Abstract:
A grit box to separate particulate matter from an influent stream. The grit box has an upper portion and a lower portion with a deflection plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion. It includes a hopper for accumulation of particulate matter settled from the influent stream. The hopper has a drainage pipe and a valve therebetween to control passage of material from the grit box into the drainage pipe. A mechanism delivers the influent stream at a predetermined and substantially constant flow rate. The influent stream is separated into two or more streams which are recombined under pressure in the grit box in a turbulent mixing zone. The fluid rise rate in the grit box is lower than the settling rate of the particulate matter to be separated from the influent stream.
Abstract:
A method for static mixing in a waste water settling tank to increase the percentage of recovery of entrained solids from the waste water comprising a settling tank having a recirculation ring and a hopper bottom defining a sludge hopper, a fluid deflector centrally disposed within the space contained in the hopper bottom having a flat portion, and an inlet pipe for introduction of waste water containing second entrained solids into the settling tank and having a discharge outlet in proximity to the underside of the deflector dome and a nozzle facing downward. Influent waste water is directed vertically downward toward the flat portion and upward into the center of the fluid deflector which distributes the influent radially into contact, preferably turbulent, with previously introduced waste water containing first entrained solids to cause coalescence of the first and second entrained solids to form larger particles having increased settling velocity.
Abstract:
A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.
Abstract:
A system comprising method and apparatus for separating biologically-digestible materials from an influent sewage stream. The system may comprise a primary clarification tank to capture sixty percent or more of the total solids from an influent stream; a sludge classifying press (SCP) to isolate and concentrate biologically digestible materials from sludge formed in the primary clarification tank, releasing valuable organics, such as are found in corn kernels, by fracturing the protective casings; a grit capture mechanism in a chamber within the primary clarification tank and isolated from the bulk of the sludge containing biologically-degradable materials; a grit trap to remove grit from the sludge prior to classifying the sludge with the SCP; apparatus for adding thickener to the sludge after classification and prior to digestion; and automation of one or more elements of the process for separating and digesting the biologically digestible materials in an influent stream.
Abstract:
A method for providing an optimized organic load to a downstream wastewater treatment process includes the steps of: providing a primary wastewater treatment plant including an organic harvester (OH) with an OH effluent output stream with temporal variation in organic content, a sludge filtrate outflow from the primary wastewater treatment plant, a valve controlled by a controller, and a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the sensor disposed downstream of a combined outflow line to measure an organic content of a combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; sensing the organic content of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; adjusting the valve controlled by the controller to maintain about a setpoint organic content concentration of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process by supplementing the OH effluent output stream with organically rich matter from the sludge filtrate outflow.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for treatment of food process waste water, comprising a tank for receiving a food process waste water influent via an influent pump and discharging a treated food process waste water effluent via an effluent pump; a screen decanter disposed in the tank; the screen having a porosity of about 50 micrometers; and a timer operationally connected to the floating decanter and the effluent pump. Solids are settled from the waste water and drawn off through the tank bottom after a supernatant fluid is drawn off through the floating decanter. The supernatant fluid is passed through a filtration and membrane water purification apparatus to generate purified water.
Abstract:
An adaptive waste water treatment plant includes an influent intake configured to receive an influent flow from a waste water influent stream. A first settling tank is in a controllable fluid communication with the influent intake. The first settling tank includes a first decanter in fluid communication with a first effluent discharge pipe. A first effluent discharge valve is communicatively coupled to a controller. A first flow meter is in communication with the controller and adapted to measure a rate of flow through the first effluent discharge pipe. A second settling tank is similarly configured. The controller is configured to control the controllable fluid communication between the influent intake and the first settling tank and the controllable fluid communication between the influent intake the second settling tank in response to a change in a rate of influent flow.
Abstract:
A system comprising method and apparatus for separating biologically-digestible materials from an influent sewage stream. The system may comprise a primary clarification tank to capture sixty percent or more of the total solids from an influent stream; a sludge classifying press (SCP) to isolate and concentrate biologically digestible materials from sludge formed in the primary clarification tank, releasing valuable organics, such as are found in corn kernels, by fracturing the protective casings; a grit capture mechanism in a chamber within the primary clarification tank and isolated from the bulk of the sludge containing biologically-degradable materials; a grit trap to remove grit from the sludge prior to classifying the sludge with the SCP; apparatus for adding thickener to the sludge after classification and prior to digestion; and automation of one or more elements of the process for separating and digesting the biologically digestible materials in an influent stream.
Abstract:
A decanter system for separating liquid from solids in a liquid mixture tank includes a screen structure which is at least partially submersible in a fluid influent in the tank. The screen structure includes a liquid outlet for removal of screened liquid. A lifting mechanism is attached to the structure for raising and lowering the structure with respect to the tank. A control mechanism governs the lifting mechanism for regulating a vertical position of the structure with respect to the tank. The control mechanism includes a first pressure sensor within the structure, a second pressure sensor within the tank, a proximity transducer within the tank, an effluent outlet control valve, a flow meter, and a controller. A method for separating liquid from solids in a tank is also described.
Abstract:
A self-cleaning system for flushing an influent feed system (IFS) trough of a wastewater treatment facility by use of a supernatant includes one or more IFS disposed in a first clarification tank. Each IFS includes a grit box to capture waste materials and to convey the waste materials into a hopper of the IFS. The hopper has at least one IFS discharge pipe to convey the materials out of the hopper as controlled by an IFS valve. At least a second clarification tank also includes one or more IFS disposed in the second clarification tank. One or more pipes fluidly couple at least one trough of the one or more IFS of the first clarification tank to at least one trough of the one or more IFS of the second clarification tank. A supernatant flows through the one or more pipes. An IFS with a plow is also described.