Gas Type Liquid Partition Valve Biogas Stirring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wastewater treatment systems require electric power to operate blowers and diffuser pipes for biogas supply, leading to complexity and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A wastewater treatment system incorporating a gas type liquid partition valve that stores and discharges biogas produced in the methane fermentation tank to the acid fermentation tank, eliminating the need for external drives and pipes, and allowing biogas to rise and stir the wastewater without power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a blower and diffuser pipe are used to supply biogas to the acid fermentation tank, then the biogas supply function is achieved, but the system becomes complex and electric power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidbiogas supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the blower and diffuser pipe components from the system. Instead of using mechanical equipment to supply biogas, the system relies on the natural buoyancy of biogas bubbles to rise from the methane fermentation tank through the partition wall opening into the acid fermentation tank, thereby achieving biogas supply without complex mechanical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes the inherent properties of biogas (being lighter than water and naturally rising) to achieve self-supply. The biogas produced in the methane fermentation tank automatically rises and moves through the opening in the partition wall into the acid fermentation tank without requiring external power sources or mechanical assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If a blower is used to supply biogas, then biogas can be delivered to the acid fermentation tank, but electric power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbiogas supply efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical blower system with a passive buoyancy-based system. Biogas bubbles naturally rise due to their lower density compared to water, eliminating the need for mechanical propulsion and electric power consumption while maintaining effective biogas supply to the acid fermentation tank

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes pneumatic principles by allowing biogas bubbles to rise through the water column naturally. The biogas flow is driven by pressure differences created by the density difference between gas and liquid, enabling energy-free gas transport through the hydraulic system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If the opening in the partition wall is left open for biogas passage, then biogas can flow to the acid fermentation tank, but raw wastewater or acid fermentation-treated water may flow into the methane fermentation tank

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas flow freedomVSAvoidliquid contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary gas storage portion that acts as a buffer between the methane fermentation tank and the acid fermentation tank. Biogas bubbles rise through the opening and are temporarily stored in this intermediate space, allowing liquid to be blocked while maintaining gas flow continuity to the acid fermentation tank

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 simplifies the configuration by eliminating the need for blowers and pipes, reducing energy consumption and costs, while effectively supplying biogas to the acid fermentation tank and stirring the wastewater without external power.

Implementation Method 1

the biogas produced in the methane fermentation tank rises toward the upper portion of the methane fermentation tank, passes through the opening communicating with the acid fermentation tank, and is then stored in the gas storage portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

a gas storage portion configured to store a predetermined amount of the biogas and discharge the biogas exceeding the predetermined amount to the acid fermentation tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

the biogas supplied to the acid fermentation tank rises toward the upper portion of the acid fermentation tank. Therefore, the raw wastewater or the acid fermentation-treated water in the acid fermentation tank is stirred by the rising biogas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas lifting and stirring: Bubble

Data Source

PatentEP3406572B1Wastewater treat
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 NAT INST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
  • EP3406572B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3406572B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3406572B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wastewater treatment system 1 includes: an acid fermentation tank 2; a methane fermentation tank 3 positioned under the acid fermentation tank, and configured to produce biogas, and an upper portion of the methane fermentation tank including an opening that communicates with the acid fermentation tank; and a gas type liquid partition valve 4 provided at the opening 35, including a gas storage portion 40 configured to store a predetermined amount of the biogas and discharge the biogas exceeding the predetermined amount to the acid fermentation tank, and configured to block the opening with the biogas stored in the gas storage portion.