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WO2002020429A1 - Procede et appareil de traitement des dechets - Google Patents

Procede et appareil de traitement des dechets Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002020429A1
WO2002020429A1 PCT/AU2001/001117 AU0101117W WO0220429A1 WO 2002020429 A1 WO2002020429 A1 WO 2002020429A1 AU 0101117 W AU0101117 W AU 0101117W WO 0220429 A1 WO0220429 A1 WO 0220429A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
feed
treatment
chamber
vermiculture
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/AU2001/001117
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Nicholas Victor Try
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TRYTON GROUP Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
TRYTON GROUP Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TRYTON GROUP Pty Ltd filed Critical TRYTON GROUP Pty Ltd
Priority to NZ525181A priority Critical patent/NZ525181A/en
Priority to AU2001285595A priority patent/AU2001285595B2/en
Priority to AU8559501A priority patent/AU8559501A/xx
Priority to GB0307807A priority patent/GB2383580A/en
Publication of WO2002020429A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002020429A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K67/00—Rearing or breeding animals, not otherwise provided for; New or modified breeds of animals
    • A01K67/30—Rearing or breeding invertebrates
    • A01K67/33—Earthworms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
    • C05F17/00—Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
    • C05F17/05—Treatments involving invertebrates, e.g. worms, flies or maggots
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/141—Feedstock
    • Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/40—Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment and conversion of biodegradable waste and/or organic feed materials into other useable products.
  • the method and apparatus can be applied to improve the quality and usefulness of product produced from domestic or industrial waste sources and will primarily be described with reference to this context.
  • Worms of various species can be employed to convert materials such as effluent and organic waste into worm cast and worm biomass .
  • Worm cast is the excreter from worms which has end uses in agriculture as a fertiliser, plant growth medium and a soil conditioner.
  • the worm biomass can be used for bait, animal fodder or for use in other composting systems.
  • Worms have the ability to convert a wide range of material such as sewage sludge, green (plant) wastes, organic wastes (fruit, vegetable material) , and paper and cardboard.
  • the materials that are included in the feed waste have an important bearing on the vendability of the products of vermiculture treatment .
  • vermiculture processes where sewage forms a portion of the feed some pathogens (disease producing organisms) and heavy metals present in that feed can find their way into the biomass and worm cast and thus limit the end uses of these products in more sensitive applications such as aquaculture, for example.
  • pathogens disease producing organisms
  • pathogens disease producing organisms
  • heavy metals present in that feed can find their way into the biomass and worm cast and thus limit the end uses of these products in more sensitive applications such as aquaculture, for example.
  • vermiculture processes where a general mixture of organic material is treated, potentially germinaceous material and pathogens in the process feed are often carried through to the end product worm cast .
  • Composting processes are known in the art which self- heat and 'pasteurise' (sterilise, kill or purify) at least some of the germinaceous material and animal, human or plant pathogens present in an organic waste stream.
  • thermophilic bacteria operate principally between 45-65°C to decompose organic materials. Maintenance of a pasteurisation temperature for a prolonged period of time is the usual way to ensure that the process is complete.
  • static pile waste composting systems material is piled up or buried in windrows etc for extended periods of time. However the temperature of such heaps will vary dramatically in response to the ambient temperature and moisture and to the moisture and oxygen levels within the pile itself.
  • pasteurisation can occur in around 4-16 weeks, which is still a relatively slow process from a production viewpoint.
  • rate of decomposition or composting of organic feed materials can be increased by encouraging the development of higher temperatures in the mixtures, the effect on the carbon content of the composting material can be severe, and the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous present are often converted to ash or volatilised and the product compost dried to low moisture levels.
  • RU2051137 VOLKOV
  • sewage sediment is mixed and heated air is blown into the sediment prior to vermiculture. Such a process would most likely yield an uneven pasteurisation and would dry out the composted material, leading to decomposition of the values present into ash or volatilised products .
  • the present invention provides a method for the treatment and conversion into a product of a feed material of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter, the method including the steps of: (i) heat treating the material with a heated fluid in a manner that substantially preserves feed content for a subsequent vermiculture process whilst sterilising a substantial portion of any pathogens and seeds, weeds and any other germinaceous matter in the material; and
  • thermophilic decomposition introducing liquids or gases as heated fluids to the feed material, either directly or indirectly, to enhance thermophilic decomposition.
  • the feed material solids can be suspended in a liquid as a pulp and then have heated fluid introduced thereinto, or be added into a heated fluid.
  • the phrase anticipates the use of a combustible gas to produce a flame which heats a vessel in which the feed material is housed.
  • the heated fluid is the combustion gases which heat the vessel by conduction or radiation to effect the heat treatment .
