Patent Application
20150102140
The invention relates to a method and device for shredding a waste flow with solid constituents. The invention also relates to a system for treating a number of different waste flows in a building.
Large quantities of waste are produced in a building such as a care institution, (for instance a hospital or nursing home), an airport terminal and the like. A part of the waste can be discharged directly to the sewer system, but another part must first undergo a treatment or must be processed in an alternative manner. In care institutions the waste can for instance comprise urine and faeces collected via containers (chamber pots and urinals). It is usual to deposit the urine and faeces into a toilet and discharge them via the public sewer system, after which, following optional purification in a sewage treatment plant, they are discharged into the surface water. A drawback hereof is that the containers have to be cleaned separately, which is costly and labour-intensive and moreover increases the risk of contamination. A second drawback is that possible medicinal and/or toxic substances in the urine and/or faeces could pass into the surface water.
Described in the European patent EP 2 188 069 B1 is a waste treatment system in which different waste flows are processed by guiding the solid waste material through a number of shredding devices and subsequently cleaning the overall quantity of liquid waste and shredded solid waste. It is found in practice however that the shredding devices can result in nuisance. Depending on, among other factors, the quantity and properties of the solid waste material, for instance the containers in which liquid waste is temporarily stored, the shredding elements of the shredding devices produce a relatively high level of noise.
A further drawback of the known devices is that it has been found difficult to limit the odour nuisance resulting from the waste treatment system.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and device of the type stated in the preamble in which at least one of the above stated drawbacks of the known shredding devices is reduced.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device and method of the type stated in the preamble which also produces relatively little noise during use.
According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the objectives is at least partially achieved in a method for shredding a waste flow with solid constituents, the method comprising of:
carrying the waste flow to a shredding device, the shredding device comprising a receiving space inside a housing, wherein a shredding unit with at least one shredding element is arranged in the housing;
immersing the shredding element into the waste flow carried into the receiving space;
shredding the solid constituents of the waste flow with the shredding element in the immersed state;
discharging the waste flow from the housing.
Because the shredding element which performs the actual shredding operation, for instance a rotary shredder provided with protrusions, is partially or wholly immersed, the sound caused by the shredding and/or the vibrations caused thereby are damped to some extent. The noise nuisance for the surrounding area will hereby decrease. It is recommended to have the shredding element wholly immersed during shredding of the solid constituents of the waste flow. Some sound-reducing effect on the surrounding area can often already be realized however when only a part of the shredding element is immersed, particularly when the contact surface of the shredding element and the opposite surface in the housing (i.e. the surface where most of the noise is produced) remains below the liquid level.
In determined embodiments the waste flow comprises solid constituents as well as liquid constituents, wherein the solid constituents comprise containers. Liquid constituents are held in these containers. When the waste flow is generated for instance in a hospital, a container can be formed by a chamber pot or the like in which faeces and/or urine are held. The faeces and/or urine themselves form the liquid constituents, while the containers form the solid constituents. In these embodiments the method comprises of shredding the containers to container parts. These container parts are smaller than the original container. The shredding is preferably performed such that the container is shredded until the resulting container parts have reached a determined maximum size. The container parts are in other words smaller than a predetermined maximum value. This maximum value can vary, but is chosen in some embodiments such that transport of the container parts is possible via a conduit system with a liquid waste flow as medium. This means that the shredded container parts are easy to discharge via a conduit.
Said maximum value varies depending on the application. This maximum value is preferably equal to 5 cm, 1 cm or even 0.5 cm.
Whole or partial immersion of the shredding element can sometimes be realized solely by the waste flow itself (when there is a sufficiently large quantity of liquid waste relative to the quantity of solid constituents), although in other embodiments immersion takes place in a combination of waste flow and supplementary liquid. The method can then comprise of adding supplementary liquid to a housing filled with a quantity of waste flow until at least the shredding element is immersed in the mixture of waste flow and supplementary liquid. The supplementary liquid can be water (optionally of potable quality), although other liquids are also possible. Additives, for instance a cleaning agent, can be supplied to the liquid (for instance the water).
Filling the shredding device and processing the waste flow can take place in different ways. In determined embodiments of the invention the method comprises of keeping a discharge conduit closed prior to feed and shredding. The housing fills with a quantity of waste flow, optionally in combination with supplementary liquid, until a sufficiently high level is reached, and the shredding element is immersed therein. Once shredding has been completed, the whole content is discharged, for instance by opening a discharge conduit. A waste flow can in this way be processed batchwise and in efficient manner.
In order to ensure that at least the shredding element is immersed during the shredding by the shredding unit, the liquid level in the housing can be detected, for instance with one or more sensors. At a liquid level lower than a predetermined minimum liquid level supplementary liquid must be added until at least the minimum liquid level is reached. This can take place automatically in that a control unit coupled to the sensor regulates the feed of water, although manual filling of the housing is of course also possible.
