Fermentation tank

A fermentation tank comprising a tank body wherein an organopolysiloxane film is formed outside and/or inside of said tank body. In said fermentation tank the corrosion of the tank body is prevented, and the penetration of moisture through the tank body into the ground and the penetration of the underground water into the tank body are also prevented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a fermentation tank. Said fermentation 
tank may be used to treat mown weed, garbage and the like by the 
fermentation process to produce feed, food, fertilizer and the like. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to a fermentation tank 
comprising a tank body wherein organopolysiloxane film is formed outside 
and/or inside of said tank body. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a traditional fermentation apparatus (100). 
As shown in FIG.3, said fermentation apparatus (100) comprises a 
fermentaiton tank (101) consisting of a tank body (102) providing a 
stirrer (103) which is driven by a motor (104), sheet heaters (105, 105, 
105) attached to the outside of said tank body (102), an exhaust path 
(107) connected to said tank body (102) and providing a blower (106), and 
an air inlet path (109) connected to said tank body (102) and providing a 
valve (108) wherein said tank body (102) has entrances (102A, 102A) of raw 
material and exits (102B, 102B) of treated material. Stainless steel is 
mainly used as a material for said tank body (102) to prevent the 
corrosion or when said fermentaiton tank (101) is installed underground, 
concrete is also used as a material for said tank body (102). 
When raw material such as mown weed, garbage and the like is treated by 
said fermentation apparatus (100), said raw material M is thrown into said 
tank body (102) through the entrance (102A, 102A) and further a 
microorganism is added for fermentation, and then said raw material is 
stirred and heated in said tank body (102) to ferment aerobically to 
produce feed, food, fertilizer and the like. 
In this fermentation process, gas produced from said raw material in said 
tank body (102) is exhausted through said exhaust path (107) and the air 
is supplied to said tank body (102) through said air inlet path (109) by 
opening said valve (108). 
In a case where iron is used as a material for said tank body (102) said 
tank body (102) will be corroded by the microorganism and in a case where 
concrete is used as a material for said tank body (102), said tank body 
(102) will be corroded and further worn. 
To solve these problems, as above described, stainless steel is used as a 
material for said tank body (102). Nevertheless, stainless steel is 
expensive and has poor processability and further in a case where concrete 
is used as a material for said tank body (102), besides the problem of 
corrosion, there is a problem that moisture in said tank body (102) 
penetrates the concrete wall of said tank body (102) to leak into the 
ground and mix in the underground water to contaminate the environment 
around said tank body (102), and conversely, there is also a problem that 
the underground water penetrates into said tank body (102) 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent the corrosion 
of the tank body of the fermentation tank. 
A further object of the present invention is to prevent the penetration of 
moisture in the tank body of the fermentation tank into the ground. 
A still further object of the present invention is to prevent the 
penetration of the underground water into the tank body of the 
fermentation tank. 
Briefly, said object of the present invention can be attained by a 
fermentation tank comprising a tank body wherein an organopolysiloxane 
film is formed outside and/or inside of said tank body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the present invention, since the organopolysiloxane film formed outside 
and/or inside of the tank body consists of polymer having an inorganic 
main chain consisting of siloxane bonding (--Si--O--), the 
organopolysiloxane film is superior to general polymer having a main 
carbon chain in corrosion-resistance, heat-resistance, hardness, surface 
smoothness and adhesion to inorganic material such as iron, concrete and 
the like. 
In the present invention, to form the organopolysiloxane film outside 
and/or inside of the tank body, coating material comprising a liquid 
organopolysiloxane which is dimer, oligomer, prepolymer or low-molecular 
polymer of organopolysiloxane compound having hydrolytic silyl group such 
as organochlorosilane, organoalkoxysilane, organoallyloxysilane and the 
like, and if desirable an additive such as curing catalyst and the like is 
coated on the outside and/or inside of the tank body and then the 
resulting film is cured with water if desirable under heating. 
The preferable coating material used in the above described coating method 
is shown in EP Publication No. 0 594 211 A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,007. 
The coating material described in EP Publication No. 0 594 211 A2 is a 
mixture which contains liquid organosiloxane and hydrated modified 
organosilicon compound consisting of organosilicon having at least one 
polyether group and containing therein up to 50% by weight of water 
wherein said hydrated modified organosilicon compound is contained in said 
mixture in an amount of at least 30% by weight. If desirable, the coating 
material may contain one or more cross-linking agent, one or more curing 
catalyst, one or more filler and the like. 
