WO2012169983A2

WO2012169983A2 - System for fermenting organic materials and/or wastes

Info

Publication number: WO2012169983A2
Application number: PCT/TR2012/000098
Authority: WO
Inventors: M. Orhun CETIN
Original assignee: Eys Metal Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi
Priority date: 2011-06-10
Filing date: 2012-06-11
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: TR201105713A2; WO2012169983A3

Abstract

The invention is related to aerobic fermentation system, which comprises at least one drum (2) for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes, at least one propulsion mechanism (7) for rotating the drum, at least one entrance (93) for feeding the material and/or waste into the drum, at least one exit (94) to discharge the materials and/or wastes from the drum, at least one inlet (94) providing the oxygen needed for the reaction within the drum, and at least one outlet hole (96) to exhaust the air and gases within the drum; and the system is characterized in that, it comprises a drum (2) for keeping the heat arising as a result of the aerobic fermentation, which is made of polymer material for protection against corrosive effects.

Description

DESCRIPTION

SYSTEM FOR FERMENTING ORGANIC MATERIALS AND/OR WASTES Technical Field

The invention is related to the system providing the disinfection of the organic materials and/or wastes by increasing temperature thereof to a desired level with aerobic fermentation and convert them into manure by decaying (by mineralization).

Especially, the invention is related to the system for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes by the virtue of the temperature obtained by aerobic fermentation.

Prior Art

Compost is the stabilized and mineralized products of various organic materials, which can be decomposed biochemically, by organisms. Composting is the aerobic decay and stabilization of solid organic materials by microorganisms, in appropriate environmental conditions. The end product is a hygienic soil like material, which is stable and rich in humus. The object of the composting process is to provide the biological decomposition of wastes without harming the environment. Composting may be seen as the recovery of biologically decomposable part of the waste and making it reusable. This process reduces the volume, mass and moisture of biologically degradable waste and turns it into a valuable soil improver. Solid wastes have a heterogeneous structure and their biologic decomposition is troublesome. The best solution is to minimize the solid waste production and return it back to the system by recycling.

In order to transform the organic materials and/or wastes into a usable product, they must reach to a specific temperature in the appropriate system and the activity of the bacterium must the maximized. Thus, the decomposition rate of the organic material and/or waste peaks. However, in order to reach the desired temperature, it is beneficial to use the least possible amount of energy.

Drum may be used for the composting process. By fermenting (aerobic or anaerobic) the organic material and/or waste in the drum, the material or waste becomes utilizable.

One of them is the patent application TR200002210 with the title "A Drum and Relevant Machine". The abstract of the invention is: "Invention is related to a drum intended for a waste processing machine and for such a machine. The drum comprises a stretched rotary case containing an external and an internal part; and lastly comprises the aforementioned big cutters, small cutters and points. The drum comprises a constant transversal entry wall for processing the waste; there are two openings and transversal exit for the waste in here and it rotates simultaneously with the rotary case. This wall comprises two openings. However, in the said embodiment, the process is executed with the least possible amount of energy.

Besides, the material of the drum, which is present in the recycling system of the organic materials and/or wastes, is also very important. Because, this is the only way to provide the protection of heat necessary for the decomposition of the organic materials and/or wastes and to protect the drum against abrasion.

Various materials were tested as drum material. For example; carbon steel or hot-dip galvanized steel materials were used. However, it was found out that these materials were non durable against the corrosive environment and were damaged in long term usage. Additionally, stainless steel was also tested. Although they were providing protection against the corrosion, they were failing in heat isolation. In addition to high cost of stainless steel, providing heat insulation by insulating materials increases the cost of the system and its price exceeds the affordable amount. In addition to these, mechanical and thermal stresses lead to cracks in the metal drums working 7/24 continuously.

Due to these drawbacks of the prior art, new constructions comprising a drum, which provides the recovery of organic materials and/or wastes with minimum energy, does not need an extra heat insulation, resistant to corrosive effects, and has an affordable price, are needed.

Object of the Invention

The present invention is related to the system used for fermenting organic materials and/or wastes, which meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates all the drawbacks and brings additional advantages.

The object of the invention is to provide a system which provides the disinfection of the organic materials and/or wastes by the heat arising with the aerobic fermentation or convert them into manure by decaying (by mineralization) and thus, contributes to the environment. It is the object of the invention to provide a drum, which is economic, light weight, affordable and resistant to corrosive effects thanks to its construction done with various polymer (such as PE, HDPE etc.) materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which minimizes the energy, space and time losses of facilities processing high amounts of organic wastes, by shortening the fermentation time of the fermented organic materials and/or wastes in a controlled manner.

