Anaerobic Fermentation Press Water Solids Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anaerobic fermentation processes for biogenic waste materials face challenges with sedimentation of heavier components in fermenters, leading to incomplete degradation and increased waste water production due to high dry matter proportions, which complicates transportation and affects the energy balance.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the separation of solids from press water to reduce its dry matter proportion to 15% or less, allowing for recirculation and dilution of the fermentation material, thereby improving transportability and minimizing waste water production while maintaining high throughput and plant efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the fermentation material has a high dry matter proportion to reduce waste water volume, then the volume of waste water produced is reduced, but the fermentation material cannot be transported in the desired manner in the fermenter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic adjustment of dry matter proportion by separating solids from press water and recirculating the residual liquid. The dry matter proportion is dynamically optimized within the fermenter to ensure both transportability and waste water reduction, rather than maintaining a static high dry matter content throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dry matter proportion by separating solids from press water and recirculating residual liquid with reduced dry matter content (at most 15%). This parameter adjustment enables the fermentation material to be transported in the desired manner while still minimizing waste water production.
2Use of energy by moving object
If press water with high dry matter proportion is recirculated to reduce fresh water demand, then water consumption is reduced, but already degraded material is recirculated which impairs the energy balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts solids from press water through solids separation to obtain residual liquid with reduced dry matter proportion (at most 15%). This extraction removes already degraded material and solids that would otherwise be recirculated, preserving the energy balance while still enabling water recirculation to reduce fresh water demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dry matter proportion parameter of recirculated liquid by separating solids from press water. The residual liquid has a reduced dry matter proportion of at most 15%, which prevents recirculation of energetically low-grade material while still achieving water conservation through recirculation.
3Productivity
If solids are separated from press water to reduce dry matter proportion to 15% or less, then transportability is improved and waste water is minimized, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing press water from the dewatering process and separates solids from it to create residual liquid for recirculation. This self-service approach utilizes materials already present in the system, reducing the need for additional fresh water and minimizing waste water while improving transportability through controlled dry matter proportion.
4Duration of action of moving object
If heavier components sediment in the fermenter before complete degradation, then residence time is reduced, but incompletely degraded components pass into the exit region causing economic and hygienic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the dry matter proportion of fermentation material by recirculating residual liquid with controlled dry matter content (at most 15%). This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal transportability and residence time while preventing sedimentation issues and ensuring complete degradation of components before exit.
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 process ensures optimal transportability of the fermentation material and reduces waste water generation by recirculating treated residual liquid, maintaining the advantages of dry fermentation processes while minimizing the recirculation of energetically low-grade material.
Implementation Method 1
the solids separation is performed by means of filtration
Implementation Method 2
the solids separation is performed by means of screening
Implementation Method 3
the fermentation material suspension is anaerobically fermented in a fermenter
Implementation Method 4
biogenic waste materials are fermented anaerobically
Implementation Method 5
the digest is dewatered by means of a dewatering device, wherein, with separation of press water
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the anaerobic fermentation of biogenic waste materials including the steps that a fermentation material containing the waste materials is mixed with liquid and the fermentation material suspension obtained in this manner is anaerobically fermented in a fermenter and the digest produced in the fermentation of the fermentation material suspension is dewatered of a dewatering device, wherein, with separation of press water, a press cake is obtained that has a dry matter proportion increased with respect to the digest; the press water is subjected to a solids separation, wherein a residual liquid having a dry matter proportion reduced with respect to the press water of at most 15% by weight is obtained and the residual liquid is used at least in part for the mixing according to the fermentation material step.