In a determined embodiment of the invention the shredding device comprises a housing provided with at least one first inlet for introducing the waste flow, a second inlet for introducing supplementary liquid and at least one outlet for discharging the shredded waste flow with supplementary liquid, at least one shredding unit arranged in the housing and comprising a shredding element drivable via a drive motor and a control unit configured to control at least the second inlet, the discharge and the shredding unit. When such a shredding device is applied, the method can comprise the following steps of:
opening the first inlet for arranging a quantity of waste flow in the housing;
opening the second inlet for mixing the waste flow with supplementary water;
shredding the mixture of waste flow and supplementary water with an immersed shredding element; and
discharging the shredded waste flow via the outlet of the housing. The method can herein comprise of first adding supplementary water and then supplying waste, first supplying waste and then adding supplementary water or adding supplementary water while supplying waste.
In a further embodiment the method comprises of pressing the solid constituents of the waste flow against the shredding element with a pressing unit. This pressing can take place before and/or during the actual shredding and has the main purpose of effecting a quick and efficient shredding process.
In an advantageous embodiment the method comprises of:
determining the liquid level in the housing;
comparing the liquid level to a minimum liquid level, wherein the minimum liquid level preferably corresponds to a level at which the shredding element is immersed;
shredding the waste flow only when the minimum liquid level is reached.
When the level is too low, supplementary liquid is first added until a determined minimum level has been obtained. Only then is the shredding element activated by switching on the drive motor.
The waste flow can further be stirred before, during and/or after shredding with the intention of holding the optionally shredded solid constituents as far as possible in suspension in order to assist in proper shredding of the waste flow, to reduce the risk of sediment forming in the housing, formed for instance by shredded solid constituents, and/or to improve the discharge of the shredded waste flow.
According to a second aspect of the invention, at least one of the objectives is at least partially achieved in a device for shredding a waste flow with solid constituents, the device comprising:
a housing provided with at least one first inlet for introducing the waste flow, a second inlet for introducing supplementary liquid and at least one outlet for discharging the shredded waste flow with supplementary liquid;
at least one shredding unit arranged in the housing and comprising a shredding element drivable via a drive motor;
a control unit configured to control at least the second inlet, the outlet and the shredding unit for the purpose of first immersing the shredding element in the mixture of waste flow and supplementary liquid, to subsequently activate the shredding unit for the purpose of shredding the waste flow with the shredding unit in immersed state and, as soon as the waste flow has been shredded, to discharge the shredded waste flow via the outlet of the housing. In an embodiment of the invention the outlet comprises a discharge conduit for discharging the shredded waste flow and supplementary liquid. This conduit can comprise a closing mechanism to be operated via the control unit for the purpose of opening and closing the outlet. In a further embodiment the device comprises a supplementary liquid feed conduit, for instance a water conduit, for feeding supplementary liquid under pressure, and a valve mechanism controllable via the control unit for regulating the feed of the supplementary liquid to the housing.
The shredding unit can comprise one or more shredding elements arranged rotatably in the housing. The shredding element comprises one or more protrusions for shredding the solid constituents.
In order to improve the quality of the shredding, a pressing unit is provided in some embodiments for pressing solid constituents of the waste flow against the surface of the shredding element during the shredding. This pressing unit can for instance be embodied as a press displaceable in the housing. When the solid constituents have been arranged in the housing, the press presses these parts in the direction of the shredding element. At a given moment the press is moved back again to its starting position. The shredded waste is then discharged or one or more further pressing steps take place.
In an embodiment of the invention the device comprises a liquid level determining unit for determining the liquid level in the housing, wherein the liquid level determining unit is coupled to the control unit for controlling the second inlet and/or the shredding unit subject to the current liquid level in the housing. The control unit can for instance be embodied (programmed) to activate the shredding unit only when the shredding unit is wholly immersed. When the level is too low, supplementary liquid must first be added until a determined minimum level is obtained, and only then can the shredding unit be switched on. In other cases, for instance when there is a sufficiently high liquid level after the device has been filled with waste, the shredding unit can be switched on immediately.
According to a third aspect of the invention, at least one of the objectives is at least partially achieved in a system for treating a number of waste flows in a building, in particular a care institution, aircraft or airport terminal, wherein a waste flow at least comprises solid constituents as well as liquid constituents, wherein the solid constituents comprise containers in which liquid constituents are held, the system comprising:
a conduit system with a number of inlets to be disposed at different locations in the building and connected to at least one outlet to the sewer system;
one or more shredding devices, wherein a shredding device is configured to shred the solid constituents of a waste flow;
wherein the outlet of a shredding device is connected to a separating device for separating actual waste materials and container materials from the shredded waste flow, wherein a purification installation is connected to the outlet of the separating device for the actual waste material.
