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US 5,175,106 AGranted
Method and apparatus for improving efficiency of fluid use and odor control in in-vessel composting systems
OwnerJohn G. Laurenson, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for improving the efficient use of fluid and for improving the odor control in in-vessel composting. The method includes the re-use of exhaust fluid from a first composting reactor in a second composting reactor in a single multiple chain system. Improved odor control is achieved by the provision of an odor control device interposed in the fluid stream from the first composting reactor to the second composting reactor and passing exhaust fluid from the first reactor through the odor control device to remove pollutants therefrom before re-use in the second composting reactor. The exhaust fluid from the second composting reactor may also be passed through the odor control device before it is exhausted to the atmosphere.
Claims19
A method for in-vessel composting of organic waste material comprising:
- providing an in-vessel system comprising a first compost reactor and a second compost reactor, said first compost reactor including a first organic waste containment vessel, and said first containment vessel having a first fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said first reactor, said first distribution means comprising a plurality of lance means for controlling flow of process fluid in the waste material, said second compost reactor including a second organic waste containment vessel, and said second containment vessel having a second fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said second reactor, said second distribution means comprising a plurality of said lance means, said lance means including a tubular outer porous wall and tubular inner fluid flow control insert concentrically positioned within said tubular inner flow control insert concentrically positioned within said tubular outer porous wall so as to define an annular space therebetween, at least one gasket sealingly engaged and adjustably mounted on said insert between said insert and said wall so as to divide said annular space into at least two variable zones, and said tubular insert also having a plurality of openings positioned along the length thereof so that each of said variable zones is in flow communication with at least one of said openings:
- introducing process fluid to said first reactor by injecting said process fluid through said first distribution means;
- exhausting at least partially spent process fluid from said first compost reactor by drawing it out of said first reactor through said first distribution means;
- passing at least a portion of said at least partially spent process fluid from said first reactor to said second reactor for use as process fluid for said second reactor.
1 more element
A method for in-vessel composting of organic waste material comprising:
- providing an in-vessel system comprising a first compost reactor and a second compost reactor, said first compost reactor including a first organic waste containment vessel, and said first containment vessel having a first fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said first reactor, said first distribution means comprising a plurality of lance means for controlling flow of process fluid in the waste material, said second compost reactor including a second organic waste containment vessel, and said second containment vessel having a second fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said second reactor, said second distribution means comprising a plurality of said lance means, said lance means including a tubular outer porous wall and a tubular inner fluid flow control insert concentrically positioned within said tubular outer porous wall so as to define an annular space therebetween, at least one gasket sealingly engaged and adjustably mounted on said insert between said insert and said wall so as to divide said annular space into at least two variable zones, and said tubular insert also having a plurality of openings positioned along the length thereof so that each of said variable zones is in flow communication with at least one of said openings;
- (a) introducing process fluid to said first reactor by injecting said process fluid through said first distribution means;
- (b) exhausting at least partially spent process fluid from said first compost reactor by drawing it out of said first reactor through said first distribution means;
- (c) passing said at least partially spent process fluid from said first reactor through an odor control means for the removal of pollutants;
- (d) passing at least a portion of process fluid exhausted from the odor control means to the second reactor for use as process fluid for the second reactor.
2 more elements
An in-vessel system for composting organic waste material comprising:
- a first compost reactor and a second compost reactor, said first compost reactor inducing a first organic waste containment vessel, and said first containment vessel having a first fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said first reactor, said first distribution means comprising a plurality of lance means for controlling flow of process fluid in the waste material, said second compost reactor including a second organic waste containment vessel, and said second containment vessel having a second fluid injection and distribution means for injecting and evacuating process fluid in said second reactor, said second distribution means comprising a plurality of said lance means, said lance means including a tubular outer porous wall and a tubular inner fluid flow control insert concentrically positioned within said tubular outer porous wall so as to define an annular space therebetween, at least one gasket sealingly engaged and adjustably mounted on said insert between said insert and said wall so as to divide said annular space into at least two variable zones, and said tubular insert also having a plurality of openings positioned along the length thereof so that each of said variable zones is in flow communication with at least one of said openings, and odor control means for the removal of pollutants, said system further comprising;
- means for passing process fluid which is exhausted from said first reactor through said odor control means, and
- means for passing at least a portion of process fluid exhausted from said odor control means to said second reactor for use as process fluid in said second reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.