Rotating Fermentation Barrel with Push Plates for Kitchen Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen waste treatment devices face high energy consumption, low fertilizer efficiency, environmental pollution due to waste gases, large size, and complex structure, making them costly and inconvenient for maintenance and installation.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen waste treatment device with a rotating barrel equipped with push plates and a gas inlet/exhaust system for horizontal propulsion and rotational stirring, promoting complete degradation and fermentation with reduced energy consumption, and efficient gas management to minimize air pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heating apparatus is used to achieve fermentation by roasting kitchen wastes, then the fermentation process can be completed, but the energy consumption becomes very high (about 600 kWh/ton)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the self-heating effect generated during aerobic fermentation to maintain the fermentation temperature, eliminating the need for external heating apparatus. The aerobic decomposition process naturally produces heat that sustains the fermentation at optimal temperatures, achieving energy self-sufficiency while completing the fermentation process reliably
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal heating system with a biological-aerobic decomposition system. Instead of using external heat sources to drive fermentation, the system relies on microbial activity and oxidation reactions to generate the necessary heat and complete the fermentation process
2Productivity
If high temperature heating and drying is used to treat kitchen wastes, then the treatment process can be completed, but partial kitchen wastes are carbonized resulting in very low organic fertilizer content and low fertilizer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature processing to moderate temperature range (15-40°C) suitable for aerobic fermentation. This temperature control prevents carbonization while maintaining effective decomposition rates, preserving organic matter and producing high-quality organic fertilizer with retained nutritional value
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs aerobic oxidation using oxygen from air to decompose organic matter. This oxidation process occurs at lower temperatures compared to thermal decomposition, preventing carbonization while achieving complete breakdown of kitchen waste into valuable organic fertilizers
3Ease of operation
If fermentation barrels are mounted in densely populated residential areas, then the device can be conveniently located, but the waste gases produced during fermentation greatly pollute the surrounding environment and air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste gases produced during fermentation into beneficial outputs. The aerobic fermentation process transforms potential pollutants into carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat, which are then utilized or safely discharged. The system may also capture and utilize the generated heat, turning what would be waste energy into a useful resource
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary gas exchange system that mediates between the fermentation process and the surrounding environment. This system controls gas flow, allows beneficial gas exchange, and prevents harmful gas accumulation, enabling the device to operate in residential areas without causing pollution
4Reliability
If a stirring device is provided inside the fermentation barrel, then the fermentation process can be enhanced, but the fermentation barrel has large volume and occupies large area increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for mechanical stirring devices by utilizing the natural convection currents and gas flow within the fermentation barrel. The aerobic decomposition process creates internal mixing through gas evolution and material decomposition, achieving effective fermentation without additional mechanical components that would increase volume and cost
5Reliability
If a heating apparatus and stirring device are provided inside the fermentation barrel, then the fermentation process can be controlled, but the structure becomes complicated and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heating apparatus and mechanical stirring device from the fermentation barrel, replacing them with a simplified aerobic fermentation system. This extraction eliminates complex mechanical and thermal control systems while maintaining effective fermentation control through biological and chemical processes
Solution Approach 2:
The fermentation system controls itself through natural aerobic decomposition processes. The microbial activity and oxidation reactions automatically regulate temperature, mixing, and decomposition rates without requiring external control mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliable fermentation control
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 device achieves high degradation efficiency, low energy consumption, and high fertilizer quality, while reducing environmental impact through effective gas handling and simplified structure, making it suitable for large-scale application.
Implementation Method 1
the power apparatus is connected to the barrel body in a driving way to drive the barrel body to rotate around its axis; when the barrel body rotates, the push plates push materials in the material chamber to move along an axial direction of the barrel body
Implementation Method 2
the main fermentation barrel further comprises a gas inlet system and a gas exhaust system, wherein gas inlets of the gas inlet system and the discharge outlet are located at a same end of the barrel body, and the gas inlets communicate with the material chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen waste treatment device in environment-protection-device field comprises a main fermentation barrel comprising a barrel body mounted on supporting brackets and including a feed inlet, a discharge outlet and a material chamber, push plates located within the material chamber to push materials therein to move along barrel body axial direction and further a gas inlet system having gas inlets located at same barrel body end as the discharge outlet and a gas-exhaust system having gas-exhaust ports located at same barrel body end as the feed inlet; a feeding apparatus whose feed end communicates with the feed inlet; and a power apparatus driving the barrel body to rotate around its axis. The gas inlets/gas-exhaust ports communicate with the material chamber. The treatment device has simple compact structure and small occupied area and realizes material horizontal propulsion and repeated rotational-stirring in the barrel body by barrel body rotation, achieving material-degrading-and-fermenting object.