BIOFILTRATION-APPARATUS AND -METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASES/VAPORS AND/OR COMBUSTION FLUE GASES

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and the related apparatuses for carrying out the treatment of gases/vapors and/or combustion flue gases containing pollutants such as NO.sub.x, SO.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, O.sub.3, CH, NH.sub.3, H.sub.2S, C.sub.2H.sub.6S, VOC, dioxins, and other elements (including heavy metal particulates PM10 and PM2.5 and PM1).

Claims

1. A biofiltration apparatus for treatment of at least one of gases, vapors, and flue gases, comprising: a first terminal device of a gaseous flow comprising a duct, wherein the first terminal device is grafted into a watertight perimeter structure positioned on a smooth plane using a junction support; a buffer device of the gaseous flow, placed downstream of the first terminal device and upstream of a septum of biofiltration substrate material subjected to an electromagnetic field, placed between a support grid structure and a pipe nozzle, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made up of a plurality of biomasses structured and arranged side-by-side in a multi-selective biofiltration layers, and wherein the support grid structure is connected to the septum of the biofiltration substrate material using a perimeter support having grid modules, comprising: an electricity conductor module; an electricity conducting strip hinged in a groove carved in an electrically insulating grid; a container for a process liquid, comprising a system of pH regulation, wherein the container comprises an inlet element of the process liquid, placed between the smooth plane and the support grid structure; and a control device of the process liquid comprising thermoregulation and flow-regulation apparatuses, wherein the control device is connected to the pipe nozzle; a second terminal device for the gaseous flow, grafted downstream and above the biofiltration substrate material.

2. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said first terminal device is an apparatus for entrance of the gaseous flow and the second terminal device is an apparatus for an outlet of the gaseous flow.

3. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the first terminal device is an apparatus for an outlet of the gaseous flow and the second terminal device is an apparatus for an entrance of the gaseous flow.

4. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made of a non-biodegradable material.

5. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made of a biodegradable material.

6. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made of an electric insulating material.

7. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, said wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made with a water-resistant material.

8. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is packed with bands.

9. The biofiltration apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is packed with vertical and horizontal bands.

10. A method for a biofiltration comprising: providing the biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1; performing an initialization and an activation of the septum of the biofiltration substrate material; performing an entrance and a control of the gaseous flow through the first terminal device; performing regulation and management of a microbial habitat; causing the gaseous flow to exit through the second terminal device; and performing government and management of pollutants.

11. A method for biofiltration comprising: providing the biofiltration apparatus according to claim 1; performing an initialization and an activation of the septum of the biofiltration substrate material; introducing and controlling the gaseous flow through the second terminal device; performing regulation and management of a microbial habitat; causing the gaseous flow to exit through the first terminal device; and performing government and management of pollutants.

12. A method for a biofiltration, comprising: providing the biofiltration apparatus according to claim 2; performing an initialization and an activation of the septum of the biofiltration substrate material; performing an entrance and a control of the gaseous flow through the first terminal device; performing regulation and management of a microbial habitat; causing the gaseous flow to exit through the second terminal device; and performing government and management of pollutants.

13. A method for biofiltration, comprising: providing the biofiltration apparatus according to claim 3; performing an initialization and an activation of the septum of the biofiltration substrate material; introducing and controlling the gaseous flow through the second terminal device; performing regulation and management of a microbial habitat; causing the gaseous flow to exit through the first terminal device; and performing government and management of pollutants.

14. A method, comprising: providing a biofiltration apparatus for treatment of at least one of gases, vapors, and flue gases, the biofiltration apparatus comprising: a first terminal device of a gaseous flow comprising a duct, wherein the first terminal device is grafted into a watertight perimeter structure positioned on a smooth plane using a junction support; a buffer device of the gaseous flow, placed downstream of the first terminal device and upstream of a septum of biofiltration substrate material subjected to an electromagnetic field, placed between a support grid structure and a pipe nozzle, wherein the septum of the biofiltration substrate material is made up of a plurality of biomasses structured and arranged side-by-side in a multi-selective biofiltration layers, and wherein the support grid structure is connected to the septum of the biofiltration substrate material using a perimeter support having grid modules, comprising: an electricity conductor module; an electricity conducting strip hinged in a groove carved in an electrically insulating grid; a container for a process liquid comprising a system of pH regulation, wherein the container comprises an inlet element of the process liquid placed between the smooth plane and the support grid structure; and a control device of the process liquid comprising thermoregulation and flow-regulation apparatuses, wherein the control device is connected to the pipe nozzle; a second terminal device for the gaseous flow, grafted downstream and above the biofiltration substrate material.