  • the heat treatment stage functions to sterilise that organic matter present which is not dead, for example to kill pathogens and germinaceous matter such as seeds and weeds found in feed material. Importantly, the heat treatment stage substantially preserves the components of the feed material which are used in the subsequent vermiculture process, having little deliterious effect on the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content and moisture level of the composting material.
  • the vermiculture process step typically involves the use of several varieties of worms to consume all or part of the heat-treated material in an environment where the conditions of life of the worms are optimised for breeding, as described below.
  • the soil conditioner and fertiliser products of the vermiculture process are commercially vendible in a variety of applications which are sensitive to the presence of seeds and weeds and pathogens.
  • the heated fluid includes moisture for transfer to the material undergoing heat treatment to inhibit combustion of the feed material when heated.
  • the heated fluid is steam or heated gas sparged into a pulp of the material .
  • the heat treatment step involves introducing a continuous flow of heated fluid into a continuous flow of feed material in a heat treatment vessel .
  • the feed material is caused to flow through a first region of the vessel where the material is heated from ambient temperature to a sterilisation temperature, and then to a second region of the vessel where the material is maintained at the sterilisation temperature for a period of time.
  • the heated fluid is introduced at a plurality of locations in the first and second regions.
  • the step of heat treating the material involves raising the temperature of the material to about 90°C or greater and maintaining it at that temperature for a period of time sufficient for sterilisation.
  • time period for the feed to be heated from ambient temperature to 90°C is about fifteen minutes and the time period for the feed to be maintained at 90°C or greater is about fifteen minutes.
  • the heat treatment additionally or alternatively involves conducting energy to the material from heated oil or other fluid circulating in coils which are located in a pulp of the material .
  • the material fed to the heat treatment step is shredded and blended prior to suspension in a fluid pulp.
  • the feed material is blended from two or more sources of feed material to establish a predetermined carbon and nitrogen content therein.
  • the feed material is dewatered after the heat treatment so that a pulp of lower moisture content is introduced to the vermiculture process.
  • the conditions of the vermiculture process are controlled to allow for continual breeding of worms.
  • the heat-treated material, together with water, are introduced at an upper surface of one or more treatment chambers, worms are harvested from that upper surface and worm casting products are removed from open portions of an underside of the or each chamber.
  • the vermiculture step is a continuous process.
  • the product includes a solid product that is subsequently dried, and a liquid product that is collected and bottled.
  • the present invention provides a method for the pre-treatment of a feed material of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter for use in a vermiculture process, the method including the step of heat treating the material by introducing steam or heated fluid thereinto in a manner that substantially preserves feed content for a vermiculture process whilst sterilising a substantial portion of any pathogens and seeds, weeds and any other germinaceous matter in the material .
  • the pre-treated material is introduced into a vermiculture process for converting at least some of the material to a product .
  • the heat treatment of the second aspect is as defined in the first aspect.
  • the present invention provides an apparatus for the treatment and conversion into a product of a feed material of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter, the apparatus including: (i) a heating vessel for heat treating the material with a heated fluid; and (ii) a treatment chamber for treating the heat- treated material by a vermiculture process to convert at least some of the material to the product .
  • the heating vessel includes an inlet and an outlet both capable of being opened and closed in use to allow the respective ingress and egress of the material, and wherein introduction means are provided separate to the inlet and outlet for introducing the heated fluid.
  • the heated fluid introduction means includes an inlet conduit arranged for introducing steam or other heated gas by sparging into a pulp of the material located in the vessel in use.
  • the inlet conduit penetrates a wall of the vessel.
  • a plurality of spaced apart inlet conduits radially penetrate the wall.
  • each point of entry of the radial inlet conduits combine to define a spiral helical pattern extending from a position adjacent a top to a position adjacent a base of the vessel .
  • the vessel outlet includes at least one screw auger rotatable and in a U-shaped channel in a base portion of the vessel, in use the auger cooperating with the channel to remove a controlled amount of heat-treated pulp feed material from the vessel .
  • a coil for receiving heated oil or other fluid therethrough is additionally or alternatively arranged in the vessel for introducing heat by conduction into the material .
  • a shredding device is located to shred the feed material prior to its introduction into the heating vessel .
  • the treatment chamber includes a base having a plurality of generally parallel support elements spaced apart from one another to define open portions in the underside of the chamber, and a perimetal side wall which extends up from and around the base to further define the chamber.
  • treatment chamber further includes a cutting device positionable between adjacent support elements in the base such that, when the device is moved along and between the support elements, it can cut product from within the chamber and/or that protrudes between the support elements.
  • the cutting device comprises a lower section, two generally parallel spaced apart flanges projecting up from the lower section and a cutting wire fastened to extend between the flanges in use wherein the cutting wire can cut the product in a plane parallel to the chamber base.
