IMPROVED AERATION SYSTEM FOR COMPOSTING ORGANIC MATTER

SYSTEME D'AERATION AMELIORE POUR LE COMPOSTAGE DE MATIERE ORGANIQUE

English Abstract

In the biological treatment of organic matter for the purpose of producing compost, soil amendments or bio-fuel it is known that in order to ensure aerobic conditions during the entire treatment process air has to be channeled through the organics to provide for a sufficient oxygen level and to remove excess heat. It is also known that during the bio-chemical breakdown of the cell-structure of the organics moisture is released, which has to be removed to prevent parts of the organics turning into an un-aerobic process stage. The present invention provides a means to aerate organic matter and to collect and remove liquid from organic matter via a specifically designed channel. The channel contains a pipe comprising multiple orifices for air distribution or removal. The top of the channel is closed with a removable perforated cover. One or more than one channel combined to a series form an aeration system. The channels of an aeration system are integrated into the floor of a bin-type reactor and connected via pipes to a manifold outside the reactor for air distribution or removal. These pipes are also connected to the liquid collection and removal system comprised of a pipe outside the reactor, which directs collected liquid to storage or treatment tanks. Airflow in the channels, pipes and manifold is maintained by an air distribution system comprised of an exhauster/blower and regulated by means of dampers or valves. All process air is exhausted via a biologically active filter material in a bio-filter bed for odor control purposes. All liquid is collected and processed.

French Abstract

Dans le traitement biologique des matières organiques visant à produire du compost, des amendements du sol ou du biocombustible, il est connu que pour assurer des conditions aérobiques pendant l'intégralité du traitement, l'air doit être acheminé à travers les matières organiques afin de fournir un niveau d'oxygène suffisant et d'évacuer la chaleur excédentaire. Il est également connu qu'au cours de la décomposition biochimique de la structure cellulaire des matières organiques, de l'humidité est libérée et doit être retirée afin d'empêcher des parties de la matière organique de passer en processus anaérobique. La présente invention fournit une façon d'aérer la matière organique et de recueillir et d'évacuer le liquide des matières organiques au moyen d'un canal spécialement conçu. Le canal contient un tuyau doté de multiples orifices pour la distribution de l'air ou son retrait. Le dessus du canal est formé d'un couvercle amovible perforé. Un canal ou plusieurs canaux combinés en série forment le système d'aération. Les canaux du système d'aération sont intégrés dans le sol d'un réacteur de type à caisson et sont reliés au moyen de tuyaux à un collecteur situé à l'extérieur du réacteur et servant à la distribution ou à l'évacuation de l'air. Ces tuyaux sont également reliés au système de recueil et d'évacuation du liquide constitué d'un tuyau à l'extérieur du réacteur, qui dirige les liquides recueillis vers des réservoirs d'entreposage ou de traitement. La circulation de l'air dans les canaux, tuyaux et collecteurs est maintenue par un système de distribution de l'air constitué d'un évacuateur/souffleur et régie au moyen de régulateurs ou de clapets. Tout l'air traité est évacué par l'intermédiaire d'un filtre conçu de matériaux biologiquement actifs dans un lit de filtrage biologique afin de neutraliser les odeurs. Tout le liquide est recueilli et traité.

Claims

Claims
Claimed is:
1. A channel or channels with dual 8. The channel or channels of claim 1,
function to firstly aerate organic 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, containing a pipe
matter during the active stage of a or pipes as described in claim 1,
composting process and secondly which is/are supported by the bottom
remove liquid generated during the and/or the side walls of the channel
process, the channel or channels are and has/have support spacers to
inserted into a composting device to provide for a separation distance
aerate organic matter, said channel between the outside surface of the
or channels being closed on top with pipe or pipes and the sidewalls and
a removable, perforated cover, and the bottom of the channel or
an aeration pipe or pipes having channels to allow free liquid flow
multiple staggered orifices, which along the sidewalls and the bottom
is/are inserted into the channel. of the channel or channels.
2. The channel or channels of claim 1, 9. The channel or channels of claim 1,
having on both top ends of the 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, with the pipe or
sidewalls of the channel or channels pipes of claim 1 and spacers of
recesses to accommodate a claim 8 being a supporting structure
perforated cover of the channel. for the removable perforated channel
cover of claim 1.
3. The channel or channels of claim 1
or 2, having V-shaped side walls. 10. The channel or channels of claim
1,
3, 4, 5, or claim 6, being constructed
4. The channel or channels of claim 1 out of concrete.
or 2, having W-shaped side walls.
11. The channel or channels of claim 1,
5. The channel or channels of claim 3, 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, being
constructed
with a small horizontal bottom in the out of metal.
vertex of the V-shaped channel.
12. The channel or channels of claim 1,
6. The channel or channels of claim 4, 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, being
constructed
with small horizontal bottoms in the out of plastic.
vertexes of the W-shaped channel.
13. The channel or channels of claim 1,
7. The channel or channels of claim 1, 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, being
constructed
3, 4, 5, or claim 6, having on at least out of wood.
one point of the channel a
connection to an air distribution or
removal system and a liquid
collection and removal system.
4