Description

[0050] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident thanks to the following detailed description referring to as a specific and preferred configuration, which is not, however, unique plausible.

[0051] Such a configuration is illustrated, as an example, in the attached drawings.

[0052] The process, according to the configuration here presented, consists of the following parts represented in the following tables.

[0053] The first group of drawings of Table 1 sketch the operational and functional concepts of the novel method the possible implementations will be based on; FIG. 1 sketches the operating cycle of the present invention (through a flow chart), and FIG. 2 sketches the functional cycle of the present invention (through an automata chart).

[0054] The second group of drawings of Table 2 sketch a possible real configuration represented by a fixed set-up with a single multi-selective bio-filtering septum, which can be obtained through elements in parallel (i.e. placed side by side) for the surface enlargement. Such elements are characterized by the same height and they are placed in a parallelepiped or circular tank configuration, illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, respectively. Such design proposes possible realizations of the invention, for putting it in a furniture flowerbed of a green area and/or for making easier the biofilter replacement.

[0055] The third group of drawings of Table 3 sketches said biofiltration substrate septum in detail, in a standard view in FIG. 5 and a closer view in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

[0056] The fourth group of drawings in Table 4 sketches a supporting grid structure of the biofiltration septum in detail. FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show detailed examples and the different characteristics of the specific grid modules seen from the side below.

[0057] The whole apparatus, built with any material that does not interfere with the described bio-process, and of any size and shape (suitable for real applications), is characterized in that it includes:

[0058] a first terminal device (A), i.e. a feeding device, that is an element of passage and inspection consisting of a duct (3) aimed at controlling an gaseous flow (g) inlet to be treated (g IN), its temperature (for example through the use of a temperature sensor) and the minimum and maximum flow rate (for example through the use of a flow meter), wherein:

[0059] said first terminal device (A) is an apparatus for the gaseous flow (g) entrance suitably grafted into a watertight perimeter structure (1) positioned on a smooth plane (0) using junction support (2), that is an assemblable bio-treatment module built with insulating materials and/or current and/or temperature conductive ones, and of suitable size;

[0060] a buffer device (B) placed downstream to said terminal device (A) and upstream of a septum of substrate biofiltration material (S), then an element aimed at receiving and passing (in it) of said gaseous flow (g) and at allowing the passage of a transiting process liquid (1) and/or in recirculation (for example an aqueous process fluid with non-antibiotic action with pH between 6 and 8.5) from said septum of biofiltration substrate material (S), which is placed between a support grid structure (9) and a pipe nozzle (6). That will allow the humidification of said bio-filtering substrate material septum (S), the washing of said gaseous flow (g), and the thermal adaptation of both the fluid flows (liquid and gaseous, for example through the use of heat exchangers), wherein:

[0061] said material of the substrate bio-filtering septum (S) consists of suitable biomass, i.e. a set of multiple bacterial communities, for example, made of non-biodegradable material or, preferably, made of wood-cellulosic material, i.e. organic/natural and biodegradable (for example roots and/or trunks and/or shredded branches and/or foliage), structured and arranged side-by-side in a multi-selective biofiltration layers/modules (7, 8), made of any material suitable for supporting a microbial biofilm (for example with an initial density of less than 350 kg/m.sup.3 and a pressure drop of less than 150 mbar/meter), with a geometrically opportune shape for the appropriate gas flow crossing, obtained with supports and/or electro-sensitive elements usable for self-diagnosis and microbial stimulation, and which includes:

[0062] an entrance refill material (r IN) and an exit waste material (r OUT), i.e. a solid by-product, wherein:

[0063] said supporting grid structure (9) is an auxiliary plane connected to the said septum of the substrate bio-filtering material (S) using perimeter support (13), which consists of grid modules (conductors and insulators), including:

[0064] an electricity conductor module (14) made of metals and resistant to corrosion and oxidation, wherein:

[0065] said electricity conductor module (14) represents a first metal plate (similar to an armature of an electric capacitor) for self-diagnosis and for stimulating microbial vitality;

[0066] an electricity conductor strip (15) made of metal, characterized by suitable thickness and width, hinged in a groove carved in an insulating grid (16) and along its entire length, where:

[0067] said electricity conductor strip (15) represents a second metal plate (similar to the armature of an electric capacitor) for self-diagnosis and microbial vitality stimulation, and wherein:

