Anaerobic fermentation vessel for animal waste - has compartments between zigzag baffles connecting over sediment-retaining partitions

摘要

Appts. comprises a gas-tight vessel contg. a number of vertical (parallel) baffles which extend from the bottom to above the expected level of the contents and are arranged such that the material is forced to pass over the entire surface area of the bottom on its way from the inlet compartment to the outlet. The baffles pref. extend from alternate opposite sides of the vessel so that the contents follow a zig-zag path whilst short vertical partitions on the bottom prevent the sediment in the compartments from being carried along. The appts. is used for anaerobic fermentation of animal waste. The arrangement eliminates or minimises loss of unfermented material in the outlet flow and thus maximises gas prodn. and produces a near smell-free effluent, even with continuous or nearly continuous supply. Optimum efficiency can be achieved by selective heating of the compartments, pre-heating the inlet flow in heat exchange with the effluent, and intermittent gas injection.