Biodegradable Material Processing Under Negative Pressure for Ammonia Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating biodegradable materials like fermentation residues, poultry manure, and cattle manure struggle to completely separate ammonia and other volatile substances while allowing the material to be reused without additives, and require multiple gas scrubbing devices for complete ammonia reduction.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a processor under negative pressure that gradually reduces pressure to expel volatile substances, followed by a purification stage using a washing liquid, where the biodegradable material is sanitized and dried, and the volatile substances are separated physically, eliminating the need for additives like polymers or electrolytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple gas scrubbing devices are connected in series to achieve complete ammonia reduction, then ammonia separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter in the processor to achieve ammonia separation. By operating under negative pressure (vacuum conditions), ammonia and other volatile substances are selectively removed from biodegradable material without requiring multiple serial scrubbing devices, thus simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts ammonia and volatile substances from biodegradable material through a single purification stage operating under negative pressure. The volatile substances are enriched in the gas phase and removed, leaving ammonium-poor material behind, eliminating the need for multiple complex scrubbing stages
2Productivity
If additives such as lime, polymers, and electrolytes are added to enable pre-drying and separation, then processing effectiveness is improved, but the biodegradable material cannot be reused without restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the natural properties of the biodegradable material itself under negative pressure conditions to achieve separation and drying. The volatile substances are removed through pressure differential and phase change, without requiring external additives, thus the material remains suitable for various reuse applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical additive-based separation methods with a physical pressure-based system. By applying negative pressure to induce phase change and volatile substance removal, the process eliminates the need for chemical additives like lime and polymers, preserving material quality for reuse
3Reliability
If a vacuum pump is arranged downstream of the degassing vessel behind the gas scrubbing device, then vacuum is applied throughout the system, but the pressure drop requires serial connection of multiple scrubbing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the vacuum pump upstream (before the purification stage) to create negative pressure in the processor. This approach allows a single purification device to operate effectively under vacuum conditions, eliminating the need for multiple serially connected scrubbing devices while maintaining reliable vacuum application
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 process achieves nearly complete separation of ammonia and other volatile substances, allowing the biodegradable material to be reused effectively, with a smaller purification system and reduced environmental impact, producing high-purity water and ammonium sulfate for further use.
Implementation Method 1
the volatile substances are extracted from the biodegradable material due to their respective partial pressure by the applied negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
the pressure in the processor is reduced to a second, lower pressure level, so that the boiling point in the processor shifts in such a way that water contained in the processor changes its state of aggregation and water vapor is formed
Implementation Method 3
the water vapor is condensed in the cooling unit
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for processing biodegradable materials, in particular digestate, poultry manure, pig slurry, or cattle slurry, in which the biodegradable material is sanitized in a processor. During sanitization in the processor, volatile substances, in particular ammonia, are driven off from the biodegradable material and concentrated in a gas mixture. The concentrated gas mixture is then drawn off from the processor, subjected to purification, and the volatile substances are washed out of the gas mixture with a washing liquid. The resulting low-ammonium, biodegradable material is removed from the processor separately from the gas mixture and used for further processing.According to the invention, this method is characterized by the fact that a negative pressure is applied in the processor and that the volatile substances are extracted from the biodegradable material due to their respective partial pressures by the applied negative pressure.