14. The channel or channels of 22. The channel or channels of claim
1,
3, 4, 5, or claim 6, being constructed 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, integrated in
out of material composites or series of two or more into the floor
of
material combinations of concrete a composting bin-type reactor as
and/or metal and/or plastic and/or means of an aeration system
wood. operating with negative air pressure
and the means of collecting and
15. The channel or channels cover of removing liquid from the floor of the
claim 1. being constructed out of reactor.
concrete.
23. The channel or channels of claim 1,
16. The channel or channels cover of 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, integrated in
claim 1, being constructed out of series of two or more into the floor
of
metal. a bio-filter bed as means of an
aeration system operating with
17. The channel or channels cover of positive air pressure and the means
claim 1, being constructed out of of collecting and removing liquid
plastic. from the floor of the bio-filter bed.
18. The channel or channels cover of 24. The channel or channels of claim
1,
claim 1, being constructed out of 3, 4, 5, or claim 6, integrated in
wood. series of two or more into the floor
of
a bio-filter bed as means of an
19. The channel or channels cover of aeration system operating with
claim 1, being constructed out of negative air pressure and the means
material composites or material of collecting and removing liquid
combinations of concrete and/or from the floor of the bio-filter bed.
metal and/or plastic and/or wood.
20. The channel or channels cover of
claim 1, and 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and the
pipe or pipes of claim 1 being
combined and manufactured as one
integral part.
21. The channel or channels of claim 1.
3, 4, 5, or claim 6, integrated in
series of two or more into the floor of
a composting bin-type reactor as
means of an aeration system
operating with positive air pressure
and the means of collecting and
removing liquid from the floor of the
reactor.

Description

CA 02306658 2004-O1-28
Application No.2,306,658,
Original Filing date 2000/05/01
Improved Aeration System for
Composting Organic Matter
Specifications
The present invention provides spaces. This leads to material
a build up
specifically shaped aeration and in the pipes and false or double
liquid floor
removal channel to assist in the systems and disturbs or prevents
process air
of rendering harmless hazardous and liquid flow. In addition,
the normally
organic matter or composting non-warm and moist environment supports
hazardous organic matter. rapid fungus growth, which decreases
air and liquid flow even further
if not
It is common in bio-remediation removed on a regular basis.
and
composting processes to aerate
organic
matter via pressurized aeration To clean out the above described
pipes or
false or double floor systems means for aerating organic matter
with
openings, wholes or slots to allowrequires disassembling and
for
the necessary airflow through reassembling of the aeration
the pipes and
organic matter. Also known are false or double floor systems.
wall This is
based aeration systems and aerationtime consuming and, therefore,
lances, which are introduced intoinefficient and unsatisfactory.
the
organic matter in pre-designed
pattern.
Aeration pipes have to be buried
and
In common applications aeration covered to allow transport and
pipes process
have a single function. This functionmachinery to move unhindered
is in the
to ensure sufficient airflow througharea during placement and removal
the of
organic matter normally stored the organic matter.
above
the aeration pipes.
Disassembling and reassembling
piping
False or double floor systems systems requires the removal
are and the
commonly used in containerized replacement with new cover material.
processing equipment for organic New cover material is necessary
due to
matter. Their function is normallyhigh contamination with organic
matter
twofold, to ensure sufficient entering into the cover material
airtlow during
through the organic matter and delivery and removal of organic
to collect matter
excess liquid from the biologicalin the day to day operation.
process.
False floor or double floor systems
Aeration pipes and false or doublerequire a sufficient distance
floor between the
systems to aerate organic matter two floor layers. The lower level
have floor
some inefficiencies. The necessaryalso has to be sloped to allow
for the
openings, wholes or slots to permitremoval of liquids. This increases
air the
flow and liquid collection allow necessary size of the processing
also
organic matter entering these equipment for the organic matter.
confined