  • the flanges are pivotable at the lower section to enable regulation of depth of planar cutting of the product at the chamber base .
  • a plurality of like cutting devices are adjacently provided on a moveable trolley, each device for a respective open portion, and wherein the trolley can be moved along under the chamber in order to enable progressive cutting detachment of the product from the open portions.
  • the support elements are elongate bars or rods .
  • the present invention provides apparatus for the pre-treatment of a feed material of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter for use in a vermiculture process, the apparatus including a vessel for heat treating the material and means for introducing steam or heated fluid thereinto in a manner that substantially preserves feed content for a vermiculture process whilst sterilising a substantial portion of any pathogens and seeds, weeds and any other germinaceous matter in the material.
  • the heat treatment vessel of the fourth aspect is as defined in the third aspect.
  • the present invention provides a cutting device for cutting product from a base of a vermiculture treatment chamber, the device positionable between adjacent chamber support elements that are located at the base of the chamber, such that when the device is moved along and between the support elements it can cut product from within the chamber and/or that protrudes between the support elements, the device including a lower section, two generally parallel spaced apart flanges projecting up from the lower section and a cutting wire fastened to extend between the flanges in use wherein the cutting wire can cut the product in a plane parallel to the chamber base.
  • Such a cutting device can cleanly slice or shave the worm cast product as the device is moved along the underside of the bed in one direction, without disturbing the structure of the cast located within the bed and reducing the incidence of any untreated feed and worms being dislodged and falling onto the floor or carriage rails below the bed, a common problem found in the more intrusive prior art cast harvesting devices.
  • the use of knife edges or brushes in the prior art eg. W099/51545 (VERMITECH) ) f equently leads to sticking of the worm casting to the surface area of the cutter, and "drawing" or tearing of the worm cast out of the bed base occurs.
  • the cutting device of the fifth aspect is moveable and pivotable as defined in the third aspect .
  • the present invention provides a vermiculture treatment apparatus including adjacent elongate treatment chambers, each chamber including a base having a plurality of generally parallel longitudinal support elements spaced apart from one another to define elongate open portions in the underside of each chamber, wherein the open portions and the support elements of adjacent chambers are aligned.
  • the elongate bed arrangement with the bars extending between opposing ends of the bed allows for the cutting devices to be provided on a moveable trolley which can harvest worm cast from along an entire row of aligned beds in a single, repeatable action.
  • the apparatus of the sixth aspect can operate with a cutting device as defined in the third aspect, the cutting device being capable of a unidirectional cutting movement between aligned support elements in adjacent aligned chambers.
  • the present invention provides a cutting device for cutting product from a base of a vermiculture treatment apparatus which includes two or more adjacent elongate treatment chambers, each chamber including a base having a plurality of generally parallel longitudinal support elements spaced apart from one another to define elongate open portions in the underside of each chamber, the open portions and the support elements of adjacent chambers aligned, wherein the cutting device including a transverse cutting element for cutting of the product from the open portions while being moved therealong and a downward displacement mechanism to allow the cutting device to be lowered below a wall which separates the adjacent chambers as the device is moved from one chamber to the next.
  • the downward displacement mechanism includes a guidance cam fitted to the base of each chamber which downwardly pivotally deflects an arm of the cutting device as the cutting device is caused to move past the cam thereby angling the cutting device sufficiently to pass below the wall.
  • the transverse cutting element is a cutting wire.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of a process for the treatment and conversion of biodegradable waste and/or organic feed materials into useable products, in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the heating vessel portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in
  • Figure 4 is a detailed view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a cutting device which is positionable between adjacent support elements in the base of the treatment chamber such that when the device is moved along and between the support elements at the base of the chamber it can cut product from within the chamber and/or that protrudes between the support elements, in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 6 shows a side sectional view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 when a cutting device is provided on a moveable trolley beneath a treatment chamber.
  • Figure 6a shows a detailed side view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 6.
  • Figure 6b shows a part-sectional end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 showing how the cutting devices arranged on a moveable trolley extend between the support elements in the base of the treatment chamber.
  • Figure 6c shows a detailed view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 6b.
  • Figure 7 shows a side sectional view of a further embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 when the heating vessel has coils therewithin used to convey heated fluid.
  • an apparatus 10 for the treatment and conversion of a feed material 12 of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter into vendible products such as soil conditioners, fertilisers, animal fodder and biomass.
  • a feed material 12 of biodegradable waste and/or organic matter is comprised of green wastes such as garden wastes, food scraps as well as paper and cardboard materials, although, depending upon the requirements, the process can also be used for sewage treatment.
