CN112645398A

CN112645398A - Waste liquid curing system and method

Info

Publication number: CN112645398A
Application number: CN201910961824.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 啜金鸽
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-10-11
Filing date: 2019-10-11
Publication date: 2021-04-13

Abstract

The spent liquor solidification system and method include a chamber at least partially enclosing a volume, a liquid outlet positioned to inject liquid into the volume, and a powder outlet positioned proximate the liquid outlet, the powder outlet positioned to discharge superabsorbent polymer powder into the volume. The arrangement of the liquid outlet and the powder outlet is such that the liquid and the superabsorbent polymer powder are air mixed within the closed volume of the chamber to produce a solid waste.

Description

Waste liquid curing system and method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to waste liquid curing, and more particularly, to a waste liquid curing system using a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP).

Background

Liquid waste generated by some facilities cannot be pumped into the local sewer system. Typically, such liquid waste is transported to a liquid waste treatment plant. However, in some cases, this process may be cost effective. On the other hand, solids tend to be easier and more cost effective to handle. In many cases, this is due, at least in part, to the fact that properly solidified solid waste is less likely to penetrate the floor and other environment in which the waste is disposed — this result can have negative environmental impact.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a waste liquid solidification system. The system includes a chamber at least partially enclosing a volume, a liquid outlet positioned to inject liquid into the volume, and a powder outlet positioned proximate the liquid outlet, the powder outlet positioned to discharge superabsorbent polymer powder into the volume. The arrangement of the liquid outlet and the powder outlet is such that the liquid and the superabsorbent polymer powder are air mixed within the closed volume of the chamber to produce a solid waste.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of solidifying waste liquid. The waste stream and the superabsorbent polymer powder stream are simultaneously supplied to a mixing chamber for mixing the particles of the waste stream and the particles of the superabsorbent polymer powder stream in air to solidify the waste stream particles without physical mixing or agitation. A quantity of solidified waste liquid is collected at the bottom of the mixing chamber. The solidified waste liquid is discharged from the mixing chamber.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view of a waste liquid solidifying device for use in a system according to one aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the mixing chamber of the waste solidification device of fig. 1, schematically illustrating powder and liquid supplies, a pressure generator, and a filtration system coupled thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mixing chamber shown in fig. 2 illustrating the liquid and powder outlets.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the mixing chamber shown in fig. 2 illustrating the liquid and powder outlets.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mixing chamber shown in fig. 2, illustrating the liquid and powder outlets in combination with the annular piston.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the mixing chamber shown in fig. 2 illustrating the combination of the liquid and powder outlets with the annular piston of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

The waste liquid solidification system described herein is used to convert waste liquid into solid waste. The process can significantly reduce costs associated with the transportation, treatment or disposal of liquid waste. Solid waste can include rigid solid materials as well as semi-solid (i.e., gel-like) materials. The waste liquid curing system utilizes a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), in the form of a fine powder, to absorb the waste liquid to produce solid waste. The SAP may be present in other forms, such as beads and crystals, and may be elastically compressible in some embodiments. The composition of the SAP powder may be matched to the particular type of liquid waste being treated and may be selected according to one or more desired properties of the final solid waste. The sap powder may absorb the liquid waste by chemical means, physical means, or a combination thereof. The SAP powder may absorb and retain about 500 pounds of liquid waste per 20 pounds of SAP powder used. The SAP powder may be a waste solidifying polymer by solidifying liquid waste with a coagulating chemical, especially by coagulation, gelation or coalescence.

FIG. 1 illustrates a waste liquid solidifying apparatus 10 for use in a waste liquid solidifying system, according to one aspect of the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a mixing tank or chamber 14 that is maintained in a vertical or vertical orientation relative to the ground by a plurality of legs 18 connected to either side of the mixing chamber 14. The support legs 18 maintain the mixing chamber 14 above the ground and at a distance so that solid waste can be discharged from the bottom of the mixing chamber 14. The volume defined by the mixing chamber 14 is configured to receive waste liquid and SAP powder from the respective liquids and

