concentrator 4). Therefore, the concentration system 100 can reduce, for example, the operating rate (operating time) of the concentrator 5, and can reduce the energy required to recover the algae A from the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1.

[0038] Furthermore, the concentration system 100 of this embodiment can, for example, reduce the amount of algae A that needs to be concentrated in the concentration device 3, thereby reducing the processing load on the concentration device 3. Therefore, the concentration system 100 can, for example, reduce the size of the concentration device 3, and reduce the cost required to recover algae A from the culture solution W.

[0039] In the above example, the first algae Aa is concentrated in the concentrating device 3, but this is not limiting. Specifically, for example, if the second algae Ab that was not separated in the separating device 2 is also supplied to the concentrating device 3, the concentrating device 3 may also concentrate the second algae Ab that was not separated in the separating device 2.

[0040] [Concentration Method in First Embodiment] Next, the concentration method in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2, which is a flow chart illustrating the concentration method in the first embodiment.

[0041] 2, the separation device 2 separates, for example, the algae A contained in the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1 into a first algae Aa and a second algae Ab (step S1). Then, for example, the pump P2 supplies the first algae Aa from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 3. Furthermore, for example, the pump P3 supplies the second algae Ab from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4.

[0042] Next, the concentrating device 3, for example, concentrates the first algae Aa supplied from the separation device 2 (step S2). Then, the pump P4, for example, supplies the first algae Aa (the first algae Aa after concentration in the concentrating device 3) from the concentrating device 3 to the concentrating device 5.

[0043] The concentrating device 4, for example, concentrates the second algae Ab supplied from the separating device 2 (step S3). The pump P5 then supplies the second algae Ab (the second algae Ab after concentration in the concentrating device 4) from the concentrating device 4 to the concentrating device 5, for example.

[0044] Thereafter, the concentrating device 5 concentrates, for example, at least one of the first algae Aa supplied from the concentrating device 3 and the second algae Ab supplied from the concentrating device 4 (step S4).

[0045] In the concentration method shown in Figure 2, when the culture solution W stored in the storage tank 1 is continuously supplied to the separation device 2, each step from step S1 to step S4 may be performed, for example, in parallel and continuously.

[0046] Thus, the concentration system 100 in this embodiment includes, for example, a separation device 2 that separates the first algae Aa, which tends to float, and the second algae Ab, which tends to sink, from the algae A; a concentration device 3 that performs concentration on the first algae Aa corresponding to the first algae Aa; and a concentration device 4 that performs concentration on the second algae Ab corresponding to the second algae Ab.

[0047] In addition, the concentration system 100 in this embodiment has, for example, a concentration device 5 that further concentrates at least one of the first algae Aa concentrated by the concentration device 3 and the second algae Ab concentrated by the concentration device 4.

[0048] That is, the concentration system 100 in this embodiment performs concentration using a method (apparatus) suitable for each of the first algae Aa and the second algae Ab, for example.

[0049] As a result, the concentration system 100 in this embodiment can reduce the energy and costs required to recover the algae A from the culture solution W, for example.

[0050] In the above example, the concentrator 3 has a filter membrane, and the concentrator 5 concentrates the second algae Ab by pressurizing. However, this is not limiting. Specifically, the concentrator 3 may concentrate the first algae Aa by pressurizing, for example.

[0051] In the above example, the algae A contained in the culture solution W is concentrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the concentration system 100 may be one that concentrates sludge supplied to a final settling tank (not shown) in a sewage treatment plant, for example.

[0052] More specifically, in this case, the concentration system 100 may, for example, separate sludge that has settled to the bottom of the final settling tank and been collected by a collector (not shown) from sludge contained in the water to be treated (such as sewage) supplied to the final settling tank as settling-prone sludge. Furthermore, the concentration system 100 may, for example, separate sludge that has flowed into a filtration cassette (not shown), a filtration device installed near the water surface of the final settling tank, as floating-prone sludge. That is, in this case, the concentration system 100 may, for example, cause a collector or a filtration cassette installed in the final settling tank to function as the separation device 2. The concentration system 100 may, for example, supply the separated floating-prone sludge to the concentration device 3 for concentration, and supply the separated settling-prone sludge to the concentration device 4 for concentration. Thereafter, the concentration system 100 may, for example, supply the floating-tendency sludge concentrated by the concentration device 3 and the settling-tendency sludge concentrated by the concentration device 4 to the concentration device 5 for further concentration.

