CA2176472A1 - Process and device for biological treatment of substances and/or substance mixtures in closed rotting reactors - Google Patents

Abstract

Process and apparatus for the biological treatment, in particular composting, of biogenic and abiogenic substances and/or mixture of substances in a clamp (10) in the presence of biologically active components, in particular microorganisms, in a closed reactor (RX1 to RXN) having a plurality of reactor zones, namely the clamp (10) itself and at least one reactor gas space adjacent to the clamp, wherein the media conditions, changes in media conditions and/or process parameters in the clamp (10) are adjusted, maintained, controlled or regulated, ie. in general regulated, by regulating means and by means of steady-state, quasi-steady-state and/or non-steady-state operation of the reactor (RX1 to RXN) (Fig. 2.2).

Description

21 i~472 ; ~ Proce~R and app~ratu~ for the bioiogical tre~tment of ~bBtanCeB and/or mixture~ of substance~ ln ~losed rotting reactors Technical fleld The lnve~tlo~ relate~ ~o a process and an apparatu~ for the ~aological treat~e~t, in particular compo~ting, of biogenic a~d ab~ogenlc ~ub~tances and/or mixture of ~b~tances an ~ clamp 1~ :the pre~enae of biologically active co~pone~ts, in pa~tic~lar micro-or~aciRms, in ~ olo~ed reactc~r havln~- a p~u~ality of reacto~ zones.
:Prlor art Such proce ses a~d pla~ts are know~, for examp}e as indu~trial composting proce~e~ and co~po~ plant~
ln a ~ery wide ra~e of ~oai~e~t~. The rotting, i.e.
compoRtln~, of biogenic orsanic a~d abio~enic su~tance~
unde~ aerobic conditions re~ult,~ i~ the formation o~ ~At and metabolic gases whi~h have 1;o be r~mo~ed ~la aer~tio~
(ven~ilatio~) systsm~. Usually, fre~h ai~:flows through ~he ~otting mixture and the co~resp~nA; n~ w~3te air iB
blown out. Oxyge~ i~ introduced in a~ uAcon~rolled manner with the fre~h air supply, ar.Ld moisture and ~eat are removed with the w~ste air. Gas, hu~idity and/or temperature grad~entR re~ult w}~i~h cannot be lnf}uen~ed and, owing to the networ~ o.f operating ~nd proce~
parameters, are ~uitabls only for de~cribing ~he p~oeess.
Thu~, import~nt proces~l alms oa~not ~e ~chieved by mea~ of the~e co~e~tional aer~tion ~y~tam~. If wat~r dischar~e ~ de~ired, he~t i~ th,us ~lmultaneously r~moved in an u~controlled manner. Thi~s, on th~ one hand the

2 2 1 76~ 72 desired mol~ture content~ cannot be mai~tained and on the othe~ hand ~mportant predeter"~;~e~ te~peraturc~ for ~he development of mesophil~c and thermophili~ micro~lora cannot be indepe~derltly controlled. It i6 al~o not passible to influence the mic:coblal co~ver~io~ of ~u~-sta~ces by ~e~ of a defined oxyg~n feed. The de~icien-cie~ of the cur~e~t proce~R co~trol~ are evident i~ the problem of eRta~lishl~g ~eproducible and s~eclic co~dition~ in the medium, ~or example~in the form~tion of exc~s~vely ~igh temperature plateaus in certain trea~me~t phase~, in ~n undeslred dry ~tab~lization of the rotting material ~d ln a~ un~atlsfactory conversion.
The discharge of odorlferou~ l~u~tanc~ and production c~de~sate, w~ich nece~sitate a~ditio~al treat~ent means, are further a~pect~. S~nce t~e kéy p~rameter~ of the biological proce~ control, She ox~gen ~uppl~j the tempera~ure and the moisture content, can ~e o~ly lnade-~uately mainta~ned, no ~mprovem~ent in the ~otting proce~s iB achieved eve~ by con~ectint~ ~eparate reactors to a central a~r preparation ~ea~t3, especiall~ si~ce the content~ of the reattors exhi~it di~ferent d~gree~ of rotting a~d are Qupplled with :Lde~tical air qualit~ and quantlty of air.
A b~ a~p~c~t i~ the further development of ~he composting proce~ i8 to ~ p~ove the un~ati~factory a~d incorrect use of the poten~i~l performanc~ of ~pecific microfloxa, to remedy the inevitably poor reproduci~ility of desired qualltle~ a~ defined ~y the quallty guidellne~
for compo~t~ and/ox to prevent ~he form~tio~ of poc~ets 2 1 76~:7~

- 3 ~
of harmful flo~a in co~posts a~d to pre~ent the$r ~econdary products and ~o lmprove t~e co~t-e~fi~ency of the rotting procesR by optlmum,proce~s contro}. The ri~ks of po~8~b1e harmful effectR in the d:iver~ified use of compost~ are otherwi~e incàlculable a~d are ~cceptable agaln~t the background o~ product li3bility.
DE-40 ~1 868 Al - ~k~.~r - di~clo~es a proce~
for the composting o wa8te5. The m~terlal to ~e rotted i~ introduced into a clo~ed ~ontai~er 3nd microbially degraded wi~ a supply of ai~.. To star~ the composting rapidly and reliably, the waste air ,e~erg~g from the rotting m~terial i8 r~cycled to the rotting materlal during the init~a~ pha~e. Thls air circulation pha~e i~
diBcontinued a8 ~oon a~ ~he o~en co~tent:fall6 below 18%, The air circulatlon sy~tem de~cribed:i~ thi~ publi-cation ~erve8 for con~ervin~ the biog~nically ~o~med heat, especially in w~nter.
DE-40 21 865 ~1 _ ~RU~ likewi ~e de~cribes a proce~ a~d a~ apparatu~ for co~po~ing wa~te~ with air clrculation. The air circ~lation ~er~e~ for maintai~in~
hygienic condition~ over a period of 5 day3~ ~t i~
started only a~ter the degr~dation of the readily degrad-able component~ becau~e the bi~ge~ic heat ~ormation in t~e vi~orous lnitial phasQ of l~he treatm~nt then cannot be ~o~trolled by the sy~tQm de~3c~ibed if lt 1~ u~ed for regulati~g the gas bala~ce. Cooli~g ca~ b~ achi~ed o~ly ~y mea~ of the fres~ air supply a~ par~ of an ~ndefined ~et of parameters, Pi~ally, ~E-40 08 104 A,l - WIENXC~R - de~cribe~

2~ /6472

- 4 a composti~g 8y8te~ which i~ ~uitable only for ~mall cont~iners since the aerat~on employs only c~nvection.
~o~rol o~ microbial conver~io:~ i8 not po~lble.
I~ the ca~e of the~e cc~æo~tin~ plants which ha~
already. been realized in practice ~ 0 21 8~8 Al;
DE 40 21 865 A1; D~ 40 OB 104 A1), the air circ~latio~s descrlbèd are those which are conceptually derived from proces~ engineeri~g wh$ch operates o~ly wit~ fresh air and which (~rom ~ lac~ of ~owled~e) doeg not utilize the po~ibilit~es offered by predetermi~ed cli~atic condition~. Thus, importa~ce i.9 prefsrably a~tached to optimum oxygen ~upply ~21~) in the gas phase, which ~upply can ~e achi~ved with a relati~ely low air ~rough-put pe~ unit vo~ume and u~it time. FrequeAtly, ~he proce~ relie~ on the carbon ~ioxide concentr~tio~ a~ a co~trol par~meter, which i8 :~o~e~se in the ca~e of rotting mixtures w~o~e pH i~ abo~ 7. The attempt to achieve temperature plateaus w~ich are a~ hi~h ~
po~ble rule~ out the desire to regu}ate the t~per~ure i~ the rotting mass to the b~ologiçally r~quired conditions for de~ir~d conver~io~ as aD, indi~pe~able condition. ~owever, where thi~ rout~ is ~doptçd, it iu fou~d that the air thro~ghput rate3 are ~et much too low to croate ho~ogeneou~ conditio~,s ln the ~ubstrate.
The composti~g plan~ at~d at the out~e~ i~
disclosed in, DE 40 34 400 ~,1 or the corre~r~d~ ng WO 92~07807 - ~RARRR. I~ order to avoid r~petitio~, this document ~ hereby i~corporated ~y refer~nce. It de~cri~es a proce~s fox the biotecbnologic~l tre~tment of 2 1 76~ 72 a mixture of re~idue~, prefere~ly ~n the for~ of a cla~p, by a ~icrobial conversion pro~eY~ in a closed ~ystem which 18 ~uita~le in particular for the p~o~uctio~ of compo~t. Eere, physical, ~h ~.c~l and biological proces~
pare~mete~ are included in the proce~ control and toget~er tallored to the mi~:cobi~l co~ver lo~ required for ~hi~ purpo~e in each case, with opt~m~zation of the hygienizatio~, odor eliminatlon and co~tln~ous hu~
formation of th~ mixture of residue~. For this purpo8e, the mixture of re~idues i~ subjected to two dif~erent aeratio~ msthods or a mixed f'orm of these two ~eration me~hod6. In onc aeration met~od, air i~ pa~ed through the mixture of residue. In the secon~ aeration method, on the other hand, the air i~ pas~3ed Along abo~e ~he mixture of rQsldues. In order to e~te~ h de ired temperature co~dition~, humid~ty co~ditio~ ~nd/or oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio~ particula~ profile~, i~ the mixtUrQ of re~idue~, the ~wo aeration metho~s a~e~adapted to one a~o~her in ~uch a w~y that vari.able ~;Ying r~tios ~t~een O and 100% can be gene~ated from the ~lrc~lated air volu~e flow rate. Th~ neans for aeration are in each case fans, one fan pa~Ging the air ;~lo~g ab~ve ~he mi~ture of re~idue~ and a ~eco~d fan ~low~ng the a~ through the mixt~re of reQidues.
T~e proce~s de~cribed in the last-~ontioned ~ublicatlon~ (DE 40 34 400 Al, W0 ~2 07807) u~ually operate~ succe~3fully. However, pro~le~ m~ occur when the density of the mixture bei~ rotted hlnde~s flow through the mix~ure. In ~he li~itiR~ c~e where the mixture ~eing rotted iB im~ermea~le to ir, the fan provided for e~surin~ flo~ through t~e mixture merely b~ilds up a ~tati~ pre~sure ~nder the c~amp witho~t lt being pos~ible to cause the S~ir to low, ~ot even wh~
both fa~s arc r"~n;~, l.e. the fan provided or ensur~ng flow ov~r the ala~p Rupports the fan p~o~i~ed for en~uring flow through the cla~lp, in t~at the a~r passlng along the top of the c~a~p ha~ ~ certain ~ctlon action o~ the cla p. ~lthough ~oth ~a~s are r~t~ni~g, only the air flowing over the clamp ~aU~eB a cçrtaln air circul tion i~ the ~yst~m.
Further pate~t applicatio~ of the appiica~t ~Germa~ patent applic~tion~ with applicatlon ~umber~
P 42 15 26~.0-41 a~d P 42 lS :267.4 and PCT applicatio~s with the appli~ation n ~ ~er~ PCT/~P93~1142 a~d PCT/~P93~01143), which have not y~t been laid open, describe variable air clrcu:latio~ ~ystems in closed rottin~ ~ea~s for compo~t prod~lction, which e}iminate the ob~iou~ d~ Badva~ta~es of the con~entional ~ygtems. They additionally ha~e t~e advanta~ that the rel~ant p~oce6B
parameters can be controlled lD~dependent~y of one another and can ~e co~bined in a su~t~le mann~r for optimizing the proce~s con~rol. In co~ltrast, these parameters mutually i~fluence each o~her i~ the conven~lonal sy~t~ms and ~inder the biological process. The di~clo u~e con~ent of the above pateD~t appllcati,on~ i~ here~y expre~sly al~o decla~od to be part of the de~crlption of the pre~en~c appllcation .

