Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a computer-controlled
extraction device for rotting halls. According to the
invention the use of the computer-controlled extraction
device is provided in closed or covered after-rotting
halls and in intensive rotting halls for the production
of compost from biological waste.
Owing to the legal conditions in terms of odour
emission for the operation of composting plants for
10 biological waste, rotting processes, in particular
after-rotting processes, wherein compost is obtained
from biological waste, have to be designed such that
they meet these requirements. According to the process
generally used at present, after-rotting processes are
performed in closed halls for the after-rotting time
until composting has finished. In closed halls, large
volumes of air, set by the prescribed air-changing
frequency, have to be constantly extracted, deodorised
and removed. The closed halls cannot be entered owing
20 to the atmosphere, which is saturated with CO2. The
plants and apparatus are furthermore placed under very
great stress in the closed halls by the high H2O
concentration, since the corrosion progresses strongly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
extraction device for rotting halls which operates
economically and in an environmentally sound manner,
and with which the corrosion in the rotting halls is
considerably reduced.
The object underlying the present invention is achieved
by a computer-controlled extraction device for rotting
halls, comprising one or more main collecting lines
which are each connected via a flexible hose to one or
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more extraction modules, wherein one extraction module
has one or more extraction hoods, the main collecting
lines have a butterfly valve at the connection point of
a flexible hose, the extraction modules are adjustable
by means of lifting gear and the main collecting lines
are connected to an exhaust air fan.
Fully automatic extraction from a rotting hall is
effected with the extraction device according to the
10 invention. The modules are lowered over the point of
emission by means of electromechanical lifting means,
with the fine adjustment being effected with infrared-
controlled or laser-controlled vertical adjustment.
This means that in those regions of the hall in which
emissions occur spasmodically the exhaust air is
extracted selectively using the respective module. The
quantity of exhaust air is regulated dependent on the
respective emission. The extraction modules are
connected by a flexible, suction-stable hose to the
20 main collecting line, and are lowered to the points of
emission according to requirements. The device
according to the invention permits the selective
entraining of the emission which is produced during
operations such as the unloading, transfer, sifting,
loading and packaging of the rotting material. The
exhaust air is extracted in regions according to the
emission selectively entrained. The localised high
air-changing rates are maintained by the butterfly
valves in the main collecting line.
The CO2 saturation and the high H2O concentration are
greatly reduced by selective extraction, and the
corrosion of the halls and of the apparatus is greatly
repressed.
One preferred configuration of the invention is a
computer-controlled extraction device wherein the
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butterfly valves, the lifting gear and the exhaust air
fan are controlled by a master computer, the exhaust
air fan is controlled infinitely variably by the master
computer by means of a frequency adjuster and the
height of the modules is adjusted infinitely variably
via lifting gear above the point of emission by the
master computer by means of infrared or laser movement
detection.
10 The emission which occurs, caused by inorganic and
organic decomposition substances, is measured and sent
to the computer for evaluation. Then the programmed
control of the extraction is effected. Additionally,
the air-changing rate in the region of the pile of
rotting material is controlled by the butterfly valves
in the main collecting line. The movements such as
lorry traffic, tipping and transferring operations are
monitored by infrared or laser detection. The
corresponding extraction modules are raised
20 automatically in order to permit free passage. The
extraction modules are returned to their starting
position once the movement has ended. The exhaust air
fan is controlled infinitely variably by the master
computer according to the detection of volume flow for
metering exhaust air via a frequency adjuster.
A personal computer with an SPC (stored-program
controller) for controlling the butterfly valves, the
lifting gear and the exhaust air fan serves as the
30 master computer. The extraction devices above surfaces
which are not required are switched off by the personal
computer. In the case of newly established piles, the
air-changing rates are set individually. Quantities of
exhaust air which are deodorised are detected and
stored.
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one preferred form of the invention is a computer-
controlled extraction device, wherein the main
collecting lines, the extraction modules, the
extraction hoods and the extraction fan are made of
high-grade steel. The main collecting lines consist of
thin-walled high-grade steel tubes, such as folded
spiral-seam tube NW 600/MAT 1.4571, which are mounted
on the ceiling structure of the after-rotting halls.
Making the parts from high-grade steel additionally
provides greater resistance to corrosion.
One preferred form of the invention is a computer-
controlled extraction device, wherein the exhaust air
which is extracted is fed to a biofilter or as process
air to the composting process. According to the
invention, the extraction fan is succeeded by a
biofilter bed. The deodorised exhaust air is withdrawn
from the biofilter bed. According to the invention,
the exhaust air is purified effectively or is recycled
into the composting process. These measures make the
device particularly economic.
According to the invention, the use of the computer-
controlled extraction device in closed or covered
after-rotting halls and in intensive rotting halls is
provided for the production of compost from biological
waste. In the case of covered after-rotting piles, the
hall has to be provided with a circumambient attic only
in so far as the efficiency of the extraction modules
is not adversely affected by cross-winds which occur.
The computer-controlled extraction device according to
the invention permits economic and environmentally
sound operation in particular for after-rotting
surfaces which are established in waste treatment
plants. The waste treatment plants are often located
at sensitive locations. Therefore stringent legal
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conditions have to be met for their operation, which is
made possible by the device according to the invention.
The invention will be explained in greater detail below
with reference to a drawing.
Fig. 1 shows the front view of a covered after-
rotting hall with a computer-controlled
extraction device according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the after-rotting hall
shown in Fig. 1 as a front view.
Fig. 1 shows after-rotting material (5) in a covered
hall. The main collecting lines (1) are attached to
the ceiling. Flexible, suction-stable hoses (3) are
connected to the main collecting lines (1). The hoses
(3) end above the after-rotting piles (5). At the ends
of a hose (3) there is attached an extraction module
20 (2). Each extraction module (2) has a plurality of
extraction hoods (4). The extraction hoods (4) are
suspended above the after-rotting piles (5). At the
connection point of the hoses (3) to the main
collecting line (1), butterfly valves (6) are provided
in the hoses (3). The hoses (3) are suspended from the
ceiling by means of lifting gear (7) operated by an
electric motor. Fig. 2 shows that several, in this
case four, extraction hoods (4) are provided on each
extraction module (2). The main collecting lines (1)
30 are connected to an extraction fan (not shown).
