System and method for conveying effluent from a tissue digester

A tissue digester comprising:

• a fluid container having an upper region and a lower region;
• a first drain extending from within the fluid container at the lower region and in selective fluid communication with a first drain conduit;
• and
• a second drain associated with the upper region of the fluid container and associated with a second drain conduit,
• wherein fluid within the fluid container is permitted to exit the second drain only when at least a level of the fluid at the second drain is at least at an elevation of the second drain.

A method of operating a tissue digester, the tissue digester comprising a fluid container having an upper region and a lower region;

• a first drain extending from within the fluid container at the lower region and in selective fluid communication with a first drain conduit;
• a second drain extending from within the fluid container at the upper region and associated with a second drain conduit;
• and a divider within the fluid container projecting from an inner sidewall of the fluid container from a first elevation at or beneath that of the second drain to a second elevation above the second drain thereby to form, with the inner sidewall, a trough, wherein fluid within the fluid container is permitted to enter the trough thereby to exit the second drain only when at least a level of the fluid in the fluid container exceeds the second elevation,
• the method comprising:
• initiating a tissue digestion by submerging at least remains within an alkaline liquid within the fluid container, wherein a fluid level of the alkaline liquid and resulting effluent during the tissue digestion remains below the second elevation;
• after at least some tissue digestion, causing the fluid level of the effluent to rise to above the second elevation thereby to permit an upper stratum of the effluent to enter into the trough;
• and
• after permitting the upper stratum of the effluent to enter into the trough, draining a remainder of the effluent via the first drain.

A method of operating a tissue digester, the tissue digester comprising a fluid container having an upper region and a lower region;

• a first drain extending from within the fluid container at the lower region and in selective fluid communication with a first drain conduit;
• and a second drain associated with the upper region of the fluid container and associated with a second drain conduit, wherein fluid within the fluid container is permitted to exit the second drain only when at least a level of the fluid at the second drain is at least at an elevation of the second drain,
• the method comprising:
• initiating a tissue digestion by submerging at least remains within an alkaline liquid within the fluid container thereby to produce an effluent;
• after at least some tissue digestion, causing an upper stratum of the effluent to enter into the second drain;
• and
• after permitting the upper stratum of the effluent to enter into the second drain, draining a remainder of the effluent via the first drain.