D~qclo~re of the invention The o~ect of t~e pre~en~ lnvention i~ to provide a procen~ and ~ apparat~ of t~e ge~eric type s~ated at the outset, whlch process or whic~ appaxatus permitq a biolog~cally ~en61tive regulat~on of de~ir~d mode~ of operat~o~, in particular for t~e pro~uc~ion of r~pro-duc$ble product~ in an economi¢al ~nner.
The o~j-ect according to the invention i8 achieved ~y the ~bject~ of patent cl~im~ 1 ~nd 20, i.e. ~y: a proce ~ asd a~ ~pparatus for the biologlc~l treatmen~, ln par i~ular ~o~po~ting, of bioge~ic ::~and ~biogenic sub~tance~ and/or mixture of slsbst~es i~ ~ clamp in the presence of ~iolo~ically active COmpOnRnt8, i~ particular microorga~sm~ in a clo6ed re~tor ha~ a pl~ality of reactor zone~, namely the cl~lp it6elf and at least one reactor ga~ space adja~e~t to t:~e clamp. ~ccording to the proce~, medi~ atate~, cha~ges in media ta~e~ and/or process p3rameter~ in the clam~l ~re ad~uste~, maintai~ed, controlled or regulated (ref~:rred to toge~her b~low a~
regulated) by mean5 of ~teady ~tate, quasl-~te~dy-~ta~e and/or non-steady-state operation o-f ~he reactor. For this purpose, the apparatu~ posse~ es a ~losed reactor havi~ the abovement~ oned reactor zo~e~ J fu~hermore, mean~ for adju6ting, m~in~a~n;n~ cont~olling and regulating (referred to toget:her below as r~ulati~
means) t~ medi~ ~tate~, ch~nges in msdia ~tates ~nd/or proces~ parameters i~ the clamp by mea~ o~ ~te~dy-state, quasi-~t~ady-state and~or no~-,ste~dy-sta~e oper~tion of the reac~or.

2 1 76~ 72 -- 8 -- ..
By means of t~ese ~ea~3ure~, de~ired and required media statQ8 ca~ be m~intained ~y ~ ne coord~ ~ation of the transfer of climatic conditions from the ga~ ~pace to She solid~ mixture, and the ~e~eral ~1crobial eonver~io~
can thus be l~flue~ced; f~the:nmore, the performance~ acd synergi~tic effect~ of special:Iy promoted pop~latlon~ ~an be optimized. The~e meas~re~ also permit a~ opti~u~
adaptation of the proce~s co~trol to differ~nt startlng point~ ~nd rott~g layer thic~e~es.
Accordi~ to claim43 2 and 21, at lea~at two reacto~ zone~, in particu~ ar the clamp it6elf ~nd a reactor zo~e ~djacent to it, are preferably coupled to one another by ~ean~ of ga~ f low~, ~ n particula~ air flow~. Thi~ achleves, intQr alia, the ~ollowi~g adva~tages: if the ~ixtu~e block~ th~ flow in a case of high den~ity, i.e. if through~low i~ blo¢ked, tt i~
pos~ib}e, by coupli~y the flows of ~he~ reactor zones pre~ent above a~d ~elow the cl~mp, neve~thele~ to realize a wide range of ~low var~ant~, by ~eans of which the medl~ st~te in the clamp c;ln be ~fluenced. ~hu~, at lea~t t~e bounda~y layer~ between the ~lamp a~d t~e ~aR
apaces ca~ be climatically con~tioned; if ~qu~red, the blockage can also ~inally ~e eliminated ~gain thereby.
Acco~d~ng to ~laims 3 and 22, the reac~or operatlon i~ r~gu~ated ~y appropriate de~ign of the regulatin~ ~ean~, via one or :more steady-~tate, gua~l-~teady-~tate and/or ~on-~teady-st~te ~a~ ~low~. Thi~
ma~e~ it po~ible to avoid exl;r~me medla ~tates at the lnt~ftces of the clamp, ~or example drying out, and 2 J ~ 2 furthermore to relativ~ze t~mper~ture- fl~ctuation~ or cha~es in the g~s bal~nce.
~ ccord~ to cla~m~ 4 and 23, the ~regulati~
meane are desig~ed in ~uc~ a way ~hat t~oy can be us~d to select at lea~t one or more g~3 ~lows ~rom the following ~as flow types: flow through, flow o~er, flow under acd flow around ~he clamp. Here too, the developme~t of extreme ~t~te~ duri~g the compo~ting pr~e~ ca~ be effectl~ely counteracted in good tame. So-called '~eizi~g up" of the cl~p i~ ~hus prev~ted in pF~ctice.
Accordi~ to patent claims 5 and 24, at leas~ two differ~t type~ of g~8 flow are combi~ed wlth one another and ~n particular the vol~e, pressure, t~mpera~ure a~d/o~ velocity conditio~s o~ ~e ~as fl~w types are contlnuou~ly regulated by t:he r~gulating mea~. The volume8, pressures and~or veloci~iQs of- the gae flow typee can be ~djusted - likewi~e co~tinuously - between O ~nd 100~. The generation of. deslred ~radiect~ of the media parameter~, e.g. 2~ CO2, humidit~ and t~perature, can be ~elect~ vely a~d ~en~itively i~flue~ced i~
pa~ticular by the continuous change and co~bination of di~ferent ~a~ ~low types. ~h~, the co~vecti~n can ~e promoted or counter~c ~ed, for ex~mple by finely adj~ted mixed form~ of flow throu~h ancl flow over or under. It i~
al~o posslble to control t~e f~orm of heat tr~nsfer from the clamp. It i3 po~ible to c~oose ~e~ween the convectlons and l$ne-related me~ha~isms and ~h~o to determine the degre~ of couplin~ of h~At withdrawal to m~ transpor~.

