SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING, STORING AND TRANSPORTING FERMENTABLE WASTE

Abstract

A removable device for collecting, storing and transporting waste, comprises, in a flow direction of the waste: a device for delivering the waste, a hopper, a device for transferring the materials received in the hopper, a storage tank arranged to store the transferred materials and operating anaerobically in a storage configuration, and arranged to receive the transferred materials in a filling configuration, a device for emptying the tank, which device is arranged to empty the storage tank, the hopper being arranged to direct the waste from the delivery device to the transfer device, the transfer device being arranged to directly transfer the materials received from the hopper to the storage tank, the transfer device being at a positive pressure in the flow direction of the waste.

Claims

1. A removable device for collecting, storing and transporting fermentable waste comprising, in a flow direction of the waste: a device for delivering fermentable waste; a hopper; a device for transferring materials received in the hopper; a sealed storage tank arranged to store the transferred materials and operating anaerobically in a storage configuration, and arranged to receive transferred materials in a filling configuration; a device for emptying the tank, which device is arranged to empty the storage tank; and an effluent filtering device connected to the storage tank, the effluent filtering device comprising a solid filtration medium; wherein the hopper is arranged to direct the waste from the delivery device to the transfer device; the transfer device is arranged to directly transfer the materials received from the hopper to the storage tank; and the transfer device is under positive pressure in the flow direction of the waste.

2. The removable device of claim 1, further including a cylinder for storing the effluent connected to the storage tank.

3. The removable device of claim 2, wherein the transfer device further comprises a compacting device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the transfer device comprises a worm or a peristaltic pump.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising an odor trap arranged between the transfer device and the storage tank.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the odor trap comprises a knife gate valve.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the storage tank further includes a heater arranged to heat the stored materials.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a pressure reducer arranged between the storage tank and the effluent filtering device.

9. A method for collecting, storing and transporting fermentable waste implementing a device according to claim 1, the method comprising hygienization of the fermentable waste.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hygienization is implemented when the filling rate of the storage tank is higher than a predetermined rate.

11. The removable device of claim 1, wherein the transfer device further comprises a compacting device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer device comprises a worm or a peristaltic pump.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an odor trap arranged between the transfer device and the storage tank.

14. The device of claim 16, wherein the odor trap comprises a knife gate valve.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage tank further includes a heater arranged to heat the stored materials.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure reducer arranged between the storage tank and the effluent filtering device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Other advantages and particularities of the present disclosure will become apparent on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments that are in no way exhaustive, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a device for treating fermentable waste according to the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 2 schematically shows a detail of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 schematically shows another detail of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

[0049] FIG. 4 schematically shows still another detail of the device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Since the embodiments described below are in no way limiting, it will be, in particular, possible to consider variants of the present disclosure comprising only a selection of the features described, subsequently isolated from the other features described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the present disclosure from the prior art. This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional, without structural details, or with only a portion of the structural details if this part only is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the present disclosure from the prior art.

[0051] In the figures, an element appearing in several figures retains the same reference.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 100 for collecting, storing and transporting fermentable waste.

[0053] The device 100 is removable and movable between a location for collecting waste and a location for discharging collected waste.

[0054] To this end, the device 100 includes, in a flow direction M of the fermentable waste: [0055] a device 102 for delivering fermentable waste; [0056] a hopper 104; [0057] a device 108 for transferring the materials received in the hopper; [0058] a sealed storage tank 110 arranged to store the transferred materials; and [0059] a device 112 for emptying the tank, which device is arranged to empty the storage tank 110.

[0060] The device 100 is additionally equipped with a gripping hook C.

[0061] The hopper is arranged to direct the fermentable waste from the delivery device 102 to the transfer device 108.

[0062] The hopper 104 may be provided with a nonstick coating, for example, of the PTFE or PP (polypropylene) type. In particular, polypropylene has a very low coefficient of friction and good resistance to acids and bases.

[0063] The delivery device 102 is of the gravity type.

[0064] The delivery device 102 may include a manual opening, preferably with a slide or a drum. Alternatively, or in addition, the delivery device may comprise a container lifter, preferably electrically or hydraulically actuated, arranged to empty a rolling bin.

[0065] The device 100 may additionally include two odor traps (not shown).

[0066] The first odor trap is formed by a cover of the hopper 104 provided with a gasket and is thus arranged upstream of the hopper, in the flow direction of the materials. The cover has at least two functions, one of which is safety, the other of which is sealing of the hopper. When closed, the hopper cover retains the odors from the residues of waste that has not been conveyed into the storage tank 110.

[0067] The second odor trap is formed by a knife gate valve, arranged between the transfer device 108 and the storage tank 110. The knife gate valve ensures that the stored materials cannot return to the hopper 104. This assembly is particularly advantageous when the transfer device has a gooseneck pipe.

[0068] The transfer device 108 is arranged to directly transfer the materials received from the hopper to the storage tank 110.