[0053] [Concentration system 200 according to a second embodiment] Next, a configuration example of the concentration system 200 according to the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the concentration system 200 according to the second embodiment. Note that the positions and numbers of pumps and lines (pipes) in the following example are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 3, the concentration system 200 includes, for example, a control device 10, a measuring device M, and a pump P7 in addition to the components of the concentration system 100 described in FIG.

[0055] The pump P7 is disposed, for example, on a line L7 that connects the separation device 2 and the concentration device 5. The pump P7 supplies the second algae Ab from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 5, for example, in an amount and at time intervals specified by an administrator. In the following description, the pump P7 is assumed to be included in the pump P. In the following description, the line L7 is assumed to be included in the line L.

[0056] That is, the concentration system 200 in this embodiment differs from the concentration system 100 in that the second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 is supplied to at least one of the concentration devices 4 and 5 .

[0057] The measurement device M includes, for example, a flow meter that measures the supply amount (e.g., supply amount per unit time) of the culture solution W supplied from the storage tank 1 to the separation device 2. The measurement device M also includes, for example, a flow meter that measures the supply amount (e.g., supply amount per unit time) of the first algae Aa supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 3. The measurement device M also includes, for example, a flow meter that measures the supply amount (e.g., supply amount per unit time) of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to at least one of the concentration devices 4 and 5. Hereinafter, the supply amount of the culture solution W from the storage tank 1 to the separation device 2 will also be referred to as the first supply amount, the supply amount of the first algae Aa from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 3 will also be referred to as the second supply amount, and the supply amount of the second algae Ab from the separation device 2 to at least one of the concentration devices 4 and 5 will also be referred to as the third supply amount.

[0058] The control device 10 is, for example, a computer device that performs a process of controlling the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 (hereinafter also referred to as supply destination control).

[0059] Specifically, the control device 10 determines the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2, for example, based on the measurement results of the measurement device M, in other words, the separation state of the first algae Aa and the second algae Ab in the separation device 2. The control device 10 then supplies the second algae Ab to the determined supply destination by, for example, controlling the increase or decrease of the frequency of an inverter (not shown) attached to the motor (not shown) of each pump P, or by controlling the opening or closing of a valve (not shown) provided in each line L. The configuration of the control device 10 will be described below.

[0060] [Control device 10 in second embodiment] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the functions of the control device 10. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the control device 10.

[0061] First, the function of the control device 10 will be described.

[0062] As shown in Figure 4, the control device 10 changes the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2, for example, by performing supply destination control such as adjusting the frequency of the inverters attached to the motors (not shown) of pumps P3, P5, P6 and P7, and adjusting the opening degree of valves (not shown) provided on lines L3, L5, L6 and L7.

[0063] Specifically, for example, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is less than a predetermined threshold value (hereinafter also referred to as the first threshold value), the control device 10 controls the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4.

[0064] More specifically, in this case, the control device 10 performs at least one of the following: control to increase the frequency of the inverters attached to the motors of pumps P3, P5, and P6; and control to increase the aperture of the valves attached to lines L3, L5, and L6 (e.g., control to fully open the valves). Also, in this case, the control device 10 performs at least one of the following: control to decrease the frequency of the inverter attached to the motor of pump P7; and control to decrease the aperture of the valve attached to line L7 (e.g., control to fully close the valves).

[0065] In addition, for example, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, the control device 10 controls the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 5.

[0066] More specifically, in this case, the control device 10 performs at least one of the following: a control to reduce the frequency of the inverters attached to the motors of pumps P3, P5, and P6; and a control to reduce the aperture of the valves attached to lines L3, L5, and L6 (e.g., control to fully close the valves). In addition, in this case, the control device 10 performs at least one of the following: a control to increase the frequency of the inverter attached to the motor of pump P7; and a control to increase the aperture of the valve attached to line L7 (e.g., control to fully open the valves).