  • the apparatus principally includes a heating vessel in the form of a tank 14 for heat treating the raw feed material 12 and a treatment chamber in the form of worm bed 16 where the heat-treated material 18 is then decomposed by a vermiculture process and converted into the vendible products.
  • the heat treatment stage functions to sterilise that organic matter present which is not dead, for example to kill pathogens and germinaceous matter such as seeds and weeds found in feed material 12. Importantly, the heat treatment stage substantially preserves the components of the feed material which are used in the subsequent vermiculture process, having little deliterious effect on the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content and moisture level of the composting material .
  • the vermiculture process step typically involves the use of several varieties of worms to consume all or part of the heat-treated material 18 in an environment where the conditions of life of the worms are optimised for breeding, as described below.
  • the soil conditioner and fertiliser products of the vermiculture process are commercially vendible in a variety of applications which are sensitive to the presence of seeds and weeds.
  • Feed material 12 is delivered into sorting bays 40 wherein it is stored in separate areas depending upon the content of the feed.
  • paper and cardboard products are stored separately from organic wastes (food scraps) and separately from green wastes (such as tree, shrub and grass cuttings) or sewage wastes (including domestic or industrial effluent material, faeces, animal wastes etc.) .
  • organic wastes food scraps
  • green wastes such as tree, shrub and grass cuttings
  • sewage wastes including domestic or industrial effluent material, faeces, animal wastes etc.
  • the feed material 12 is then passed onto an inspection conveyer 42 and large or foreign items are removed to reject bin 43.
  • the conveyer 42 moves the feed 12 to a shredder 44 or similar device which reduces the coarse mixed waste feed material 12 to a fine particle size.
  • the shredded feed is then moved from the stockpile 45 by means of bucket elevator 46 or other suitable conveyor system to a delivery chute 48 or similar which is connected to heat treatment tank 14 at an uppermost inlet port 20.
  • heat treatment tank 14 inlet port 20 is generally open to atmosphere and both feed material 12 and a liquid stream 21 of recycled or fresh water enters the tank 14 via this port 20.
  • a pulp outlet is positioned in the base of the tank 14 and is capable of being opened and closed to allow the egress of heat treated pulp.
  • the tank 14 is operated on a continuous basis, although the operation of the tank 14 can be configured in batch, particularly if different feed types are being sequenced through parallel heat treatment tanks 14.
  • the outlet by which the heat treated feed material 18 and heated liquid egress the tank 14 comprises three screw augers 22 each rotatably positioned in a U-shaped channel 23.
  • each auger 22 cooperates with each channel 23 to allow the removal of a controlled amount of heat- treated feed material 18 in a pulp from the tank 14, depending on the rotational speed of the auger 22.
  • the tank 14 has heated fluid such as steam (or other heated gas) added to it via a plurality of inlet conduits in the form of spargers 26 arranged for introducing the steam directly into the pulp of the feed material 12 when the pulp is located in the tank 14 in use.
  • the spargers 26 are radially arranged about the wall 29 of the tank 14 and penetrate that wall 29 via holes 31 so that the sparger 26 is positioned at a downward angle so that steam can be injected downwardly into the pulp.
  • the steam spargers 26 extend some distance into the tank 14 from the interior wall 27 so that the injected steam can reach the centre of the pulp in the tank 14, and the spargers 26 can be retractable so that their location within the tank 14 can be adjusted.
  • the spargers 26 are arranged in a spiral helical pattern extending from a position adjacent the top of the tank 14 to a position adjacent to the base of the tank 14.
  • the tank 14 is cylindrical and of a height of 6.0m, and the spiral pattern of spargers 26 extend from a position 1.5m from the top of the tank 14 to a position 1.5m from the base of the tank 14.
  • the tank is of circular diameter and is fitted with internal wall mounted baffles to improve mixing of the pulp.
  • the tank has a diameter of 1.5m noting that the dimensions will all be dependent on the particular process capacity requirements.
  • the tank 14 is preferably made of a material that can withstand a heated aqueous environment for an extended period, such as stainless steel.
  • any number of tanks 14 may be used in parallel with one another to treat batches of feed 12. This allows for convenience of operation where, for example, a least one tank may be filling, one tank may be in heating mode and one tank may be emptying.
  • Figure 1 shows a three tank operation only.
  • the moisture levels in high temperature aerobic composting processes are also generally lower than that desirable in a feed to a vermiculture process, which is typically in the range 70- 85 wt%.
  • the steam which is delivered from an external water heating system or boiler 37, is injected into the tank 14 to quickly raise the temperature of the pulp to a level at which seeds and weeds and any other non-dead or germinaceous organic material are killed.
