Abstract:
A system and method to separate and concentrate nutrients from process waste water comprising the steps of accumulating the process waste water in a settling tank; settling the solids to form a supernatant and settled sludge; filtering the supernatant with a filtration system to form a permeate and a concentrate; dewatering the settled sludge to form thickened solids and a pressate; and, blending the thickened solids and the concentrate to form a slurry.
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:
An apparatus and method for treatment of waste water, comprising a tank for receiving a waste water influent via an influent pump and discharging a treated waste water effluent via an effluent pump; a screen decanter disposed in the tank, the screen having a pore size 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 screen decanter. The supernatant fluid may be passed through a filtration and membrane water purification apparatus to generate purified water.
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 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:
A screen decanter for screening solids from waste water in a waste water treatment system comprising a drain manifold and a plurality of cylindrical cartridges mounted to the drain manifold, each of the cylindrical cartridges having an outer screen defining a cavity. Each of the cartridges includes a drain standpipe disposed within the cavity in communication with the drain manifold. Each drain standpipe includes a plurality of patterned openings arranged in at least one row along the length and partial circumference thereof and preferably comprises three rows of patterned openings, each row being disposed at a 120° rotational angle from the adjacent row of patterned openings. Each drain standpipe is disposed at a 30° rotational angle from its neighbor drain standpipe such that no row of patterned openings in any of said drain standpipes faces directly at any other row of patterned openings in any other drain standpipe.
Abstract:
An enhanced primary treatment (EPT) system includes an EPT settling tank. A sludge drain discharges a sludge including BOD from the EPT settling tank and a clarified effluent discharge recovers decanted fluid from the EPT settling tank. A controller has at least one computer processor. A sludge sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller. The sludge sensor provides a sludge BOD concentration measurement, or a measurement from which the sludge BOD concentration is calculated. A process algorithm controls the sludge valve to control the discharge of the sludge by gravity or by pumping in response to data from the sludge sensor of the sludge BOD concentration. A method of controlling an enhanced primary treatment (EPT) system is also described.
Abstract:
A waste water treatment system includes a clarification tank having a clarification tank wall. An influent feed system (IFS) is mechanically mounted within and adjacent to a wall of the clarification tank and configured to receive a waste water influent stream including a fluid. A scum trough is mechanically coupled to either the IFS or the clarification tank. The scum trough has a scum trough mouth and a scum trough discharge channel. The scum trough is movable, or a portion of the scum trough includes a moveable structure, to control a rate of fluid in-take of the fluid with scum and floatables from either of the IFS or the clarification tank. Several methods to remove scum and floatables from a waste water stream are also described.
Abstract:
A system for backflushing materials from the upstream side of a bar screen in a primary waste water treatment installation having a reservoir of influent material disposed within a primary settling tank on the downstream side of the bar screen, wherein the system comprises a drain pipe in communication with the interior of the primary settling tank, a drain valve disposed in the drain pipe, and a programmable controller controllably connected to the drain valve and to an influent supply valve disposed in an influent supply pipe connected to an entry port in the primary settling tank. Preferably the system includes a first sensor disposed within the settling tank and a second sensor and flowmeter disposed within the drain pipe. Backflushing is provided by reverse flow of influent from the reservoir when the influent supply valve is closed and the drain valve is opened.
Abstract:
A method of controlling an enhanced primary treatment (EPT) system that includes an EPT settling tank. A sludge drain discharges a sludge including BOD from the EPT settling tank and a clarified effluent discharge recovers decanted fluid from the EPT settling tank. A controller has at least one computer processor. A sludge sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller. The sludge sensor provides a sludge BOD concentration measurement, or a measurement from which the sludge BOD concentration is calculated. A process algorithm controls the sludge valve to control the discharge of the sludge by gravity or by pumping in response to data from the sludge sensor of the sludge BOD concentration.