2 1 ~6~ 72 ~`

Accordin~ to patent claLms ~6 and 25, the directioAR of flow of the ~ flow types cgln be reversed at leaRt once during thc trea~ent, wlth t~ ~id o~ the regulating ~ea~R. The~e mea~uxe~ have the followlng ad~gmta~e: ~y mean~ of the~, for ex~mple, unde ired interfac~al 3tates ~an b~ co~pen~ated or destroyed, for ~xg~ple u~desired drying out at the interfaces of the clamp.
Accordlng to pa~ent cla$ms 7 and 2~, the ~egulat-ing meanB are de~i~ned for peri4dlcal1y ~lter~at~ng or ap~r~odically alter~atin~ rever~al of the dl~ection of flow o~ the ~a~ flow type~. In cer~ in C~eB, qua~i-6teady-~tate or ~on-~te~dy-stglte flow aondition~ can ~e ge~erated bo~ by the pe~iodic~l~ly alternati~g and by the aperiodically alt~rnbting rev~lrsal~ of the d~re~tlon of flow. T~e eRtabli~hment of qua~i-steady-state ~ondi~ion~
may depend o~ the perlod or on the frequency of cha~e of the d~rection of flow. v~ry frequen~ chang~ of direction may lead to non-steady-~tate flow condition~ when, ow~ng to he h~gh frequency, no unlormity in t~e flow can be established. ~ndesired interfacial ~tate~ ~an also be ellmin~ted or compensated by thi~ control of the saR
streams. By ~uitably changing the process data-det~rmin-ing parameter~, it 1B pos~ s to maintaln narrow te~-perature a~d humidity ran~e~ i~ the cas~ o~ ge 1 ~yer thicknesse~.
Accordin~ to patent ~laim~ 8 ~d 27, the regul~t-ing means pe~mit la~r and~or tur~ule~t ga~ flow typ~ss.
Thi~ too makes it po~si~le ~o avo~d or elimi~ate unde~ired interfac~al Rtates. The intenSity of con~ectio~
or of mA~B tra~fer~ a~ well aR heat transf~r ca~ al60 be influenced by th~.
Accordin~ to patent clai~ 9 and ~28, l~ is pO8B~ ble to Ghan~e in a period1eally alternating or ~periodically alternating m~nn~ betwQen I~ n~r a~d turbulent flow usi2g the regulatlng mean The e mea~ureQ
furthermore incre~se the po~sibili~ies o$ cou~teracting t~e a~o~ tioned u~desired intexfacial ~tat~s by adaptatio~ of the heat tran~fer coef~içient~.
Acçord~n~ to pa e~t claim~ lO and 29, the regu-l~ting means have co~rol ~alve~ ~nd/o~ displaceable ob~tacle1 to flow, ~ncludin~ 1o-cal~d ~affle~, by mean~
of w~ich l~;n~r ~a~ low ca~ b~ converted ~nto ~urbulent ga~ flow, fo~ example by alterna~ing change of the positions o~ the control valv1es. This too lnc~ea~e~ the diver~ity of the ~ean~ by whlich undesi~ed interfac~al ~tate~ ca~ be counteracted. It ~u~t o~ course be borne in mi~d ~hat the clamp it~elf, includ~ng it~ surface structure, should be co~Gidered a~ an ob~tacle ~o flow, and eddie~ or t~rbulence~ ~ay ~e ge~rated in t~e inter-facial region ~y th~ ~rface ~tructure~ of the clamp it~elf. The edd$es regularly change the he~l. transf~r ooefficlent~ lo~ally, a~ w81:1 a~ ~he g~ e~rh~n~e -a~alogou~ly to local eddie~ otherwi~ r liquid flow~, Accordi~ to clai~ ll and 30, co~ti~uou~ly controll~ble regulatin~ mean~, in particul~ control valve and controllable fAns, are pro~idod in r¢~ulat~o~

- 12 - .
syi3temi3, by mean~ of which the gas flow~ and the propo~tion3 of the ~a~ ~low3 ca~ be contlnuou~ly changed relatlve to one another. The ~o~lo~ln~ a~va~tage8 c~n ~e ac~ieved by these meaBure~: controlled sta~t~g of the procedurc for rottlng masl3es ha~ing heterogeneou6 c~n~rositions.
~ ccordin~ to patent claims ~12 and 31 , t~e ~egulating mean~ are e~ed for prDc:e~3;3-dependent m~nu~l, program-controlled and/or co~p~ter-ai3islisted actuation of the regul~ting mea~s, in par~i~alar of the fa~ a.d cc~ntrol valvei3 . The f ollowing ac~v~ntagais ~an ~e achieved by thei~e measures: ccntrolled tran~fer from one txeatment pha~e to the other, for example ~rom the incub~tion phaiie to the hygi~ z~tio~ ~hase.
Accord~ng to patent claims 13 and 32, the tem-perature o~ the reacto~ air and/or the temperature of the clamp are ~elected a~ controlled variable~ and controlled as a functlon of the procei3~3. For this purpoise, the regul ting mean~ ha~ te~per~ture measuring mea~is which, preferably i~ combi~atlo~ ~ith ~etpo~nt adjuster~, comparatOr~ a~d controllers, are de igned for proces~-dependent control or regulation. Thls permits better integration of the bio~enic heat generatlo~, a poorly adju3~ab1e quantity, into the temperature eontrol, for example by fir6t regulat~ng the r~ac~ion air unt~l a predetermined temperat~Fe value i~ re~ched an~ then resula~i~g the temperature in ~he clamp. It should be ta~en ~nto account that the tl~mperature of the reactor air ~hould ~erve a~ a controlled ~ri~ble only a~ long a~

- 13 - 2 l 76 4 72 the clamp relea~es ~o bloge~ic: heat i~to t~e reactor air.
~an~eover fro~ r~ulation of the temperature of the reactor air to regulation of t~e temperature of the clamp i~ prefe~ably effec~ed well before th1s~time.~requently, ~hls tLme can be predetenmined well i~ a~vance and with ~u~ficient accuracy by comp~rison of t~e t~mpera~ure~ of the reactor air and of the cli~mp.
~ ccordin~ to patent claim~ 14 a~d ~3, tempe~ature difference~ in the clamp and/or the va~iables of ~tat-e of the gas streams a~d/or of the waste air, for example the temperature, ~he h~ dity, t.he 2/~2 ratlo, the ~as pressure, the flow veloci~y a~d/or the throu~put ~olume, are u~ed as cont~lled variable~. For thlg pu~pone, the regulatlng me~ ha~e approp:riate mea~uring means for deterr~n~ng t~e t4mperature differen~e~ and/or for dete mini~ the actual value~ ~f the variable~ of eta~e of the ga~ ~reamA and~or ~f the waste i~. Th~ initi~l ~alues of the me~surin~ mea.n3 ~re then compared in comparatora with the inlt:ial ~lu~ of setpoint adjuster~, and the result of the comparl~on, t~e ~o-called deviation, iP fed to co~trollers. Their output values are t~en used ~or cont:rolling o~ rQsulating the Rtated temperature differences ~nd/or variable~ of ~tate.
Thi~ permits the controlled ~et:ting of medla requireme~t~
of certai~ microorgani~s o~ microo~g~m ~pecie~
(anaerobic, aerobic, g~i~c~ wlth an inert g~ i~ the case of high ~2 tolerance, e~
According o patent claims 15 and 34, the ga~
~tream~ in a clo~ed air ci~culation 3ystem are ci~culated - 21 76~72 - 14 - ~ ~
with or ~itho~t fresh ~ir ~eecl~ By mea~s of thl~ too, the gas balance can ~e manipulated in ~ known nner.
~ ccording to patent claim~ 1~ and 35, the gas of ga~ ~tre~ms i~ co~ditioned in conditionlng mean~ to achieve th~ deslred ~ariable~ of _tate.
According to pa~ent clalmP ~7 ~nd 36, a defined ratio of circulated air to f~esh air i~ estabLished by a circ~lated air di~charge correspQnc~n~ to the fresh air feed, preferably via appropriate control v~e~.
Accordi~g to patent c:L~ 18 ~nd ~7, co~dit~on-ing of the flowing gas iB pre~erably effected by ad~u~-i~g temperature, prePPure anci ingredlent~, for e~ample the content of nitxogen, oxy~en, carbon dioxide, ~ ~nia and water, in order to protect CO2-tole~ant microflora f~om competitors, for example by i~crea~i~g the COz partial pres~ure.
According to pat~nt claims 1~ and 38, the clamp 1R mechanically treated, in particular ci~culated, by mean~ of a turn-over apparatu~. ThiR measure ~erv~s for loo~eni~ and hence easier flow through the clamp, furthermore homo~e~ization of the compo_t ma~erial and st~n~rdizatio~ of the medaa condition~ in the clamp, a~d fin~lly for the destruction of microcompArtmen~ in the mixture, 90 that m~ croorg~ni_ms ~nd substrate are ~on-tinuously remixed, ~hu~ permittin~ co~lete degradation a~d conversion.
Accordin~ t~ patent c~i~ 39, the appar~tu~ h~s plurality o~ separate re~ctw.s, a~d the ~i~ circulation ~y~t~m 1B d~signed a~ a centrl~l aeratlon me~n~. Prefer-,~ 15 ~176~7~
ably, ~at least o~e or mo~e, or p~rticularly pref~rablyall, ~eactor3 are a~igned mean~ which are de6igned for reactor-i~depende~t a~d indl~i.dual controlla~llty o~ the process parameter~ determini~ the mlc~ob~ al conver~ion.
T.his make3 it pos~i~le for the ,~1a conditions of a plurality of ~ndividual r~actor~ to be regula~ed Re~itively and independen~ly of one anot~er ~o mat~h the re pecti~e ~tate of rottin~ and the material ~o be rotted. Accordin~ to patent cla~m ~0, for thls p~rpo~e the lndi~idual reac~or~ can alternatively be con~ected to the ce~tral aeration means, preferabl~ vi~ control ~alves. According to p~tent clalm 41, it~i~ fur~-h~r~ore preferable to equip eaah r~acto~ wit~ itR own controllable freAh air feed. Thi3 further lncrea~e~ the degree of i~d~pen~A~ce of the individual reactors.
Acco~ding to pat~nt c:laim ~2, a re~ctor ha~ one reactor zone each directly above and ~elow the cl~p, and the~e reactor zo~e~ can be ~o~eeted to one another via ga~ flow pipes and control ~alve~ ~r~anged therei~. This make~ it possible to increa~e the diversity of the ~a~
flow type~ ~nd the co~bi~at:iOnB thereof, permi t ing ~ensitive regulation of the m~!dia co~dit$on~.
~ ccordin~ to patent cla~m 43, t~e ga~ flow pipes and control valve~ are arrange~ in groups, ~ymmet~ically with re3pect to the rea~tor. A particul~ly clearly laid-out des~gn of the apparatu~ i~ thus achieved, At the ~ame time, a simple possibllity i~ created for altern~tively reversin~ the dire~tions of the ga~ flow~.
Accordi~g t~ pato~t clai~ 44, ~e reactor zo~e~

