Patent Application
20250059064
Wastewater is used water, and includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute water that must be cleaned.
Nature can cope with small amounts of water waste and pollution, but it would be overwhelmed if the billions of gallons of wastewater and sewage produced every day were not treated before releasing it back to the environment. Treatment plants reduce pollutants in wastewater to a level nature can handle. But harmful substances wash off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes.
There are many good reasons why keeping water clean is an important priority. Clean water is critical to plants and animals that live in water. This is important to the fishing industry, sport fishing enthusiasts, and future generations. Rivers and ocean waters teem with life that depends on shoreline, beaches, and marshes. They are critical habitats for species of fish and other aquatic life. Migratory water birds use the areas for resting and feeding. The scenic and recreational values of waters are reasons many people choose to live where they do. Visitors are drawn to water activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking. If it is not properly cleaned, water can carry disease and harmful bacteria have to be removed to make water safe.
There are several steps involved in traditional wastewater treatment methods. First, a preliminary treatment can be provided to remove materials that can cause operational problems. Equalization basins may be optionally used in such preliminary treatment.
Primary treatment of wastewater involves sedimentation of solid waste within the water. This primary treatment step removes about 60% of solids and 35% of biological oxygen demand (BOD). This is done after filtering out larger contaminants within the water. Wastewater is passed through several tanks and filters that separate water from contaminants. The resulting “sludge” is then fed into a digester, in which further processing takes place. This primary batch of sludge contains nearly 50% of the suspended solids within wastewater.
Secondary treatment of wastewater makes use of oxidation to further purify wastewater. This can be done in one of three ways: (1) Biofiltration, which is a method of secondary treatment of wastewater employs sand filters, contact filters to ensure that additional sediment is removed from wastewater. Of the three filters, trickling filters are typically the most effective for small-batch wastewater treatment; (2) Aeration, which is a long, but effective process that entails mixing wastewater with a solution of microorganisms. The resulting mixture is then aerated for up to thirty hours at a time to ensure results; (3) Oxidation Ponds, which are typically used in warmer places. In addition, this method utilizes natural bodies of water like lagoons. Wastewater is allowed to pass through this body for a period of time and is then retained for two to three weeks. The secondary treatment stage removes approximately 85% of solids and BOD.
Tertiary wastewater treatment, the third and possibly last step in the basic wastewater management systems, is mostly comprised of removing phosphates and nitrates from the water supply, and removal of remaining BOD and solids. Substances like activated carbon and sand are among the most commonly used materials that assist in this process. Further, there may be a final treatment step for disinfection and a solids processing step for sludge management. Wastewater treatment may entail more than these steps, but these are the basis of how traditional wastewater treatment facilities operate.
If wastewater is not properly treated, then the environment and human health can be negatively impacted. These impacts can include harm to fish and wildlife populations, oxygen depletion, beach closures and other restrictions on recreational water use, restrictions on fish and shellfish harvesting and contamination of drinking water, such as: decaying organic matter and debris using the dissolved oxygen in a lake so fish and other aquatic biota cannot survive; excessive nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen (including ammonia), can cause eutrophication, or over-fertilization of receiving waters, which can be toxic to aquatic organisms, promote excessive plant growth, reduce available oxygen, harm spawning grounds, alter habitat and lead to a decline in certain species; chlorine compounds and inorganic chloramines can be toxic to aquatic invertebrates, algae and fish; bacteria, viruses and disease-causing pathogens can pollute beaches and contaminate shellfish populations, leading to restrictions on human recreation, drinking water consumption and shellfish consumption; metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic can have acute and chronic toxic effects on species; and other substances such as some pharmaceutical and personal care products, primarily entering the environment in wastewater effluents, may also pose threats to human health, aquatic life and wildlife.
A pretreatment system 22 is also included, and after entering the pretreatment system 22, wastewater passes through bar screens where large objects such as rags, branches, and various other floating objects are removed. Screenings can be disposed of in a landfill 26.