[0069] The transfer device is under positive pressure in the flow direction of the waste. The transfer device 108 may be, for example, a compacting worm, also called Archimedes screw, or a peristaltic pump.

[0070] In the context of a device 100 including a compactor, for example, when the transfer device 108 also has the function of compacting the materials received in the hopper, the compression applied by the transfer and compacting device may typically be on the order of several tons.

[0071] In the embodiment shown, the storage tank 110 is made of polymer, soft metal or stainless steel material. The storage tank may be covered, at least partially, with a protective and/or reinforcing layer, for example, of the PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), stainless steel or epoxy sheet type.

[0072] According to one possibility, the device 100 may further include an effluent filtering device 114 for the effluent (E), which is fluidly connected to the storage tank 110. Gases can circulate from the storage tank 110 to the outside of the device 100 through the effluent filtering device 114.

[0073] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the transfer device 108 may comprise a gooseneck pipe or cylinder 116 connected above the tank 110.

[0074] The storage tank 110 additionally includes level sensors 120.

[0075] Curve N shows a possible spread of the materials stored in the storage tank 110.

[0076] The emptying device 112 operates by gravity or suction, for example, by way of a rear gate or an agricultural valve.

[0077] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the storage tank 110 may further include heating means 122 arranged to heat the stored materials.

[0078] Thus, it is possible to heat the storage tank 110 once full to a minimum temperature of 70 C. for a minimum period of one hour in order to carry out the phase of hygienization of the fermentable waste. This phase is required for fermentable waste that may contain type C3 animal by-products (SPAN C3). Performing this operation in the tank subsequently allows the tank to be emptied at any biogas plant, regardless of its facilities. Indeed, since the cost of a hygienization facility in a biogas plant is high, few are equipped with one. Furthermore, a biogas plant that mainly uses agricultural products cannot make a hygienization facility profitable.

[0079] It is thus possible to propose a method for collecting, storing and transporting fermentable waste including a step of hygienization of the fermentable waste. The hygienization step being carried out by the heating means 122, for example, at a minimum temperature of 70 C. for a minimum period of one hour.

[0080] The hygienization step may be implemented once the filling rate of the storage tank exceeds a predetermined level, more preferentially when the tank is full. For example, it is possible to have level sensors arranged on the tank in a particular position. Other technical solutions are known to a person skilled in the art to determine the filling level of a tank.

[0081] Control devices, such as computers, may be provided to control the heating means 122.

[0082] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the effluent filtering device 114 is arranged (fluidly connected) between the storage tank 110 and an effluent discharge device 124, for effluent generated by the stored materials and/or fermentable waste, of the device 100.

[0083] The effluent filtering device 114 is a solid filtration medium, preferably a charcoal filter or a biofilter.

[0084] The effluent filtering device includes a pressure relief valve 128, arranged between the storage tank 110 and the effluent filtering device 114, preferably calibrated at 0.1 bar.

[0085] In the example shown, the storage tank 110 further includes a safety valve 130 calibrated at 0.3 bar at the interface between the storage tank 110 and the outside of the device 100.

[0086] The pressure relief valve 128 and the safety valve 130 are arranged as far as possible from the agricultural valve or from the manhole.

[0087] For example, the agricultural valve or the manhole can be arranged on one side, called the front side, of the device 100, while the valve 128 and the valve 130 are arranged on the other side, called the rear side, of the device 100.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 4, the device 100 may include a pressure reducer 126, arranged between the storage tank 110 and the effluent filtering device 114.

[0089] In this case, the pressure relief valve 128 may be arranged between the storage tank 110 and the effluent filtering device 114.

[0090] The pressure reducer 126 is chosen carefully and has a volume greater than or equal to the maximum amount of waste ingestible by the machine in a cycle, for example, 240 L. Thus, it is ensured that the effluent filtering device 114 operates at zero pressure. The effluent filtering device 114 thus has the best filtration flow rate.

[0091] According to one possibility, the device 100 may further include an effluent storage cylinder 132 fluidly connected to the storage tank 110. The cylinder 132 is, for example, removably mounted on a connector provided on the storage tank 110. Of course, a compressor may be arranged between the storage tank 110 and the cylinder 132.

[0092] The cylinder 132 may be equipped with a means for automatically closing its tank when the latter is removed from the storage tank.

[0093] The contents of the tank may also be emptied subsequently, according to techniques known to a person skilled in the art.

[0094] The cylinder 132 may be connected to the storage tank via the pressure relief valve 128.

[0095] When the device 100 may not comprise the effluent filtering device 114.

[0096] The decomposing waste gives off CO2; the cylinder allows storage of the CO2 and limitation, if not elimination, of the release of CO2 inherent to the decomposition of the fermentable waste, by not discharging CO2 into the atmosphere.

[0097] Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples that have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the different features, forms, variants and embodiments of the present disclosure may be associated with one another in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of one another.