System and method for vent hood cleaning and comprehensive bioremediation of kitchen grease

Abstract

A commercial and institutional kitchen retrofit system for 1. the automatic daily cleaning of commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and flues, 2. a low pressure, low volume, recirculating cleaning system designed for the removal of oily residue from hard surfaces and the accelerated bioremediation of the resulting collective hydrocarbon waste, 3. the collection and elimination of roof-top grease accumulations, 4. the systematic on site incubation and enhanced propagation of cultured, hydrocarbon specific, bacterial microorganisms in an automatically mixed aqueous solution containing PH neutral oxidizers and hydrocarbon base emulsifiers altogether, producing a regenerative, recyclable cleaning solution specifically developed for use in 5. and the automatic daily introduction of an oxygen enriched, microbe charged solution into kitchen drain lines, thereby reducing the stoppage of drains caused by the solidification of grease and ultimately promoting the biodigestation and reduction of accumulated grease in the main grease trap integral to the sewer system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A commercial and institutional kitchen grease removal method used in a kitchen having an exhaust hood, exhaust flue, a fan, a roof and a drain line, comprising: 
 spraying a washing solution into the exhaust flue;    spraying the washing solution into the exhaust hood;    containing the washing solution within the exhaust hood;    draining the washing solution from the exhaust hood;    collecting and recirculating the washing solution drained from the exhaust hood;    accumulating grease seeping out of the exhaust flue and the fan;    flushing the grease which has been accumulated with the recirculated washing solution; and    discharging the flushed washing solution through a drain line.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for bioremediating a fluid entrained with grease from a kitchen, comprising: 
 a discharge chamber;    a receiver chamber connected to the discharge chamber by a first flow line;    a circulation chamber connected to the discharge chamber by the first flow line;    a pump contained in the first flow line;    a first valve connected in the first flow line;    a first means for stratifying the fluid connected inside the circulation chamber;    a second means for stratifying the fluid connected inside the receiver chamber;    a second flow line connected between the receiver chamber and the circulation chamber;    a first weir having one end connected near the top level of the circulation chamber and another connected to terminated in the discharge chamber;    a second weir having one end connected near the top level of the receiver chamber and another end connected to the discharge chamber;    a means for removing reclaimed fluid from the circulation chamber attached to the circulation chamber;    a means for adding fluid to be remediated to the receiver chamber attached to the receiver chamber;    an equalization line connecting the receiver chamber to the discharge chamber; and    a second valve contained in the equalization line.    
     
     
         3 . A baffle filter unit for use in containing grease and to be installed in a vent hood comprising: 
 a plurality of intermediate channel members oriented in assembly to overlap, oppose and spaced wherein each of said intermediate channel sections includes a U shaped body with two horizontal return legs each bending and projecting from an end of the U shaped body;    a top channel stringer attached over a top end of said intermediate channel sections;    a bottom channel stringer attached over a bottom end of said intermediate channel sections wherein said bottom channel stringer defines openings to facilitate fluid drainage;    a male side channel attached to one side of said intermediate channel sections; and    a female side channel attached at another side of said intermediate channel sections.