Although the invention will be described on the basis of specific embodiments, the invention is not limited to the shown embodiments. The invention is described with reference to measures wherein explicit advantages can be stated but wherein implicit advantages may also apply. The subject-matter of the invention of this application or of a divisional application can relate to each of these measures, some combinations of which are described and/or shown explicitly in this description, but may also be described implicitly. Although the drawings show explicit combinations of measures, it will be apparent to the skilled person that a number of the measures can also be taken separately of each other.
The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, wherein
Designated with 1 in
In the course of care in a care institution waste such as faeces and the like are for instance generated, and this waste can be discharged including the container (chamber pot) in which the waste is presented. The waste flow consists here of a solid substance (the container) and a liquid substance (the faeces). In the case of an airport the waste flow can also consist of solid substances (for instance food packagings and the like) and liquid substances (such as faeces, flushing water and the like).
Situated immediately downstream of inlets 2 is a shredding device 4. Following shredding the waste can be displaced in simple manner through a conduit system. Preferably present is a central separating device 6 into which different inlets debouch. In this separating device separation takes place between the actual waste (faeces and the like) and the solid substance, for instance the container material of the shredded containers. The actual waste is fed via a conduit 9 to a purification installation 10. The liquid part of the waste fed via conduit 9 (consisting largely of water) is purified in purification installation 10 and subsequently discharged via discharge conduit 11 to sewer system 12. This waste flow can be clean such that it can optionally be reused.
The waste flow with solid substance, for instance with shredded container material, separated in separating device 6 is guided via a conduit 13 to a cleaning device 14. Cleaning of the container material can take place using a cleaning fluid, for instance flushing water which may for instance be the flushing water made available at outlet 15. Cleaning device 6 is further embodied to perform a separation between the cleaned solid substance and the fluid (for instance flushing water) used for the cleaning. This fluid is fed via conduit 16 back to purification installation 10. The cleaned solid substance (for instance the cleaned container material) is discharged via outlet 17, for instance to a receiving unit 18. The received solid substance can then be discharged, for instance for reuse thereof.
In contrast to the above described situation, waste flow in
The biodegradable solid substance made available in separating device 26 (for instance—though not limited thereto—the shredded container material) is first cleaned in the above described manner in cleaning device 34. Here too the fluid (for instance flushing water) used which may come from outlet 40 is again fed to purification installation 34. Via conduit 44 the liquid part of the waste flow can be discharged in the direction of purification installation 30, while the cleaned container material is fed via conduit 27 to a fermenter 28. A further waste flow, such as kitchen waste, can likewise be fed to this fermenter 28 via inlet 29 and a further shredding device 40.
Heat/gas is released during the fermentation in fermenter 28. This heat/gas can be used to heat fermenter 28 and/or to generate energy in order to enhance the degradation process and the conditions for the micro-organisms in the fermenter. The solid/liquid waste flow is fed to separator 41. Here hard components are filtered out and discharged for composting purposes 42. A heating step optionally also takes place in order to eliminate possible bacteria in the hard components through heating. The softer components including liquid are fed via conduit 43 to the purification installation.
Once first mechanism 52 has been closed, second mechanism 52 is opened and the waste drops into the inner space 53. Inner space 53 can be filled with water via a water supply 48 connected for instance to the domestic water main. Provided for this purpose is a control valve 47 which can be manually and/or electrically (remotely) operated. A shredding unit 55 is provided in the lower part of inner space 53. Shredding unit 55 comprises a shredding element 57 mounted rotatably on a central shaft 56. Shredding element 57 can be driven via an electric drive motor 63. Drive motor 63 is normally disposed outside inner space 53 and is suitable for rotating drive element 57 in at least one rotation direction (R1).
A large number of protrusions 60 are provided on the curved outer surface 59 of shredding element 57. The bottom 61 of inner space 53 has a curved bottom part 62 at the position of shredding element 57. Bottom part 62 is embodied here such that between outer surface 59 of shredding element 57 and bottom part 62 there extends a channel 65, the height of which is more or less constant. In other words, the curvature of bottom part 62 is adapted to the curvature of shredding element 57. Protrusions 66 are likewise arranged on the curved bottom part 62. These protrusions have a shape which is preferably complementary to that of protrusions 60. The spacing between protrusions 66 is further adapted to the spacing between protrusions 60. An area can hereby be created between shredding element 57 and the bottom of housing 3 where the waste can be shredded between the shredding element and the bottom.