A primary treatment system 23 is provided, which includes a pre-aeration, grit removal system 23a and primary sedimentation tanks 23b. Grit (inorganic material such as sand, gravel, and metal shaving, and non-degradable organic material such as coffee grounds, eggshells, and hard-shelled seeds) is removed by the grit removal system 23a. The grit is washed and dewatered by the solids processing system 25 prior to disposal in a landfill 26. Removal of screenings and grit from the wastewater helps to protect mechanical equipment and pumps from abnormal wear and prevents clogged pipes in the plant. Next, the wastewater is pumped to primary sedimentation tanks 23b, also known as primary clarifiers, which are large sedimentation tanks where material that floats (scum) is skimmed from the water surface, and material that settles (sludge) is scraped from the tank bottom. The settled material, called primary sludge, is pumped to the solids processing system 25 for further processing.
A secondary treatment system 24 is also provided, including an aeration system 24a and secondary sedimentation tanks 24b. Following primary sedimentation, the wastewater enters aeration tanks 24a where microscopic organisms break down and feed off dissolved organic wastes and material that neither sinks nor floats. Similar to the primary sedimentation process, scum is skimmed off the water surface by the secondary sedimentation tanks 24b, while blades scrape the solids from the bottom of the secondary sedimentation tanks 24b. To maintain an adequate population of microbes in the aeration basins 24a, a portion of the settled solids are returned to the aeration basins 24a, and the remainder is sent to the solids processing system 25.
The solids processing system 25 may include components such as a sludge thickener system, a digester system, a sludge dewatering system, and a grid washing and dewatering system. Solids collected from the secondary sedimentation tank 24b are sent to a sludge thickener to remove water. The thickened sludge, along with primary sludge, next enters digesters, which are large, heated mechanical devices in which anaerobic microorganisms break down the sludge solids into stable compounds. Digested sludge, also known as bio-solids, still contains a significant amount of water, and can be provided to a sludge dewatering system, where belt presses squeeze out excess moisture, reducing the volume of the bio-solids. The dewatered bio-solids are trucked to a landfill.
The clarified water is provided from the secondary sedimentation tank 24b to a disinfection system 27, where sodium hypochlorite is used to disinfect the treated wastewater. The disinfected and dechlorinated water 29a can be safely output to a body of water. Some of the clarified water is also provided from the secondary sedimentation tank 24b a tertiary treatment plant 28, which may comprise a tertiary filter and an ultraviolet radiation system, to output recycled water 29b for storage, irrigation, or other uses.
The present application provides for a porous pipe filtering and processing system for wastewater. Porous pipe is made from composites that resist corrosion and erosion. The pipe is produced so that the inside and outside surface area allows for fluid flow. The amount of flow is contingent on the size of the flow paths through pores in the wall of the pipe and the pressure differential between the inside of the pipe and the outside of the pipe. The pressure characteristics also determine the direction of the flow. Any particle that is larger than the diameter of the flow path will not flow thru the porous pipe. The porous pipe can be used to filter different size particulate depending on flow path size of the pipe. A flow path can vary from millimeters to microns in diameter. By using porous pipes in combination with other technologies, wastewater treatment can be improved and capital for implementation can be reduced.
The porous pipe wastewater filtering and processing systems described herein create a single step process that eliminates the requirement for several of the steps and systems shown in the prior art system of
An example of the porous pipe used in the systems described herein may include the pipes described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/552,868 filed Aug. 23, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Although the present application is not limited to a particular type or material of porous pipe, the porous pipes described herein can be fibrous porous pipes as described in the aforementioned prior application, where the amount of porosity can determined by the weave, knit, braid or spin, and the size of the flow paths created. The pipe may be porous substantially across its entire surface area, flow of fluids through the pipe is increased and maximized. Using a fiber such as micron basalt filament or E-glass in a weaving, braiding, or spinning process with the proper epoxy resin, various products can be created that have porous flow paths for fluids along the entire surface area.