Said organosilicon compound is used to disperse uniformly water into said 
liquid organosiloxane. The preferable organosilicon compound is silicon 
oil which is bifunctional type of organopolysiloxane. 
As said cross-linking agent, one or more organic compound selected from the 
group consisting of aluminum compound, boron compound, silicon compound, 
titanium compound and zirconium compound which has a monovalent organic 
group and at least one alkoxy group, acyloxy group or oxonium functional 
group can be used. The typical cross-linking agent is for example 
methyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, 
methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, tetrabutoxytitanium, 
tetrabutoxyzirconium and the like. 
As said curing catalyst, organic compound containing metal can be used. The 
typical curing catalyst is for example alminiumtributoxide, zinc naphtate, 
dibutylmethinedilaurate, dibutylmethinediacetate and the like. 
Said filler can be selected from the group consisting of activating agent 
which is powdery having particle size of preferably up to 200.mu., filler, 
pigment, colorant and the like. The typical filler is for example titanium 
oxide, iron oxide (red iron oxide), fine powder of silica, kaolin, zinc 
borate, carbon black, ultramarine, mica, talc and the like. 
The coating material described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,007 is solvent-free 
liquid organopolysiloxane composition which contains said liquid 
organosiloxane, said cross-linking agent and said curing catalyst. 
In the present invention, iron which is easy to process and unexpensive or 
concrete is mainly used as a material for the tank body of the 
fermentation tank. Neverthless since the organopolysiloxane film is formed 
outside and/or inside of the tank body, in a case where iron is used as a 
material for the tank body, the tank body is protected from corrosion and 
in a case where concrete is used as a material for the tank body, the tank 
body is protected from corrosion and further wear, and moisture in the 
tank body is checked to penetrate through the concrete wall of the tank 
body, to leak into the ground and mix in the underground water to 
contaminate the environment around the fermentation tank, and the 
underground water does not penetrate the tank body. 
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fermentation apparatus of the present 
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a fermentation apparatus (10) has a 
fermentation tank (11) which consists of a tank body (12) providing a 
stirrer (13). Said tank body (12) has entrances (12A, 12A) of raw material 
having a lid respectively on the top of said tank body (12) and exits 
(12B, 12B) of treated material having a lid respectively at the bottom of 
said tank body (12). Said tank body (12) is made of iron and the 
organopolysiloxane film F is formed inside of said tank body (12). 
Said stirrer (13) is horizontally provided in said tank body (12) and 
driven by a motor (14). Sheet heaters (15,15,15) are attached to the 
outside of said tank body (12), and furthermore, a heat insulator (22) is 
attached around the outside of said tank body (12). 
Said fermentation apparatus (10) has a cyclic path (17) connected to said 
tank body (12). The cyclic path (17) has a blower (16), an air inlet path 
(19) providing a valve (18), and a condenser (20) connected to a water 
trap (21). 
When raw material M such as mown weed, garbage and the like is treated by 
said fermentation apparatus (10), said raw material M is thrown into said 
tank body (12) through the entrance (12A, 12A), by opening the lids and 
further a microorganism for fermentation is added, and then said lids are 
closed. Said raw material M is stirred by driving said stirrer (13) and 
heated in said tank body (12) by said sheet heaters (15, 15, 15) to 
ferment aerobically to produce feed, food, fertilizer and the like. The 
heating temperature is generally 60.degree. C. or less. 
In this fermentation process, gas produced from said raw material in said 
tank body (12) is sucked into said cyclic path (17) by said blower (16), 
and moisture contained in the gas is condensed with the components having 
bad smell by said condenser (20) and accumlated in said water trap (21). 
The air is supplied to said tank body (12) through said air inlet path 
(19) by opening said valve (18). 
In this fermentation process, since the organopolysiloxane film is formed 
inside of said tank body (12), the iron as the material for said tank body 
(12) is certainly protected from corrosion. 
The feed, food, fertilizer and the like obtained by fermenting said raw 
material M is taken out from said exits (12B, 12B). The condensed water 
accumlated in said water trap (21) of said condenser (20) is discharged 
after treatment. 
