Biogas Digester Temperature Control via Rotatable Nozzles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for large-scale biogas and fertilizer production are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and waste recycling, particularly with increasing amounts of bio-waste such as manure, requiring improved methods for energy recovery and waste utilization.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising multiple fermentation tanks, gas cleaning, hygienization, separation, evaporation, osmosis, and drying devices, with heat and water recycling, and optional rotatable nozzles for temperature regulation, to efficiently produce biogas and fertilizer from liquid manure and plant materials like grass silage, optimizing energy use and waste conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the amount of bio-waste decomposed is increased, then the production volume of biogas and fertilizer is improved, but the energy input required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction volume of biogas and fertilizerVSAvoidenergy input
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies heat recovery from the exothermic fermentation process to preheat incoming bio-waste and maintain optimal fermentation temperatures, converting the thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted into a useful resource that reduces external energy input requirements while enabling increased bio-waste processing capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system optimizes fermentation parameters including temperature, residence time, and substrate composition to maximize biogas yield per unit of energy input, allowing increased production volume through parameter optimization rather than proportional increases in energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the amount of bio-waste decomposed is increased, then the production volume of biogas and fertilizer is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction volume of biogas and fertilizerVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the bio-waste processing system into multiple separate fermentation tanks that can operate independently, allowing the system to handle increased bio-waste volumes through parallel processing rather than requiring a single complex oversized reactor, thereby managing system complexity while scaling productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs multi-functional equipment such as heat exchangers that serve both heating and cooling functions, and integrated separation devices that handle both liquid and solid phases, reducing the total number of separate components needed as bio-waste processing capacity is increased

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system achieves significant energy recovery and efficient production of biogas and fertilizer with reduced energy input, recycling large volumes of bio-waste, enhancing the overall efficiency of biowaste utilization and energy conversion.

Implementation Method 1

Biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion with anaerobic bacteria or through the fermentation of biodegradable materials such as manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material and grain

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnaerobic digestion: Anaerobic Digestion

Implementation Method 2

transferring liquid components into an evaporation device (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

an osmosis device comprising ion exchanger (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 4

an osmosis device comprising ion exchanger (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 5

transferring solid components into a drying device (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDrying: Desiccation

Implementation Method 6

one or more temperature sensors that regulate the supply of heated slurry and/or heated recirculate through one or more nozzles at a cooling point in the fermenter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3623358B1Energy efficient system for producing biogas and fertilizer
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 BIO RAFFINAGE PROJEKTENTWICKLUNGS GMBH
  • EP3623358B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

System for the production of biogas and fertilizer comprising a slurry storage device (3), at least two digesters (4), a gas purification device (5), a hygienization device (6), a separation device (7), an evaporation device (12), an osmosis device (18) comprising an ion exchanger (16) and a nitrification device (17) and a drying device (11), wherein each digester comprises one or more optionally rotatable nozzles through which slurry from the slurry storage device and/or recirculated material from the separation device is introduced into the digester, and one or more temperature sensors that regulate the supply of heated slurry and/or heated recirculated material through one or more nozzles at a cooling point in the digester in order to ensure a constant temperature at all points of each digester.Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the production of biogas and fertilizer in a system according to the invention.