Fermentation Equipment Differential Pressure Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anaerobic digestion technologies face challenges such as high investment and operating costs, large reactor volumes, sensitivity to organic loads, and inefficient digestion processes, particularly in achieving full decomposition within short retention times and maintaining microorganism populations.
Innovation Solution
A fermentation equipment and method utilizing a differential pressure device for efficient solid-liquid separation and recirculation in a two-stage reactor system, allowing for short retention times and complete hydrolysis and acidification, with the differential pressure device enabling effective circulation of liquids and retention of microorganisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wet digestion is used with completely mixed anaerobic reactor, then the process is simple to operate, but the retention time must be at least 30 days resulting in large reactor volume and high investment cost
Solution Approach 1:
The digestion process is divided into two separate stages: acidification in a first reactor and digestion in a second reactor. This segmentation allows each reactor to be optimized for its specific function, enabling shorter retention times and smaller overall reactor volume while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the reaction process by implementing a two-stage system where liquid circulates from the second reactor back to the first reactor. This dimensional change enables efficient liquid circulation and microorganism retention without increasing horizontal reactor footprint.
2Volume of stationary object
If retention time is reduced below 30 days in wet digestion, then reactor volume decreases, but microorganisms are washed out
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates the liquid phase containing microorganisms from the solid organic matter through solid-liquid separation. The separated liquid is then recirculated back to the acidification reactor, ensuring microorganism retention while allowing shorter retention times for the solid phase in the digestion reactor.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is established where liquid from the digestion reactor is circulated back to the acidification reactor. This feedback loop ensures that microorganisms are continuously returned to the system, maintaining reliable microorganism retention even with reduced retention times.
3Productivity
If two-stage digestion with liquid circulation is implemented, then digestion efficiency improves, but liquid circulation is ineffective due to very low permeability of materials in acidification reactor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a differential pressure device as an intermediary mechanism to enable liquid circulation through the low-permeability acidification reactor materials. This device applies controlled pressure differentials to force liquid flow through the reactor bed, overcoming the permeability barrier and enabling effective liquid circulation for improved digestion efficiency.
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 enables full decomposition of organic matter in a shorter time, increasing biogas yield by up to 20% and reducing reactor volume, while maintaining system stability and simplifying operational management.
Implementation Method 1
a differential pressure device (3) installed in the first reaction device (2) for generating a pressure, release or traction on the materials
Implementation Method 2
realize full hydrolysis and acidification of organic materials in a short time
Implementation Method 3
The organic matter in this first reactor has a relatively high solid content. The second step is digestion implemented in a second reactor
Implementation Method 4
a first recirculation device (8) arranged between the first reaction device (2) and the second reaction device (7) for recirculating the materials in the second reaction device (7) back into the first reaction device (2)
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are fermentation equipment used for organic matter and method therefor. The device comprises a feeding device, a first reaction device, an differential pressure device, a high-solid-content discharging device, a low-solid-content discharging device, a first cycle pump, a second reaction device, a first recirculation device, a first discharging device, and a collecting device. The device and the method quickly realize full acidification of organic materials in a short time. Compared with the traditional anaerobic digestion technology, the organic matter is fully decomposed, and a higher biogas yield is obtained.