  • Pathogens disease-producing organisms
  • the inventor has determined that the moisture inherent in steam reduces the possibility of combustion of the feed materials at high pulp temperatures and maintains the moisture level of the feed materials in order to preserve the constituents of the feed from volatilisation. Steam sterilisation leaves the carbon sugar food sources undegraded, adds moisture to the pulp and has the added benefit that it destroys plant, human and animal pathogens and germinacous material at a much higher rate than found in standard composting systems .
  • the feed material 12 flows continuously through a first region 33 of the tank 14 where the feed material 12 is heated from ambient temperature to a sterilisation temperature of about 90°C.
  • the fluid residence time in the first region 33 is about 15 minutes.
  • the material then passes to a second region 35 of the tank 14 where the feed material 12 is maintained at the sterilisation temperature of about 90°C for a further 15 minutes, a time found to be sufficient for sterilisation.
  • the steam is introduced at a plurality of locations via spargers 26 located in the first 33 and second 35 regions, as described.
  • the tank 14 can be operated in a batch mode whereby the tank is filled to the desired level and steam is then injected via spargers to raise and hold the temperature in the preferred range for a sufficient residence time to achieve the desired sterilisation outcome.
  • the feed material in the tank can be heat-treated in a variety of ways with heated fluids, the fluids being either liquids or gases.
  • a gas and liquid mixture steam
  • the feed material 12 is suspended in a liquid as a pulp and then heated fluid is introduced thereinto.
  • the feed material can be added into a stream of liquid pre-heated by a heated fluid.
  • the heated fluid can be the same as the liquid in which the feed material is suspended, for example if the heated fluid is hot water injected into an aqueous pulp of feed material.
  • the heated fluid can also be other heated gases instead of steam, for example waste heat gases from combustion processes .
  • a heated liquid or gas can be indirectly introduced to heat the feed material .
  • the steam injection system of the preferred embodiment can be supplemented with coils 30 fitted in tank 14, the coils arranged for receiving heatable oil, water, combustion gases or another fluid therethrough, to enable heat to be directly conducted into the feed pulp.
  • the coils can replace the direct steam (or other gas) injection system described in the preferred embodiment as a complementary means of adding heat to pulp located in tank. The effect of the use of coils to deliver heat indirectly into the feed material within the tank can also be achieved if the tank is jacketed or includes a heating mantle located on the tank exterior.
  • a pulp of the feed material can be heat treated with a heated fluid such as combustion gases produced by a flame which is used to heat the vessel in which the feed material is housed.
  • a heated fluid such as combustion gases produced by a flame which is used to heat the vessel in which the feed material is housed.
  • the combustion gases which heat the vessel by conduction or radiation to effect the heat treatment.
  • the tank can be agitated by a motor driven impeller arrangement to improve the effectiveness of mixing of the pulp and steam to facilitate the killing of the germinaceous material present in feed material 12.
  • the tank may be of any shape and such features as the motor, agitator and baffles may be of any size or orientation to facilitate mixing.
  • the tank 14 can be replaced by an autoclave or other heated and/or pressurised vessel to achieve the required level of sterilisation of the germinaceous and pathogenic material as long as the feed content is substantially preserved for use in vermiculture, for example by adding water in a vapour etc.
  • heat and pressure can be supplied by ultrasound applied directly into the tank containing feed material .
  • Heat-treated pulp material 18 exits the tank 14 via auger 22 when the sterilisation interval is concluded.
  • the pulp 18 flows into feed hopper or sump 50 which allows for gravity separation of some of the water from the heat- treated 18 material.
  • the separated, heated water 52 is substantially recycled as process water to the vermiculture treatment part of the process to moisten the worm beds 16.
  • Damp, heat-treated, sterilised organic solid material 18 having a moisture content of 70-85wt% water is then either stockpiled or fed directly to the vermiculture process.
  • a feed trailer 54 and auger 55 is then used to deliver the heat treated feed solids at the required rate to the upper surface of worm bed 16.
  • the worm bed 16 includes a base having a plurality of generally parallel support elements in the form of bars 56 spaced apart from one another to define open portions in the underside of the bed 16, and a side wall 58 typically in the form of woven mesh or wire which extends upwards from the base to define the bed 16.
  • the bed is an elongate rectangular structure with the bars 56 extending between opposing ends of the bed 16. The space between the bars is both sufficient to provide support for the organic matter and worm cast to be contained in the bed while still allowing a quantity of the worm cast to be removed from the space between the bars 56 as it passes downward in the worm bed 16 under the action of gravity.
  • the worm beds 16 have four walls 58, fastened at adjoining corners.
  • the space between the bars 56 is 75mm, although this spacing will depend on the viscosity, particle size and moisture content of the worm cast product in any given situation.
  • the basal support bars are located within and not below the base edge 80 of the bed.