[0067] That is, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is less than the first threshold, it means, for example, that the amount of second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 is large and it is possible to determine that the second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 needs to be concentrated in the concentrating device 4 before being supplied to the concentrating device 5. In other words, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is less than the first threshold, it means, for example, that it is possible to reduce the energy required to recover algae A from the culture solution W by concentrating the second algae Ab in both the concentrating device 4 and the concentrating device 5. Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 supplies, for example, the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentrating device 4.

[0068] On the other hand, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold, it means, for example, that the amount of second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 is small and it is possible to directly supply the second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 to the concentrating device 5. In other words, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold, it means, for example, that it is possible to reduce the energy required to recover the algae A from the culture solution W by not concentrating the second algae Ab in the concentrating device 4. Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 directly supplies the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentrating device 5.

[0069] This allows the control device 10 to reduce the energy required to recover the algae A from the culture solution W, for example, regardless of the separation state of the second algae Ab in the separation device 2.

[0070] In addition, the control device 10 may, for example, control the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4 when the third supply amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (hereinafter also referred to as the second threshold), and may control the supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 5 when the third supply amount is less than the second threshold.

[0071] Furthermore, the measurement device M may be, for example, a turbidity meter that measures the turbidity (hereinafter also referred to as the first turbidity) of the first algae Aa supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 3. The control device 10 may, for example, perform control so that the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 is the concentration device 4 when the first turbidity is less than a predetermined threshold value (hereinafter also referred to as the third threshold value), and perform control so that the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 is the concentration device 5 when the first turbidity is equal to or greater than the third threshold value.

[0072] Furthermore, the concentration system 200 may further include another measuring device (not shown) provided on the line L3, for example. Specifically, the other measuring device provided on the line L3 may be, for example, a turbidity meter that measures the turbidity of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4. Furthermore, for example, when the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 is the concentration device 4, the control device 10 may change the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 5 if it determines that the turbidity measured by the other measuring device provided on the line L3 is less than a predetermined threshold.

[0073] Furthermore, the concentration system 200 may further include another measuring device (not shown), for example, provided on line L7. Specifically, the other measuring device provided on line L7 may be, for example, a turbidity meter that measures the turbidity of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 5. Furthermore, for example, when the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 is the concentration device 5, the control device 10 may change the destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4 if it determines that the turbidity measured by the other measuring device provided on line L7 is equal to or greater than another predetermined threshold value.

[0074] The concentration system 200 may also include a light irradiation device (not shown) that irradiates light onto the culture solution W (e.g., the culture solution W stored in the storage tank 1) supplied to the separation device 2. Specifically, the light irradiation device may be, for example, a fluorescent lamp or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that irradiates light onto the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2. The light irradiation device may also be, for example, a device that adjusts the amount of sunlight irradiated onto the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2. The control device 10 may, for example, control the light irradiation device so that light is irradiated onto the culture solution W supplied to the separation device 2, thereby pre-suspending phototactic algae A among the algae A contained in the culture solution W and reducing the amount of second algae Ab separated in the separation device 2 (the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 to the concentration device 4).

[0075] Next, the hardware configuration of the control device 10 will be described.

[0076] 5, the control device 10 is, for example, an electronic device having an electronic circuit. Specifically, the control device 10 is, for example, a computer device having a CPU 101 which is a processor, a memory 102, a communication device 103, and a storage medium 104. Each unit is connected to each other via, for example, a bus 105.

[0077] The storage medium 104 has, for example, a program storage area (not shown) for storing a program 110 for performing supply destination control. The storage medium 104 also has, for example, an information storage area 130 for storing information used when performing supply destination control. The storage medium 104 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0078] The CPU 101 performs destination control by executing a program 110 loaded from the storage medium 104 to the memory 102, for example.

[0079] The communication device 103 accesses an operation terminal (not shown) through which a worker inputs necessary information, for example, via a network (not shown) such as the Internet.