2 ~ 76~ 72 _ 16 - :
located above and below the clamp a~e ~connected to one a~other on both side~ of ~he reactor, in each ca~e via a ga~ flo~ pipe ha~in~ a first co~trol va~l~e. This m~ke~ i~
particularly conve~ie~t to re~late ~ot only t~e volum but also the directio~ and t~pe~ of ga~ flow~.
A~ increaQe i~ diver~i~y of regulatio~ 1~
ach~ev-d by the subJect of patent ~laim 45, ~am~ly by the fact t~at a second cont~ol ~al~e ~s~arr~nged i~ the ga~
flow plpe i~ each case on both ~ide~ of the fir t control valves; ~here are thu~ altog~ther thre~ control valveB i~
each of the gas f low pipes connecti~g th~ two reactox zone B .
According to patent claim 46, the apparatu~ ha~
at least one or two fans, e~ch of which ~P conne~ted, ~ia a thi~d control valve downstre~m of it,:to a point of the gas flo~ pipe which id bet~ee~ the fir~ and the second co~trol valve. ~iB permit~ f~rther increase in the dive~ity of regulatio~ with regard to the ga~ flow types and their direction~ a~d combi~ation8. Furthermo~e, each fan can be switched o~ to ~upport the other. In pri~cip~ e, however, virtually all combinAtions of gas flow types c~n al80 be esta~ hed b~ mean~ of a sl~gle ~an .
According to patent ~laim 47, that gas flow pipe which con~ects together tho~e ends of the reactor zone~
above and bQlow the clamp whic:h face ~way from ~he fan~
ha~ a br~nch, loca~ed betwe~n it~ fir~t ~d ~econd control valve~, for th~ air ~-irculatio~ line. The air circulation loop can be clo~ed ~y means of t~i3 br~nch.

21 76~72 According to pate~t clalm 50~ the air ~lrculation line preferably ha~ a fifth control valve, ~y me~n~ of which the flow cross-seation of the ~ir circulaeion li~e c~ ~e controlled, on the one hancl to achieve throug~ ~i r circulation, but on the other hand to block th~ air circulation li~e and he~ce force complete flow arou~d the clam~.
According to pate~t cla~ 48, t4e diver ity of the ga~ flow variant~ ~ incr,ea~ed by bra~ching the aix circulation line i~to two f~rther line~, namel~ a g8~
flow pipe entering the co~ditloning ~~ and a further ga~ ~low pipe entering the xeactor. ThiA make~ it pos~ible in particular to a~hi~ve turbulence effects, and to do ~o in accordance with the flow~conditio~s. The diverslty of 3aid effect6 ca~ be i~creàsed by further ~ranching of the pipe enter~ng the reactor space, in particular when a fonrth ~o~f~rol val~e i~ arranged in ~ach of the f~rt~er branch line~ (patent cla~m 49).
overall, the invention thus permit~ a flow varia~t in which only flow over ~he ela~p ~e~ place, i.e. ~imult~eou~ flow throus~ and arou~d the clamp i8 pre~en~ed. According to another variant, only t~ou~hflow can be e~tabli~ed, i.e. ~low over a~d flow around are pre~e~ed. Finally, the invention m~ke~ lt po~3ible to esta~ h only flow around the cla~p, i.e. to p~vent simultaneou~ flow over ~d ~h:rough. Of cour~e, some or all three of the~e flow varia~t~ may ~ ~mult~neou~ly u~ed.
The invention permit~ con~er~ion~ under defined ~ 76472 cllmatic and ~edia condition~. Three clifferent nu~de~ of op-ration can be ~8~abl; ~hed:
1. Stea~y- state mode ~ ect~d proceRs without t~e-dependent effect o~ predete~r~ ~e~ a~d/or desired ~rariables of ~tat-e~ ~
2 . Qua~ teady- state mode - al~er~te ~teady-~tate node~:
- alter~ting aera~ion due to rever~a~ of direation o~ flow, - any de~i~ed combination of the va~i~ts.
3. Non-~tea~y-3t~te mode - change of ae~ation before atead~-state ~onditions oacur:
- 3traightforward re~er&lal of th~ directi~n of f-ow - any de~ired combinatlon of ~r~riantn - chan~e of conditio~ ~
- permane~t chan~e o~ condition~ by selec. ted ti~e inter~ral.
The aboveme~t$oned ~d~s ~ake it po~lble to expose the c12~p alternatively to different flow ~arianto. Thi~ provide~ an extremely ~f}exlble control ~y~tem an~ proce~s, wlth the aid o~ which th~ very di~erent biologi~al ~ctiviti~ of mixtures of residue~
are cont~oll~ble. Defined media condition~ in ~he rotting m~terial can be produced by me~ of the air circulation ~y~tem, which tran~er~ pre~et~ ~ ned climnt~ conditions to the more 801id mix~urs ~ ~u~stAnCes, in part~cular by chang~ng the flow parameters and flow control, includi~g alternative f~owing o~er ~nd/or flowing under and/or ~owln~ through an~/or flo~in~ a~ound ~e cl~p.

21 7647~
- 19 - ' .
~he ga~ ~r~nge in ~tatlo~ary ~oll~ mixtur~s ~y be based.on fre~ convection and o~ the throu~h~low of blow~-i~ air. N~ther one ~athod no~ t~ other alo~e pe~mit~ fi~ adjustm.3nt to th-~ re~uireme=ts of microbial converBion. T~e variable co~bin~tio~ of over-flow for influenclng convection w~th t~rou~h-flow by =etworked controllable air transport has never ~een realized to da~e. The p~ocess en~inee~ing ~os~ibilities made available are descri~ed brief:Ly ~Qlow;
~ efined med~a co~ditic~ the rotting mater~al can bs produced only lf the air ci~culation Qystem permlt~ flow co~trol which tran~fer~ the set cIimatic co~ditions to a ~olid mixture of residue3, t~e de~ity o~
which may d~ ffer~ Th~ alr volume flow control mu~t be ~ufficiently ~lexible and co~e~i~t that ~he very ;liffereslt biological a~:tivitie~ of mi~ture~ of re~idue~
remain controllable. Thi~ i~ achieved ehrougb~ cha~ges in the~ flow parameter~ an~ flow contr:ol a~d: ln the con-d~ tioning of the flow med~um (e.g. te~np~rature, pressure, pE, mo~ature content, 02 ~o~lt, C02 content, remo~al of ~ubstances, ~uch as ~mmonia). ~3y the manual o~ progr~m~d specii~ation and/or computer-a~ai~ted ~o~ifica~ion of varlable flow control~ and flow velocitie~, it pos~i~le to ~uppre~s u~de~ired heat generation and hot spot~ or to r~mo~e excess he~.t from the Ry~tcm without othe~ proce~s-relevant par~leter~ ~eing permanently altered. ~hi~ give~ ri~e to advantAges whi~ may be described a~ follows:
~ he t~mperatur~ plateau~ f~r m~crof lor~ involved 2 ~ ~64 72 . - 20 -in general (e~g. compo~irlg proceo~): and spe~i~iC
meta~ollc proce~en (e.g. metabollte productlon i~ the pharma~eutical industry) can ]~e ~ontroll~d in . speciflc maD~er. The ~elati~nsh~ps ancl depenA~nqles can be~t be Ae~nstrated ~or the cl~mposting-~ pro~e~. The hy~ie~ization can be optimally ac~ie~ed thermally ~d bloche~cally at temperature~ c 60~. Odorif~rouR ~u~-~t~ce~ are co~tinuously recycled t~ough the rotting materlal and thuR degr~ded. In the cour~e of the p~ocess, the conversion i8 optimized ~ia regulated te~perature proflles ~o that certai~ alasses o sub~tances are prefer4ntially conve~t0d, synthesized a~d degr~ded. The oxygen ~upply ca~ be regulated ~o that all states between strlct anaerobic condi~ions a~d s~rict aero~ic condltlon~
can be ~Ontinuou8~y eBtablighed via t~e ~ phase ln the air circul~tion ~y~S~m and a ~pread ~f t~mperat~re and me~ condition3 i~ the solld~ mixture i3 avoided. This biological process control xe~ults 1~ ~horte~ resl~ence time~, whlch ~ke it possl~le to operate clo~ed roSting plAnt~ more ~conomlca~ly.
In the de3ig~ of 1~ ~.ir circulation, a c~mpost-ing plant having ~ pluxali.ty of reac~ors has the ad~an~age of firstly being able to c~rry out basic co~dition~g o~ the circulati~.g air indepen~ently of the ~olume wit~ fre~h air fe~d. The latt~ rv~ for e~tablish~ng the de~ir~d oxygen co~t~nt. The proce~
para~eters of the connect~d rector are finel~ adjusted, indi~idu~lly and i~dependently of one ~nother, to the process conditions l~dividually deRlred in o~ch reactor, 21 7b~

ta~g into account the process co~ditions t~ere.
The co~nected reacto~ may be operated, for example, a~ follo~.
1. ~he connected reactor~ h~e 3 ~e a fo~ reco~dition-i~g ~ia heatin~-, coc~ling and humldl~ication registers for the quant~tie~ o~ air which ~low inter~ally through the ~ott-ing mater~a~. At a corre-gpon~ n~ alr throughp~t, it i8 ensured th~t the cl~matic cond~tion~ i~ the ~paae are identical to the climatic con~itions in the ~ixture. The waste air i8 fed to the central aix circulatlon and inte-grated again. Ex~es~ air is relea~ed via ~iofilters.
In this procedure, the central alr ci~culatio~ may have a low oxy~en ~o~t:e~t if s~l-anaerobic or anaerobic media conditi~i~g is req~lred. ~urther-more, the reactor~ ha~e their own fresh air feed.
2. In additio~ to or inatead of the reconditio~l~ ~ia heati~g, eooling a~d humidific~taon regi~ter~, the connected reactors h~ve their own air cixculation system whose flow par~leters are ~ sep~ately a~d i~dividually adju~table. The de~ired climat~c co~di-Sions i~ the reactor 3re establiahed wiS~i~ a very short ti~e and can be ~tabillzed by mean~ of a~r part-stream~ fro~ the ce:~tral air ~repara,~ion. T~e d~ red ox~geu feed c~ e ~ffected v~ a the circulation air fed in and/or a~parate fresh a~r feed. Corre~pond~ng a~ount~ of waste air ~re integrated in the centra.l air circul~tion~ Exce3n amount~ of alr are relea~ed ~la a central biofilter.