In the shown embodiment protrusions 60 on the shredding element and protrusions 66 on the bottom extend substantially helically. The solid part of the waste can hereby not only be shredded but also displaced in one determined direction, for instance in the direction of the outlet.
In the shown embodiment drive motor 63 of shredding unit 55 can be controlled by a central control unit 70. This central control unit 70 can likewise be connected to control valve 47 of water supply 48. Control unit 70 ensures that via water supply 48 the water level L in inner space 53 is always high such that shredding unit 55, and more particularly shredding element 57, is always situated partially, and preferably even wholly, under the water level.
In some embodiments of the invention the waste is first arranged in an empty inner space 53 and inner space 53 is subsequently filled to the desired level via feed 54. In other embodiments a quantity of water is already present in inner space 53 and the waste is added to the water already available. Shredding unit 55 is in both cases wholly immersed in the water. In determined embodiments control unit 70 is configured to arrange a more or less fixed minimum quantity of water at a time in inner space 53 via supply 48. This minimal quantity must be sufficient to always set the water level above the shredding unit. In other embodiments use is made of a water level sensor (not shown). This sensor generates a sensor signal representative of the current water level. Control unit 70 can determine on the basis of the sensor signal whether or not water still has to be added via the supply.
Further provided on the underside of inner space 53 are two mutually connected discharge channels 70,71. Discharge channel 70 can be closed using a closing mechanism 72. In the shown embodiment closing mechanism 72 is a lying mechanism which is embodied as pinion. A toothed wheel 74 engaging on the pinion can be rotated (direction R2) via a drive motor (not shown) in order to thus open or close closing mechanism 72 as required. The drive motor can be controlled here by control unit 70 which can open the closing mechanism for instance once the waste has been shredded to sufficiently fine extent.
When closing mechanism 72 is opened the mixture of water and shredded waste flows via channel 70 and channel 71 into a discharge conduit 25. In order to ensure that the shredded waste material in channel 70 does not tend to begin settling, in a determined embodiment an (optional) stirring mechanism 76 is arranged. The stirring mechanism comprises a shaft 77 with a number of rotatable stirring elements 78 (direction R3) which can hold the solid shredded waste material in suspension and prevent deposition thereof.
In the embodiment shown in
In order to ensure that excessively large parts of the waste material do not enter channel 70 a determined embodiment can be further provided with a screen 80. Screen 80 has a curved form adapted to the form of the bottom. The screen can further be arranged just above the entrance opening of channel 70. Screen 80 preferably takes a curved form here so that a narrow channel 81 remains available between the screen and the outer surface of the shredding element. Owing to the presence of channel 81 waste material which may not have been properly shredded is once again dispersed through the inner space. At a given moment this dispersed waste material will once again move between protrusions 60, 66 of the shredding unit and undergo a further shredding step.
In order to improve the shredding performance of the shredding unit an (optional) pressing unit 86 can be provided in determined embodiments. This pressing unit 86 comprises a pressing element 87 which is displaceable transversely (direction P3) toward shredding unit 57. This displacement takes place with a drive mechanism 87. When the waste material has been arranged in inner space 53 and the shredding unit is switched on, pressing element 87 can at a given moment be displaced slowly in the direction of shredding unit 57 in order to press the waste material against the protrusions of the shredding unit so as to thus obtain an improved shredding.
The distance between the upper side of shredding unit 55 and the water level L (distance a) can vary. It has been found that, in order to obtain a good sound-insulating effect, the distance must amount to at least 1 cm, preferably at least 5 cm, still more preferably at least 10 cm. Further shown is that the water level L is located above pressing unit 86. This need not be so in all cases. At the position of the contact between pressing unit 86 and shredding unit 57, both units must be underwater. This means that a part of shredding element 57 and/or pressing element 87 can extend above water level L. Preferably however, both units are wholly immersed in order to ensure an even better insulation.
Further provided in the embodiment shown in
In the above described embodiments the shredding device comprises a control unit 70 which can operate the different closing mechanisms, shredding unit 55, pressing unit 86 and water supply 54. In other embodiments one or more of these components of the system can however only be operated by hand. This does not of course change the operating principle of the shredding device. In other embodiments there is a control unit configured to control two or more shredding devices instead of one control unit per shredding device.
The described constructions of the shredding devices enable good shredding of the waste material without a great deal of noise being produced. By holding the shredding unit immersed the chance of a malodorous gases being released, for instance gases from discharge conduit 25, is extremely small. This is particularly important in the case of cleaning systems wherein the shredding device is located in the rooms of a building which are in use and the shredding of the waste material would otherwise cause nuisance to the users of these rooms.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments thereof described herein. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which numerous modifications and adjustments can be envisaged.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011600 | Oct 2013 | NL | national |
