Hoffland
Environmental, Inc. has developed economical solutions
for concentrated animal feed operations (CAFO). The
methods can be divided into two different solutions
depending upon the size of the operation and climatic
conditions. The first method is the HEI Aerobic System,
which economically removes the solids from the waste,
and maintains aerobic conditions to eliminate the formation
of foul odors. An attached diagram details this method.
A discussion of benefits follows.
The second method is the HEI Anaerobic System, which
collects and contains the waste animal solids in a
covered anaerobic digestion basin. By heating and
inoculation, an environment is created that permits
the microbial culture to rapidly digest the waste
solids and produce methane gas as a by-product. The
methane gas produced is utilized as an energy source
to operate a generator and produce electricity. Thus,
the farmer has created a renewable energy resource
from an undesirable waste product. The system will
produce more electricity then the farm consumes. The
excess electricity is sold to the power grid. The
remaining liquid after digestion is further treated
under aerobic conditions to degrade the remaining
low-level waste. A diagram of the systems as well
as a discussion of the system merit is following.
Aerobic Solution for Dairy
and Swine Waste
- Odor Free Spray Fields
- Odor Free Flush Water
- Denitrification of Ammonia
Hoffland Environmental has developed an economical
solution for the pork and dairy producers. HEI will
convert your existing lagoon into an efficient bio-digester.
First, to limit the biological load on the system,
the large solids, feces and undigested food are screened
from the wastewater.
HEI's efficient screening and clarification systems
removes over 80% of the total solids. The lagoon environment
will be customized to create areas that develop specific
microbial cultures, which digest the remaining fecal
and urine matter, and not only remove the ammonia
but also nitrogen. The treated water will be essentially
free of odor, ammonia and pathogens such as salmonella.
Problem 1: Odor - Eliminated
The entire system supplied by HEI is free of the traditional
anaerobic odor. The screened solids are collected
and stored under aerobic conditions and do not have
a foul odor. When the excess water is spray irrigated,
no odor is present.
Problem 2: Excess Nitrogen - Eliminated
The biological process (patented by HEI) not only removes
the animal waste but also biologically removes ammonia
and nitrogen. The excess water can be utilized for irrigation
through fixed irrigation nozzles. Foul smelling spray
fields do not exist.
Every
farm that produces animals must have a tank to store excess
water resulting from animal excretion, barn flushing and cleaning
and rainwater. Current practice is to store the excess water
with the animal waste in an open earthen basin tank that becomes
an anaerobic lagoon. When the lagoon is full the excess water
is pumped to spray fields and disperse through spray nozzles.
The foul smelling gases resulting from the anaerobic microbial
action on the stored animal waste is liberated. The airborne
foul odor drifts along the ground for miles. The local neighbors
are very unhappy and have recently become irate, with this
current practice.
