초록 ▼

An apparatus for the fixed-film anaerobic digestion of flushed livestock manure includes an enclosed digester tank (fixed or flexible roof), internal media for biofilm development, a biogas collection and flare system, various pumps, and hydraulic control systems. The preferred media has substantia

An apparatus for the fixed-film anaerobic digestion of flushed livestock manure includes an enclosed digester tank (fixed or flexible roof), internal media for biofilm development, a biogas collection and flare system, various pumps, and hydraulic control systems. The preferred media has substantially vertically-oriented, uninterrupted channels to promote enhanced bacterial attachment and biofilm development. The immobilization of microbial biomass within the reactor as a biofilm allows effective treatment of the wastewater at ambient and higher temperatures, as well as reasonable hydraulic retention times. The composition and concentration of bacterial groups in the biofilm developed on the media in the fixed-film digester result in a significantly enhanced anaerobic degradation process. This novel fixed-film digester design expands the potential application of anaerobic digestion to dilute livestock waste with significant levels of suspended solids. This holistic manure treatment system not only stabilizes the wastewater but also produces energy (biogas), controls odors, reduces pathogens, minimizes environmental impact from waste emissions, and maximizes fertilizer and water recovery for reuse.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A fixed-film anaerobic system for treating flushed waste comprising: a) a digester having a floor and an upper and a lower region; b) more than one layer of non-pliant media supported within the digester, wherein said layers consist of at least one layer of media of substantially vertic

I claim: 1. A fixed-film anaerobic system for treating flushed waste comprising: a) a digester having a floor and an upper and a lower region; b) more than one layer of non-pliant media supported within the digester, wherein said layers consist of at least one layer of media of substantially vertically-oriented channels having a first diameter and a first cross-section, and at least another layer of media of substantially vertically-oriented channels having a second diameter and a second cross-section, wherein the second diameter is different from that of the first diameter, wherein at least one layer of the media consists of non-corrugated channels and at least another layer of the media consists of corrugated channels, and wherein said media immobilizes anaerobic microorganisms; c) an influent line to direct the flushed waste into the digester; and d) an effluent line to remove treated flushed waste from the digester. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the layer(s) of media comprising non-corrugated channels and the layer(s) of media comprising corrugated channels are supported in the digester in an ordered fashion. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the layer(s) of media comprising non-corrugated channels and the layer(s) of media comprising corrugated channels are supported in the digester in a random fashion. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first cross-section of the at least one layer of media is different from the second cross-section of the at least another layer of media. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the layer(s) of media comprising the first cross-section and the layer(s) of media comprising the second cross-section are supported in the digester in an ordered fashion. 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the layer(s) of media comprising the first cross-section and the layer(s) of media comprising the second cross-section are supported in the digester in a random fashion. 7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first cross-section is a circle and wherein the second cross-section is a square. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one layer of the media comprises at least two different cross-section channels. 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the different cross-section channels are randomly situated within the at least one layer of media. 10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the different cross-section channels are situated within the at least one layer of media in an ordered fashion. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one layer of the media comprises interrupted channels. 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein all of the layers of the media comprise interrupted channels. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digester is an above-ground digester. 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digester is a subterranean digester. 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digester is a closed digester. 16. A process for treating flushed waste comprising: a) pretreating the flushed waste to remove a portion of the suspended solids; b) providing an anaerobic digester having a floor and having an upper and lower region; a media of claim 1; c) directing the flushed waste into the digester via the influent line; d) passing the flushed waste through the media in the absence of oxygen for a sufficient time to allow the anaerobic microorganisms to digest the organic matter and produce biogas; e) discharging the treated flushed waste from the digester via the effluent line, and f) collecting and discharging the biogas, wherein said pretreatment step is selected from the group consisting of covered anaerobic lagoon, batch digester, plug-flow digester, completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR), upflow anaerobic sludge blanket, and anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). 17. The process according to claim 16, wherein said pretreatment step is selected from the group consisting of: adding chemical compounds to the flushed waste; comminution; and subjecting the flushed waste to biological processes. 18. The process according to claim 16, further comprising the step of heating the flushed waste that is directed into the digester to a temperature higher than 35째 C. 19. A fixed-film anaerobic system for treating flushed waste comprising: a) a digester having a floor and having an upper and a lower region; b) at least one layer of pliant media supported within the digester, wherein said media consists of immobilized anaerobic microorganisms; c) an influent line to direct the flushed waste into the digester; and d) an effluent line to remove treated flushed waste from the digester, wherein said pliant media consists of restrained, pliant mesh panels, wherein the pliant mesh panels are restrained on racks, wherein more than one layer of pliant media is supported within the digester tank, wherein said layers comprise at least one layer of media comprising substantially vertically-oriented channels having a first diameter and a first cross-section, and at least another layer of media comprises substantially vertically-oriented channels having a second diameter and a second cross-section, wherein said media immobilizes anaerobic microorganisms. 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said digester is a subterranean, closed digester and further comprises a means for collecting biogas produced as a by-product of anaerobic digestion of the flushed waste. 21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the second diameter is different from that of the first diameter. 22. The system according to claim 19, wherein the second diameter is substantially similar to that of the first diameter.