Mechanical Filter Coating for Anaerobic Sludge Nitrogen Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating methanating sludge are inefficient in reducing ammonium nitrogen and carbon compounds, leading to increased nitrogen content in agricultural fertilizer, eutrophication, and unstable biogas processes, and require high amounts of conditioning agents for dewatering.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a mechanical filter covered with a biofilm or inorganic coating, separating a sludge zone with methanating sludge from an activation zone with nitrifying microorganisms, allowing the exchange of ammonium, ammonia, and nitrate ions, enabling nitrification and denitrification processes to reduce nitrogen and carbon content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If methanating sludge is used as agricultural fertilizer, then nutrient recycling is achieved, but high nitrogen content causes eutrophication and groundwater pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereusability as fertilizerVSAvoidnitrogen pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts nitrogen compounds (ammonium, ammonia, nitrate) from methanating sludge through a multi-stage filtration system. The mechanical filter with cover layer and subsequent filtration stages separate nitrogen-containing substances from the sludge matrix, enabling the sludge to be reused as fertilizer with reduced nitrogen content that prevents eutrophication and groundwater pollution while maintaining nutrient recycling benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If high amounts of conditioning agents are used to improve sludge drainability, then dewatering efficiency increases, but operational complexity and chemical usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedrainabilityVSAvoidconditioning agent requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a self-service mechanism where the sludge undergoes natural clarification and filtration through the mechanical filter with cover layer and subsequent filtration stages. The system utilizes the sludge's own properties and natural settling processes to improve drainability without requiring external conditioning agents, thereby reducing operational complexity and chemical usage while maintaining effective dewatering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If ammonium nitrogen concentration is high in sludge, then nitrogen recovery potential increases, but microbiological activity is inhibited leading to unstable biogas process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen contentVSAvoidbiogas process stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the nitrogen removal process into multiple stages: initial mechanical filtration with cover layer, followed by biological treatment stages, and final polishing filtration. This segmentation allows progressive reduction of ammonium nitrogen concentration, maintaining enough nitrogen for recovery potential while preventing inhibition of microbiological activity that would destabilize the biogas process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Quantity of substance

If flash evaporation is used to remove ammonium nitrogen, then nitrogen separation efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveammonium nitrogen reductionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal flash evaporation process with a mechanical filtration system using a mechanical filter with cover layer and subsequent filtration stages. This mechanical approach achieves ammonium nitrogen separation through physical filtration and natural clarification processes, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to thermal evaporation while maintaining effective nitrogen removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method effectively reduces ammonium nitrogen and carbon compounds, improving sludge drainability and reducing the need for conditioning agents, while stabilizing biogas processes and minimizing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a mechanical filter covered with a cover layer, the nitrifying microorganisms being kept in contact with the mechanical filter covered with the cover layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

an activation zone (2) containing nitrifying microorganisms... enabling nitrification and denitrification processes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNitrification: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

enabling nitrification and denitrification processes to reduce nitrogen and carbon content

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDenitrification: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP3778855A1Filter-based regeneration of anaerobic sludge

Publication Date: 2021.02.17 AXIOM ANGEWANDTE PROZESSTECHN M B H

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for treating methanogenic sludge, wherein the methanogenic sludge is brought into contact with an aeration zone containing nitrifying microorganisms via a mechanical filter covered with a coating layer, the nitrifying microorganisms being retained in the aeration zone by the mechanical filter covered with the coating layer. The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.