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US 4,350,588 AGranted
Biological fermentation device
OwnerJunjiro Tsubotainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Biological fermentation of organic matter is conducted in a single, unitary, integral vessel with both aerobic and anaerobic processes being conducted within that single vessel. Heat generated in the aerobic process is used to maintain the temperature of the anaerobic process at a desired level, and high molecular weight organic materials are reduced to matter having low molecular weight in that aerobic process. Low molecular weight material is transferred to a chamber in the vessel to be fermented in the anaerobic process.
Claims34
A device for conducting fermentation of materials comprising:
- a unitary insulated vessel having an inlet for organic material to be fermented;
- a partition mounted in said vessel dividing said vessel into an aerobic fermentation chamber and an anaerobic fermentation chamber, said partition including a conical portion and a downcomer means, said aerobic chamber being in fluid communication with said inlet and said anaerobic chamber, said partition supporting the organic material and being constructed of material capable of transferring heat from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber in quantities sufficient so that an anaerobic fermentation process conducted in said anaerobic chamber occurs at a desired temperature;
- material separating means in said aerobic chamber separating material in said aerobic chamber into high and low molecular weight groups;
- air ingesting means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- material transfer means mounted in said vessel to transfer said low molecular weight material from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber while retaining said high molecular weight material in said aerobic chamber so that anaerobic fermentation occurs with the low molecular weight material;
- gas bleed means fluidly connected to said anaerobic chamber;
- a gas vent means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- and
- sludge removal means connected to said anaerobic chamber.
6 more elements
A device for conducting fermentation of materials comprising:
- a unitary insulated vessel having an inlet for organic material to be fermented;
- a partition mounted in said vessel dividing said vessel into an aerobic fermentation chamber and an anaerobic fermentation chamber, said aerobic chamber being in fluid communication with said inlet and said anaerobic chamber, said partition supporting the organic material and being constructed of material capable of transferring heat from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber in quantities sufficient so that an anaerobic fermentation process conducted in said anaerobic chamber occurs at a desired temperature;
- material separating means in said aerobic chamber separating material in said aerobic chamber into high and low molecular weight groups;
- air ingesting means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- an auger material transfer means mounted in said vessel to transfer said low molecular weight material from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber while retaining said high molecular weight material in said aerobic chamber so that anaerobic fermentation occurs with the low molecular weight material;
- gas bleed means fluidly connected to said anaerobic chamber;
- a gas vent means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- and
- sludge removal means connected to said anaerobic chamber.
6 more elements
A device for conducting fermentation of materials comprising:
- a unitary insulated vessel having an inlet for organic material to be fermented;
- a partition mounted in said vessel dividing said vessel into an aerobic fermentation chamber and an anaerobic fermentation chamber, said aerobic chamber being in fluid communication with said inlet and said anaerobic chamber, said partition supporting the organic material and being constructed of material capable of transferring heat from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber in quantities sufficient so that an anaerobic fermentation process conducted in said anaerobic chamber occurs at a desired temperature;
- material separating means in said aerobic chamber separating material in said aerobic chamber into high and low molecular weight groups;
- air ingesting means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- a cascade material transfer means mounted in said vessel to transfer said low molecular weight material from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber while retaining said high molecular weight material in said aerobic chamber so that anaerobic fermentation occurs with the low molecular weight material;
- gas bleed means fluidly connected to said anaerobic chamber;
- a gas vent means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- and
- sludge removal means connected to said anaerobic chamber.
6 more elements
A device for conducting fermentation of materials comprising:
- a unitary insulated vessel having an inlet for organic material to be fermented;
- a partition mounted in said vessel dividing said vessel into an aerobic fermentation chamber and an anaerobic fermentation chamber, said aerobic chamber being in fluid communication with said inlet and said anaerobic chamber, said partition supporting the organic material and being constructed of material capable of transferring heat from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber in quantities sufficient so that an anaerobic fermentation process conducted in said anaerobic chamber occurs at a desired temperature;
- material separating means in said aerobic chamber separating material in said aerobic chamber into high and low molecular weight groups;
- air ingesting means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- a helical flume material transfer means mounted in said aerobic chamber to transfer said low molecular weight material from said aerobic chamber to said anaerobic chamber while retaining said high molecular weight material in said aerobic chamber so that anaerobic fermentation occurs with the low molecular weight material;
- gas bleed means fluidly connected to said anaerobic chamber;
- a gas vent means fluidly connected to said aerobic chamber;
- and
- sludge removal means connected to said anaerobic chamber.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.