WO2003042129A1 - Device for the treatment of biogenic residues - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for the treatment of biogenic residues (2), in particular, compost, within a chamber (3). The device (1) has a turning arrangement (6), provided with a rotor (7), which may be introduced to the interior of the chamber (3), by means of a drive gear (5). Said drive gear (5) is provided with crawler tracks which substantially reduce the requirements for provision of guides on the wall surfaces (19) of the chamber (3) and the device (1) can thus be simplified. Furthermore, the rotor (7) can be driven by means of a hydraulic plant (17) arranged outside the chamber (3), so that application of electrical units within the aggressive atmosphere in the interior of the chamber (3) can be largely avoided.

Description

 Device for the treatment of biogenic residues

The invention relates to a device for treating biogenic residues, in particular compost, within a chamber, which has a conversion device equipped with a rotor and movable by means of a drive.

Such a device is used in practice for the treatment of biogenic waste and residual waste. The treatment takes place through the use of rotting bacteria. The by-products of this treatment are water, CO ₂ and aggressive, malodorous vapors. The process is therefore carried out in chambers, so-called rotting or compost tunnels, which are sealed off from the environment.

In order to achieve an optimal process flow for bacterial treatment, the bacteria need atmospheric oxygen and moisture, so that regular homogenization by converting the residues is necessary. The rotor is used for this purpose, through which the layers of the residual material mass are implemented.

A distinction is made between two basic types according to the design of the chambers. On the one hand, the transfer device is also used as a conveyor unit in a continuous tunnel. The material is moved a certain distance in the direction of the exit during each transfer process. The space freed up at the entrance end is filled with fresh material, so that a continuous flow of the residual substance mass is made possible. In contrast, the residual mass is entered into the batch tunnel in a single step, so that no new residual mass is added during the treatment. The transfer device is moved into the batch tunnel for homogenization. The mass of residues is initially displaced forward, similarly to the tunnel, but essentially moves back to the original position when the transfer device moves back. After completion of the treatment, the transfer device is coupled to a conveying device known as a discharge machine, in order to remove the entire mass of residual material from the chamber.

From DE 44 12 638 C 1 it is also already known that the rotor can be moved from the area of the residual substance mass to above the level of a floor. In this way, the conversion device is freely traceable without the rotor intervening in the residue mass.

In practice, the aggressive atmosphere that arises inside the chamber during treatment proves to be disadvantageous. This affects in particular the electrical contacts, so that a considerable amount of precautionary measures must be taken to protect the lines and contact elements in order to avoid failure. The effort involved in protecting the electric drives proves to be cumbersome, because the temperatures of up to 75 ° C. also require cooling of the drives.

The invention has for its object to significantly simplify a device of the type mentioned. In particular, the effort for the necessary protective measures against the aggressive atmosphere within the chamber is to be reduced.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a device according to the features of claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly expedient further developments of the invention.

According to the invention, a device is therefore provided, the rotor of which can be driven by means of a hydraulic unit arranged outside the chamber. As a result, the use of an electric drive for the rotor can be dispensed with, as a result of which the outlay for the protective measures required according to the prior art is substantially reduced can be. In addition, contacts and electrical control units inside the chamber can largely be dispensed with.

In addition, the drive of the converting device can also be driven in a particularly advantageous manner by means of the hydraulic unit. As a result, the use of electrical drives in the interior of the chamber can be dispensed with and the reliability and availability of the device can be increased in a simple manner. In addition to the rotor and the drive, the hydraulic unit can also be used to drive other movable components of the device, which can be easily supplemented even with existing devices.

Here, an embodiment of the device proves to be particularly practical if the hydraulic unit is equipped with a heat exchanger for the hydraulic fluid. As a result, the heat generated inside due to the treatment process can be conducted outside by means of the hydraulic fluid and removed by means of the heat exchanger. In this way, temperature-sensitive components of the device can be cooled and the heat dissipated can also be used for heating other areas or for preheating other treatment chambers.

In particular, a process liquid which can be supplied to the residues and which is subsequently supplied to the residue mass can be heated in a particularly advantageous manner by means of the heat exchanger of the hydraulic unit. In this case, the process liquid is heated to the temperature prevailing in the interior of the chamber or in the residue mass, so that the supply of the process liquid has no adverse effect, in particular no delay in the treatment process. Fresh water or process water can be used for the treatment as process liquid and is fed to the treatment process in the required dosage to remain.

A particularly expedient embodiment of the present invention is also achieved in that the transfer device is equipped with a winding device for one or more hydraulic lines. In this way, a lowering of the hydraulic lines down to the surface of the residual material mass and thus a possible impairment or damage to the hydraulic lines is avoided.

It proves to be particularly helpful if the winding device for depositing unwound line sections is inclined relative to the vertical on a receptacle fixed on at least one wall surface of the chamber. The unwinding direction shows for example, obliquely in the direction of the wall surface of the chamber, so that unwound sections of the hydraulic lines are deposited simultaneously with the unwinding process on the receptacles of the wall surface arranged slightly below the winding device. The recordings are arranged, for example, above the level of the roadway for the drive of the transfer device and are thereby largely protected against contamination.