It is the intention of the invention to increase the temperature of the organic materials and/or wastes to the desired values by using merely the heat arising from the aerobic fermentation, without needing any extra energy sources, except the kinetic energy needed for the motion of the system of its own.

In order to fulfill the objects mentioned above, the invention provides an aerobic fermentation system, which comprises at least one drum for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes, at least one propulsion mechanism for rotating the drum, at least one entrance for feeding the material and/or waste into the drum, at least one exit to discharge the materials and/or wastes from the drum, at least one inlet providing the oxygen needed for the reaction within the drum, and at least one outlet hole to exhaust the air and gases within the drum; and the system is characterized in that, it comprises a drum for keeping the heat arising as a result of the aerobic fermentation, which is made of polymer material for protection against corrosive effects.

The structural and the characteristic features and all advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly with the detailed description written by referring to the following figures and therefore the evaluation needs to be done by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Brief Description of the Figures

Embodiment of the present invention and advantages thereof with the additional components must be considered together with the figures explained below in order to be fully understood.

Figure 1 : View of the system subject to the invention, which is used for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes.

Figure 2: View of the entrance plate of the drum present in the system subject to the invention.

Figure 3: View of the exit plate of the drum present in the system subject to the invention. Scaling of drawings is not absolutely required and details, which are not needed for understanding the present invention can be neglected. Furthermore, elements, which are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions, are indicated with the same number.

Reference Numbers

1. System

2. Drum

3. Bedding element

4. Material preparation unit

5. Drum ring

6. Sucking element

7. Propulsion mechanism

70. Motion transfer element

71. Propulsion element.

8. Control panel

9. Drum plate

91. Entrance plate

92. Exit plate

93. Material entrance

94. Material exit and oxygen inlet

95. Leakproof part

96. Air outlet hole

97. Fixed surface

98. Rotating surface

10. Housing element

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, preferred embodiments of the system (1) used for fermenting organic materials and/or wastes, according to the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject without constituting any restrictive effect.

In figure 1 , a detailed view of the system subject to the invention, which is used for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes, is given. Organic materials and/or wastes must be prepared for the system (1 ), before they are fermented within the system (1 ). Therefore, the organic materials and/or wastes must be physically broken into pieces and their humidity rate must be adjusted to the range of 50-75 %. Therefore, materials with low humidity are moistened in the blending tanks and fed to the drum (2). On the other hand, in the case of materials with high humidity; both the adjustment of the humidity rate and the preparation of the solid phase (faeces) obtained by separating the solid and the liquid phase for feeding into the drum (2) are provided in the material preparation unit (4).

Materials prepared in the material preparation unit (4) in accordance with the desired dimensions and humidity, are fed into the drum (2). This full automatic conveying procedure is realized by the PLC controlled electric control panel (8) of the system (1 ). In order to facilitate the entry (93) of the materials in to the drum (2), preferably a helical charge device is used.

On the other hand, a propulsion mechanism (7) present in the system (1) is composed of a motion transfer element (70) and a propulsion element (71 ). The motion transfer element (70) located on the motor (the propulsion element (71 )) preferably has a chained gear part. The drum (2) is continuously rotated with the propulsion mechanism (7). Thus, a continuous and homogenous mixing of the material in the drum (2) is obtained.

In Figure 3, the entrance plate of the drum and in Figure 4, exit plate of the drum are illustrated. The drum plates (9) are provided at the entrance (91 ) and the exit (92) of the drum. The fixed surface (97) and the rotating surface (98) are present on these plates (91 , 92). The plates (91 , 92) are constant during the rotation of the drum (2). This immobilization is necessary for the material volume within the drum (2). A material exit (94) is provided on the drum exit plate (92) for the material to outpour. Housing element (10) is utilized for immobilization. Between the fixed surface (97) and the rotating surface (98) of the plates (91 , 92) a leakproof part (95) is provided to prevent leaking. In this part, materials such as felt, plastic, rubber, Teflon, polyethylene, kestamid and/or preferably steel lining, which are leakproof, resistant to friction, easily found and replaced, are used.

There also systems in which, plates, which are unfixed with respect to the rotation of the drum, are provided at the entrance (91 ) and exit (92) of the drum (2). However, as the material entrance (93) and exit (94) are provided at the central axis of the drum (2), only less than half of the inner volume of the drum (2) can be utilized.

