Abstract:
The invention concerns a seawater desalination system comprising a reverse osmosis cell (12) containing a semi-permeable membrane for performing desalination of the water by passing seawater under pressure through the membrane, a pump (20) for forcing the pressurized seawater through said membrane and a mechanism driving the pump shaft comprising a direct current motor (22) and an alternating current motor (24), the two motors being mounted in position for driving the pump shaft with a belt, and also comprising clutch means for preventing one of the motors from being driven in rotation while the other motor is activated and drives the pump shaft in rotation.
Abstract:
A device for the treatment of wastewater is provided. The basic device includes a wastewater inlet, a connecting means and a bioreactor. The bioreactor is a substantially water-tight compartment which has its bioreactor inlet fluidly connected to the connecting means which is fluidly connected to the wastewater inlet. Inside the substantially water-tight compartment is controlled porous media inoculated with nitrifying aerobic bacteria. Additionally, many applications will require a plurality of bioreactors to be able to handle larger loads of wastewater. The plurality of bioreactors are connected in series by a plurality of bioreactor connecting means, each bioreactor connecting means fluidly connecting one bioreactor's outlet to another bioreactor's inlet. Effluent enters the plurality of bioreactors through first bioreactor's inlet and exits the plurality of bioreactors from the last bioreactor's outlet. In order to handle the greatest amount of wastewater, the plurality of bioreactors is connected to a primary treatment tank and a biofiltration tank. A primary pump directs effluent from the primary treatment tank to the biofiltration tank. The primary pump is activated when the volume in the primary treatment tank reaches an activation capacity and is deactivated when the volume in the primary treatment tank reaches a deactivation capacity. The biofiltration tank contains controlled porous media inoculated with nitrifying aerobic bacteria. A secondary pump directs effluent from the biofiltration tank to the first bioreactor's inlet.
Abstract:
A compact, relatively small unit for treatment of wastewater for discharge into maritime waters is disclosed. The wastewater is received in a surge or retention tank and is delivered by gravity flow or pumped to a macerator for comminution of the solids content of the wastewater. Prior to entering the macerator, salt water on a controlled flow basis is added to the wastewater in sufficient amounts to insure a high enough salt content for use as the electrolyte in an electrocatalytic cell. From the macerator the wastewater to be treated is directed into a vertically oriented, elongated, electrocatalytic cell having a plurality of parallel, closely spaced electrodes therein positioned parallel to the flow of wastewater therethrough. The wastewater is directed through the electrocatalytic unit. The end electrodes of the spaced electrode plates are connected to a source of direct current sufficient to generate chlorine, oxygen and other treating chemicals in situ. The gases generated in the cell, entrained with the liquid, flow out of the electrocatalytic cell with the liquid into the standpipe of an effluent tank where a negative pressure separates the entrained gases from the liquid and vents them to the atmosphere. The heavier solids remaining in the discharged treated liquid are allowed to settle in the bottom of the effluent tank and the remaining effluent is discharged.
Abstract:
The waste sewage that accumulates from humans, animals and vegetables is first diluted with water to provide a product comprising twenty parts water to one part solids by weight. This diluted product is subjected to a macerating and comminuting and mixing operation that breaks down the lumps in the solids to a size where they are either dissolved or carried in suspension. From the macerator, the fluid is moved up through a screen chamber having a screen of 1/8 inch to remove any heavy, large particles therein and is next pumped into non-conductive electrolytic cell containers. An overflow connection returns any gas and excess liquid into the screening chamber. In the electrolytic cell, the fluid is passed up and down between a plurality of electrode plates of platinum-coated titanium, that are essentially unattacked by the fluid contents and do not contribute any of their metal to the reaction, which are so connected that current flows across the flow of fluid repeatedly with only one end electrode of the plurality connected to the positive side of a direct current source and the other end electrode connected to the negative side of the current source. Enough voltage is supplied to maintain a current flow of 0.25 to 1.0 amperes per square inch of electrode surface. Thus the fluid is passed repeatedly across the current path and is subjected to a continuously step-by-step changing of the level of potential with respect to the original ground voltage of the fluid entering the cell. In each passage across the current, the fluid is changed by the reactions and most of the gases evolved are removed from the field of reaction upward so as to present a newly constituted fluid to the next passage. The effluent from the cell is cleared of the solids by a skimming and filtering action to recover the water for re-use and the solids for return to earth.
Abstract:
A waste disposal system includes vaporizing means for vaporizing liquid and organic human bacteriological waste material. Ash and other materials are periodically flushed from the vaporizing means by a fresh water flushing arrangement.