In another particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the drive is equipped with caterpillars. As a result, the requirements for the properties of the road, in particular the surface quality, are significantly reduced. In particular, metal profiles as a tread can be dispensed with, thereby reducing the effort for the chamber. Possible tolerances or gaps at transitions, especially at auxiliary points for moving the transfer device into the chamber, remain largely without an adverse influence on the functionality, whereby drives with electrical drives can also be used.

It is particularly expedient here if the chamber is equipped with guides for the drive, which are arranged opposite one another and are each arranged in a wall surface of the chamber, the surfaces of which are slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal. This improves the directional stability of the transfer device due to the inclined guides on both sides of the drive, thereby reducing the effort required for possible corrections to the travel movement. Furthermore, the inclined surfaces of the guides can be cleaned effortlessly, which can also reduce service costs.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if the guides are each formed by a projection or by a recess in the wall surface. This makes it possible to dispense with special track bodies for the drive, such as metal profiles used according to the prior art. The guide, designed in particular as a console, can therefore be provided with little effort during the manufacture of the chamber and does not require any subsequent installations.

A particularly simple embodiment of the invention is achieved in that the guides of the respective wall surface are molded on. As a result, the guides can be inserted directly during the production of the wall surface of the chamber, wherein the guides can also be taken into account in the structural design of the wall thickness. At the same time, the guides formed in this way offer only a small contact surface for the aggressive atmosphere within the chamber resulting from the treatment of the residual mass.

Another particularly practical embodiment of the device according to the invention is also achieved in that the rotor can be moved from a working position engaging in the residual material into a rest position located above the residual material and on its end sections facing the lateral wall surfaces of the chamber, one each on the guide has a coordinated recess. The recess at the end sections of the rotor allows the rest position to be shifted upward because the recesses expand the freedom of movement, which is otherwise limited by the projections of the guides. The volume of space above the residual mass is reduced to a minimum. The correspondingly reduced room volume therefore creates cost advantages in exhaust air treatment.

It is also particularly helpful if the rotor can be moved from a first working position, which is positioned essentially centrally below the drive, to a further, forward-moving working position, so that residues located in the immediate vicinity of a front wall surface can be reached. As a result, the forces occurring during the conversion by the rotor can be optimally introduced into the guide by means of the running gear through the central position below the running gear in the first working position. In the forward second working position, areas in the immediate vicinity of a wall surface arranged at the end in the direction of movement of the transfer device can also be reliably reached and the residual material mass located there can be converted.

Another embodiment of the present invention is achieved in that the chamber has a closable entry opening, to which a collecting container which is matched to the dimensions of the entry opening is assigned. As a result, the residual substance mass to be introduced into the chamber can be temporarily stored in the collecting container and can be emptied suddenly into the interior of the chamber after opening the entry opening. The short opening times significantly reduce the negative impact on the internal ventilation during the treatment process. The collecting container designed in this way can also be used in treatment devices known from the prior art. Another particularly advantageous modification is also created by the fact that an additional barrier for temporarily closing the chamber can be moved by means of the drive. As a result, no separate undercarriage is required for the shut-off plate because it can be transported using the transfer device. The entrance to the chamber is closed by the shut-off shield during the transfer process, the supply lines, for example hydraulic lines, being sealed in a corresponding recess. The undesirable escape of atmosphere from the interior of the chamber into the environment can be avoided.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if the shut-off plate can be positioned and fixed in a desired position on the guides by means of the drive, in order to avoid undesired displacement of the shut-off plate.

Furthermore, it has proven to be particularly helpful in practice if the barrier plate is equipped with a subsidy. As a result, the shut-off plate is also suitable for discharging the residual substance mass, in which the shut-off plate is coupled to a discharge machine and is moved together with the transfer device over the entire length of the chamber. For this purpose, for example, a screw conveyor with counter-rotating screw blades is arranged within the shut-off shield. As a result, the funding can be moved easily without the need for an additional drive.

It proves to be particularly simple if the shut-off shield can be closed by means of a cover. Due to the cover, the shut-off plate can be used in its closed position, in which the conveying means is protected against the residue mass, to shut off the chamber and in the open position of the cover to discharge the residue mass.

Furthermore, it is also particularly profitable if the device is equipped with a control designed for the wireless transmission of control data. This eliminates the contacting required for the transmission of the control data in the interior of the chamber, which can further improve the reliability of the device. For this purpose, the control data can be transmitted by radio, for example. The invention allows various embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of these is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in

1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention;

2 shows the device shown in Figure 1 in a working position inside a chamber;

3 shows a front view of the figure in the working position;

4 shows the device combined with a shut-off plate in the working position.