  • the support bars 56 at their lower edge 82 are at least flush or level with the base edge 80 of the bed. This arrangement permits a more even and readily controlled removal of worm cast with less spillage than occurs using the known vermiculture beds, as will be described below.
  • the heat treated organic feed material 18 can be augmented by the addition of other feed materials such as lime, zeolite and mineral additives into worm bed 16.
  • the process feed may also be tailored in terms of the carbon and nitrogen content by varying the amount of paper and cardboard
  • feed materials are blended within the range 25-30% carbon and 65-70% nitrogen content, although any combination can be useful depending on the end use of the vermiculture products.
  • the feed is most desirable to worms at a slightly acidic pH of around 6.5-7.0 although any pH in the range 5-9 is acceptable.
  • worm bed 16 cardboard or other degradable material is placed over the base bars or rods 56 of the bed 16 and a 200-300mm deep layer of organic feed is introduced onto the cardboard.
  • Worms are also added to the feed solids and the worms commence digesting the solids and breeding.
  • varieties of highly efficient composting worms are the African crawler, ring blue and red varieties. Incremental layers of freshly heat treated organic feed are then added above this initial layer until the bed is filled, with a typical bed depth of 600mm.
  • the worms breed to greater numbers and as they do so their demand for food increases .
  • the worms thus eat in an upward direction toward the fresh source of food being added to the upper surface of bed 16.
  • the vermiculture operation in the worm bed 16 resembles a countercurrent process where worms rise upward and cast is extruded downward.
  • the preferred temperature of operation of the bed is in the range 0-40°C although the ideal range from a worm breeding point of view is 22-28°C.
  • the entire apparatus may be enclosed in a climate-controlled building or other structure.
  • the operation may continue for a lengthy period without any change to the routine of adding fresh heat- treated feed 18 to the upper surface and removing worm cast from the base.
  • Water is usually sprayed onto the upper surface of the worm beds 16 via sprayers 51 to continually moisten the feed material therein.
  • the top half of the contents of a particular bed 16 may be manually removed and the worms and uneaten feed material separated.
  • the feed material is then returned to the worm bed 16 and the harvested worms are processed for vending as biomass and protein material for pet food, fodder and fishmeal for aquaculture purposes.
  • Significantly such products are free of any pathogens because of the prior heat treatment step.
  • Another of the problems of prior art vermiculture processes is that seeds and weeds often propagate in the damp beds containing fertiliser products. This problem has been overcome by the heat treatment step since the seeds and weeds are sterilised and unable to germinate.
  • the worm beds 16 are arranged in longitudinal rows. Any number of beds may be positioned end to end.
  • the bars 56 which extend between opposing ends of the bed may be aligned in a general longitudinal direction along the row.
  • each bed is 2m in width and 6m in length.
  • the beds are arranged so that one row lies back to back with another, to allow single side access for the beds in each row only. This represents a considerable saving in floor space.
  • An end view of adjacent bed rows is shown in Figure 6B.
  • a cutting device 59 is provided at the base of bed 16 which is positionable between adjacent bars 56 such that, when the device is moved along and between the bars, it can cut worm cast either from within the base of the bed 16 or cast which protrudes downwardly in between the bars 56.
  • the cutting device comprises a lower section in the form of a plate 60 having two generally parallel and spaced apart flanges 62 projecting up from the plate 60. The flanges are spaced apart at a distance less than the distance between the bars 56.
  • a transverse cutting element in the form of cutting wire 64 is fastened to extend between the flanges 62 in use to cut the worm cast product in a plane parallel to the base of the worm bed 16 as the device 59 is drawn along the underside of the bed.
  • the cutting device is shown in Figure 5, and an end view of the cutter when located within the base of the bed 16 is shown in Figures 6B and 6C.
  • the flanges shown in the preferred embodiment are elongate plates each with a hole or fastening point between which the cutting wire 64 is strung.
  • the flanges and the lower section can also be attached rods or bars.
  • the flanges and the lower section can be formed in one piece, such as a curved or U-shaped support for the wire, for example in a horseshoe shape.
  • the cutting device 59 is pivotable at the plate 60 to enable regulation of the depth of planar cutting of the product at the bed base. When angled upward, the wire 64 can cut higher into the cast at the bed base.
  • a plurality of cutting devices 59 are provided on a moveable harvester trolley 66 with each device 59 being for a respective space between the bars 56. If the row of beds 16 is floor-mounted, the harvester trolley 66 can be moved within a channel cut into a floor beneath the beds 16 to detach the product. If the row of beds 16 is positioned on legs with a space between the supporting floor and the base of the beds 16, the harvester trolley 66 can be moved along the floor.
