U.S. patent application number 09/530975 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-30 for bio-tower.
Invention is credited to FINN, LARRY J..
Application Number | 20010018032 09/530975 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22066913 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010018032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FINN, LARRY J. |
August 30, 2001 |
BIO-TOWER
Abstract
An odor treating system in which a silo-type structure (2)
incorporates in layered sequence along its height at least one
bioscrubber (4) and one wet scrubber (6) or biofilter and
incorporates a port (10) for introducing malodorous effluent into
the structure (2) below the scrubbers (4, 6) and fan means (1)
overlying the scrubbers (4, 6) for drawing the effluent through the
scrubbers (4, 6) to deodorize, dilute and disperse the effluent
into the atmosphere.
Inventors: |
FINN, LARRY J.; (MARIETTA,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEDMINSTER BIOCONVERSION CORPORATION
660 CLINTON AVENUE
HADDONFIELD
NJ
08033
US
|
Family ID: |
22066913 |
Appl. No.: |
09/530975 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2000 |
PCT Filed: |
November 2, 1998 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US98/23188 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/171 ;
210/150; 210/617; 422/170; 422/176; 435/266; 435/289.1; 435/299.1;
96/235; 96/236; 96/290; 96/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 50/20 20180101;
B01D 53/84 20130101; B01D 53/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/171 ;
422/170; 422/176; 96/235; 96/236; 96/290; 96/297; 210/150; 210/617;
435/266; 435/289.1; 435/299.1 |
International
Class: |
B01D 050/00; B01D
053/34 |
Claims
I claim:
1. Means for deodorizing composting gaseous effluents comprising: a
vertically oriented cylindrical structure having disposed along its
height a packed-bed, wet bioscrubber; an oxidation chamber
containing liquid media disposed beneath said bioscrubber; means
for recirculating the liquid media over said bioscrubber; a sludge
settling tank located beneath the oxidation chamber; means for
removing sludge from the settling tank; means for admitting gaseous
effluent to be deodorized into said cylindrical structure for
passage therethrough; and fan means for drawing the effluent
through said bioscrubber and for diluting and dispersing the
deodorized effluent into the atmosphere.
2. Deodorizing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
cylindrical structure comprises a silo having an internal diameter
of approximately 20 feet and a height of from 50 to 100 feet.
3. Deodorizing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fan means
comprises a ventilating fan capable of producing an effective
chimney height to the structure of between approximately 20 to 30
fan diameters above the fan blades.
4. Deodorizing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fan means
is capable of diluting the gaseous effluent emanating from the
structure as much as approximately 20 times.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to apparatus for removing
odors from gaseous emissions and more particularly to an odor
control system for use in the treatment of effluents from
composting facilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Industrial processes such as food processing, chemical
production and solid waste composting have long been plagued by the
generation of odors and the release of volatile organic compounds
(VOC's). While many methods of chemical scrubbing and air treatment
exist, few, if any are both effective and
[0003] The present invention is, in part, an integration of
technologies housed in a readily available and affordable
structure, such for example as a concrete farm silo. The
incorporation of multiple odor controlling techniques into a
compact cylindrical structure results in an economical and highly
efficient odor reducing system which when combined with a unique
air venting system results in both dilution and dispersion of
offensive and noxious odors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention in its fully integrated form comprises a
concrete silo which in the context of the invention acts as a
chimney having a nominal height of 50 to 100 feet. Such a structure
acts to dilute and disperse malodorous effluents, a function which
has long been understood and which for decades was the sole
instrument of pollution remediation used by power plants and other
chemical and dust generators. Mounted on top of the silo is a
helicopter size fan. The addition of this element effectively adds
400 to 500 feet of height to the stack by producing a vertical wind
column extending 20 to 30 fan diameters above the fan blades.
Additionally the fan can be designed to produce up to 850,000 cubic
feet per minute (cfm) which will volumetrically dilute the
effluents with fresh air as much as twenty times.
[0005] The silo, to augment its efficiency in the removal of odors,
incorporates multi-layered, packed-bed, wet bioscrubbers. The silo
is additionally constructed to include an oxidation chamber. It is
well understood that the oxidation of organic compounds is effected
most rapidly in a well oxygenated liquid medium. The rapid
circulation of the liquid over the packed wet bed scrubber, through
which a high rate of air is caused to pass will serve to keep the
liquid saturated with oxygen. Since the system as described will
generate large volumes of bio-mass the silo is constructed with a
lower chamber which serves as a sludge settling tank. The excess
biomass will gravitate to the bottom of the chamber where it will
be concentrated into a sludge. The sludge in turn is siphoned off
and treated as a biosolid.
DRAWING
[0006] For purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown a
preferred embodiment of, it being understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown or
application described.
[0007] The single Figure depicts a concrete silo equipped to
function as an odor reduction unit when constructed in the unique
manner comprising the subject invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0008] Referring now to the drawing there is shown a system
designed to treat 50,000 to 75,000 cfm of malodorous effluent. A
helicopter size fan 1, designed to achieve up to a 20 to 1 dilution
factor has a design output of 850,000 cfm. The silo 2 as previously
noted is of concrete or steel construction and is nominally 20 feet
in diameter and 50 to 100 feet in height. Disposed intermediate its
height is a sprinkler nozzle 3 overlying a packed-bed wet
bioscrubber 4 occupying from 4 to 6 feet of the silo's height. The
packed bed bioscrubber shown is depicted as a single layer unit but
can be throughout the height of the silo as many times as required
to obtain the necessary detention time.
[0009] Disposed below the upper packed-bed bioscrubber is a second
bioscrubber comprised of a water distribution system 5, a
packed-bed 6, and a high flow recirculation pump 7. A packed-bed
wet bioscrubber when operated in a nearly flooded bed condition can
remove up to 50% of the VOC's contained in an air stream. Both
packed-bed bioscrubbers are equipped with synthetic media having a
high surface area, a high percentage of void space in the 90+%
range, and an open structure so as not to be blinded by the biomass
that will inevitably grow on the structure of the media. As
previously noted the containment structure is desirably cylindrical
in configuration. Each bioscrubber is packed with means such as
Pall Rings, Tellerette or Jaeger Tri-Pack type media to provide
extensive surface area to cause cascading dispersion of the water
to form a water curtain to optimize the absorption of VOC's.
Gaseous emissions from the lower bioscrubber are next passed
through the upper bioscrubber before being entrained in the air
stream produced by fan 1 for dilution and high altitude
dispersion.
[0010] As previously noted detention time in the above-described
system can be adjusted to effect the desired degree of VOC removal.
A detention time of 10 seconds is effective for primary VOC removal
of up to 50%. Detention time of 50 seconds can achieve 90-95% of
VOC removal.
[0011] The bioscrubbers overlie an oxidation chamber 8, at the
bottom of which is a sludge settling tank 9. Effluent air to be
treated is fed through an air inlet pipe 10. As has been mentioned
the high rate oxidation chamber will generate large volumes of
biomass which will gravitate to the bottom of the chamber as sludge
which is periodically withdrawn from the tank through a sludge
removal pipe 11 as shown.
[0012] It should be understood that while the invention has been
illustrated and described in connection with a specific application
the method and apparatus of controlling odor herein described can
be modified to meet numerous and varied circumstances without
departing from the teaching of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
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