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 according to the invention for the treatment of biogenic residues 2, in particular compost. For this purpose, the residues 2 are located inside a closed chamber 3, within which the atmosphere required for the conversion is set and at the same time the escape of treatment gases is avoided. To homogenize the residues 2 in the chamber 3, the device 1 is equipped with a conversion device 6 with a rotor 7, which can be moved into the chamber 3 on a drive 5 equipped with track chains 4. The transfer device 6 can be fed to different chambers 3 by means of a carriage 8. For this purpose, the carriage 8 is movable on treads 10 arranged above a floor surface 9, in particular transversely to the chamber 3. The conversion device 6 can be pivoted with the rotor 7 about an essentially horizontal axis 11 from an upper rest position into a working position, which is only shown in broken lines.

The mode of operation of the conversion device 6 in the interior of the chamber 3 is illustrated in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. The rotor 7, which engages in the residues 2 in the working position shown, can be seen, the rotation of which achieves the conversion process for homogenizing the residues 2. The residues 2 are shifted to the rear and can thus be removed through an outlet opening 12 after the treatment has been completed. In the illustrated, forward-shifted working position of the rotor 7, it closes approximately with a front edge region 13 of the carriage 5, so that residues 2 lying directly on a front wall surface 14 can also be removed by a movement of the carriage 5. Additional residues 2 are optionally filled into the chamber 3 through an entry opening 15, an undesired collecting container being matched to the dimensions of the entry opening 15, which is not shown long opening time is avoided. The rotor 7 of the conversion device 6 is connected by means of a hydraulic unit 17 connected outside the chamber 3 and to it by hydraulic lines 16. As a result, the use of electrical contacts or electrical drives in the interior of the chamber 3 and the aggressive atmosphere can be dispensed with, and the device 1 can thereby be made considerably simpler with increased reliability. During a movement in the interior of the chamber 3, the hydraulic lines 16 are placed on corresponding receptacles 18 on a lateral wall surface 19, so that direct contact with the residues 2 is prevented.

Figure 3 shows the device 1 in a front view. The working position of the transfer device 6 is shown, in which the rotor 7 engages in the residues 2 and its rotation enables homogenization. The drive 5 of the transfer device 6 is movably guided on guides 20 designed as brackets with projections 21, the opposite wall surfaces 19, 22 of the chamber 3 are formed directly on it, and on their side facing the drive 5 opposite the horizontal by approx Are inclined at 5 ° to each other. In order not to undesirably restrict the pivoting movement of the conversion device 6 by the rotor 7, the rotor 7 is provided on its end sections 23, 24 assigned to the wall surfaces 19, 22 of the chamber 3, each with a recess 25 matched to the projection 21.

FIG. 4 shows the transfer device 6 which has been moved into the chamber 3 and which is additionally designed for the transport of a shut-off plate 26. The shut-off shield 26 on the one hand closes an opening 27 of the chamber 3 in order to avoid the undesirable escape of the aggressive atmosphere, on the other hand, however, the shut-off shield 26 also carries a conveyor 28 which is designed as a worm The position shown in dashed lines engages the conveying means 28 in the residues 2, which can be easily removed by means of a discharge machine 30 for the complete or partial emptying of the chamber 3.

Claims

claims 1. Device (1) for the treatment of biogenic residues (2), in particular compost, within a chamber (3) which has a conversion device (6) equipped with a rotor (7) and movable by means of a drive (5), characterized in that that the rotor (7) can be driven by means of a hydraulic unit (17) arranged outside the chamber (3). 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of the hydraulic unit (17) at the same time the drive (5) of the conversion device (6) can be moved. 3. Device (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the hydraulic unit (17) is equipped with a heat exchanger for the hydraulic fluid. 4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a process liquid which can be supplied to the residues (2) can be heated by means of the heat exchanger of the hydraulic unit (17). 5. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conversion device (6) is equipped with a winding device for one or more hydraulic lines (16). 6. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the winding device for depositing unwound line sections is inclined relative to the vertical on a receptacle (18) fixed on at least one wall surface (19) of the chamber (3). 7. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (5) is equipped with track chains (4). 8. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber (3) with mutually opposite, in each case one wall surface (19, 22) of the chamber (3) arranged guides (20) for the drive (5) is equipped, the surfaces of which are slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal. 9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the guides (20) are each formed by a projection (21) or by a recess in the wall surface (19, 22). 10. The device (1) according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the guides (20) of the respective wall surface (19, 22) are integrally formed. 11. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (7) is movable from a working position engaging in the residue (2) into a rest position located above the residue (2) and on its side wall surfaces (19, 22) the end sections (23, 24) facing the chamber (3) each have a recess (25) matched to the guide (20). 12. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (7) from a first, substantially centrally below the drive (5) positioned working position in a further, forward working position is movable, so in residues (2) located in the immediate vicinity of a front wall surface. 13. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber (3) has a closable entry opening (15) which is assigned a collecting container which is matched to the dimensions of the entry opening (15). 14. The device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shut-off plate (26) for temporarily closing the chamber (3) can also be moved by means of the drive (5). 15. The device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the shut-off plate (26) can be positioned in a desired position on the guides (20) by means of the drive (5). 16. The device (1) according to claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the shut-off plate (26) is equipped with a funding (28). 17. The device (1) according to at least one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the shut-off plate (26) can be closed by means of a cover (29). 18. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) is equipped with a control designed for wireless transmission of control data.