Abstract:
1. A METHOD OF TREATING SEWAGE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) FLUSHING SEWAGE FROM A PLURALITY OF RECEIVERS BY MEANS OF FLUSHING LIQUID, THUS FORMING A MIXTURE OF (B) SEPARATING THE MIXTURE INTO A FIRST PART WHICH HAS (B) SEPARATING THE MIXTURE INTO A FIRST PART WHICH HAS A HIGH CONTENT OF SOLID MATTER AND A LOW CONTENT OF LIQUID AND INTO A SECOND PART WHICH HAS A HIGH CONTENT OF LIQUID, (C) AFTER STEP (B) SEPARATING, AT A SUPERATION ZONE, SAID SECOND PART INTO A SOLID MATTER PORTION AND A LIQUID PORTION, (D) MAINTAINING A CAUSTIC ALKALI CHEMICAL COMPOSITION IN SAID LIQUID PORTION AT A CONCENTRATION NOT EXCEEDING ONE PERCENT SUCH THAT SAID LIQUID PORTION IS DISINFECTANT AND DEODORANT, (E) MAINTAINING A BLEACHING ACTION IN SAID LIQUID PORTION SO AS TO HAVE A DECOLORISING EFFECT, (F) USING SAID LIQUID PORTION AS SAID FLUSHING LIQUID FOR REPETITION OF STEP (A), (G) AFTER STEP (B) CONVEYING THE FIRST PART AWAY FROM SAID SEPARATION ZONE TO A COMMINUTION ZONE REMOTE FROM SAID SEPARATION ZONE AND SUBJECTING SAID FIRST PART TO MECHANICAL REDUCTION OF THE SIZE OF THE PIECES OF THE SOLID MATTER THEREOF, (H) PROVIDING A STORAGE ZONE REMOTE FROM SAID SEPARATION ZONE FOR STORAGE OF THE SOLID MATTER; (I) AFTER STEP (G), CONVEYING THE FIRST PART HIGH IN SOLID CONTENT FROM SAID COMMINUTING ZONE TO SAID STORAGE ZONE WHEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE SOLID MATTER OF SAID FIRST PART IS SUBJECTED TO THE CHEMICAL CONTENT OF THE LIQUID CONTENT THEREOF AND IS THEREBY BROKEN DOWN, DISPERSED, STERILISED AND DEODORISED; AND (J) TRANSFERRING SAID SOLID MATTER PORTION SEPARATED FROM SAID SECOND PART TO SAID STORAGE ZONE.
Abstract:
A compact sewage treatment unit has at least one pressure vessel containing a heat exchanger in which a waste stream is heated to coking temperature to coke the bulk of the organic wastes except for greases which are collected in a trap tray in the upper part of the heat exchanger and discharged. Gas formed during coking is removed through a pressure relief valve. A trap tray near the bottom of the heat exchanger serves to separate the coke and the decoked effluent. The effluent passes around the tube and up the side of the pressure vessel to serve as a heat transfer medium for the coking reaction and for heating the incoming waste slurry to coking temperature. A sparger is provided above the heated zone for bringing oxygen or air in contact with the decoked effluent to oxidize any dissolved organic materials which were not coked. The unit is particularly useful for shipboard use and in apartments.
Abstract:
A system is described for removing pollutants of waste waters, including domestic and other sewage, by simultaneous oxidation of organic wastes, both soluble and insoluble, and by sedimentation of insoluble particles causing turbidity. This is essentially a conventional solids-liquid contactor clarifier with some additions to provide means for: (a) addition of air or purer oxygen to sewage waters; (b) pressurizing the sewage water up to 10 atmospheres to increase solubility and concentration of oxygen-hence velocity of chemical and/or aerobic reaction; (c) withdrawing and depressurizing the sewage water to atmospheric pressure to allow most of dissolved gases to be released and to be discharged because of lower solubility for gases at atmospheric pressure; (d) recycling the sewage water for from 2 to 50 times through this pressurizing-depressurizing cycle; and, when used aboard ship, (e) means for installation in the ship''s hold to minimize effects of the ship''s movements on the sedimentation operation. It is particularly useful for smaller installations, for use on ships, and other places where waste from not more than several thousand people is to be handled. It also may be used as a sedimentation system alone wherein insoluble solids are settled out to give a clear effluent. The sludge solids produced in an earlier sedimentation, either with or without oxidation, may be oxidized and sedimented in a separate step in the equipment.
Abstract:
A waste treatment system which receives liquid and solid waste, macerates the solids to form a slurry and pumps the slurry to a treatment tank. In the treatment tank the solids are separated from the liquids and retained in the tank, while the liquid effluent is treated chemically to render it pathogenically harmless and discharged from the system.
Abstract:
THE INVENTION PROVIDES AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING WATER CONTAINING SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM A SANITARY SYSTEM. IN CARRYING OUT THE METHOD, THE WATER IS AERATED AND DELIVERED TO A SCREEN WITH A DIRECTIONAL COMPONENT ACROSS THE SCREEN SURFACE AND A DIRECTIONAL COMPONENT THROUGH THE SCREEN. THE SCREEN HAS OPENINGS LARGE ENOUGH TO PASS THE MAJORITY OF THE SOLIDS SUSPENDED IN THE WATER, AND HAS THE ABILITY TO HOLD A COATING OF THESE SOLIDS ON ITS UPSTREAM SIDE. THE FLOW OF WATER IS CONTROLLED SO THAT A COATING OF THE SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM THE WATER IS FORMED ON THE SCREEN SURFACE. THE DELIVERY OF WATER CONTAINING THESE SUSPENDED SOLIDS TO THE SCREEN IS CONTINUED WITH A DIRECTIONAL COMPONENT ACROSS THE SCREEN AND A DIRECTIONAL COMPONENT THROUGH THE SCREEN, WHEREBY TO FILTER SOLIDS FROM THE WATER PASSING THROUGH THE COATING AND SCREEN. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIRECTIONAL COMPONENTS ACROSS AND THROUGH THE SCREEN IS CONTROLLED TO MAINTAIN THE COATING ON THE SCREEN. THE WATER THAT IS PASSED THROUGH THE SCREEN IS STORED, AND IS RECYCLED TO THE SANITARY SYSTEM.