2 1 ~6~72 - 22 ~
3. Finally, the individual reactor~ ca~ al80 be con-nected to one a~other, fo:~ ex~ple for heat exchange or utilization of the ~o;~t ad~anced rottin~ ~tage~
a8 biofilter for the lea~t converted: ro ~
mAteria~ e. of the fre hest clamp, in par~icular after compl~tion of the hygieAization phaBQ.
The ba~ic preparatlon of the circulation air can be all the more rea~ily tailo~ed to the r~nge ~f require-ment~ of reactors with differeIlt rotted content~ t~e more ide~tical the compositiOn of the parSicular ~t~rting mlxture ~n the reactors. ~ere, lt l~ ~mport~nt to a~ere to de~eloped formulations. The separ~te Air circuIatlon make~ lt poQsible to set flow parameterP which dixect the biological activities of the re~pective ~reac~or ~ixture along the desired lines. T~ pplie~, for example, to the e~tabli~hme~S of the temperat~re plateau dur~n~
~y~ienizatio~, to the eli~inat:ion of tempe~ature peak6, to the avoidance of hot ~pot~ or to thel determination of te~pe~ature pro~ile~. Internal air circula~ion al~o ensures th~t odoriferous ~ub~lSances are elim~nated by means of the reactor~5 ow~ rot~ting mixture ac~ing a~ an internal b$ofilter. Thi~ xelieve~ the central ~ir circulation system and the ext:ernal biof$1ter co~nected to it.
Further prefe~red ~eature~ of the i~ve~tion are evid~ct from the de~cri~tion ~elow o~ preferr~d ~x~mpl~ry em~o~;~ent~. The~e ~mbodl~e~t~ are shown ~chematlcally in the atta~hed dr~wings.

2 1 76~ 7~

Brief description o~ the drawlngs ~ the dr~win~
ig. 1 show~ the dynamicR of conversion durln~ co~-post~ng; ~ :
ig. 2.1 ~how~ a dia~ram of an air ciroulation ~yste~
for clo~ed reac'cos~s ig . 2 . 2 shows a further dia~r~m of ~ ir circulation ~ystem for clo~ed reac~ors ig. 3.1 ~hows a di~g~am of ~n air c~rculatio~ ~ys~
for a pl~rality of ~leparate reactoru 1~. 3.2 show~ a detail of an lndividu~l ~eactor havi~g an ai~ circulation connection acc~ding to Fig. 3.1 ig. 4.1 to 4.3 show di~ferent alr flow types ~d va~iant~
i~. 5 ahow3 a control t~ble for cont~olling the control v~lve~ and fnn~, s~own in Fig. 2.1 to 3.2, for es~abli~hisl~ the air flow type~ and variant~ sh~wm ~n Fig. 4.1 to 4.3.
xamples ~or carrying out the inventios Fis. 1 illustrates th~ ~nown dyn~mi~ proce~
whlch takQs place durin~ compo~3ting and i~volve~ biomas~
formatlon and co~ver3ion, a~ a functio~ of time and of ~e ~eepectlve microflora. ~h~ readily utllizable carbon compounds and nitrogen compou~d~ are mln~lized. Sin~e thi~ process take3 place rapldly, temper~ture~ of up eo 80C occur. Thl~ pha~e of compo~3ting Berve~ for hygienlz-ation and degrada~ion oP the odorl~erou~ BUb~taIl~eB.
~f ter the de~radati~n of tho~e cla~s~ of ~ub-2~ ~4~
- a4 - : .
sta~ce~ w~lch can be pre~e~ntialiy degraded by the bacte~ial mixed flora, ch~nge;s in the compo~l~ion o~ t~e population occur. This now co~:~lst~:o~ bact~ria and ~u~gi, a~ 8h~Wn in Flg. 1. ~.he compo~t~ ng proc~ss then co~ti~es with th~ excIusi~ely cxidative deg~.ad~tlon:of sub~t~ces. In this pha~e, ~re~ ntly aerobic fungal flora ~lowly de rade the li~nocellulo~e.
~ t i~ c~aracteristic of the co~pos ing proce~
that the conver3io~ at the beg;n~ng can take pl~ce ~oth under aerob~c a~d ~nder a~aero~lc condi~ . Thi~ ~ the ~ea~o~ why deposited fresh mAt~rial le~d~ to the forma~ion of fer~entation gase~. C~ ~ting,:o~ ~he other ha~d, le~d~ to a con~ersion which neces~itate~ ~t~ictly a~ro~ic conditions, as shown i~ Fig. 1. In thi stag~, the microbial conver~ion comes compl~tely to a stand~till if the oxyge~ supply ia discoD.tinued. Th~s can ea~ily be demorLst~ted. A pla~tic b~Lg iXL W~LiCh fi~al or stable compo~t iR packed a~rtight a~sume~ the ~LppeararLce of a vacuu~-~ealed pe~Lut pack aftor some t~me. ~B ~L result of ~he oxy~en con~u~ption by the microflora, reduced pre ~ure is generated i~L the pla~ ic bag. If the ~t~ge of sta~le compoBt had not ye~ beerL reached - i.e. if arLaerobic microflora mi~ht ~till have ~en active u~Lder the prevaili~s corLditions - it i~ po~ le to ~ ra~e that ~he re~ult would ~ y~Ls formation (N2 or N20, methane, foul-B~ellirLg g8~e3). The sack would inflate.
During compost~ng, perm~ent hu~Lus $B ~o~med wlth a redu~t~o~ in ~olume (about 50% rotting 1088), ~aid humu~ be~g ba~ed o~ the fi~llowi~g con~er~ion. T~e - ~5 - .

