• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    12 ABSTRACT The present disclosure relates to a process arrangement for controlling drymatter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate. Thearrangement comprises a mixing unit 1 configured for mixing dry and liquidmatter of the process stream. The arrangement also comprises a separatingunit 2, configured for being downstream of the mixing unit and for separatingheavy phase particles from the process stream. The arrangement alsocomprises a concentrating unit 3, configured for being downstream of theseparating unit and for removing process water from the process stream,thereby concentrating the dry matter of the biological substrate in saidprocess stream. The arrangement also comprises a first recirculation loop 13aarranged for recirculating at least a part of the process water from theconcentrating unit to the process stream upstream of the separating unit. Thearrangement also comprises a second recirculation loop 14a arranged forrecirculating at least a part of the process stream with concentrated drymatter from downstream of the concentrating unit to the process streamupstream of the separating unit. The arrangement also comprises a flowdetector 41 for measuring in-line the dry matter content of the process streambetween the mixing unit and the separating unit. The arrangement alsocomprises a controller 33 for controlling the recirculation in the firstrecirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry matter content, andfor controlling the recirculation in the second recirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry matter content. (Fig 1)
    公开号:SE538798C2
    申请号:SE1550765
    申请日:2015-06-09
    公开日:2016-11-29
    发明作者:Ek Peter
    申请人:Cellwood Machinery Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    CONTROLLING DRY MATTER CONTENT OF A PROCESS STREAMCOMPRISING A BIOLOGICAL SUBSTRATE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a process and an arrangement for processinga stream of a biological substrate such as food waste or manure comprising removal of heavy phase particles such as stones, sand or glass.
    BACKGROUND Biological waste may be used for e.g. producing biogas in which case thewaste is fed to an anaerobic digester for formation of methane gas, or foranother process using a biosubstrate. Wear and tear of equipment as well assedimentation in buffer tanks is a concern in most pretreatment plantscausing major disruptions and high costs to recover. In order to improve theefficiency of the plant, heavy phase contaminants such as sand and glass (e.g.contaminating food waste from households or supermarkets and which tendto accumulate in a plant over time), as well as excess water, is removed fromthe biological waste before entering the digester. The excess water may beremoved by pressing it from the waste, and the contaminants may beremoved by a separator. Lately, the amount of sand in manure has increased due to sand increasingly being used as bedding for cows.
    SUMMARY A problem with the separation of heavy phase particles by means of aseparator has been observed in that the richness, i.e. the dry matter (DM)content, of the biological waste substrate may vary over time in a processstream, depending on type of substrate and which batch it originates from. Ifthe biological substrate e.g. is liquid manure, the dry matter content may varydepending on whether the manure is from cow or pig, or from which farm orday it originates from. The separating unit may only efficiently separate theheavy phase particles from a process stream when the dry matter (also called solid matter) content of the stream is within a certain range, or the separator may have to be recalibrated when the dry matter content of the stream changes.
    Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improvedprocess for controlling the dry matter content of the process streamcomprising a biological substrate to control fluidity and improve the efficiency of the separating unit.
    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processarrangement for controlling dry matter content of a process streamcomprising a biological substrate. The arrangement comprises a mixing unitconfigured for mixing dry and liquid matter of the process stream. Thearrangement also comprises a separating unit, configured for beingdownstream of the mixing unit and for separating heavy phase particles fromthe process stream. The arrangement also comprises a concentrating unit,configured for being downstream of the separating unit and for removingprocess water from the process stream, thereby concentrating the dry matterof the biological substrate in said process stream. The arrangement alsocomprises a first recirculation loop arranged for recirculating at least a part ofthe process water from the concentrating unit to the process stream upstreamof the separating unit. The arrangement also comprises a secondrecirculation loop arranged for recirculating at least a part of the processstream with concentrated dry matter from downstream of the concentratingunit to the process stream upstream of the separating unit. The arrangementalso comprises a flow detector for measuring in-line the dry matter content ofthe process stream between the mixing unit and the separating unit. Thearrangement also comprises a controller for controlling the recirculationin the first recirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry mattercontent, and for controlling the recirculation in the second recirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry matter content.
    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aprocess for controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate. The process comprises measuring in-line, by means of a flow detector, the dry matter content of the process stream downstream of amixing unit and upstream of a separating unit. The process also comprisescontrolling, based on the measured dry matter content, a first recirculationflow in a first recirculation loop recirculating at least a part of process waterremoved from the process stream in a concentrating unit to the processstream upstream of the separating unit. The process also comprisescontrolling, based on the measured dry matter content, a second recirculationflow in a second recirculation loop recirculating at least a part of the processstream with concentrated dry matter from downstream of the concentrating unit to the process stream upstream of the separating unit.
