Auger Assembly for Anaerobic Reactor Effluent Line Clogging
Solution Overview
Problem
Upflow anaerobic reactors face clogging issues in the effluent line due to solid materials collecting at the fluid-air interface, which can lead to operational disruptions and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
An auger assembly, including a screw conveyor or screw pump, is positioned at the fluid-air interface within the effluent outlet to disrupt and remove solid materials, combined with a pressure sensor to initiate rotation when clogs are detected, ensuring continuous operation and preventing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid-filled gas trap is used in the effluent outlet to prevent biogas escape, then biogas containment is improved, but solid materials collect at the fluid-air interface causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful solid materials from the effluent stream by positioning an auger assembly at the fluid-air interface within the effluent outlet. The auger removes accumulated solids before they can block the outlet, while the fluid-filled gas trap continues to contain biogas effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The auger assembly acts as an intermediary device between the fluid-filled gas trap and the effluent discharge. It mediates the conflict by actively managing solid material accumulation at the fluid-air interface, preventing clogging while maintaining the gas trap's biogas containment function.
2Reliability
If the auger assembly rotates continuously to prevent clogging, then operational reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous rotation, the auger assembly operates periodically based on pressure sensor detection. When the pressure sensor detects clogging conditions, it triggers the auger to rotate and clear the blockage, then stops rotating. This periodic operation maintains reliability while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor provides feedback about clogging conditions to the auger control system. This feedback mechanism allows the auger to operate only when needed, optimizing the balance between maintaining continuous operation reliability and minimizing energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents clogging of the effluent line, allowing for continuous operation of the reactor by removing solid materials and maintaining the bacterial culture's integrity, thereby enhancing the biodegradation efficiency and safety of the bioreactor.
Implementation Method 1
An auger assembly, including a screw conveyor or screw pump, is positioned at the fluid-air interface within the effluent outlet to disrupt and remove solid materials
Implementation Method 2
combined with a pressure sensor to initiate rotation when clogs are detected
Implementation Method 3
The effluent outlet includes a column of liquid that forms a fluid-filled gas trap inside the outlet to prevent escape of biogas via the outlet
Implementation Method 4
The fluid-filled gas trap also forms a fluid-air interface where the effluent contacts atmospheric air as it flows out of the reactor
Data Source
AI summary
An upflow anaerobic reactor includes an effluent outlet configured to direct effluent out of the reactor and a fluid-filled gas trap configured to prevent loss of biogas from the vessel. An auger assembly is operably coupled to the effluent outlet to prevent clogging of the effluent outlet by solid matter that tends to collect in the effluent outlet. The auger assembly includes at least one helical screw conveyor that rotates so as to remove solid material that collects in the effluent outlet. auger assembly can be operated on a continuous or semi-continuous basis so as to allow for continuous operation of the reactor. The auger assembly can be operated on a continuous or semi-continuous basis so as to allow for continuous operation of the reactor.