CA 02306658 2004-O1-28
All these requirements are costlyA perforated cover closes the
and, top of the
therefore, decrease the process invented channel. The openings
in the
efficiency. cover, necessary to allow for
the free
flow of air and liquid from and
into the
The disadvantages described abovechannel, are staggered and located
in
may be overcome by the invention such a way that they do not line
up with
presented in this application. the orifices in the aeration
pipe below
the cover. This prevents parts
of organic
The channel or channels are insertedmatter placed above the channel
into the floors or walls of compostingentering the channel via the
cover and
bin-type reactors, composting clogging the orifices in the
field pads aeration pipe.
or composting buildings, in which
organic matter is processed, as For cleaning purposes the cover
means and
of an aeration system and the pipe can be removed and replaced
means of
collecting and removing liquid easily either as separate parts
from the or as a
floor of the reactor, pad or building.combined part.
The channel forms allow for the
insertion of an aeration pipe or aeration
pipes using the bottom and/or the
sidewalls as support structure. The
aeration pipe or pipes have multiple
staggered orifices for air distribution or
removal. To ensure the free flow of
liquid along the sidewalls towards the
bottom of the channel the pipe has
support spacers to provide for a
separation distance between the outside
surface of the pipe and the sidewalls
and the bottom of the channel.
The preferred design for a channel is a
V-shaped or W-shaped form. The V-
shaped or W-shaped channel form
allows for a complete drainage of the
channel even if the floor has no or a
very slight slope. The removal of liquid
containing high levels of soluble
organics and fine organic solids is
important to prevent the generation of
noxious and harmful gases.

CA 02306658 2004-O1-28
Summary of the Drawings
Detailed Description of the Drawings
frgure 5 contain a pipe 5 comprising
Figurie 1 is a cross section of multiple orifices 7 for air distribution
the or
channel described in claim 1 and removal. Support spacers 6 separate
2.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the outside wall of the pipe
the from the V
channel described in claim 3. and W-shaped channel walls to
allow
Figure 3 is a cross section of free liquid flow along the sidewalk.
the
channel described in claim 5.
Figure 4 is a cross section of The V-shaped channel 1 illustrated
the in
channel described in claim 4. figure 2 and figure 3, and the
W-shaped
Figure 5 is a cross section of channel 1 illustrated in figure
the 4 and
channel described in claim 6. frgure 5 having on both top ends
of the
sidewalls recesses 2 to accommodate
a
cover 4 of the channel. The cover
is
The channel 1 illustrated in figureperforated with openings 8 to
1 allow air
contains a pipe 5 comprising multipleand liquid leaving or entering
the
orifices 7 for air distribution channel.
or removal.
Support spacers 6 separate the
outside
wall of the pipe from the channelThe V- shaped channel illustrated
walls in
as well as the bottom to allow frgure 3 and the W-shaped channel
free liquid 1
flow along all sides of the channel.illustrated in figure 5 having
a small
horizontal bottom 3 in the vertex
or
The channel having on both top vertexes to allow liquids to
ends of drain out
the sidewalls recesses 2 to better.
accommodate a cover 4 of the channel.
The cover is perforated with openingsThe V-shaped channel 1 illustrated
8 in
to allow air and liquid leaving figure 2 and figure 3, and the
or entering W-shaped
the channel. channel 1 illustrated in figure
4 and
figure 5 having a dual-function
The channel having a connection connection 9 to an air distribution
9 to or
an air distribution or removal removal system and a liquid collection
system
and a liquid collection and removaland removal system.
system.
The W-shaped channel 1 illustrated
in
The V-shaped channel 1 illustratedfigure 4 and figure 5 having
in an
figure 2 and figure 3, and the additional support 10 for the
W-shaped pipe 5 via
channel 1 illustrated in figure the spacer 6 in the center of
4 and the
channel.

Representative Drawing