Apparatus and system for treating organic mass

• US 10,155,699 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomax Holdings Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Biomax Holdings Pte., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sim, Eng Tong, Chua, Siok Lui, Puah, Chum Mok
• Primary Examiner(s): BOWERS, NATHAN ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/358,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/33 Mixing compost ingredients or organic waste
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/30 Mixing gases with solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/34 by introducing gases in solid materials, e.g. in masses of powder or particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/071 Fixing of the stirrer to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0723 oblique with respect to the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0726 having stirring elements connected to the stirrer shaft each by a single radial rod, other than open frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/112 with arms, paddles, vanes or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1125 with vanes or blades extending parallel or oblique to the stirrer axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/191 with similar elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/70 with paddles, blades or arms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/221 of operational parameters, e.g. level of material in the mixer, temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2215 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C05B 17/00 Other phosphatic fertilisers, e.g. soft rock phosphates, bone meal
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/10 Addition or removal of substances other than water or air to or from the material during the treatment for activating or stimulating the treatment C05F17/20
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/20 using specific microorganisms or substances, e.g. enzymes, for activating or stimulating the treatment use of invertebrates C05F17/05
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/90 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/964 Constructional parts, e.g. floors, covers or doors
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/971 for feeding or discharging materials to be treated; for feeding or discharging other material
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/979 the other material being gaseous
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/986 the other material being liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 : the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 : Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

An apparatus for treating organic mass. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber and agitation means provided in the chamber to agitate the organic mass. The agitation means comprises a rotatable shaft extending through the chamber, a plurality of agitator arms extending from the shaft, and a paddle connected to each agitator arm. The paddle is arranged to make a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the agitator arm and a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. There is also provided a system for recycling ammonia generated from the treated organic mass by the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating organic mass within a period of time of less than 24 hours with the treated organic mass has a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium (NPK) value of at least 6, the apparatus comprising:

a chamber configured to contain a mixture of organic mass and one or more micro-organisms selected to degrade the organic mass wherein the chamber includes;

a U-shaped container having a curved bottom, and

an inlet opening on a top side of the U-shaped container for inserting the organic mass and one or more micro-organisms into the U-shaped container; and

an agitator provided in the chamber to agitate the mixture, the agitator comprising;

a rotatable shaft extending through a central bore of the chamber,

a plurality of agitator arms extending outward from the rotatable shaft, wherein the plurality of agitator arms are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows running along the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft such that at least two agitator arms are provided along each of said longitudinal rows, and

a plurality of paddles wherein each of the plurality of paddles is connected to one of the plurality of agitator arms, each of the plurality of paddles being arranged to make a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connected agitator arm within a range of about 70°

to about 110°

, and arranged at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft,

wherein each paddle disposed on a different agitator arm along the same longitudinal row of the shaft are arranged at a different second angle, and

a portion of a plurality of combined paddles and agitator arms are arranged such that the paddles of the portion are proximal an inner wall of the U-shaped contained and prevent spillage of the mixture through the inlet opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second angle of each of the plurality of paddles is one of 0°

, 45°

, 90°

, 135°

, and 180°

.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle of each of the plurality of paddles is within a range of about 80°

to about 110°

.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle of each of the plurality of paddles is different.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the agitator further comprises a plurality of members wherein each of the plurality of members is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of paddles to form a means for directing the mixture.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of members is disposed substantially perpendicularly to a front surface plane of the corresponding one of the plurality of paddles to form a substantially T-shaped configuration.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of members is disposed at an edge of the corresponding one of the plurality of paddles in a plane forming a substantially L-shaped configuration.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of agitator arms are evenly spaced along the length of the shaft.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central bore of the chamber is substantially parallel to the ground.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is made of a material capable of withstanding the mixture.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber has a capacity within a range of 4,000 L to 80,000 L.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is integrally formed with each agitator arm.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each agitator arm is integrally formed with the shaft.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the agitator further comprises more than one of the plurality of paddles connected to one of the plurality of agitator arms.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an environment controlling system within the chamber so as to provide an optimal environment condition for treating the organic mass, the environment controlling system comprises;

a temperature control system for regulating temperature of the mixture,

a moisture control system for adjusting moisture level of the mixture,

an aeration system for introducing air to the mixture, and

a pH control system for adjusting pH level of the mixture.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the temperature control system includes heating oil encapsulating at least a portion of the perimeter of the chamber.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more micro-organisms are selected from a group consisting of Bacillus sp. micro-organisms, Pseudomonas sp. micro-organisms, Bifidobacterium sp. micro-organisms, Lactobacillus sp. micro-organisms, Streptomyces sp. micro-organisms, Corynebacterium sp. micro-organisms and mixtures thereof.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an ammonia collection system for collecting ammonia generated from the treatment of the organic mass; and

an ammonia distribution system for distributing the collected ammonia wherein the ammonia distribution system is fluidly connected to the ammonia collection system.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ammonia distribution system recycles the collected ammonia back to the chamber.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ammonia distribution system recycles the collected ammonia to the treated organic mass outside of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ammonia collection system is a pipe capable of withstanding ammonia.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ammonia distribution system is a pipe capable of withstanding ammonia.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conveyor belt that conveys at least one of the organic mass and the micro-organisms from the ground to the inlet opening in the chamber.