Anaerobic digester with self-delivery of accumulated solids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023192518-A1
Application number	US-202218085769-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2022
Priority date	Dec 22, 2021
Publication date	Jun 22, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Self-delivering digester 100s with self-delivery of accumulated solids are described. A primary waste vessel includes a feeding port for kitchen waste, and an upper output component that connects to a top of the primary waste vessel. The upper output component includes a gas output path from a top of the upper output component, and a floating solids output path that delivers floating solids that overflow from the top of the primary waste vessel to a secondary vessel thereby preventing clogging of the gas output path.

First claim

Therefore, we claim:

1 . A self-delivering digester, comprising:
a primary waste vessel comprising a feeding port for kitchen waste; and an upper output component that connects to a top of the primary waste vessel, the upper output component comprising:
a gas output path from a top of the upper output component; and
a floating solids output path that delivers floating solids that overflow from the top of the primary waste vessel to a secondary vessel.

2 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , wherein the secondary vessel comprises an effluent output port or path.

3 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper collection container that collects floating solids from a top of the secondary vessel, the upper collection container comprising an openable lid that enables removal of the floating solids.

4 . The self-delivering digester of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the upper collection container is transparent.

5 . The self-delivering digester of claim 3 , wherein the upper collection container comprises a secondary gas output path that collects gas from the upper collection container.

6 . The self-delivering digester of claim 5 , wherein the secondary gas output path comprises a valve that is closeable to isolate a gas system from the upper collection container when the openable lid is opened for removal of the floating solids.

7 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower collection container that collects sludge from a bottom of the secondary vessel.

8 . The self-delivering digester of claim 6 , wherein the lower collection container comprises a cleaning port or cleaning valve for sludge removal.

9 . The self-delivering digester of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the lower collection container is transparent.

10 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , wherein the primary waste vessel comprises a lower outlet that allows sludge to migrate to the secondary vessel.

11 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , wherein the primary waste vessel comprises an upper section and a lower section.

12 . The self-delivering digester of claim 11 , wherein the upper section and the lower section are connected through a packed bed 319 comprising a u-shaped inlet tube.

13 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the self-delivering digester 100 is insulated using polyisocyanurate foam.

14 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , further comprising at least one heating element that heats at least one of the primary waste vessel and the secondary vessel.

15 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , further comprising a gas recirculation system that operates periodically or on a predetermined schedule.

16 . The self-delivering digester of claim 15 , wherein the gas recirculation system comprises a double gas diaphragm pump that delivers two separate streams of recirculated gas to the primary waste vessel and the secondary vessel.

17 . The self-delivering digester of claim 1 , wherein the secondary vessel is internal or external to the primary waste vessel.

18 . A system, comprising:
a primary vessel; and an output component that connects to a top of the primary vessel, the output component comprising:
a gas output path from a top of the upper output component; and
a floating solids output path that delivers floating solids that overflow from the top of the primary vessel to a secondary vessel.

19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
an upper collection container that collects floating solids from a top of the secondary vessel, the upper collection container comprising an openable lid that enables removal of the floating solids.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the primary waste vessel comprises an upper section and a lower section that are connected through a packed bed 319 comprising a u-shaped inlet tube.

Assignees

• Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc

Inventors

• Chambers Benjamin
• Dowell Zachary D

Classifications

• C02F11/04 Primary

  Anaerobic treatment; Production of methane by such processes · CPC title

• C02F3/2846 Primary

  using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket [UASB] reactors · CPC title

• C02F2303/14

  Maintenance of water treatment installations · CPC title

• C02F2203/006

  details of construction, e.g. specially adapted seals, modules, connections · CPC title

• C02F3/2893

  with biogas recycling · CPC title