Aerobic Reactor Cascade and Lateral Collectors for Oxygen Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerobic fluid treatment reactors face limitations in capturing atmospheric oxygen, leading to reduced treatment capacity and the occurrence of fermentation processes, especially when handling effluents with high fat and organic matter content, such as those from animal farms.
Innovation Solution
The reactor design divides the fluid into two fractions, with one fraction forming a cascade to capture new air bubbles and the other undergoing mechanical surface agitation in lateral collectors to degasify existing gases, increasing the solubilization of oxygen through turbulence and reducing dissolved gas concentrations, thereby enhancing oxygen capture and purification efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single central collector is used for fluid treatment, then the structure is simple, but the capture rate of atmospheric oxygen is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor is divided into multiple functional zones: a central collector for oxygen capture and multiple lateral collectors for fluid distribution and degasification. This segmentation allows simultaneous oxygen absorption in the central zone and CO2 removal in lateral zones, resolving the contradiction by increasing oxygen capture capacity while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
2Quantity of substance
If fluid flows directly to the bottom without surface agitation, then the process is simple, but the solubilization capacity for new air is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral collectors perform preliminary surface agitation and degasification of the fluid before it reaches the bottom of the tank. This preliminary removal of dissolved gases (especially CO2) increases the fluid's capacity to absorb new oxygen when it reaches the central collector, resolving the contradiction by enhancing oxygen solubilization while keeping the process relatively simple through passive flow guidance.
3Productivity
If atmospheric oxygen capture is limited, then the treatment capacity is reduced, but fermentation processes occur giving rise to bad odours
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor converts the potentially harmful accumulation of CO2 from aerobic digestion into a beneficial process by using lateral collectors to actively remove CO2 and other dissolved gases from the fluid. This prevents anaerobic fermentation conditions while the central collector simultaneously maximizes oxygen absorption, thereby increasing treatment capacity and eliminating bad odours through the conversion of a harmful byproduct into a controlled degasification process.
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 design significantly improves the capture rate of atmospheric oxygen, increasing the reactor's treatment capacity and achieving higher purification yields in complex fluids with high organic content by removing enriched carbon dioxide and increasing oxygen solubilization in the fluid.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid from the bottom of the tank spills into a central collector located at the top for the capture of air bubbles
Implementation Method 2
a first fraction of fluid that spills directly into a central collector via a cascade for the capture of new air bubbles
Implementation Method 3
a second fraction that spills to the central collector via a plurality of lateral collectors for surface agitation (degasification) of the fluid
Implementation Method 4
Once air bubbles are captured, they are dragged to the bottom of the tank by the impeller allowing, according to Henry's law, additional solubilisation of new air in the heart of the fluid due to the increase in pressure of the gas caused by the pressure of the column of fluid
Implementation Method 5
aeration of the fluid takes place to facilitate the incorporation of atmospheric oxygen and therefore the aerobic digestion of the fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
Comprising a tank (2) and a central conduit (5), said conduit (5) including means (6, 7) of generating a descending flow of fluid inside it, and characterised by that fact that the entry (5a) of said fluid to said conduit (5) is arranged in association with a central collector (3) of fluid, with a first fraction of fluid spilling over the upper edge (3a) of said central collector (3), the level of fluid in the tank (2) being regulated so that said first fraction spills into said central collector (3) via a cascade (10), and by the fact that said reactor (1) additionally includes a plurality of lateral collectors (4) that connect to said central collector (3), with a second fraction of fluid spilling over the upper edge (4a) of said collectors (4) from the surface of the tank (2), each of said lateral collectors (4) including means (14, 15, 16) of interfering the fluid flow that falls inside them, these means (14, 15, 16) causing mechanical agitation of said second fraction of fluid before its arrival at the central collector (3). Fig 2.