oxldati~e degrad~tion of th~ three~;~cn~ionally net~orked l~nin macromolecule ~ake3 place in ~ractlons whic~ are either complet~ly m n~ralized or are repolyme~i~ed together with microbially form~d au~-oxidizable p~enola to give h~lc ~ubstances. Thi~ bio-loglcally induced and c~emically ~atalyzed proce~ i8 integrated in the dynamic~ of. the ~onv~r~i~on in such a way tha~ the re~ult i8 a ~ompo~t whoss organ~c ~ub~tance exhlblts i~creasing pe~ tence a~ainet ms~obial d~radatio~ under the conve~r3ion condition~ of the aquatic and terre~trlal eco3y~tems.
Thc ob~ect of She inven~ion i to~ ~i~e the parti~ular de~ired mlcroflora an adva~ta~Q 1~ terms of select~on by se~Qctively controll~ng the ~mbient para-meters opt~mal for the~e flora, such as~te~perature, ~umidity and gae composition, a~d hence providing the microflor with an environment w~ich ~ opti~um for them.
In this appllc~o~, t;he ~a~e refere~ce symbol~
are used throughout fo~ equivalent or functionally equl~alent part~ in all embodim~nts. ~ ~
Pig. ~.1 3how~ the di~gram of ~ first ~T~odi~ent for a co~posti~ pla~t accor~ing to the ~ ventlon. ~here, cir~ula~ed air can be fed ~ia ~ hea~ er W1 when co~trol valv~ R5 iu ope~. ~he h~at recovery ~n the heat exchanger wn i~ preferably uBed for heating, v~a ~ ~eat exchanger W2, fresh air which fl~w~ in via channel Xl.
The fre~h alr en~ry is controlled by means of a con~ol val~e R16 and ~ed, via two ~ V1 ~nd V2 connccted in parallel, to a reactor sp~ce located ~ov~ a cl~p 10 and 21 7~72 ~6 one located belo~ ~aid cla~p. The ~lamp 10 and the xeactor g~ space~ are al~o rl~ferr~d to below a~ reactor ~ones. ~he ~orreQpo~g a~r ~liAcharge i~ e~fecte~, with control ~alve R17 open, via a fa~ Y3 conneceed in serie6 with t~e two fa~ Vl a~d ~2~ The a~r bl~wn out 1B- pas~ed ~la a biof ilter B. ~ .
The temperature ~e~aor Ti~ which~mea~u~e~ the te~pe~atUrQ of the air s~pli.ed i~ a~ran~ed ~n channel ~l, be~ind the hea~ exc~ er W2. The output data ~f ~aid temp~rature ~en~or are fed to a proce~ co~puter (not ehown) for ~lectronic co~roi of the CompoBting prOCe8~.
~ Ben80r 2 for deter~in~n~ the 2 content i~
a~ranged below the control ~al~e ~16 in ch~el ~1. The outpuS value~ of thls hensor ~oo are fed to the proce~s comp~ter. The cha~nel Rl branches i~to~a channel R~ in which the fa~ V2 is arranged. A sen~or VL2 w~ich mea~ure~
the aiF ~olume i~ arrange~ upstream of the fan V~. The output ~alue of ~aid ~enaor i~ in turn fed to the proce~
computer. A ~urther ~en~or P2 which ~as~res the flow preh~ure i5 downstream ~f the fa~ V2. The channel g2 enter~ ~e reactor zone above the clamp lO~:Said ch~nnel co~taln~ a control valve R4 which iR down~trea~ of the fan V2 and c~n be controlled ~y the proc~s computer. The fan V2, too, can be cont~ollecl ~y the p~oceRs computer.
A ~urther temperature ~e~80r T2 who~e out~ut ~isnal i~ i~
turn fed to the proces~ computer 1~ ~rr~nged ~irect~y before the entry of the ch~nn~l K2 into the ~as space above the clamp 10.
. The upper reac~or zonc connect~ to a ~h~nel ~5 _ 27 - 2l:i64~72 which i~ e9uipped with a tem~erature ~en~or Tab. Its mea~ured val~e~ are in ~urn fed to the~proces~ ~ompute~.
~he ~ee flow cro~s-~ection of the channel ~S i~ co~-trolled by the control val~e .~5. The c~nnel K5 i~
fl~ally led via the he~t e~h~er Wl~to ~ branching point from which the ch~hnel~ ~7 and~8 emanate. The channel.g7 i8 le~ back to tbe channel 1 ~ia A control valve ~7 controllable by ~he proce~ ~omputer. ~he free flow cros5-se~tion of the ch~el R8 i~ ~et by a ~urther co~trol valve R17. A pre~ure ~e~sor:P8 i~ dow~strea3 of the co~trol valve R17 a~d upst:ream o~:the fan V3~ Th~ ~an v3 blow~ the wa~te alr via the ~iofilter B ~nto t~e atmosphere, A f~ther pre~ure ~en~or P4, ~n: air ~olume ~en~or VLtot and an N~3 ~en80r NH3 are loeated directly ~p~tream of the heat eY~h~er W1. ~he outpu~ val~les of the~e sen~or~ are likewise fed to the p~ocess computer.
~ efore the last-mentio~ed ~en~or~, a chann~l ~52, w~ich i~ coDne~ted via a con~sol va~ve R5 to ~ above-mentlo~ed channel R2, brancheR from the c~ el KS.
The c~nnel Kl iB continued ~eyo~ it~ bra~ch line 1eA~;n~ to the fan V2, n~mely continuQd to the f~n Vl. A control valve R3 - once ~gain con~ollable by the pro~e~s co~puter - 1~ loc~ted between the fan~ ~2 and V1, in the cha~nel R1. ~irectly upstr~ of the fa~ V1, ~n alr volume sensor VL1 mea~UreB the al~ ~olume ~lowlng to ~he fan V1. The f~n V1 blows a:lr vi~ the ch~nnel ~ into the reactor gas ~pace below ~he cl~mp 10. ~ prs~ure ~enaor Pl i3 in turn loc~ ed dow~ream of the ~an Vl, 2 1 76~

- 28 - . .
and upstream of a branc~ lin~ ~23 which connect~ the cha~el ~2 to the ~h~n~el X3 via a control ~aIve R~. A
temper~ture ~e~sor Tl i~ al~o arranged dlrec-ly be~ore the entra~ce o the cha~nel ~ into the re~ctor zone below the ~lamp 10~
~ press~re ~ensor P3 mea6ure~ the pre~ure in the ga~ space below th~ clamp 10. ~he gaP ~p~ce~ below ~nd abo~e the clAmp 10 are co~nel~t~d to one another via a cha~el ~4. The control ~alve Rl controln the free flow cro~-section in the c~a~el P:4.
Fi~ally, the plurality of t~mperature BRn or~ T3, T4, T5, ~, T7, T8, Tg and ~10 A~re al80 arrsnged i~ the clamp ~ O .
~ he control value Rl, ln ~o~junct~on ~ith the other cont~ol ~alves, penm~ ~ {~ particular ~he ~as, e~peclally ~ir, flow ~aria~tP ~how~ ln:Fig. 4.1 and 4.
under Example~ 1, 3, 5, 6 ~d ~. In the embodi~e~t shown, ~hs control ~81ves are co~t~olle~ by the pro~e computer, and the output data of all mea~u~in~
ln~rume~ts are fed to the proces~ computer. T~e powers of the 3 fan~, ~1, V2 a~d ~3 are ~l o controll~d by the process com~uter.
The cmbo~ Rhown illu6trate~ the i~mense dlvQrsity of the flow variant~ which ca~ be a~hie~ed by ~ean~ of it and with th~ ai~ of o~ly two fan~ and the ~tated ~ontro~ valv~. It i~ only the di~er~ity of the flo~ varian~ whlch permlt~ the exact and ~en~tlve tailoring of the proces~ parame~er~ to the p~rtlcul~r desir~d mlcrobial con~er~ion, l.e. the ~daptation of the 21 /~72 as -proce~3 para eter~3 for the particular deslred ~icroflora.Only ~ this w~y ~8 it po~3ib1e to exert a ~iologica~ly ef~ective i~fluence on çon~er~ion, In ge~eral, an ai~ circuiation 8y8tem: ~o~ cloBed rottl~g sy~tema i~ descr~ed, in whlch the flow para~eters and the flow can bs ~ensi~ively adapted to the purpo~es of a def~ned bioc~e~cal proce~3. By means of thi~ adaptation, the proce~ can be carried out in a variable man~er. Flow may be over, through or around ~tationary or thorou~hly mixe~ clamp~. All c~mhi~ation3 of the~e flow variantQ ~re al~o po~sible. In gener~l, the microbial conversio~ can be ~nBiti~e~y co~trolled and resulated by malntaining de~3ired climatic ~nd media co~dition~. .
To ~e able to c~bine the power o~ the two fans V1, V2, l~nk;~g the under-flow with the over-flo~ through the cbannel R4 with bui~t~ control valve Rl i~ a sclution which has considexable adv~tages over the prior art. It iB used ln p~rticu~ar ~or the f~ow varl~nts ~how~
under 1, 3, 5 and 8 in Fig. 4.1 to 4 . ~ .
I~ c4~parison, the doc~ent stated at ~he out~et G~RRR (WO ~2/07807) de~cri~es a relati~ely 8i~ple chaD~el arrangement with resl:rictio~ of the ga3 flow varlants. Integratio~ of the fa~ power~ and ga~ flows i8 po~ible only by ~ean~ of lnt:egr~tion of the channels with t~he ~ppropriate control valv~ he control val~e R1 w~ich i~ continuously ~d~u~tab:le ma~ually or by means of a computer i~ of considerabl~ importance. Fine adj~s~ment~ ~n carryl~g out the bioch~mic~l proce~ ~hus 2 1 76~ 7~