powder outlets

30, 34 located within the mixing chamber 14 to produce a batch of solid waste from the bulk of the liquid waste pumped from the liquid waste reservoir 35 to the mixing chamber 14. The mixing chamber 14 also includes a filter system to help regulate the pressure within the system to avoid spraying the SAP powder into the surrounding environment. The filtration system may include a filter housing 36 having one or more filter elements 36A or filter media adapted to retain SAP powder particles so that the SAP powder is contained in the system and not released into the surrounding environment. The filter housing 36 may include a first inlet coupled to the mixing chamber 14 (e.g., via a valve or hose), and may further include a second inlet coupled to a powder reservoir or hopper 38, wherein the SAP powder is pumped to the mixing chamber 14. Alternatively, air or another source of pressurized gas may also flow from one or both of powder hopper 38 and mixing chamber 14 through the cyclone to separate the powder from the gas stream and prevent the SAP powder from escaping.

The apparatus 10 also includes an outlet valve 22 at the lower or bottom end of the mixing chamber 14 that is engageable with the injection system to discharge each batch of solid waste upon completion. The apparatus 10 may also include one or more service flanges 50 proximate the underside of the chamber 14 and above the outlet valve 22 to service or clean the interior volume of the chamber 14. In some configurations, the apparatus 10 (including the support legs 18) may be about 15 feet high at its highest point, with the mixing chamber 14 having a diameter of about 1.5 feet to about 2 feet. However, the size or shape of the device 10 and its features (e.g., the mixing chamber 14) may vary from application to application and should not be considered limiting. Furthermore, while a vertically oriented mixing chamber 14 may have particular advantages, such as gravity facilitating the discharge of solid waste, the orientation of the apparatus (i.e., vertical, horizontal, etc.) may vary depending on the particular application.

As shown in fig. 2-4, the mixing chamber 14 contains a volume for mixing the liquid waste supplied by the pair of liquid outlets 30 with the SAP powder discharged from the powder outlet 34. The mixing chamber 14 has a smooth chemical resistant (e.g., epoxy) coating on the interior side walls. The liquid outlet 30 and the powder outlet 34 are closely arranged so that the SAP powder absorbs and retains liquid waste particles in the air when the two substances are discharged from the

respective outlets

30 and 34. No additional mixing (e.g., stirring, rotation, etc.) is performed. In the illustrated embodiment, the powder outlet 34 is centered between the liquid outlets 30 (fig. 3 and 4) and is located about 6 inches below the liquid outlets 30. The liquid outlet sprays the liquid waste in a specific pattern (e.g., cone, mist, etc.) for 5 months and 30 days to promote mixing. The SAP powder discharged from the powder outlet 34 is released in a fine mist or particle cloud when pumped with air due to the fine nature of the SAP powder. This arrangement facilitates air mixing of the liquid waste particles and the SAP powder particles. Furthermore, the liquid outlets on day 5 and day 30 define overlapping spray patterns, as schematically shown in fig. 4, with respective sets of radial lines emanating from the respective liquid outlets 30. The overlapping spray patterns encompass the entire cross-section of the mixing chamber 14 to contain the SAP powder below the level of the liquid spray. In some constructions, each of the liquid outlets 30 defines a spray pattern that includes the entire cross-section of the mixing chamber 14. A nozzle may be provided at each liquid outlet 30 to define a spray pattern. The nozzles can take a variety of different forms and, in some constructions, can be adjusted to change the spray pattern. The solid waste resulting from the mixing of the liquid waste and SAP powder in air is collected in the lower half of the mixing chamber 14 until a batch is completed. When a predetermined amount of solid waste has accumulated in the mixing chamber 14, the batch may be considered complete. Various sensors (e.g., weight, height, etc.) may be used to determine when a lot is complete and ready for evacuation. Alternatively, or in addition, depending on the capacity or other parameters of the mixing chamber 14, the coagulation system only provides a predetermined amount of SAP powder and a predetermined amount of liquid waste to the device 10 per batch.