[0080] The control device 10 may include, for example, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The control device 10 may also include, for example, a peripheral interface controller (PIC). The supply destination control may be performed by, for example, the FPGA or the ASIC.

[0081] [Supply Destination Control in Second Embodiment] Next, the supply destination control in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6, which is a flow chart illustrating the supply destination control in the second embodiment.

[0082] 6, the control device 10 waits until it is time to acquire the measurement results (hereinafter simply referred to as the acquisition timing) by the measurement device M (NO in step S11 in FIG. 6). The acquisition timing may be, for example, a regular timing such as every minute.

[0083] Then, when the acquisition timing arrives (YES in step S11 in FIG. 6), the control device 10 acquires, for example, the measurement results from the measurement device M (step S12 in FIG. 6). Specifically, the control device 10 acquires, for example, the first supply amount and the second supply amount.

[0084] Next, the control device 10 determines a supply destination of the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2, for example, in accordance with the measurement results acquired in step S12 (step S13 in FIG. 6).

[0085] Specifically, for example, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is less than a first threshold, the control device 10 determines that the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 should be supplied to the concentrating device 4. On the other hand, for example, when the ratio of the second supply amount to the first supply amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold, the control device 10 determines that the second algae Ab supplied from the separation device 2 should be supplied to the concentrating device 5.

[0086] Thereafter, the control device 10 performs control so that the second algae Ab is supplied to the supply destination determined in step S13 (step S14 in FIG. 6), for example.

[0087] Specifically, the control device 10 controls the supply of the second algae Ab to the supply destination determined in step S13, for example, by adjusting the frequency of the inverters attached to the motors of pumps P3, P5, P6, and P7, and by adjusting the opening degree of the valves provided on lines L3, L5, L6, and L7.

[0088] In this way, the concentration system 200 in this embodiment has, for example, a control device 10 that determines the supply destination of the second algae Ab separated by the separation device 2 from multiple supply destinations including the concentration device 4 and the concentration device 5, depending on the separation state of the first algae Aa and the second algae Ab in the separation device 2, and a pump P that supplies the second algae Ab separated by the separation device 2 to the supply destination determined by the control device 10.

[0089] As a result, the concentration system 200 in this embodiment can further reduce the energy and costs required to recover algae from the culture solution W, for example.

[0090] 1: Storage tank 2: Separation device 3: Concentration device 4: Concentration device 5: Concentration device 10: Control device 100: Concentration system 200: Concentration system 101: CPU 102: Memory 103: Communication device 104: Storage medium 105: Bus 110: Program 130: Information storage area L1: Line L2: Line L3: Line L4: Line L5: Line L6: Line L7: Line L8: Line L9: Line L10: Line P1: Pump P2: Pump P3: Pump P4: Pump P5: Pump P6: Pump P7: Pump P8: Pump P9: Pump P10: Pump A: Algae Aa: First algae Ab: Second algae M: Measuring device W: Culture liquid

Claims

1. A concentration system for concentrating a substance to be concentrated, comprising: a separation device that separates a first substance to be concentrated that tends to float and a second substance to be concentrated that tends to sink from the substance to be concentrated; a first concentration device that performs concentration on the first substance corresponding to the first substance to be concentrated; and a second concentration device that performs concentration on the second substance corresponding to the second substance to be concentrated.

2. The concentration system of claim 1, further comprising a third concentrator that further concentrates at least one of the first concentrate concentrated by the first concentrator and the second concentrate concentrated by the second concentrator.

3. The concentration system described in claim 2 further comprises: a control device that determines the supply destination of the second concentrated substance separated by the separation device from a plurality of supply destinations including the second concentration device and the third concentration device depending on the separation state of the first concentrated substance and the second concentrated substance in the separation device; and a supply device that supplies the second concentrated substance separated by the separation device to the supply destination determined by the control device.

4. A method for concentrating a substance to be concentrated, comprising: separating a first substance to be concentrated that tends to float and a second substance to be concentrated that tends to settle from the substance to be concentrated; concentrating the first substance to be concentrated in a manner corresponding to the first substance to be concentrated; and concentrating the second substance to be concentrated in a manner corresponding to the second substance to be concentrated.

Images