Vacuum retort anaerobic digestion (VRAD) system and process

Abstract

This invention pertains generally to anaerobic digesters, and more particularly to a system and process that extends the range of acceptable biomass feedstock concentrations and provides pH process control of all known digestion processes: by the creation of a vacuum or vacuum retort in or before the digester that essentially acts to boil off excess liquid, thickening the liquor of the digester to an optimum value; and to control the pH of the various phases or stages of digestion by separating the component products of digestion and mixing or diffusing a portion of said component products into the mixing system of each phase of the process. A system and process: that produces a potable water effluent, clean commercially useful by-products, zero environmental emissions, a very positive ecological impact; and, that has the capability of being completely self powered plus providing energy back to the community or industry that supports or owns it.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.