Once a batch of liquid waste is converted to solid waste, the solid waste will be discharged from the underside of the mixing chamber 14 through the outlet valve 22 and into a container (e.g., bag) which is then transported to a solid waste processing facility. In one embodiment, gravity alone causes the solid waste to be discharged through the outlet valve 22. In another embodiment, the injection system may pressurize the interior volume of the mixing chamber 14 by a pressure generator 40 (fig. 2) to force the solid waste out of the valve 22 under the force of the pressurization chamber (and gravity if vertical). In other embodiments, the jet thrust may be generated by a mechanical device (e.g., a piston, a scraper, etc.) that may be actuated to push the solid waste out of the mixing chamber 14 (fig. 5 and 6) or break surface tension on the walls of the mixing chamber 14. In some buildings, the curing system includes mechanical devices (e.g., forklifts, cranes, conveyors, etc.) for receiving and transporting the discharged solid waste.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the annular piston 42 is an example of a mechanical spray assist device. The annular piston 42 may include a resilient outer rim that wipes off residue on the inside wall of the mixing chamber 14. As shown in fig. 5, the annular piston 42 is movable along the axis of the chamber 14 (the vertical central axis as shown in fig. 1) to remove debris. The annular shape of the piston 42 allows the SAP powder, liquid waste, and any generated solid waste to flow freely or fall through the open center portion of the piston 42 (fig. 6) without significant disruption to the airborne mixing process. Alternative means may include one or more wipers or scrapers disposed directly along the inner wall of the mixing chamber 14, the length of which extends along at least a majority of the length of the mixing chamber 14 below the powder outlet 34, and in some cases, along the entire length of the cylindrical wall portion of the mixing chamber 14 below the powder outlet 34. The wipers can be rotated about the central axis of the mixing chamber 14 by a drive mechanism (not shown) to release the adhesive forces between the walls of the mixing chamber and the solidified waste, thereby making it easier to expel the waste. The wiper blades may be parallel to the central axis of the mixing chamber 14 or slightly inclined (e.g., less than 30 degrees).

In addition, the system may include a containerization (e.g., bagging) system to partially or fully automate the evacuation and handling process.

During operation, liquid waste may accumulate in the one or more waste reservoirs 35 until a sufficient amount is collected to produce a batch of solid waste using the waste solidification device 10. Alternatively, a large volume of liquid waste may be collected elsewhere and sent to the curing system. Once sufficient liquid waste is available to run one cycle of the device 10, the device 10 is opened and liquid waste is discharged through the liquid outlet 30, at which time SAP powder is discharged through the powder outlet 34. The liquid waste and sap powder are mixed in air to form solid waste. The solid waste is deposited in the mixing chamber 14 until a batch of solid waste is completed. After batch processing, the liquid outlet 30 and powder outlet 34 are closed or shut and the outlet valve 22 is opened to discharge the solid waste (i.e., by a motorized spray system or gravity). If a jetting system is used, the jetting system is activated (i.e., the chamber 14 is pressurized or a mechanical jetting system is activated) and the solid waste is pushed out of the mixing chamber 14 through the outlet valve 22. The solid waste may be received by any suitable container or transport for ease of handling and transport. To clean any additional residue that may remain on the chamber inner wall of chamber 14, the annular piston 42 or other device may again be moved along the chamber wall to scrape or wipe away the residue to help keep chamber 14 clean after each batch process. The device 10 is then powered down until it is ready to create the next batch. Alternatively, the waste solidification device 10 may be automatically activated by a control system that senses when a batch is ready to start or when a batch is complete. For example, the apparatus 10 may include a sensor (e.g., height/level, weight, flow rate, timing, etc.) that determines the amount of solid waste contained in the chamber 14. In some configurations, the system may operate continuously through multiple mixing chambers 14, rather than a single batch operation as shown. The total capacity of the plurality of mixing chambers 14 may be matched to the influent flow of waste liquid from the process or source.

Claims

1. A waste liquid solidification system and method includes: a chamber at least partially enclosing a volume; a liquid outlet positioned to inject liquid into the volume; a powder outlet adjacent to the liquid outlet, the powder outlet positioned to discharge superabsorbent polymer powder into the volume; and a jetting system for pushing the solid waste out of the chamber, wherein the jetting system comprises a pressure generator for pressurizing a volume of the chamber to force the solid waste out of the chamber, wherein the configuration of the liquid outlet and the powder outlet is such that the liquid and the superabsorbent polymer powder are air-mixed within the closed volume of the chamber to produce the solid waste, wherein the outlet of the pressure generator is connected to the chamber with the liquid outlet and the powder outlet, respectively.