Installation for the recovery of methane gas from organic waste
OwnerHerbert Pfefferkorninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an installation for the recovery of methane gas from organic waste with a fermentation space, a gas collecting space and a post-fermentation space, as well as with at least one supply line into the fermentation space and one offtake for the excess, fermented liquid from the post-fermentation space, the spaces being heat-insulated and preferably embedded at least partially in the ground, and the post-fermentation space, which preferably is arranged above the fermentation space, being connected in the manner of communicating vessels with the fermentation space, preferably in one structural unit.
Claims24
An apparatus for recovering methane gas from organic waste in thick sludge form comprising
- (a) a chamber sufficiently insulated to allow fermentation of organic waste to take place therein,
- (b) means within said chamber for dividing it into a fermentation space in its lower portion for holding fermenting organic waste, a gas collecting space above the fermenting space for trapping methane gas produced by fermenting waste so that gas trapped therein can cumulatively build up pressure on waste in the fermentation space and a post-collection space in the upper portion of the chamber,
- (c) communication means between the fermentation space and the post-collection space to allow flow of waste from the fermentation space into the post-collection space in response to gas pressure build up in the gas collection space and to allow flow of waste back into the fermentation space upon release of the pressure,
- (d) means for rapidly releasing the pressure of the gas in the gas-collection space to produce flow of waste from the post-collection chamber into the fermentation space of sufficient turbulence to effect break up of any gas impermeable layer which may form on the top of the waste,
- (e) means for activating the pressure release means and deactivating the pressure release means upon release of the pressure to allow a re-build up of pressure, and
- (f) means for introducing to and withdrawing waste from the chamber, wherein the post-fermentation space has an offtake with a hydraulic, siphon-like closure, and the gas-collecting space is connected with a valve means which periodically transfers the gas from the gas-collecting space into the post-fermentation space and at the same time discharges the sludge in portions through a siphon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.