    By means of the first and second recirculation loops, and the control of therecirculation flows therein, the dry matter content of the process streambeing fed to the separating unit may be automatically controlled within a predetermined desired range, optimising the efficiency of the separating unit.
    The mixing unit may be any type of mixing unit e.g. a tank stirred by meansof a paddle, propeller or the like, or a section of piping conducting the processstream in which the stream is mixed by means of turbulent flow. Either of thefirst and second recirculation loops may recirculate its flow to the mixing unit(eg. tank) or to piping for the process stream between the mixing unit and the separating unit.
    The separating unit may be any type of separating unit suitable for separatingthe heavy phase particles from the process stream, e.g. a cyclone such as a high-density cleaner or hydrocyclone.
    The concentrating unit may be any type of concentrating unit suitable forremoving process water from the process stream, e.g. a press such as a screw press, a decanter, a belt thickener or an evaporator/distiller.
    The controller may comprise one or several control units for controlling therespective flows in the first and second, and the optional third, recirculation loops.
    The biological substrate may comprise biological waste such as food waste and/ or (animal) manure e.g. cow, pig or avian/poultry manure.The heavy phase particles may comprise stones, sand and/ or glass.
    In some embodiments, the process arrangement also comprises a choppingunit for chopping up and homogenising the biological substrate upstream ofthe mixing unit, making the biological substrate more easily mixable and suitable for forming the process stream.
    In some embodiments, the process arrangement also comprises a thirdrecirculation loop arranged for recirculating at least a part of the processstream output from the separating unit to the process stream upstream of theseparating unit. Thus, a part of the stream downstream of the separating unitmay be recirculated and pass again through the separating unit in order toimprove the separation, i.e. to remove a larger percentage of the heavy phaseparticles in the process stream. For instance, half or 2/3 of the output stream may be recirculated.
    In some embodiments, the controller is configured for controlling therecirculation in the first recirculation loop by acting on a first recirculationvalve controlling the flow through the first recirculation loop. The first valvemay e.g. be closed if the process stream according to the flow detector is toodiluted (i.e. contains too much water per volume already), but be open (fullyor to varying degrees) if the process stream according to the flow detector istoo rich (i.e. contains too much dry matter and too little water per volume).Additionally or alternatively, the controller is configured for controlling therecirculation in the second recirculation loop by acting on a secondrecirculation valve controlling the flow through the second recirculation loop.The second valve may e.g. be closed if the process stream according to theflow detector is too rich (i.e. contains too much dry matter and too little waterper volume), but be open (fully or to varying degrees) if the process streamaccording to the flow detector is too diluted (i.e. contains too much water per volume).
    It is to be noted that any feature of any of the aspects may be applied to anyother aspect, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of theaspects may apply to any of the other aspects. Other objectives, features andadvantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the followingdetailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.
    Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to theirordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwiseherein. All references to "a/ an /the element, apparatus, component, means,step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance ofthe element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly statedotherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to beperformed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. The use of“first”, “second” etc. for different features/ components of the presentdisclosure are only intended to distinguish the features/ components fromother similar features / components and not to impart any order or hierarchy to the features / components.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a schematic process chart illustrating embodiments of the process arrangement of the present invention.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments are shown.However, other embodiments in many different forms are possible within thescope of the present disclosure. Rather, the following embodiments areprovided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.
    Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of a process arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
    The process stream (could also be called flow) runs from the mixing unit 1 viathe separating unit 2 to and through the concentrating unit 3. Counter stream flows are called recirculation flows.
    Figure 1 is a schematic process chart illustrating embodiments of the process arrangement of the present invention.
    A biosubstrate, e.g. manure or food waste, having a dry matter content of e.g.3-12% by weight, may be homogenized in a multi-chopper 4 or otherhomogenizing apparatus. The homogenized biosubstrate may be transferredto a mixing unit 1, here in the form of a mixer tank. The mixer tank 1 isconnected via piping 11 and a pump 21 (controlled by a control unit 31, andpossibly a control unit 32 based on a flow rate measured by the detector 41) to a separating unit 2, here in the form of a cyclone.
