DE19648875A1 - Fermentation vat paddle shaft consists of two parallel pipe profiles joined to each other in sections - Google Patents

Abstract

A fermentation vat (1) has an inner chamber (1') with an inlet (14) and an outlet (16). A liquid or pumpable semi-solid medium is introduced to the fermentation chamber (1') where it is agitated by paddles on a rotating hollow shaft (5) through which passes a heating or cooling (10) medium in two directions. The novelty is that: (a) the shaft (5) consists of two parallel pipe profiles (22, 23) joined to each other in sections; (b) the pipe has an inlet (12) and an outlet (13) for the heating/cooling medium; (c) the shaft (5) cross-section is non-circular; (d) the parallel pipe profiles are bolted end-to-end; (e) an additional linkage is provided for the heating/cooling medium; and (d) the arms (10) supporting the paddles (9) are formed by heating/cooling pipes.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 3.

In particular, devices or fermenters for the treatment of biomass are also in various designs known.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a device which is characterized by a Simplified design distinguishes. There is a device for solving this problem according to the characterizing part of claim 1 or Claim 3 executed.

A special feature of the device according to the invention, which is used for the treatment of pump and / or stirrable masses, in particular also suitable as a fermenter, exists u. a. in that at least one heating and / or cooling device on the rotating shaft is provided, the one or more of a heat transporting medium has flow channels and in the simplest case of at least one for example, a U-shaped pipe section is formed. This heating and / or Cooling device, which for example projects radially from the shaft, is attached to a front and Return connected, which is formed in the shaft. The wave consists of at least two tube profiles that are connected to each other in the longitudinal axis.

A special feature of the invention is that the shaft is at least in two parts, d. H. consists of at least two shaft pieces, which over a tubular or sleeve-like Connection or coupling element are mechanically connected to each other, namely by screwing. In addition to this mechanical connection, there is a Connection for the heat transport medium. This connection is for example as a pipe connection. By separating mechanical  Connection and connection for the heat transporting medium is a special one simple execution of the shaft achieved.

Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures . Show it:

Figure 1 in a simplified representation and in longitudinal section a device of the invention in the form of a fermenter of a biogas plant.

Fig. 2 in side view and in different rotational positions, the left end of the shaft of the fermenter in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 in the positions in the right of Figure 1 the end of the two-part shaft of the fermenter of Figure ac in side view and in different rotational positions. 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a section along the line II through a portion of the shaft in the region of a bearing.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial view and in section the connection of the two shaft parts of the shaft of the fermenter in FIG. 1.

The fermenter shown in the figures essentially consists of a closed tank 1 designed as an elongated cylinder, which is arranged with its longitudinal axis L in the horizontal direction and forms a digester. The walls of the tank 1 are thermally insulated.

All two end faces 2 and 3 of the tank 1 or on bearings 4 provided there are mounted on a shaft 5 which is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis L and can be rotated about this longitudinal axis. At the end face 3 , the shaft 5 is led out of the tank and is driven there by a drive 7 having a motor 6 .

On the shaft 5 in the interior of the tank 1, a plurality of first stirring elements or scraper and conveying elements 8 projecting radially from this shaft are provided. B. have a smaller radial distance from the longitudinal axis L. Furthermore, second scraper and conveying elements 9 are fastened to the shaft 5 in the interior of the tank 1 and have a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axis L and move directly along the inner surface of the tank 1 .

Provided on the shaft 5 in the interior of the tank 1 are heating elements which rotate with the shaft and, in the embodiment shown, are each formed by a U-shaped pipe section which projects radially from the shaft 5 . Each heating element 10 is flowed through by a liquid, heat-transporting medium (z. B. hot water) during operation of the fermenter and for this purpose with its ends connected to a flow 12 or a return 13 , each of at least one channel in the Shaft 5 is formed and at the end of the shaft 5 projecting from the end face 3 is connected via a rotary coupling 11 to an outer flow 12 'and an outer return 13 '.

On the front side 3 there is an inlet 15 provided with a slide 14 , via which the substances to be processed are supplied to the fermenter or tank. An outlet 16 is provided on the end face 2 for the discharge of the treated material. The outlet 16 is designed as an overflow in the embodiment shown.

In the area of the end face 3 , the tank 2 has a dome 17 on the upper side, in which the biogas produced during the process can collect.

Approximately in the middle of the tank 1 there is also a discharge 18 , through which heavy substances, such as in particular sand and other non-degradable or unusable or no longer usable solids for the methanogenic process, can be discharged in a controlled manner. The discharge 18 is located in the middle of the tank 1 in the area of the bottom of this tank or in the area of a bottom recess 19 . The bottom recess 19 forms a sand trap or a trap in which non-usable heavy materials collect.

