Method and apparatus for lysing sludge and dividing solids in liquid suspension
First Claim
1. A dispersion mill, comprising an annular rotor with a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having a first slot wall and a second slot wall, said first slot wall and said second slot wall of a plurality of said first series of slots converging toward one another in a radially outward direction;
- and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor is rotated relative to said stator to thereby discharge flowable matter from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and system to mechanically lyse microbial cells and disintegrate particulate in liquid and recycling the lysed cells, cytoplasm and particulates to the aeration system of a wastewater treatment plant. The method of lysis is cavitation and impingement in a mill, which preferably has a plurality of stages, each with a rotor/stator set. A corresponding plurality of dividers within the mill channel the fluid sequentially through each of the plurality of stages. Orifice plates may be utilized to maximize cavitation by controlling flow into the rotors, which preferably have tapering slots to maximize cavitation.
70 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A dispersion mill, comprising an annular rotor with a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having a first slot wall and a second slot wall, said first slot wall and said second slot wall of a plurality of said first series of slots converging toward one another in a radially outward direction;
- and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor is rotated relative to said stator to thereby discharge flowable matter from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for producing liquid suspensions of finely divided matter, comprising a housing accommodating flowable matter, said housing having an input opening for admitting flowable matter to be processed and an output opening for discharging processed flowable matter;
- a two-stage mill disposed within said housing, said mill including a rotable drive shaft extending through said housing, a first stage with a first annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a first series of slots therein, and a first annular stator, which has a second series of slots therein and which cooperates with said first rotor to process flowable matter, and a second stage having a second annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a third series of slots therein, and a second annular stator, which has a fourth series of slots therein and which cooperates with said second rotor to process flowable matter, each slot of said first series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said second series of slots to discharge flowable matter from said first rotor into said first stator, and each slot of said third series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said fourth series of slots to discharge flowable matter from said second rotor into said second stator; and
controlling means disposed within said housing for controlling the flow of flowable matter such that it passes through said first stage and then through said second stage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- a two-stage mill disposed within said housing, said mill including a rotable drive shaft extending through said housing, a first stage with a first annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a first series of slots therein, and a first annular stator, which has a second series of slots therein and which cooperates with said first rotor to process flowable matter, and a second stage having a second annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a third series of slots therein, and a second annular stator, which has a fourth series of slots therein and which cooperates with said second rotor to process flowable matter, each slot of said first series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said second series of slots to discharge flowable matter from said first rotor into said first stator, and each slot of said third series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said fourth series of slots to discharge flowable matter from said second rotor into said second stator; and
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24. A dispersion mill, comprising an annular rotor having a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having an inner slot opening with an associated area and an outer slot opening with an associated area, the cumulative area of said inner slot openings exceeding the cumulative area of said outer slot openings;
- and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor rotates relative to said stator to thereby discharge flowable matter from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for dewatering a sludge stream, comprising the steps of:
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continuously directing at least a portion of said stream to a dispersion mill of the type having an annular rotor with a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having a first slot wall and a second slot wall, said first slot wall and said second slot wall of a plurality of said first series of slots converging toward one another in a radially outward direction, and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor is rotated relative to said stator to thereby discharge said slurry from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated;
lysing solids in said portion in said dispersion mill to thereby generate nutrients for cellular respiration; and
reintroducing said portion passing through said mill to said stream, whereby nutrients generated by said lysing step support cellular respiration in said stream after reintroduction. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for the production of extracts, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a fluid slurry of a raw material containing a material to be extracted therefrom;
directing at least a portion of said slurry to a dispersion mill of the type having an annular rotor with a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having a first slot wall and a second slot wall, said first slot wall and said second slot wall of a plurality of said first series of slots converging toward one another in a radially outward direction, and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor is rotated relative to said stator to thereby discharge said slurry from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated;
lysing solids in said portion in said dispersion mill to thereby yield finely comminuted solids within said slurry; and
extracting said material to be extracted from said slurry of finely comminuted solids.
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41. A method for the production of extracts, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a fluid slurry of a raw material containing a material to be extracted therefrom;
directing at least a portion of said slurry to an apparatus having a housing accommodating said portion said housing having an input opening for admitting said portion to be processed and an output opening for discharging processed slurry, a two-stage mill disposed within said housing, said mill including a rotable drive shaft extending through said housing, a first stage with a first annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a first series of slots therein, and a first annular stator, which has a second series of slots therein and which cooperates with said first rotor to process said slurry, and a second stage having a second annular rotor, which is mounted on said drive shaft and which has a third series of slots therein, and a second annular stator, which has a fourth series of slots therein and which cooperates with said second rotor to process said slurry, each slot of said first series of slot intermittently aligning with each slot of said second series of slots to discharge said slurry from said first rotor into said first stator, and each slot of said third series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said fourth series of slots to discharge said slurry from said second rotor into said second stator; and
controlling means disposed within said housing for controlling the flow of said slurry such that it passes through said first stage and then through said second stage.lysing solids in said portion in said apparatus to thereby yield finely comminuted solids within said slurry; and
extracting said material to be extracted from said slurry of finely comminuted solids. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method for the production of extracts, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a fluid slurry of a raw material containing a material to be extracted therefrom;
directing at least a portion of said slurry to a dispersion mill of the type having an annular rotor having a first series of slots therein, each slot of said first series of slots having an inner slot opening with an associated area and an outer slot opening with an associated area, the cumulative area of said inner slot openings exceeding the cumulative area of said outer slot openings, and an annular stator with a second series of slots therein, each slot of said second series of slots intermittently aligning with each slot of said first series of slots as said rotor rotates relative to said stator to thereby discharge said slurry from said rotor into said stator when said rotor is rotated;
lysing solids in said portion in said dispersion mill to thereby yield finely comminuted solids within said slurry; and
extracting said material to be extracted from said slurry of finely comminuted solids.
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Specification