US 7,604,744 B2 · System and method for processing organic waste material

Abstract

A method is provided for maintaining a biomass disposed on a substrate in a bioreactor tank. The bioreactor tank has an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a waste treatment system whereby an influent fluid may be selectively introduced through the inlet into the bioreactor tank for removal of waste material therefrom. This produces an effluent fluid which can be returned through the outlet to the waste treatment system. The method comprises processing a quantity of influent fluid through the bioreactor tank to produce a quantity of effluent fluid and removing the effluent fluid from the bioreactor tank through the outlet. The method further comprises isolating the bioreactor tank from the waste treatment system and establishing a set of dry cycle conditions in the bioreactor tank. The dry cycle conditions are selected to effect endogenous growth within at least a portion of the biomass whereby an average age of the at least a portion of the biomass may be tailored. The method also comprises restoring the bioreactor tank connection to the waste treatment system.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A waste material processing system comprising:

a plurality of bioreactors each having a bioreactor tank with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and having a microorganism biomass disposed therein, the bioreactor tank being adapted for receiving an influent through the fluid inlet, passing the influent through the biomass for removal of waste material from the influent to produce an effluent fluid, and dispensing the effluent through the fluid outlet;
a piping arrangement adapted for interconnecting the plurality of bioreactors and for providing selective fluid communication therebetween, and
a control system configured for monitoring wet cycle and dry cycle conditions in the bioreactor tanks,
wherein at least one bioreactor of the plurality of bioreactors is adapted for being selectively removed from fluid communication with the other bioreactors and for establishment of a set of dry cycle conditions within the tank of each of the at least one bioreactor when conditions monitored by the control system meet predetermined criteria, the dry cycle conditions being selected to effect endogenous growth within at least a portion of the biomass of each of the at least one bioreactor.

1 more element

A method of operating a waste material processing system having a plurality of bioreactors each having a bioreactor with a microorganism biomass disposed therein, the plurality of bioreactors being selectively interconnectable to one another to establish fluid communication therebetween, the method comprising:

establishing fluid communication between the bioreactors;
processing influent fluid through the plurality of bioreactors to produce processed effluent fluid;
determining whether predetermined criteria for establishing dry cycle conditions have been met for any one of the plurality of bioreactors;
responsive to a determination that the predetermined criteria have been met for a particular one of the plurality of bioreactors,
isolating the particular bioreactor from fluid communication with the others of the plurality of bioreactors;
establishing a set of dry cycle conditions in the particular bioreactor, the dry cycle conditions being selected to effect endogenous growth within at least a portion of the biomass in the particular bioreactor;
and
reestablishing fluid communication between the particular bioreactor and the others of the plurality of bioreactors.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for processing organic waste material

Life of this patent

System and method for processing organic waste material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22