The conveyor system formed by the shaft 5 and in particular by the stirring and scraper elements 8 and 9 is designed and operated in such a way that sinking or floating material is transported as completely as possible away from the end face 2 back towards the center of the tank 1 . In the case of non-treatable heavy materials (e.g. sand or lime), this means transport to the discharge 18 to protect the subsequent process. In the case of material that has not yet been completely treated, this causes retention and thus a longer residence time in tank 1 . These residues thus remain in the digester longer than the nitrogen-rich liquid phase of the processed material and are therefore almost completely broken down, while the nitrogen-rich liquid phase is discharged more quickly via the outlet 16 and thus also prevents an excessively high nitrogen content from having an inhibiting effect on the methanogenic process can.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the second scraper and conveying elements are each provided at the outer end of a heating element 10 , specifically in the region of the outer arcuate tube section connecting the two legs of the U-shaped tube.

The individual heating elements 10 are connected in parallel to the flow 12 and return 13 . In order to achieve a desired heating output for the heating elements 10 , for example a uniform heating output in the flow 12 despite the pressure falling in the longitudinal direction, an adjustable valve or throttle valve 20 is provided for each heating element 10 , with which the flow rate of the heat-transporting medium for each heating element 10 can be set individually.

As the figures show, the shaft 5 consists of two shaft sections or shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ''which are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4.

Each shaft piece 5 'or 5 ''is formed by two tubular profiles 21 and 22 , each with a rectangular cross section. In the embodiment shown, these tube profiles 21 and 22 have the same cross section. The two tubular profiles 21 and 22 each lie flat against one another with one of their larger sides and are welded to one another over the entire length of the respective length 5 'or 5 '', so that overall there is an approximately square outer cross section for the shaft piece. One pipe profile 21 forms the flow 12 and the other pipe profile 22 the return 13 .

In the shaft piece 5 ', the two tube profiles 12 and 13 are sealed at the right end in FIG. 2 by a welded-on cover 23 .

At the right end of the shaft piece 5 'in FIG. 2, the two tube profiles are each provided with a tube piece 24 or 25 which is coaxially with the axis of the respective profile 21 or 22 . The transition between this profile and the associated pipe section 24 or 25 is tight towards the outside, so that the pipe section forms the continuation of the pipe profile or the flow 12 or return 13 formed in this pipe profile.

At the left end in FIG. 2 and at some distance from the right end in FIG. 2, an annular bearing element or a bearing ring 26 is provided on the shaft piece 5 ', of which the bearing ring 26 is located in the bearing 4 at the left end on the end wall 2 and the bearing ring 26 between the two ends of the shaft piece 5 'is received by a support bearing, not shown, between the two end walls 2 and 3 of the tank 1 .

The shaft section 5 ″ is designed similarly to the shaft section 5 ′ and in turn consists of the two tubular profiles 21 and 22 . Both pipe profiles are provided with pipe sections 24 and 25 on both ends. Furthermore, a bearing ring 26 is provided on the shaft piece 5 ″ in the region of the right end in FIG. 3 and a bearing ring 26 between the two ends and near the left end in FIG. 3. The first-mentioned bearing ring is mounted in the bearing 4 provided on the end wall 3 . The second bearing ring 26 between the two ends of the shaft piece 5 ″ is in turn provided for a support bearing.

With their plane, the U-shaped heating elements 10 each form an angle with the longitudinal axis L of the shaft and thus also with the longitudinal axis L of the shaft pieces 5 'and 5 '. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively in the positions a and b show, flange-like connecting pieces are provided at the shaft pieces 5 'and 5' '27 are provided for the heating elements 10, respectively, at the narrower cross-sectional sides of the rectangular tube profiles 21 and 22, so that each connection 27 is connected directly and without further implementation to the flow 12 or return 13 formed by the respective tubular profile 21 or 22 . The two connections 27 assigned to a heating element 10 are thus offset on both sides with respect to the central plane M running parallel to the longer cross-sectional sides of the tubular profiles 21 and 22 and including the longitudinal axis L, as a result of which the inclination of the plane of the heating elements 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis L or Middle plane F results.

FIG. 5 shows the connection of the two shaft sections 5 'and 5' 'in the middle of the tank 1. For the mechanical connection, a coupling or connecting pipe 28 is pushed onto the ends of the shaft pieces arranged axially with one another, which has a square inner cross section adapted to the outer cross section of the shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ''. The connecting or coupling tube 28 is fastened in the illustrated embodiment by screw connections 29 at the ends of the shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ,'. As FIG. 5 also shows, the ends of the shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ''are spaced apart. Within the space enclosed by the connecting pipe 28 , the mutually opposite pipe sections 24 and 25 of the shaft sections 5 ′ and 5 ″ are connected to one another via pipe screw connections 30 . In the area of the connection between the shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ''there is thus a clear separation between the mechanical connection and the connection of the flow 12 and the return 13 , ie the mechanical connection is established via the connection and coupling tube 28 and the connection for the heat-transporting medium via the pipe sections 24 and 25 and the associated pipe connector 30 .

Since the pipe sections 24 and 25 have a smaller cross section in comparison to the outer cross section of the shaft sections 5 'and 5 ''or to the cross section of the pipe sections 21 and 22 and are also designed to be elastic, relative movements between the shaft sections 5 ' and 5 '' be balanced at the connection.

The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without the the inventive idea underlying the invention is left.