The rotation and/or trundle process by rotation of the drum (2) is realized on and/or at the axis of the bedding elements (3) with ball bearing composed of preferably two or more element. Additionally, there are rings (5) provided on the drum (2). By means of these rings (5) provided on the drum (2), the drum rolls on these rings (5) and the drum, which works 7 days/24 hours is protected from any possible damage of bedding elements (3).

The temperature increases of the organic material blended continuously in the drum (2) are watched continuously by temperature measurement tools mounted on the drum (2), and the control is provided on a PLC, computer or a similar logical control tool connected to the electric control board (8) comprising the system (1 ) control by transferring all the data to a digital medium. Additionally, the system (1) can be controlled also manually if desired.

Depending on the data entered previously into the board (8) by the user, as the drum (2) reaches to the desired temperature, the sucking element (6), which is preferably used a ventilator and provided on the system (1 ), starts to operate. Thanks to the sucking element

(6) ; fresh air, namely plentiful amount of oxygen essential for the reaction within the drum (2) is taken into the drum, thanks to the inlet (94); and on the other hand, the air in the drum (2) is exhausted via air outlet door (96) together with the exhaust gases. As the general temperature in the drum (2) decreases a little, conversely the oxygen amount necessary for the reaction of the material increases, and consequently the temperature rises again and this cycle continuous in the same way. In cases where the temperature of the material is below the desired level, the necessary minimum oxygen amount is provided by making the sucking element (6) work at low revolutions.

When the material is continuously fed into the drum (2), the material within the drum behaves like a fluid and outpours from the material exit (94) located on the drum exit plate (92). Therefore, after the drum (2) is filled, an amount of material (2) equal to the amount entering the drum, exits the drum. This situation gives the opportunity to determine the duration, in which the material stays in the drum (2), and the control of this duration by the control panel (8).

The exit (94) of the material within the drum (2) and the entry of oxygen (94) necessary for the reaction within the drum (2) takes place at the same location. As an alternative embodiment, they may be done from different locations.

While protecting the drum (2) from the outer effects, the housing element (10) also serves as an isolator to protect the drum (2) from heat losses. Additionally it serves as a chassis and carries the system. The most important point to pay attention in this system (1 ) is the material from which the drum (2) is made of. Due to the organic structure of the material within the drum (2), the material must be corrosion resistant and must have heat isolation in order to protect the material from heat loss. Therefore, a drum (2) made of polymer material is used.

However, an important point -of the polymer used as drum (2) material- to take into consideration is that, the length of the drum (2) is variable due to the temperatures within the drum (2). The inner temperature of the drum (2) reaches to 70°C. In this case, the increase in the length of the drum (2) does not exceed 20 mm. Therefore, the bedding elements (3), which rotate the drum (2), are designed in a way to compensate this lengthening. Also the separation of the chained gear part, which is the motion transfer element (70) of the drum, from the axis is prevented and thus, possible lengthenings through the exit plate (92) of the drum are provided.

Additionally, there is no need for someone to be near to the system (1 ) in order to watch the system works (1 ). The system (1 ) can be watched also via internet.

Claims

1. The invention is related to an aerobic fermentation system (1 ), which comprises at least one drum (2) for fermenting the organic materials and/or wastes, at least one propulsion mechanism (7) for rotating the drum, at least one entrance (93) for feeding the material and/or waste into the drum, at least one exit (94) to discharge the materials and/or wastes from the drum/ at least one inlet (94) providing the oxygen needed for the reaction within the drum, and at least one outlet hole (96) to exhaust the air and gases within the drum; and the system is characterized in that, it comprises a drum (2) for keeping the heat arising as a result of the aerobic fermentation, which is made of polymer material for protection against corrosive effects.

2. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, it comprises a sucking element (6), which is located in front of the air outlet hole (96) and facilitates the discharge of the air and the gases within the drum (2).

3. A system (1 ) according to Claim 2, characterized in that, the sucking element (6) is fan.

4. A system (1 ) according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, it comprises a bedding element (3) providing the rotation of the said drum (2).

5. A system (1 ) according to Claim 4, characterized in that, the said bedding element (3) is ball bearing.

6. A system (1 ) according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, it comprises a drum ring (5) located on the said drum (2), which protects the said drum (2) against the damages from bedding element (3).

7. A system (1 ) according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, it comprises a control panel (8) which measures the temperature increases of the organic materials and/or wastes within the said drum (2).