  • More than one device 59 can be fitted to the harvester trolley 66 for cutting product from a respective space between the bars 56, and each such device can be pivoted at a different angle to the device immediately in front of it to enable a more gradual planar shaving of the product at the bed base as the harvester trolley 66 is moved in one direction.
  • the wire 64 may be made of any suitable thin gauge material such as metal wire or synthetic materials such nylon or plastics.
  • the wire 64 projects into a region of the worm bed 16 near the upper edge of bars 56 (themselves located within and not below the base edge 80 of the worm bed 16, as described earlier) , although the device 59 may be angled so that the wire can cut higher into the cast than this.
  • the harvester trolley 66 traverses the length of a single bed 16
  • the device 59 encounters a barrier in the form of a bed lateral side wall 61 which is supported by a bed leg 63.
  • the bed lateral side walls 61 generally separate the contents of individual beds 16.
  • the pivoting mechanism of the cutting device 59 allows the device to be lowered below the lower edge of the side wall 61 under the action of a guidance arm 63A which is joined thereto.
  • a projection in the form of a cam 65 located at the bed base is arranged to deflect the guidance arm 63A as it moves past the cam 65 and cause the cutting device 59 to move into a lowered position to enable its passage past the side wall 61 obstruction (as shown in Figure 6) . Subsequently when the device 59 is located below the next consecutive bed, it resiliently pivots back into a cutting mode position into the region of the bed near the upper edge of bars 56, and dislodgement of worm cast can continue.
  • the worm cast As the worm cast is dislodged it is collected in the harvester trolley 66, and when the harvesting trolley 66 has completed a single pass underneath the row of worm beds 16, it is moved out of the space underneath the worm beds and emptied at the delivery point of the cast conveyer 68.
  • This conveyer 68 delivers worm castings via a series of secondary conveyers 69 where liquid can drain from the worm cast solids and be collected in tanks 71.
  • the drained worm castings are then dried in a drier 70 and then sieved and bagged 73 or delivered directly to trucks from hopper 74.
  • the liquid held in tanks 71 containing dissolved fertilising materials may then be combined with fresh dilution water and bottled 75 for sale.
  • the solid product is sold for use as a soil conditioner and fertiliser. The product can find a use in situations in the marketplace where sensitivities exist to the presence of seeds and weeds etc being introduced via soil additives, for example, domestic gardens and plant nurseries
  • the elongate bed arrangement with the bars 56 extending between opposing ends of the bed 16 allows for the cutting devices 59 to be provided on a moveable harvester trolley 66 which can harvest worm cast from along an entire row of aligned beds in a single, repeatable action removing the complexity of the previously known techniques .
  • Figure 6B shows an end view of the aligned support bars 56 when viewed from the end of a row of aligned beds.
  • the present apparatus can cleanly slice or shave the worm cast product in a plane parallel to the bed base as the device 59 is drawn along the underside of the bed in one direction, without unnecessarily disturbing the structure of the cast located within the bed and reducing the incidence of any untreated feed and worms being dislodged, a common problem found in the more intrusive prior art cast harvesting devices.
  • dislodged material can fall randomly onto the floor below the bed, presenting a hygiene and safety problem.
  • the use of knife edges or brushes in the prior art eg.
  • W099/51545 (VERMITECH) frequently leads to sticking of the worm casting to the surface area of the cutter, and "drawing" or tearing of the worm cast out of the bed base occurs .
  • No such "drawing” can occur with the use of a cutting wire which presents a very limited surface area to cut and dislodge the worm castings.
  • the very even cut provided by the wire can "seal" the base of the worm bed to prevent unnecessary moisture evaporation which often occurs with a roughly cut castings base which can have a higher surface of castings presented to the atmosphere .
  • a further advantage of the present technique is that the cutting is a low noise, low vibration operation, which is good from an occupational health standpoint.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Tropical Medicine & Parasitology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
  • Fertilizers (AREA)
  • Fodder In General (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un appareil (10) utilisé dans un processus de traitement et de conversion d'une matière (12) d'alimentation composée de déchets biodégradables et/ou de matière organique en produits tels qu'améliorants, fertilisants, fourrage animal et biomasse. L'appareil comprend un récipient de chauffage sous forme de cuve (14) à agitation servant au traitement thermique de la matière (12) d'alimentation et une chambre de traitement sous forme de lit (16) de vers dans lequel la matière (18) traitée thermiquement est alors traitée selon un procédé de lombriculture afin de convertir la matière (18) traitée thermiquement en produits. L'étape de traitement thermique sert à stériliser et à tuer les agents pathogènes et les matières à germes telles que les graines et les mauvaises herbes trouvées dans la matière (12) d'alimentation tout en préservant sensiblement le contenu alimentaire pour l'étape suivante de lombriculture. Le mode de réalisation préféré consiste à ajouter de la vapeur à une pulpe aqueuse de matière (12) d'alimentation. L'étape de lombriculture consiste alors à utiliser plusieurs variétés de vers destinés à consommer toute ou une partie de la matière (18) traitée thermiquement dans un environnement dans lequel les conditions de vie des vers sont optimisées pour l'élevage. Le système de prélèvement de turricule à l'aide d'un dispositif tranchant permet de trancher ou de couper de manière nette le produit de turricule dans un plan parallèle à la base du lit tandis que le dispositif tranchant (59) est retiré le long de la partie inférieure du lit dans une direction, sans modifier la structure du turricule situé dans le lit et réduisant les incidences d'alimentation non traitée et de déplacement de vers, un problème courant trouvé dans les dispositifs de prélèvement de turricule les plus intrusifs de l'état antérieur de la technique.