    The cyclone is configured for separating heavy-phase particles from theprocess stream from the mixer tank via the piping 11. Bypass piping may alsobe provided for allowing a part or all of the process stream of piping 11 tobypass the separating unit 2, e.g. based on the flow rate in the piping 11 at theinput to the separating unit 2 as measured by the detector 43. The outputfrom the separating unit 2 is via piping 12 and 12a transferred to theconcentrating unit 3, here in the form of a screw press. The heavy-phaseparticles separated from the process stream in the separating unit 2 leavesthe separating unit as reject to a reject container. A part or all of theseparating unit output may be recirculated to the mixing unit 1 via the piping12b. Valves 52 and 53 are controlled by the control unit 34 for regulating theflow in pipes 12a and 12b, respectively, e.g. based on measurements of the flow detector 44.
    The process stream may be fed into the concentrating unit 3, e.g. by means ofa pump 22. The concentrating unit removes some of the process water from the process stream, to produce a process stream of thickened substrate (with a higher DM content) and a process water flow. All or a part of the processwater may be transferred to a process water tank 7, e.g. for further use inother processes, via the piping 13 and 13b. However, at least a part of theprocess water flow may be recirculated to the process flow, in the mixing unit1 or between the mixing unit and the separating unit 2, via the piping 13a(forming part of the first recirculation loop as discussed herein). A flowdetector 41 measures the DM content, and possibly also the flow rate (volumeper time), in the piping 11 for the process stream from the mixing unit 1 to theseparating unit 2. A control unit 33 controls a valve 51 of the firstrecirculation loop 13a, based on the readings from the flow detector 41, tocontrol the amount of recirculated process water in view of the DM content in the process stream in the piping 11.
    The thickened biosubstrate of the process stream outputted from theconcentrating unit 3 flows, e.g. by means of the pump 23, in the piping 14 and14b to e.g. an anaerobic digestion chamber or another process usingbiosubstrate. By means of the concentrating unit 3, the excess water has beenremoved from the biosubstrate in the process stream, and by means of theseparating unit 2, the heavy-phase particles have also been removed,providing a biosubstrate which is more suitable for a process usingbiosusbtrate as starting material. However, all or a part of the thickenedsubstrate may be recirculated to the process stream, in the mixing unit 1 orbetween the mixing unit and the separating unit 2, via the piping 14a(forming part of the second recirculation loop as discussed herein). A controlunit 33, possibly the same control unit controlling the recirculation of theprocess water, controls a valve 55 of the second recirculation loop 14a, basedon the readings from the flow detector 41, to control the amount ofrecirculated thickened substrate in view of the DM content in the process stream in the piping 11.
    By means of the first and second recirculation loops 13a and 14a, the DMcontent of the input feed to the separating unit 2 may be optimized forimproved operation of the separating unit and thus improved separation of heavy-phase particles.
    The present disclosure has mainly been described above with reference to afew embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person ski11ed inthe art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equa11ypossible within the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (9)
    [1] 1. A process arrangement for controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate, the arrangement comprising: a mixing unit (1) configured for mixing dry and liquid matter of the process stream; a separating unit (2), configured for being downstream of the mixing unit and for separating heavy phase particles from the process stream; a concentrating unit (3), configured for being downstream of the separating unitand for removing process water from the process stream, thereby concentrating the dry matter of the biological substrate in said process stream; and a first recirculation loop (13a) arranged for recirculating at least a part of theprocess water from the concentrating unit to the process stream upstream of the separating unit;characterized by: a second recirculation loop (14a) arranged for recirculating at least a part of theprocess stream with concentrated dry matter from downstream of the concentrating unit to the process stream upstream of the separating unit; a flow detector (41) for measuring in-line the dry matter content of the process stream between the mixing unit and the separating unit; and a controller (33) for automatically controlling the recirculation in the firstrecirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry matter content, and forcontrolling the recirculation in the second recirculation loop based on the measured in-line the dry matter content.
    [2] 2. The process arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a chopping unit (4) for chopping up and homogenising the biological substrate upstream of the mixing unit.
    [3] 3. The process arrangement of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a third recirculation loop (12b) arranged for recirculating at least a part of theprocess stream output from the separating unit (2) to the process stream upstream of the separating unit.
    [4] 4. The process arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the controller(33) is configured for controlling the recirculation in the first recirculation loop(13a) by acting on a first recirculation valve (51) controlling the flow through thefirst recirculation loop and/ or for controlling the recirculation in the Secondrecirculation loop (14a) by acting on a second recirculation valve (55) controlling the flow through the second recirculation loop.