become possible i~ a qualiSy l~known to~date.
Fi~. ~.2 ~howP a diagr.am of a further embo~mcnt of the inve~tion. Thi~ embo~ nt adopt~ the fans V1 ~d V2, tho control valve~ R~ a~d R5, the ch~nn~l~
2, ~3, X~ and R5 and reactor zone~ of the preceding embo~l~ert (cf. Fig. 2.1). ~o~ever, i ~pplements thes~
by the control valves R8, R9, R10, Rll,~R12 a~d ~14, the chP~ela R6 ~nd glO ~d the circul~ted air condltioni~g mean~ 11. The exact arran~e~ent of the aboveme~tioned elements i8 shown in Fig. 2.2, to which reference 16 here~y expre~sly made. Accord~ to thi~ fig~re, any de~ired com~inatio~ of the following ~a~ flow ~ype~ can be Qelect~d in the a~ratio~ ~y~tem for closed reactor~:
flow through, over, under a~d arou~d the clamp 10. Thl~
is ~chieved throu~h alte~ative combinatio~ of the control val~es to give different cont~ol yQt~m3 havi~g a~ lea~t one r-~nn~n~ f~n. The alte~native combination of control valves ~1, R2, R~, R5, R8, R9, ~la, Rll, R12, R13 ~nd R14 8hown ~n Fig. 2.2 permits the establi3hment or continuou~ regulation of the flow vari~ant~. In parti~ular, the flow varla~tn ~how~ in ~ig. 4.1 to ~.3 unde~ Exa~ple~ 1-15 (wlthout t:he flow ~aria~t~ 10, 11, 14 and 15) and ~aving only one fan and one con~rol system may be de~cribed.
Fig. 3.1 show~ a di~gram of a ~urthsr embodiment of the inventio~. ~n th~ R, the Air cirCuIa~iOn 6ystem Ic~. Fig. ~.1 and 2.2) not only can be u~ed for a sl~gle reactor for condltioning th~ circulated air bu~ p~rmit~
the conditio~i~ of the clrcul~ted air of ~ plurality of 21 i~
- 31 - .
~e~ara~e reactors, alRo referred to a~ rotti~g boxe~ ~Xl, RX2, ... RXN. Thi~ i8 achi~ed by coupling the a~r ~pplies of the i~dividual x0actor~ to centr~l aeration mean~ ll, 12, 13 via control !valve~ Rll~ to RN21n on the ~eaCtor. T~e control valve ~ n i~ ~co~tinuou31y eoordi-nated wi h the ~ott~ng ~ox ~1, the contxol valve R2 ln continuou~ly with the rottin~ box RX2, etc.
Accordi~g to F~. 3.1, the ~ompo t~g pla~t ha8 a plu~ality of separate ~eactors, rott~ g boxe~ ~Xl, RX2, RXN, each of which i~ conne~ ted via ~pply 11ne~3 a~d dischar~e lines Lli~, LloU~ 21n~ L2out~ Nout to the central ae~ation mea~R 11. 12, 13~ ThQ central aerat~o~
mea~a ha~ a circulated air condltioning ~ea~ 11 which i~
con~ected to a main f an 12 via a ch~nel Rll. The main fan 12 is connected to a con~roll~ble m~in control valve 13 v~ a cha~nel ~1~. Fin~lly) the main control valve 13 i~ in tu~n co~ected to the C!~ rculated ai~ c~nditioning means 11 via a ch~nnel :R~3. T~e circulated air co~dition~ng mea~ 11, the :~ain ~an 12 a~d She main control valve 13 are connect~ in serie~. Toget~er, w~th the channel~ ~11 to ~13, the~e mea~R orm a~ air circulation loop.
The li~e~ n to ~Ni~ branch off from the chan~el K12 and le~d to the respec~ive rotting boxe~ RXl~ RX2, RXN, ~he line~ Llo~ ~No"t co~ect the rotting boxes RXl, RX2, RXN to the ch~nn~l K13. Each of the line~ Llln to ~Ni~ co~tains a controllable control valve Rli~, R21n or R31~, respectively. Thusj the circulated air condition$~g m~an~ 11, th~ ch~nne~ he mai~ f~ 12, the ch-n~el R12 and each of the ~upp~y line~ and di~charge ll~e8 ~loUt to LNoUt, ~o~ether wlth the rott~n~
box, al~o ~o~m a branch loop~
~ ig. 3.~ ~hows a ~low ~iagram of a ~ingle reactor o~ the e~o~l o t of ~he ~nventlo~ accord~ng to Fig. 3.1.
Accordi~g to this, each ~ le ~eactor has it~ own controllable fre~h air s~pply LF, RF~6 a~d a~ ~e~st o~e fan, by mea~8 of which a re~ctor-~peciflc~air circulation and air circulation cont~ol of the air flow v iants a~d cOupi~ng of the rvnn;~g system to the a~r circulatio~
~yst~m via t~e air c~rcula~i.o~ connec~in~ l~ne~ Ll~, Llo~e) and co~trol valve~ R15, ~7 can be co~trolled.
The rotting ~ox RXl hav~ng an i~di~idual air flow syst~m i8 shown as a typical exampl- of all ~ingle reactor~. The clamp i~ rotting box 1 once again has r~erence ~ymbol 10.
~ he i~dividual aix ciFculation syst~m fo~ the ~otting box RXl ha~ the fresh ~r ~upply line L~, which supplie~ fre~h ai~ via a control val~e RF16. A~ter the control va~ve RP16, the lln~ LF divid~s into a branch li~e K3 havi~g an integral f Vl ~nd dow~stream c~ontrol valve Rll. The line R3 lead~ into the supply lin~ hli~, whic~ ente~s the rotting ~ox ~Xl below the clamp 10. The li~e K4 con~ect~ the ga~ ~p~ces below a~d above th~ clamp 10 ~i~ the co~trol valve Rl, a~d does ~o at that e~d of the rotting box RXl wh~ch iE~ oppo~ite the 6upply line Lli~. At that ~nd of the rottin~ box RXl which is oppo~lt~ the line K4, ~.e. at the ~ams end ~nto which the ~upply line Lli~ l~ad~, the ~ine ~2 leada from th~ ga~

~1 76~?
- ~3 -~pace a`bo~e the clamp lO out of t~e ~ottlng ~ox Rxl. This li~e ~2 i8 return~d ~ia the furth~r controlla~le v~lve R3 and the line Kl to the l~ne 1~3, at~point between the control val~e RFl~ and the fan ~l. The connection~ ~u~t de~cribed conGt~ tute a fir8t air cixculat~on loop for the rottin~ box RXl.
Bstween the rottlng box RXl and the con~ol valve R3, the li~e R2 brancheB into the l$n~ loUt, ~nd doe3 ~o via the ~u~her ~o~trol valve ~RlS. In addlt~on, the line3 ~3 and R2 are connected t~ o~e ~othex via a further control valve R2 a~d a ll~e ~23, ~aid ~onnection ~ei~g effe~ed dire~tly UpBtrea~ of the rotting box ~Xl. The li~e ~5 co~ect~ the reac~o~ zone abo~e the clamp lO to the w~te ~ir l1ne L1 out via the control valve RS. The line R5 eme~ge8 fro~ that er.~d of the ~otting box RXl whi~h iB directly ad3acent to the line g4. It connect~
with the li~e Llo~t downstrQ~ of the ~on~ol valve Rl5.
Thi8 type of air flow perm~tB~ al~ernati~ely~
flow over, flow under, flow around and/o~ flow ~hrough the clamp 10, and doe~ 80 in prlnclple in the ~me man~ex as ~ ~ the ~odime~t~ of Fig. 2.1 and 2.2. ~
Fig . ~ . 1 to 4.3 ~how the var~ou~ ai~ flow types and ~arihnts according to the i~vention, the r~p~ctive a~so~iatsd po~ition of the val~v~8 ~nd the swit~hing ~tat~
o~ the fan~ being shown in Fi~. 5:
xamplea l.)/~) Flow th~oug~ ~he ~lam~ lO from bot-tom to top o~ fr~m ~op ~o ~ottom.
In th~ ca~e o~ flow t.hrough from bottom to top tExampl~ 1, Fig. 4.1), the fan v2 ia ~wi~ch~d off and the 2 ~ 2 control valve~ R2, R4, R5, R8, ~9 and R13 are cloRed. The control val~e~ R10, Rl~, R12 and ~1~ are opened. For re~nforcement, the fan ~V2 ~f1~r ex~mple of lower power) can be ~witched on ~ ~eries and the~control valves R2 a~d R13 can be opened. ~he pos~tion o~t~ con~rol va~eB
and ~n~ i~ Example 2 ln Fig. 4.1 are l~dicated in Fig. 5.
xamples 3.)/4.) Flow aro~ld the cla~p 10 from bottom to top or fro~ top to bottom.
In the aa~e of ~low around from botto~ to top (Example 3, Fl~.4.1), only the f~n ~1 runn and the control valve~ R5, R8, R10, Rl~ and R12 ar~ open; the control valves R2, R4, R~, R13 a~d R14 on ~he other ~and axe c~o~ed ~cf. Flg. 5~. ~
If required, the fan V2 may al~o be awitched on and t~e control valv~ R2 and R13 ~ay be open~d. The f n ~2 also Rwi~ched on then s-r~es to increa~e the amounts of air dslivered i~ the v~ri~u~ air ~low variants~ The position of the co~rol valves and fa~s i~ Ex~mple 4 in Fig. 4.1 is likewiae ~how~ in Fi~
xample 5.) Flow over and flow under the clamp 10 .
Tn ~he case of flow o~er and flow u~der the clamp (Example 5, Fig. ~.1), either both fan~ V2 operate i~ parall~l or V2 i~ switched off. If o~ly the fan Vl i~ u~ed, the control va~lves R~, R4, R8, ~lO, R11, R12 a~d R14 are open and the control valye~ RS, R9 and ~13 ~re clo~ed. I~ this flow variant, the cl~mp 10 i~
expo~ed on both sides (top a~d boStQm) to the same effect a~ in t~e ~ariant according to F~ ~.le 6, F~g. 4.2, i.e.
stxalghtforward o~er-flow acting ~Iy on one Ride.
ExampleR 6.)/7.) Flow oYer or flow under clamp 10.
For the purpo~e of ov~r- ~low (Bxample 6, Fi~.
4.2), the air i~ p~ed over the clamp 1~. In t~i~ ca~e, elther fa~ Vl or ~2 ope~ate~. If fan V2 operates, the control ~alve~ Rl and ~2 are clo~ed; he~ ~ontrol valve~
~4, R12 and R14 o~ the oth~r hand ~re open. T~ n~r airflow re~o~es heat and wAsts ga~eR ~ery ~e~tly. It also l~ad~ to ~entle BUCtion of the g se~ out of the cla~p ~0 and lnto the air flow~ng ov~r. The pos~:ti~n of the control valves and fa~s in Example 7 in Fig. 1 arQ
indicated i~ Fl~.5.
Exa~ple~ 8.~/~.) Flow thr~ugh from ~ottom to top and flow over or flow throu~h from top to ~otto~ and flow under.
In order to comblne low over with ~low through (~xample 8, Fl~. 4.2), the fa~ Vl operates and the control valve~ ~a, R4, R10, ~11, R12 and R14 are o~en (cf. Fig. S). ~he valves RS, :R8, Rg a~d R13 are clo~ed.
The advantages of thi~ flow ~ari~nt are de~cribed in detail in DE 40 34 402 ~ or the corre~pondin~ W092/07807 - GRARR~. To avoid r~petition~, the co~t~nt of the ~ated docume~t i8 express~y referred to here. The poRition of ~he control ~al~e~ and fans ~n Example 3 in Fl~. 4.1 nre ~nd~ c~ted in Fi~. 5.
Example~ 10.)/11) are the ~me a~ Ex~mple6 8. ) ~9. ) - ~ut with a.t least two f~n~.
~ ere too, reference i3 m~d~ to Fig. 5.

