Solid Biomass Methanization Digester with Liquid Percolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methanation processes face challenges in efficiently processing solid biomass due to the presence of undesirable elements, which leads to increased energy expenditure, maintenance costs, and equipment damage, as well as inefficiencies in biogas management and digestion optimization.
Innovation Solution
A methanization digester design featuring a container system that allows for direct introduction and evacuation of solid biomass without pre-treatment, utilizing a percolation process with liquid digestate to minimize equipment needs and optimize digestion, while separating biogas and liquid digestate for efficient recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-treatment and sorting processes are implemented to remove undesirable elements from solid biomass, then the reliability of the methanization process is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes undesirable elements (plastic, metal, glass, stones) from solid biomass through a sorting process before introducing the pre-treated biomass into the methanization digester. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by eliminating harmful components that would compromise process reliability while maintaining a relatively simple digester design without requiring complex internal treatment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements pre-treatment operations (sorting, removing undesirable elements) before the main methanization process. By performing these actions preliminarily, the system ensures reliable operation during the actual digestion phase while avoiding the need for complex equipment within the digester itself, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Productivity
If continuous stirring and mixing systems are installed in the digester, then the productivity of biogas production is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-mixing mechanism where the percolation of liquid digestate through the biomass bed naturally creates mixing action without requiring external mechanical stirrers or agitators. The liquid flow itself serves the mixing function, eliminating complex mixing equipment while maintaining effective contact between microorganisms and substrate, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic percolation of liquid digestate through the biomass bed to achieve mixing and contact between the substrate and microorganisms. This hydraulic approach replaces mechanical mixing systems, reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining effective biogas production through natural fluid-driven mixing action.
3Ease of operation
If grinding equipment is installed to process solid biomass before digestion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and risk of equipment damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes undesirable elements (stones, metal, glass, plastic) through a sorting process before the biomass enters the digester. By removing these harmful components preliminarily, the system eliminates the need for grinding equipment that would be vulnerable to damage from these elements, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity while preventing equipment damage.
4Productivity
If liquid digestate is continuously pumped through the biomass bed, then the productivity of digestion is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous percolation of liquid digestate through the biomass bed, maintaining constant contact between the substrate and microorganisms. This continuous action ensures high digestion efficiency and biogas production while the system is operational, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption by ensuring that energy is consumed only during productive digestion phases rather than intermittent operation.
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
This approach reduces energy and maintenance costs, minimizes equipment damage, and enhances biogas production by eliminating the need for pre-treatment and stirring, thereby improving the efficiency of solid biomass valorization and biogas management.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a percolation process with liquid digestate to minimize equipment needs and optimize digestion
Implementation Method 2
Anaerobic digestion (also called anaerobic digestion) is a natural biological process which involves the degradation of organic matter by several types of micro-organisms, in particular bacteria, under controlled conditions and this in the absence of oxygen
Implementation Method 3
separating biogas and liquid digestate for efficient recovery
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a methanization digester (7), intended for the production of biogas (32), comprising a tank (8), capable of containing a container (22) containing solid biomass (23), said methanization digester (7) comprising, in the upper part thereof: at least one zone (9) for introducing a container (22) containing solid biomass (23) and for discharging the container containing residual digested solid biomass (23'), on which a roof (24) is capable of being opened and of being reclosed, and at least one zone (9') for discharging the biogas (32). The invention also relates to a process for producing biogas and also to a methanization facility using a main digestion unit (1) intended in particular to feed, with liquid digestate (5), one or more methanization digesters (7) containing solid biomass (23), and to receive and store the biogas (32) produced by the methanization digester(s) (7).