1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to air treatment and, more particularly, is concerned with multi-stage system for removing odor from sewage treatment related devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Air treatment devices have been described in the prior art, however, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,733 dated Sep. 9, 2003, Pellegrin disclosed a method and means for filtering an air stream with aqueous froth. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,627 dated Sep. 15, 2009, Kijlstra, et al., disclosed a process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans from a gas stream. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,302 dated Feb. 26, 2002, Hallstead, Sr., disclosed an air filtration system. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,307 dated Jul. 4, 2000, Dular disclosed a water filter kit for drywall dust control. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,072 dated Jan. 12, 1999, Motoda disclosed a gas suction filtration apparatus. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,933 dated Nov. 16, 1993, Greene disclosed a vent gas deodorizing system. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,487 dated Dec. 24, 1974, Perez disclosed a gas scrubber. While these air treatment devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described.
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for treating air containing hydrogen sulfide gas, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and other mercaptans in order to reduce odor and corrosion related to wet wells, dry pits, grease traps and the like. The present invention comprises a first and second stage air treatment system. A vacuum pump in the primary (stage 2) treatment housing vacuums the contaminated air from the source and pumps the air through a set of diffusers into a treatment fluid wherein the air is then passed through a pair of porous plates and upward through a discharge pump and then into the atmosphere. Prior to treating the air in the primary housing, it is treated in a pretreatment dry air filter wherein the air is inlet into the pretreatment (stage 1) housing and then through a microfilter prior to being passed into the primary housing for further treatment.
An object of the present invention is to remove undesirable compounds from the air of wet wells, dry pits, grease traps and the like. A further object of the present invention is to reduce the odor of the air treatment stream. A further object of the present invention is to provide a non-toxic discharge comprising treated air. A further object of the present invention is to provide a means for air treatment which can be easily operated by a user. A further object of the present invention is to provide an air treatment system which can be relatively inexpensively manufactured.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.
Turning to
Regarding plate 92, this is a solid plate designed to deflect the airflow and fluid outwardly and away from the center of the tank 40. There are no holes or slots in this plate. When the air is released from fluid 44 it cause a bubbling action and plate 92 prevents it from hitting the next full plate 94 with the central air slots 52. Plate 94 also has an aperture 96 in its center to accommodate pipe 60. A purpose of plate 92 is to prevent excessive bubble build up in the lower portion of the tank 40.
Regarding the diffusers 58, one diffuser will lay flat on the bottom of the tank 40 and will contain air discharge slot openings 62 of 0.006 inch (all measurements are in inches) and the 2nd one will contain air slots opening of 0.004 and the top diffuser will have air slot openings of 0.002. These diffusers are located about 1 inch apart. This will provide a Multi Stage Micro Diffuser 58 that is critical in breaking down and separating the various sewer gases. When these gases are exposed to a vacuum, (negative pressure) they are easily separated due to their various densities, making their molecular structure accessible for our chemical solution to penetrate and destroy the toxic sewer gases. There is a unique chemical reaction that takes place when you combine the specific gravity of the treatment fluid and the vacuum/negative pressure environment that is created in the gas extractor. Plates 48, 50 are located 4 inches apart and each plate will contain air slot openings 52 of 0.002-0.004. This will allow a retention time of 0.75 seconds required before the treated gases are released either back into the atmosphere or the lift station where they were extracted from originally. Air slot openings 26 (0.003) to the Stage I dry air separator 12 is where the toxic gas separation actually starts. This will provide one long micro 24 diffuser inside the canister 16. Plate 94 and its slots 52 are similar to plates 48, 50.
Also shown is a 2 hp regenerative blower 54 and a vacuum relief valve 72. The vacuum relief valve 72 is a critical component to keep the tank 40 from imploding in the event the air intake/stage 1 dry air filter 12 becomes clogged up.
The treatment fluid 44 is an aqueous solution comprising a clear, colorless organic liquid having a ph of about 10 and a boiling point ranging from 212-370 degrees Fahrenheit.
The present invention 10 is a fully self-contained, non-corrosive, multi-chambered, energy efficient, non-hazardous, organic and all green device created to extract, process instantly upon contact, toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), heavy metals and all other mercaptans which occur naturally in wet wells 82, dry pits, grease traps and the like. The toxic gases are pulled from the wet well 82, dry pit, or grease trap through specifically designed non-corrosive micro diffusers (Stage 1 and 2 at 12, 14) which help break down the toxic gases.
Immediately above the concentrated solution of treatment fluid 44 are multi layers of slotted plates 48, 52, 94 designed to help remove VOC's and hydrogen sulfide gas. The contaminated air is pulled from the well by placing a vacuum on the tank 40. As the vacuum is created, contaminated air is pulled from the air space of the wet well/dry pit or grease trap 82 through the two micro diffusers (Stage 1 and 2 at 12, 14) and through the concentrated solution of treatment fluid 44 where up to 80% of all the VOC's and hydrogen sulfide gas, other mercaptans and heavy metals are instantly removed. As the toxic air travels through the micro diffuser 58 submerged in the concentrated solution 44 agitation occurs. This agitation causes micro foaming froth 88 to accumulate on the plates 48, 50, 94 of the tank and to drop or drip 90 therefrom. As the vacuum occurs in the tank, this pulls the highly concentrated supercharged foam and froth up onto the plates 48, 50. As the plates 48, 50 become saturated and coated with the supercharged micro-fine bubbles created by the agitation in the bottom 42 of the tank, the remaining VOC's, hydrogen sulfide gas, mercaptans and heavy metals are substantially neutralized and removed as they pass through the saturation chambers. This process is fast and irreversible in the state of the process. Final discharge is substantially clean, organically processed air.
This process of extracting and removing toxic gases instantly and on contact is accomplished by using a unique combination of supercharged, micro-foaming, micro diffusers, fluid pressure in a confined space and a regulated vacuum pressure, simultaneously in a multi chambered air tight tank. This makes the present invention a cost-effective closed loop or open loop odor control and toxic gas removal process for wet wells, dry pits and grease traps.
The present invention reduces hydrogen sulfide gas by up to 95%, reduces odor by up to 95%, is an all organic solution, non-hazardous discharge, reduces B.O.D. and C.O.D., retention time >2 seconds (instantaneous and irreversible), water soluble solution, non-toxic discharge, all green construction, fully self contained, no moving parts, 99% maintenance free, super energy efficient, installs in 5 minutes, no retro fitting required, no wiring required (plug into 120 volt outlet), concentrated solution—non DOT regulated, concentrated solution—ships UPS, concentrated solution lasts 90 to 120 days, and the disposal method is to empty used solution into wet well/dry pit or grease trap.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3856487 | Perez | Dec 1974 | A |
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