Plate Press System for Wastewater Solid-Liquid Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Animal feeding operations (AFOs) and food processing operations face challenges in disposing of wastewater and organic waste due to high nutrient levels exceeding clean water standards, with evaporation being a slow and costly process, and sand particles causing corrosion issues in equipment.
Innovation Solution
A press process and system using a cylinder with spaced plates and a piston to separate liquids and solids, where the piston applies pressure to extract liquids through the plates while solids are pushed past a pressure cone for collection, with further processing involving heating and drying to produce concentrated fertilizer and organic materials for fuel or bedding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If evaporation is used to dispose of wastewater, then wastewater can be eliminated, but the process is too slow and costly for AFOs and food processors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of wastewater treatment by applying high pressure (through the piston mechanism) to force liquid separation from solids, transforming the treatment process from slow evaporation to rapid pressure-driven filtration. This allows wastewater to be processed much faster while still achieving effective elimination of liquid waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal evaporation process with a mechanical pressure-based separation system. Instead of using heat to evaporate water slowly, the system uses a piston to apply mechanical pressure that forces liquid through plates, achieving rapid separation and disposal of wastewater without the time-consuming evaporation process.
2Reliability
If sand separation equipment and screw augers are used, then sand and granular particles can be removed, but the metal components become corrosive and wear away quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts sand and granular particles from the mixture during the pressure filtration process. As the piston forces liquid through the plates, sand and heavy granular materials are naturally separated and remain in the solid residue, eliminating the need for separate sand separation equipment that would be subject to corrosive wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the plate assembly as an intermediary separation mechanism. The plates serve as a medium that allows liquid to pass through while blocking sand and granular particles, which are then carried with the solid residue. This intermediary approach removes sand without requiring direct contact between sand and metal equipment components.
3Quantity of substance
If concentrated liquid nutrients are heated to produce concentrated fertilizer, then useful fertilizer can be produced, but energy is consumed in the heating process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers energy by using the solid organic residue as fuel to generate heat for the drying process. The solid material that is separated from the liquid is dried and can be burned to produce steam, which then heats the concentrated liquid nutrients for fertilizer production. This creates a closed-loop energy system where waste material becomes the energy source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating function with the solid residue processing. Instead of using external energy sources, the system combines the solid organic material with the heating process by burning the solids to generate the thermal energy needed for fertilizer concentration. This integration eliminates the need for separate energy input systems.
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
Efficiently separates and processes wastewater and organic waste into concentrated fertilizer and dry solids, reducing disposal costs and corrosion issues, while allowing for the utilization of waste as fuel or bedding.
Implementation Method 1
A piston is used to apply pressure to the material in the cylinder. The pressure from the piston squeezes the substance in the cylinder causing the liquid component to flow out of the cylinder through the plates
Implementation Method 2
The solid materials in the conveyor system can be heated to temperatures that will kill bacteria that may be present in the solid material
Implementation Method 3
where additional heated forced air drying takes place
Implementation Method 4
A pressure cone at the distal end of the plate section maintains pressure on the solid waste in the cylinder, yet allows the solid materials to escape from the cylinder as additional waste is added to the cylinder and squeezed by the piston
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and processes for extracting liquids and solids from waste include separately extracting liquids via spaced plates and solid waste out an exit port with an operably counter-pressured pressure cone. The system and process use a cylinder for accepting waste and a piston for providing pressure and pushing waste through the cylinder. Spaced plates with internal apertures are aligned with the cylinder, and pressure from the piston on waste in the apertures forces liquids to pass between the spaced plates. Solid waste egresses via an exit port aligned with the apertures when pressure on a pressure cone operably connected with the exit port exceeds the force keeping the pressure cone closed on the exit port.