Heated Multi-Tank Oil Sludge Collection for Food Factory Wastewater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating oil-containing wastewater from food factories are inefficient, leading to incomplete oil separation, high costs, large waste amounts, and environmental impact, with a need for large-scale systems and equipment, and the collected oil is treated as industrial waste, posing disposal challenges.
Innovation Solution
An on-site oil and sludge collecting tank system comprising an upper tank and one or more lower tanks with heating means, controlled by sensors and valves, efficiently separates and collects oil and sludge from wastewater, utilizing a flow path switching mechanism to manage oil distribution across multiple tanks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large tank is used to pool wastewater for periodic pumping and treatment, then the system can handle large volumes of wastewater, but the system becomes complex and expensive, and oil separation becomes incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large tank into multiple smaller tanks (first tank, second tank, third tank) that operate in parallel. Each small tank independently performs oil-water separation, which simplifies the overall system structure while maintaining the ability to handle large volumes of wastewater through distributed processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an oil collecting tank as an intermediary component that receives oil from multiple small separation tanks. This intermediary structure enables efficient oil collection and concentration from distributed sources without requiring a single large complex system
2Quantity of substance
If a large tank is used to pool wastewater, then large amounts of oil can be collected, but bad odors are emitted and oil separation becomes incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the wastewater treatment into multiple small tanks instead of one large tank, the patent reduces the volume of stagnant water in each tank, thereby minimizing odor generation while still achieving substantial oil collection through the combined capacity of all tanks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous oil-water separation in multiple parallel tanks with automatic oil discharge mechanisms, ensuring that oil is continuously removed from the system rather than accumulating in a single large tank where it would generate odors
3Ease of operation
If heating is applied to prevent oil solidification in collection tanks, then oil remains fluid for collection, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heating locally only to the oil collecting tank where oil accumulation occurs, rather than heating entire large tanks. This localized heating approach maintains oil fluidity for efficient collection while minimizing energy consumption by limiting heating to the smallest necessary volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter locally in the oil collecting tank to prevent oil solidification, using heating means controlled by temperature sensors to maintain optimal temperature only where needed for oil collection, thereby reducing overall energy consumption
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 efficient oil and sludge collection, reducing waste and costs, enabling recycling and resource recovery, and contributes to decarbonization efforts by converting waste oil into biomass fuels.
Implementation Method 1
a lower tank heating means that heats the lower tank
Implementation Method 2
an oil/water separation tank that pools the oil-containing wastewater
Data Source
AI summary
An oil and sludge collecting tank is disclosed, which can be placed on-site at a food factory or the like, that discharges oil-containing wastewater, and which can collect oil and sludge more efficiently from an upper layer of an oil/water separation tank that pools the oil-containing wastewater. The oil and sludge collecting tank temporarily stores an upper layer of an oil/water separation tank, and collects oil and sludge. The oil and sludge collecting tank comprises: an upper tank TA into which the upper layer of the oil/water separation tank flows through an inflow pipe; at least one or more lower tank TB that has a smaller volume than the upper tank TA, and that is continuously provided from the bottom surface of the upper tank TA; and a lower tank heating section H2 that heats the lower tank TB.