2~ ~6~

x~mpleo 12.~/13.) Flow around fro~ bottom to top and ~imultaneou~ flow throu~h from ~ot-tom to top or flow round from top to botto~n and ~ulta~eous f~ow through ~rom top to ~ottom.
In thi~ ~low vari~nt:, ~he regulation of the valve~ ~8 a~d/or Rl (cf. Flg. ~.~) a~d of the valves R12 and/or Rl ln co~iu~ction wil;h R14 perm~ts contlnuo~
cha~ge from pure flow tb~ough to a.mixed form between flow through and flow around. ~urthermore, it is po~ible to chan~e continuously betw~en the flow fo~m~ of ~x~mple~
1~ a~d 13 by ~dditional regulation of t~e valvs~ ~2, R10 a~d R4. Thi8 ch~n~e of flow ~c)~re~po~d~ to flow revernal (cf. Fig. 5, flow vari~nt~ 12 and 13).
xample~ i4.)/15.) are the Bame a~ ~x~mples 1.)/2.), ~ut with nt lea~t two fans.
By controlllng the valve po~ition ~d/or by i~troduci~g obstacle~ to flow, it i8 po3~ible to adju~t the proportions of lA~in~ and/or ~urb~lle~t ~low ~n all modes of flow oper2~tion and hence 'co hav~ a c31gtlnc~ive ~nd ~elect~ve effe~t o~ the upper and lower s~lrt~acel3 of the clamp (10).

Claims (46)

Patent claims

1. A process for the treatment of substances or mixtures of substances ina clamp (10) with the use of biologically active components, in particular microorganisms, in a closed reactor (RX1 to RXN) having a plurality of reactor zones, namely the clamp (10) itself and reactor gas spaces adjacent to the clamp (10), wherein gas flow regulating means (V1 to V3, R1 to R17, RF16, LF, L1in to LNin, L1 out to LNout, K1 to K13, 10 to 13) are used for adjusting, maintaining, controlling or regulating the media states, changes in media states and/or process parameters in the clamp (10), with the aid of which regulating means it is always possible to choose between flow through, over, under and/or around the clamp (10) and a reversal ofdirection of the abovementioned gas flows.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas streams are air streams.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more gas streams are operated under steady-state, quasi-steady-state or non-steady-state conditions.

4. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the volume, pressure, temperature and/or velocity conditions of the gas flow types are continuously controlled or regulated.

5. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the direction of flow of at least one gas stream is reversed in a periodically or aperiodically alternating manner.

6. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one gas flow is laminar and/or turbulent.

7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein periodically or aperiodically alternating changes are effected between laminar and turbulent gas flow.

8. The process as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the laminar gas flow is converted into turbulent gas flow by introduction of obstacles to flow and/or alternating change of the positions of control valves (R1, R2, R4, R5, R8, R9, R10, R12).

9. The process as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, wherein gas flow regulating means in the form of regulating means, in particular control valves (R1 to R17) and/or controllable fans (V1, V2, V3), are used for continuously adjusting the gas flows and the ratios of the gas flows to one another.

10. The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the regulating means are actuated manually, under program control and/or by means of a computer, as a function of the process.

11. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature of the reactor air and/or that of the clamp (10) are selected as controlled variable and are controlled as a function of the process.

12. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein temperature differences in the clamp (10) and/or the variables of state of the gas streams and/or of the waste air (temperature, humidity, O2:CO2 ratio, gas pressure, flow velocity and/or throughput volume) are used as controlled variables.

13. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the gasstreams are operated as a closed air circulation system with or without fresh air feed.

14. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one gas stream is conditioned.

15. The process as claimed in either of claims 13 and 14, wherein a defined ratio of circulated air to fresh air is established by a circulated air discharge corresponding to the fresh air supply.

16. The process as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the conditioning of the flowing gas is effected by adjusting temperature, pressure and ingredients, in particular the content of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and/or water.

17. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the clamp (10) is mechanically turned over by means of a turn-over apparatus.

18. An apparatus for the treatment of substances or mixtures of substancesin a clamp (10) with the use of biologically active components, in particular microorgan-isms, having a) a closed reactor (RX1 to RXN) which has a plurality of reactor zones, namely the clamp (10) itself and reactor gas spaces adjacent to the clamp, and b) gas flow regulating means (V1 to V3, R1 to R17, RF16, LF, L1 in to LNin, L1 out to LNout, K1 to K13, 10 to 13) which adjust, maintain, control or regulate the media states, changes in media states and/or process parameters in the clamp (10) and which are designed in such a way that by means of them it is always possible to choose between flow through, over, under and/or around the clamp (10) as well as reversal of direction of the abovementioned gas flows.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gas flow regulating means are designed for adjusting, maintaining, controlling or regulating air flows.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the regulating means are designed for steady-state, quasi-steady-state and/or non-steady-state regulation of the gas streams during reactor operation.

21. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 20, wherein gas flow regulating means are designed for the continuous regulation of volume, pressure,temperature and/or velocity conditions of the gas streams.

22. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the gas flow regulating means are designed for the periodically or aperiodically alternating reversal of direction of the gas flows.

23. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the gas flow regulating means are designed for regulation of the gas flows to achieve laminar or turbulent flow.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the regulating means aredesigned for periodically or aperiodically alternating change between laminar and turbulent flow.

25. The apparatus as claimed in either of claims 23 or 24, wherein the gasflow regulating means have control valves (R1, R2, R4, R5, R8, R9, R10, R12) and/or displaceable obstacles to flow and are designed for alternating change of the positions of the control valves or of the obstacles to flow.

26. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the gas flow regulating means have at least one continuously controllable fan (V1, V2, V3) and control valves (R1 to R17).

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fan can be actuated manually, under program control and/or by means of a computer, as a function of the process.

28. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 27, wherein the gas flow regulating means have measuring means (T1 to T10, Tout) for measuring the temperature of the reactor air and/or of the clamp (10), in particular in conjunction with the set point adjusters, comparators and controllers for the process-dependent control or regulation of the temperature of the reactor air and/or of the clamp (10).

29. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 28, wherein the gas flow regulating means have measuring means for determining the temperature differences in the clamp and/or for determining the variables of state of the gas streams and/or of the waste air (temperature, humidity, O2/CO2 ratio, gas pressure, flow velocity and/or throughput volume), in particular in conjunction with set point adjusters, comparators and regulators for controlling or regulating the temperature differences in the clamp (10) and/or the variables of state of the gas streams and/or of the waste air.

30. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 29, wherein the gas flow regulating means are designed for operating the gas stream as a closed air circulation system with or without fresh air feed.

31. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 30, having a conditioning means for conditioning the gas stream.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the gas flow regulating means have valves (R16, R17) for defined adjustment of the ratio of fresh air inlet to circulated air discharge.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31 or 32, wherein the conditioning means for conditioning the flowing gas has means for adjusting temperature, pressure and ingredients, in particular the content of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and water.

34. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 33, having a turn-overmeans for mechanically turning over the clamp (10).

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 or one of the claims 31 to 34 relating back to claim 30, having a plurality of separate reactors (RX1, RX2, ...RXN), in which the air circulation system is designed as a controlled central aeration means (11, 12,13) and at least one reactor or a plurality of reactors, preferably all reactors, has or have associated means (Fig. 3.1, 3.2) for reactor-independent and individual adjustability of the process parameters determining the microbial conversion.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the reactors RX1 to RXN
alternatively can be connected, in particular via control valves (R1in...RNin), to the central aeration means (11, 12, 13).

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35 or 36, wherein the reactors (RX1 to RXN) are each equipped with their own controllable fresh air feed (LF, RF16).38. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 37, wherein the reactor (RX1 to RXN) has one reactor zone adjacent to the top of the clamp (10) and one adjacent to the bottom thereof, the reactor zones adjacent to the clamp (10) each being capable of being connected to the other via gas flow lines and control valves (R1, R2, R4,

R5, R8, R9, R10, R12) arranged therein.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein the gas flow lines and control valves are arranged in groups symmetrically with respect to the reactor (RX1 to RXN).

40. The apparatus as claimed in either of claims 38 and 39, wherein the reactor zones located above and below the clamp (10) are each connected to the other, on both sides of the reactor, via a gas flow line having in each case a first control valve (R1,R2).

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein a second control valve (R4, R8, R10, R12) arranged in the gas flow line, one on each of the two sides of the first control valves (R1 and R2).

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein at least one fan (V1, V2) is connected, via a third control valve (R11, R13) downstream of it, to a point in the gas flow line which is located between the first and the second control valve (R2, R4;
R2, R10).

43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the gas flow line (K4) which connects to one another those ends of the reactor zones above and below the clamp (10) which face away from the fans (V1, V2) has, at a point between its first and second control valves (R1, R8; R1, R12), a branch for the air circulation line (K6).

44. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 38 to 43, wherein the air circulation line (K6) branches into two further lines namely a line (K5) connecting with the means (11) for conditioning the circulated air and a line (K52) connecting with the reactor (RX1 to RXN).

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the line (K52) connecting with the reactor (RX1 to RXN) is branched into two further branch lines (K1Oo, K1Ou), each of which is equipped with a fourth control valve (R5, R9), and one of whichconnects with the upper reactor zone and other with the lower reactor zone.

46. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 43 to 45, wherein the air circulation line (K6) is equipped with a fifth control valve (R14).