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a fermentation apparatus of the present 
invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a fermentation apparatus (30) comprises a 
fermentation tank (31) which consists of a tank body (32) providing a 
screw type stirrer (33). Said fermentation tank (31) is installed 
underground and provides entrances (32A, 32A) of raw material having a lid 
respectively at the ground level GL. Said tank body (32) of said 
fermentation tank (31) is made of concrete and the organopolysiloxane film 
F is formed inside of said tank body (32). Said screw type stirrer (33) is 
horizontally provided in said tank body (32). The stirrer (33) is driven 
by a motor (34) set on the ground GL by intermediating a primary pulley 
(34A), a belt (34B) and a secondary pulley (34C). The drive shaft (33A) of 
said stirrer (33) is made of a perforated pipe in which warm air is 
supplied by a blower (35) set on the ground GL. 
An exhaust path (37) is connected to said tank body (32) from the ground GL 
by intermediating a blower (36) and further a deodorizing tank (38). 
A drying tank (39) is installed underground by said fermentation tank (31). 
Said drying tank (39) may be made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), 
concrete and the like. In a case where concrete is used as a material for 
the drying tank (39), an organopolysiloxane film F may be formed inside of 
the drying tank (39). Said drying tank (39) has an exit (39A) having a lid 
at the ground level GL and a screw conveyor (40) is provided just under 
said exit (39A) of said drying tank (39). Said drying tank (39) is 
installed in front of said stirrer (33) of the fermentation tank (31). 
Between said drying tank (39) and said tank body (32), there is a 
partition wall (41) having connecting holes (41A,41A). 
When raw material M such as mown weed, garbage and the like is treated by 
said fermentation apparatus (30), said raw material M is thrown into said 
tank body (32) through the entrance (32A, 32A) by opening the lids and 
further a microorganism is added for fermentation, and then said lids are 
closed. Said raw material M is stirred by regular and reverse rotation of 
said stirrer (33) driven by said motor (34) and is heated by blowing warm 
air from said blower (35) through said drive shaft (33A) of said stirrer 
(33). The heating temperature is generally 60.degree. C. or less. 
In this fermentation process, said raw material M is stirred in advance and 
retreat by the regular-reverse in turn rotation of said stirrer (33), as a 
result said raw material M does not move to said drying tank (39). 
Said raw material M is generally fermented for 24 to 72 hours. Gas produced 
from said raw material in said tank body (32) is sucked into said exhaust 
path (37) and exhausted after deodorized by said deodorizing tank (38). 
Said deodorizing tank (38) is filled with activated carbon, water, 
chlorine dioxide water and the like. 
After said fermentation process, fertilizer produced is moved to said 
drying tank (39) by regular rotation of said stirrer (33) through said 
connecting holes (41A, 41A) of said partition (41). In said drying tank 
(39), said fertilizer is dried naturally or heated generally up to 
80.degree. C. Dried fertilizer is taken out on the ground by said screw 
conveyor (40) by opening said lid of the exit (39A). 
In this fermentation process, since the organopolysiloxane film is formed 
inside of said tank body (32), the fermentation tank (31) is certainly 
protected from corrosion and moisture in the tank body (32) does not 
penetrate the concrete wall of the tank body (32) to leak into the ground 
and mix in the underground water to contaminate the environment around the 
fermentation tank (31), and the underground water does not penetrate into 
the tank body and prevent fermentation. 
In the above described embodiment the organopolysiloxane film F is formed 
inside of the tank body, but in the present invention the 
organopolysiloxane film F may be formed inside and outside of the tank 
body or may be formed only outside of the tank body. Furthermore, the 
organopolysiloxane film F may be formed not only inside and/or outside of 
the tank body but also inside and/or outside of the blower, exhaust path 
and the like. 
Since the organopolysiloxane film consists of polymer having inorganic main 
chain consisting of siloxane bonding (--Si--0--), the organopolysiloxane 
film has excellent adhesion to the inorganic material such as iron, 
concrete and the like. As a result, in the fermentation tank of the 
present invention the corrosion of the tank body and the penetration of 
the underground water into the tank body can be certainly prevented. 
Further in the fermentation tank of the present invention, the penetration 
of moisture in the tank body into the ground can be also prevented and 
therefore the problem of contaminating the environment around the 
fermentation tank can be solved. 
Furthermore, the inside and/or outside of the tank body is given wear 
resistance and lubricity by the organopolysiloxane film, as a result the 
inside and/or outside of the tank body can be protected from damage and 
abrasion. And the inside and/or outside of the tank body is hard to be 
stained and if stained, the stained tank body is easily cleaned.