    [5] 5. The process arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the separating unit (2) is a cyclone.
    [6] 6. The process arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the concentrating unit (3) is a press e.g. a screw press.
    [7] 7. The process arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the biological substrate is any of food waste and manure.
    [8] 8. The process arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the heavy phase particles comprise stones, sand and/ or glass.
    [9] 9. A process for controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate, the process being characterized by: measuring in-1ine, by means of a flow detector (41), the dry matter content of theprocess stream downstream of a mixing unit (1) and upstream of a separatingunit (2); automatically controlling, based on the measured dry matter content, a firstrecircu1ation flow in a first recircu1ation1oop (13a) recirculating at 1east a part ofprocess water removed from the process stream in a concentrating unit (3) to the process stream upstream of the separating unit (2); and automatically controlling, based on the measured dry matter content, a secondrecircu1ation flow in a second recircu1ation1oop (14a) recirculating at 1east a partof the process stream with concentrated dry matter from downstream of the concentrating unit (3) to the process stream upstream of the separating unit.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    Rico et al.2015|High-load anaerobic co-digestion of cheese whey and liquid fraction of dairy manure in a one-stage UASB process: Limits in co-substrates ratio and organic loading rate
    Serrano et al.2015|Improvement of the biomethanization of sewage sludge by thermal pre-treatment and co-digestion with strawberry extrudate
    EP2528871B1|2016-12-07|Method for dephosphorizing manure and/or biomass
    US20170267555A1|2017-09-21|Scrubber wastewater treatment method and scrubber wastewater treatment device
    NZ630405A|2016-04-29|Method for treating a waste stream using a bioreactor and a membrane filter
    Meixner et al.2015|Effect of precipitating agents on centrifugation and ultrafiltration performance of thin stillage digestate
    AT506582A4|2009-10-15|PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS
    CN202226760U|2012-05-23|Sludge aerobic digestion device for intensified sludge reduction
    DK177393B1|2013-03-18|Method and apparatus for extracting or concentrating carbonaceous compounds from a fluid
    Barnes et al.2003|Cellulosic waste degradation by rumen-enhanced anaerobic digestion
    CN106219652B|2019-06-04|High concentration salt manufacturing bittern air-flotation treatment method
    SE538798C2|2016-11-29|Controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate
    CN208648879U|2019-03-26|Integrated MBR sewage-treatment plant
    AU2017276542A1|2018-12-20|Improved sludge dewatering process assisted by flocculating reactant and plant for the implementation of such a process
    CN109650690A|2019-04-19|Kitchen castoff efficient anaerobic produces the processing method that acid produces gas
    JP5301788B2|2013-09-25|Co-fermentation method
    US20180093910A1|2018-04-05|Method and system for anaerobic treatment of organically loaded wastewater
    Haugen et al.1988|Biogas production after solid-liquid separation of dairy manure
    Menkveld et al.2018|AecomixTM for efficient energy recovery from wastewater and waste streams
    JP2005013827A|2005-01-20|Suspended matter separation method and separating apparatus
    CN208308445U|2019-01-01|A kind of energy saver reducing triamine device ammonia recovery system energy consumption
    CN207811267U|2018-09-04|A kind of coking desulfurization waste liquor sulphur processing unit
    CN106277707A|2017-01-04|A kind of second coagulation system for mud continuous dehydration and medicine supply device
    CN211688996U|2020-10-16|Kitchen waste treatment system
    CN207062251U|2018-03-02|A kind of fermentation plant for Effec-tive Function low energy consumption
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP3103863A1|2016-12-14|
    SE1550765A1|2016-11-29|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    MX2010004518A|2007-10-25|2010-07-29|Landmark Structures I Lp|System and method for anaerobic digestion of biomasses.|
    EP2809623A4|2012-02-01|2015-08-26|Maaseudun Voima Oy|Method and system for producing biogas|
    EP2666868A1|2012-05-25|2013-11-27|Michael Niederbacher|Method and device for fermenting biomass containing nitrogen, in particular dry chicken manure, in a biogas assembly|
    US9115214B2|2012-09-24|2015-08-25|Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, Llc|Methods for controlling pretreatment of biomass|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1550765A|SE1550765A1|2015-06-09|2015-06-09|Controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate|SE1550765A| SE1550765A1|2015-06-09|2015-06-09|Controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate|
    EP16173254.0A| EP3103863A1|2015-06-09|2016-06-07|Controlling dry matter content of a process stream comprising a biological substrate|
    [返回顶部]