[0068] said insulating grid (16) consists of an electrically insulating material (similar to the dielectric of an electric capacitor) of suitable size and structure, which allows the passage of the lines of force subjected (imposed) to a generated and/or induced electromagnetic field (17) of any value (even of null value), suitable for stimulating and diagnosing the state of bacterial vitality on said material of said substrate bio-filtering septum (S) which is possibly made of bio-filtering material bales and packed using vertical (11) and horizontal (12) bands of ligament and/or compression (for homogenize the density and other dimensional characteristics), made of water-resistant and/or insulating material (non-conductive of electricity);

[0069] a container (C), that is an element designed to collect said process liquid (l), i.e. an incoming liquid flow to be treated (l IN), comprising a system of pH regulation, wherein:

[0070] said container (C) is a collection tank of said process liquid (l), and wherein:

[0071] said container (C) includes an inlet element (10) for said process liquid (l) entrance, placed between said smooth plane (0) and said support grid structure (9);

[0072] a control device (D) for the incoming liquid flow adduction (l IN) and/or expulsion (l OUT) and/or for the recirculation of said process liquid (l) in a specific pipe (for example by using of a solenoid valve), comprising at least one thermoregulation apparatus (for example a thermostat, to maintain the temperature in a specific range) and at least one flow-regulation apparatus (for the flow rate regulation in a specific range) into the said septum of substrate bio-filtering material (S), wherein:

[0073] said controller device (D) is a recirculation or extraction pump (5) of said process liquid (l) and it is connected to the pipe nozzle(6);

[0074] a second terminal device (U), that is an apparatus for the gaseous flow (g) outlet, i.e. an element aimed at expelling the bio-treated gas (g OUT), wherein:

[0075] said second terminal device (U) is suitably grafted downstream and above (4) to said bio-filtering substrate (S).

[0076] The interconnect arrows of the diagram in FIG. 1 indicate (by way of example) the directions of the physical process flows and the operational links of the method.

[0077] Furthermore, said first terminal device (A) and said second terminal device (U) can also be characterized by an invertible functionality as a function of said gaseous flow (g) direction containing pollutants to be treated (then, in this case, a co-current flow between the gaseous flow and the process liquid occurs, instead of a counter flow).

[0078] Using the devices a biofiltration process will be induced, which will be integrated with self-control and feedback devices aimed at supporting the necessary bacterial vitality (using also eventual specific hardware and software for predictive diagnostics, control, and management). the process will consist of 5 distinct phases linked together.

[0079] For this purpose, such 5 functional process steps are represented in FIG. 2:

[0080] Phase 0—Initialization (preparation, positioning of the electrosensitive elements and the substrate biomasses) and activation phase of the said septum of biofiltration substrate material (S) of said gaseous flow (g) with said process liquid (l) and known gases (i.e. natural air), wherein:

[0081] the minimum and maximum levels of the process and output parameters are set, to allow the maintenance of the equilibrium induced by said biofiltration of the polluted gases (foreseen) to be treated at the inlet (g IN) even in case of stan-by state and/or in case of said gas flow (g) null.

[0082] Phase 1—Phase of entrance and control of said pollutant gaseous flow (g) to be bio-treated. It is implemented using said first terminal device, (A) in the case said gaseous flow (g) and said process liquid (l) flows are in counter-flow configuration, or using said second terminal device (U) in the case said gaseous flow (g) and said process liquid (l) are in co-current flow configuration;

[0083] Phase 2—Phase of regulation of the microbial habitat through the combination of all the actions of the actuators, of the electro-stimulators, and any controls eventually provided; this phase is implemented using at least one of the devices listed/described in FIG. 1 or through any combination;

[0084] Phase 3—Phase of exit of said gaseous flow (g); it is implemented using said second terminal device (U) in the case said gaseous flow (g) and said process liquid (l) are in counter-flow configuration. Conversely, it is implemented using said first terminal device (A) in the case said gaseous flow (g) and said process liquid (l) are in co-current flow configuration;

[0085] Phase 4—Phase of governance/management of the switching of pollutants; it is implemented using at least one of the devices listed/described in FIG. 1 or through any combination.

[0086] The interconnect arrows making up the graph reported in FIG. 2, wherein the actions carried in Phase 0, Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4 previously described are identified with the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, indicate the functional links of the novel method, highlighting its peculiar feedback operations with the considered elements.

[0087] The novel method, whose functional cycle and process diagram are reported in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the attached drawings, respectively, is obtained through any material and/or device, and (possibly) integrated with hardware (including data remote control) and signals from self-diagnostic devices, and/or software and/or actuator system and/or self-diagnostic devices and feedback controls (including telecommunication systems) and/or devices of any shape and geometry, with opportune interconnections to implement described execution sequence of the presented novel method, aimed at reducing pollutants and, as described above, based on assisted biofiltration.