Waste processing system with anaerobic mechanism and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A waste processing system includes: an input module for converting input organic waste into processed input waste; a digester module, coupled to the input module, for generating biogas and digester effluent from the processed input waste, including: a digester tank; baffles affixed within the digester tank; a digester process solution in the digester tank including, hydrolytic bacteria, acidogenic bacteria, acetogenic bacteria, methanogenic bacteria, or a combination thereof, for converting the processed input waste into the biogas and the digester effluent; and an output module, coupled to the digester module, for collecting the biogas and digester effluent after a residence period.

1 . An anaerobic waste processing system comprising:
 an input module for converting input organic waste into processed input waste;   a digester module, coupled to the input module, for generating biogas and digester effluent from the processed input waste, including:
 a digester tank; 
 baffles affixed within the digester tank; 
 a digester process solution in the digester tank including, hydrolytic bacteria, acidogenic bacteria, acetogenic bacteria, methanogenic bacteria, or a combination thereof, for converting the processed input waste into the biogas and the digester effluent; 
   an output module, coupled to the digester module, for collecting the biogas and digester effluent after a residence period comprising:
 a biogas effluent collection module, and 
 a digestate effluent collection module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature inside said tank; 
 a pH sensor for sensing the pH inside said tank; 
 a gas pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of said biogas above a surface of said digestate inside said tank; 
 a level sensor for sensing the level of digestate in said tank; and, 
 an automated control system for receiving inputs characterizing said temperature, said pH, said pressure and said level and for controlling operational parameters of said system. 
 
     
     
         3 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 2  wherein said control system is configured to evacuate biogas from said tank upon detecting a predetermined pressure of biogas and for evacuating digestate from said tank upon detecting a predetermined level of said digestate. 
     
     
         4 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  wherein said input module comprises a weight scale for determining the weight of said input organic waste, said weight scale providing an output to an automated control system for controlling operational parameters of said system. 
     
     
         5 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  further comprising a distillate fluid processing apparatus, coupled to the output module, for processing the digester effluent with an effluent enhancement solution to generate an enriched effective microorganism solution, and further comprising a flow sensor for sensing the flow of said distillate. 
     
     
         6 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 2  further comprising a heater within said tank, and wherein said automated control system is configured to selectively actuate said heater to maintain said temperature within a predetermined range and to selectively cause the addition of acid or base to said digestate to maintain said pH within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         7 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  wherein said input module comprises a grinder assembly for grinding the size of the solids in the input organic waste to a particle size with a diameter of about 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  wherein the baffles include a dynamically adjustable space for adjusting a flow space of the baffles. 
     
     
         9 . The anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of agitators or mixers and wherein said agitators or mixers are operable to agitate or mix at different speeds in different areas of said digester module. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling the operation of an anaerobic waste processing system of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 detecting specific biogas constituents other than methane; and 
 using said detection as an input to a processor controlling the operation of said system.