It was described above that the shaft 5 consists of two shaft pieces 5 'and 5 ''. Of course, versions are conceivable in which the shaft of the fermenter is composed of more than two sections. Furthermore, it is possible to manufacture all sections identically, so that shafts of different lengths can be assembled using the same parts.

The particular advantage of the described embodiment is that the shaft pieces 5 and 5 ″ are connected to one another only by screwing, both mechanically and with respect to the heat-transporting medium. Furthermore, the connection of the heating elements 10 to the connections 27 also takes place exclusively by means of screw connections. The arms carrying the conveying and scraper elements 8 are held by fastening elements 31 screwed to the shaft 5 , so that the shaft 5 can be assembled with all of its elements without welding within the tank 1 being necessary.

It was assumed above that heating elements 10 are provided on the shaft, through which the heat-transporting hot medium, for example water, flows. The elements 10 can also be used for cooling, ie as cooling elements, a cooling medium then flowing through these elements, ie a heat-transporting medium which absorbs thermal energy for cooling from the tank 1 or from the mass in the tank 1 and dissipates.

Reference list

1

tank

2,

3rd

Front wall

4th

camp

5

wave

6

engine

7

drive

8th

Stirring element

9

Conveying and scraper element

10th

Heating element

11

Rotary coupling

12,

12th

' Leader

13,

13

'Rewind

14

Inlet

15

Slider

16

Outlet

17th

Cathedral

18th

Solids discharge

19th

Sand trap

20th

Valve

21,

22

Pipe profile

23

cover

24,

25th

Pipe piece

26

Bearing ring

27

Heating element connection

28

Connection or coupling pipe

29

Screw connection

30th

Pipe connector

31

Fastener

Claims (11)

1. Device for the treatment of pumpable and / or stirrable masses, in particular fermenters, preferably for biomass, with at least one tank ( 1 ) forming a treatment space ( 1 '), with at least one inlet ( 14 ) for feeding a mass to be treated into the Treatment room ( 1 ), with at least one outlet for dispensing the treating mass and with a shaft ( 5 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank ( 1 ), which is rotatably mounted about its axis in the treatment room ( 1 ') and at least one of a heat Transporting medium flows through heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ), which is connected with an inlet to a flow ( 12 ) provided in the shaft ( 5 ) and with an outlet to a return ( 13 ) provided in the shaft, characterized that the shaft ( 5 ) is formed by at least two parallel tube profiles ( 21 , 22 ) which are connected to one another. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft is formed at least in two parts with at least two shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 ''), that the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') have an outer cross-section deviating from the circular shape, and that the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') are connected to one another at a connection point via a coupling or connecting tube ( 28 ) into which the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') each extend with one end and which one to the outer cross section of the shaft pieces has an adapted cross section. 3. Device for the treatment of pumpable and / or stirrable masses, in particular fermenters preferably for biomass, with at least one tank ( 1 ) forming a treatment space ( 1 '), with at least one inlet ( 14 ) for supplying a mass to be treated into the Treatment room ( 1 ), with at least one outlet for dispensing the treatment mass and with a shaft ( 5 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank ( 1 ), which is rotatably mounted about its axis in the treatment room ( 1 ') and at least one of heat Transported medium flowing through heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ), which is connected with an inlet to a flow ( 12 ) provided in the shaft ( 5 ) and with an outlet to a return line ( 13 ) provided in the shaft, characterized that the shaft is formed at least in two parts with at least two shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 ''), that the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') deviate one from the circular shape have calibrated outer cross-section, and that the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') are connected to one another at a connection point via a coupling or connecting tube ( 28 ) into which the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') each extend with one end and which has a cross section adapted to the outer cross section of the shaft pieces. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that in the shaft ( 5 ) at least one channel ( 12 , 13 ) is provided for a heat-transporting medium with which the at least one heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ) is connected. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the shaft ( 5 ) is formed by at least two parallel tubular profiles ( 21 , 22 ) which are connected to one another. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the two interconnected ends of the shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') within the space enclosed by the coupling and connecting pipe ( 28 ), a pipe connection between the at least one in the shaft ( 5 ) formed channel is provided for the heat transport medium. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft has a square or rectangular outer cross section. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ) is provided on one side of the shaft ( 5 ) which (side) lies transversely to a plane (M) which connect the at least two tube profiles ( 21 , 22 ) forming the shaft ( 5 ) to one another, that at least two connections ( 27 ) are provided for the at least one heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ), namely on both sides of the plane mentioned (M), and that each connection ( 27 ) opens directly into a channel ( 12 , 13 ) formed by a tubular profile ( 21 , 22 ). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by on the shaft ( 5 ) provided annular or cylindrical bearing elements ( 21 ) for mounting the shaft in the tank ( 1 ) provided bearings ( 4 ). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve or throttle valve ( 20 ) is provided on an inlet / or outlet of the at least one heating and / or cooling element ( 10 ). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two shaft pieces ( 5 ', 5 '') are connected via the connecting or coupling tube ( 28 ) by screwing or a screw connection ( 29 ).