PCT/AU2001/001117 2000-09-05 2001-09-05 Procede et appareil de traitement des dechets Ceased WO2002020429A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ525181A NZ525181A (en) 2000-09-05 2001-09-05 Method and apparatus for the treatment of waste
AU2001285595A AU2001285595B2 (en) 2000-09-05 2001-09-05 Method and apparatus for the treatment of waste
AU8559501A AU8559501A (en) 2000-09-05 2001-09-05 Method and apparatus for the treatment of waste
GB0307807A GB2383580A (en) 2000-09-05 2001-09-05 Method and apparatus for the treatment of waste

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPR4873 2000-09-05
AUPR487300 2000-09-05
AUPR7169 2001-01-09
AUPR716901 2001-01-09

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109496495A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-22 河北省林业科学研究院 栎类种子育种装置及种植方法

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0196887A2 (fr) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-08 National Research Development Corporation Système de vermi-compostage
SU1599356A1 (ru) * 1988-03-11 1990-10-15 Г.А.Иващенко, Н.А.Карловский, И.А,Косовский, Е.М,Моргун и Г.Е.Усик . Способ получени искусственной почвы
RU2039029C1 (ru) * 1993-07-30 1995-07-09 Петр Зиновьевич Кащи Способ получения биогумуса
RU2051137C1 (ru) * 1992-10-08 1995-12-27 Фирма Волков и Ко Л.Т.Д. Способ получения биогумуса из осадка канализационных сточных вод
CA2170294A1 (fr) * 1996-02-26 1997-08-27 Albert Briggs Eggen Digesteur organique de vers
WO1998045229A1 (fr) * 1997-04-04 1998-10-15 Victor Micsunescu Procede et dispositif pour recycler des dechets organiques
EP0887328A2 (fr) * 1997-06-27 1998-12-30 Simon Taylor Transformation des déchets employant des vers de terre
WO1999051545A1 (fr) * 1998-04-06 1999-10-14 Vermitech Pty. Ltd. Traitement de dechets

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0196887A2 (fr) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-08 National Research Development Corporation Système de vermi-compostage
SU1599356A1 (ru) * 1988-03-11 1990-10-15 Г.А.Иващенко, Н.А.Карловский, И.А,Косовский, Е.М,Моргун и Г.Е.Усик . Способ получени искусственной почвы
RU2051137C1 (ru) * 1992-10-08 1995-12-27 Фирма Волков и Ко Л.Т.Д. Способ получения биогумуса из осадка канализационных сточных вод
RU2039029C1 (ru) * 1993-07-30 1995-07-09 Петр Зиновьевич Кащи Способ получения биогумуса
CA2170294A1 (fr) * 1996-02-26 1997-08-27 Albert Briggs Eggen Digesteur organique de vers
WO1998045229A1 (fr) * 1997-04-04 1998-10-15 Victor Micsunescu Procede et dispositif pour recycler des dechets organiques
EP0887328A2 (fr) * 1997-06-27 1998-12-30 Simon Taylor Transformation des déchets employant des vers de terre
WO1999051545A1 (fr) * 1998-04-06 1999-10-14 Vermitech Pty. Ltd. Traitement de dechets

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Title
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class C04, AN 1996-127581/13 *
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class D16, AN 1996-400640/40 *
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class P13, AN 1991-183842/25 *
HANDRECK KEVIN ARTHUR: "Composting - making soil improver from rubbish (discovering soils series)", CSIRO, 1993, pages 11 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109496495A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-22 河北省林业科学研究院 栎类种子育种装置及种植方法
CN109496495B (zh) * 2018-12-28 2021-07-20 河北省林业和草原科学研究院 栎类种子育种装置及种植方法

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GB0307807D0 (en) 2003-05-07
GB2383580A (en) 2003-07-02

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