Method and apparatus for aerating organic waste material
AssigneeAnaeco Limited
InventorTomasz Rudas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus are provided for aeration of organic material, wherein the organic material undergoes an aerobic composing process, such that air is caused to evenly penetrate the organic material. The organic material is first sealed in a vessel. Air is then delivered to the contents of the vessel such that an air pressure of from about 1 to about 1000 kPa above atmospheric pressure is maintained in the vessel. A pressure differential initially forms and is then allowed to equilibrate over a period of time, in which time air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure in the organic material thus ensuring that aeration is evenly distributed throughout the organic material.
Claims5
A method for aerating organic material undergoing an aerobic composting process, comprising
- (a) placing the organic material in a rigid pressure-tight vessel which is arranged to be pressurized and sealed and has an interior;
- (b) sealing the vessel;
- (c) delivering compressed air to the interior of the sealed vessel;
- (d) continuing the delivery of compressed air until an air pressure in the vessel is in a range from 1 to 1000 kPa above atmospheric pressure at which point delivery of compressed air is ceased whilst no air is released from the vessel for a period of time;
- (e) allowing air inside the vessel from step (d) to achieve equilibrated pressure inside the vessel so as to ensure even penetration of the organic waste material in the vessel by the compressed air;
- (f) measuring the oxygen content of the air contained in the sealed vessel;
- (g) maintaining pressure inside the vessel from steps (d) and (e) for a period of time to enable an oxygen content of the air to be reduced by action of microorganisms;
- (h) releasing spent air from the vessel when the measured oxygen content falls below a predetermined concentration after step (g) so as to reduce air pressure inside the vessel back to atmospheric pressure;
- and
- (i) after step (h) immediately delivering compressed air to the interior of the vessel.
An apparatus for aerating organic material undergoing an aerobic composting process, which comprises a rigid pressure-tight vessel which is arranged to be pressurized and sealed and has interior means for sealing the vessel, means for immediately delivering compressed air to an interior of the vessel, means for stopping delivery of compressed air to the interior of the vessel when pressure inside the vessel reaches a predetermined level, a valve means for releasing spent air from the vessel, and a means for measuring an oxygen content of the air in the vessel when sealed, the valve means being arranged to be opened when a measured oxygen concentration falls below a predetermined concentration so as to reduce air pressure inside the vessel, means for enabling the vessel to remain sealed for a period of time after cessation of delivery of compressed air and before opening of the valve means, the valve means being arranged to be closed as soon as the oxygen concentration falls below the predetermined concentration, and the means for delivering compressed air to the interior of the vessel being arranged to deliver a fresh charge of compressed air to the interior of the vessel immediately upon closure of the valve means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.