Storage Tank Water Separator for Biological Feedstock Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the storage of biological feedstock in tanks, the separation of water from the feedstock leads to the growth of microorganisms, resulting in the formation of unwanted gases like hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, which can be flammable, explosive, and corrosive, posing safety risks due to potential hydrogen explosions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that reduce unwanted gas formation by partially removing the aqueous phase from the storage tank using a filtering and water separation system, inhibiting microorganism growth and activity, thereby enhancing tank safety. This involves a storage tank system with a filtering system, water separator, and material transfer system to remove free water and sludge, ensuring only the fatty or oily phase remains, reducing gas formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If biological feedstock is stored in storage tanks at elevated temperature for varying storage periods, then the feedstock can be stored and transported, but water separates and accumulates in the lower part of the tank forming an aqueous phase that enables microorganism growth and generates unwanted gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the aqueous phase from the storage tank system. A water separator is installed to continuously or periodically extract accumulated water from the lower part of the tank, thereby removing the medium that supports microorganism growth and prevents unwanted gas formation while maintaining the storage function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a water separator and associated piping to mediate between the storage tank and the external environment. This intermediary device selectively removes the harmful aqueous phase while leaving the biological feedstock intact, resolving the contradiction between storage and gas formation.
2Reliability
If water is allowed to accumulate in the storage tank to maintain storage conditions, then feedstock storage is facilitated, but microorganism growth is enabled leading to flammable, explosive, and corrosive gas production
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful aqueous phase is extracted from the system using a water separator that removes accumulated water from the storage tank. This extraction eliminates the breeding ground for microorganisms while preserving the storage function, thereby maintaining reliability without safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water accumulation into a beneficial separation process. By allowing water to accumulate and then systematically removing it through the water separator, the system transforms a potential hazard into a controlled process that enhances safety while maintaining storage stability.
3Device complexity
If the storage tank operates without water removal systems, then the system remains simple, but hydrogen content may exceed the lower explosion limit creating severe damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
A water separator is introduced as an intermediary safety device between the storage tank and the environment. This relatively simple addition provides continuous or periodic water removal, preventing microorganism growth and gas accumulation, thereby ensuring explosion safety with minimal increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water separator system operates autonomously to remove accumulated water from the storage tank, providing self-service water removal without requiring complex control systems or continuous human intervention. This maintains system simplicity while ensuring reliable safety functionality.
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 reduction of unwanted gas formation improves the safety of the storage tank system by minimizing the risk of explosions and corrosion, ensuring a safer storage environment for biological feedstock intended for renewable hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
water is typically separated from the biological material and accumulated into the lower part of a storage tank so that an aqueous phase is formed
Data Source
AI summary
A storage tank system includes a storage tank for storing biological feedstock, a filtering system configured to separate sludge from the biological feedstock, and a water separator configured to separate water from the biological feedstock. A material transfer system transfers biological feedstock from the lower portion of the storage tank via the filtering system to the water separator and, from the water separator, residual biological feedstock from which water has been removed at least partially back to the storage tank. The removal of water reduces unwanted gas generation by microbiological reactions, and safety of the storage tank system is improved.