The porous pipe filtering system of the present application combines, and improves upon primary, secondary, and partial tertiary conventional wastewater processing. The porous pipe wastewater treatment systems and processes of the present application may include the following features, separately or in combination: advanced single and multi-stage filtering using porous pipes; separation of particulate sludge by size; integrated ultraviolet treatment; integrated heat treatment; integrated aeration using a porous pipe to aerate; integrated chemical treatment with advanced chemical mixing; pulsing the effluent flows and using vibration to move the particulate, break up soft particulate, increase the efficiency of aeration, increases the efficiency of ultraviolet radiation, and increase the efficiency of heat treatment and chemicals distribution; controlling frequency and phase of the pulses and vibrations allowing for constructive interference improving use of power; vibration of the walls of the porous pipe and the walls of the collection chambers to reduce clogging, move the particulate and break up soft particulate; rotating the porous pipe to reduce clogging; using exhaust heat from the generation of electricity to sanitize the effluent; using a comprehensive control system to manage and optimize the performance of the system; building each phase as a module that is shipped by truck and assembled in the field; and design so gravity assists the particulate and effluent flow optimizing power utilization.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present application, a water filtration system is provided, comprising a first treatment system comprising a first collection chamber, and a first porous pipe, arranged in the first collection chamber, having pores of a first porosity size and configured to receive a water input including water and particulate matter. The water input is configured to flow through the pores of the first porous pipe and provide a first filtered sludge into the first collection chamber while the pores of the first porous pipe block a first portion of the particulate matter having solid particulates greater in size than the first porosity size from passing into the first collection chamber. The water filtration system may further comprise a second treatment system comprising: a second collection chamber; and a second porous pipe, arranged in the second collection chamber, with pores of a second porosity size and configured to receive the first filtered sludge from the first treatment system, where the second porosity size is smaller than the first porosity size and the first filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the second porous pipe and to provide a second filtered fluid while the pores of the second porous pipe block a second portion of the particulate matter including solid particulates greater in size than the second porosity size from passing through the second porous pipe.
Implementations of the water filtration system of the first aspect of the application may include one or more of the following features. The second filtered fluid may be a second filtered sludge, and the second filtered sludge passes into the second collection chamber. The second treatment system further may include: a third collection chamber; and a third porous pipe, arranged in the third collection chamber, having pores of a third porosity size and configured to receive the second filtered sludge from the second collection chamber, where the third porosity size is smaller than the second porosity size. The second filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the third porous pipe and provide a third filtered fluid while the pores of the third porous pipe block a third portion of the particulate matter including solid particulates greater in size than the third porosity size from passing through the third porous pipe. The third filtered fluid can be a third filtered sludge that passes into the third collection chamber. The second treatment system further may include: a fourth collection chamber; and a fourth porous pipe, arranged in the fourth collection chamber, with pores of a fourth porosity size and configured to receive the third filtered sludge from the third collection chamber, where the fourth porosity size is smaller than the third porosity size. The third filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the fourth porous pipe and provide a fourth filtered fluid into the fourth collection chamber while the pores of the third porous pipe block a fourth portion of the particulate matter may include solid particulates greater in size than the fourth porosity size from passing through the fourth porous pipe.
One or more of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe can be provided with a vibration transducer configured to vibrate the respective porous pipe. One or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber can be provided with a vibration transducer configured to vibrate the respective collection chamber. Each of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe may include a pump system comprising one or more pumps and oscillators configured to create positive pulsing pressure pulling input into the respective porous pipe, and to create negative pulsing pressure pushing output from a preceding fluid source. One or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber may include one or more of: an ultraviolet radiator therein; an aeration supply system therein, the aeration supply system having a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and provide the air through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber; a chemical supply system therein, the chemical supply system having a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of one or more chemicals and provide the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber; and an aeration and chemical supply system therein, the aeration and chemical supply system having a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and one or more chemicals and provide the air and the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The water filtration system may also include a tertiary treatment system receiving an input of the second filtered fluid, the third filtered fluid, or the fourth filtered fluid, and comprising one or more of an activated carbon filtration system, an ion exchange system, and a reverse osmosis system configured to process the input. Each of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe and the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber include a downward slope in a direction of fluid flow.
In additional embodiments of the water filtration system of the second aspect of the present application, the second filtered fluid is a second filtered sludge, and the second treatment system further may include: a third porous pipe, arranged around the second porous pipe, with pores of a third porosity size and configured to receive the second filtered sludge from the second porous pipe, where the third porosity size is smaller than the second porosity size. The second filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the second porous pipe and to provide a third filtered fluid while the pores of the third porous pipe block a third portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the third porosity size from passing through the third porous pipe. The third filtered fluid can be a third filtered sludge, and the second treatment system further may include: a fourth porous pipe, arranged around the third porous pipe, with pores of a fourth porosity size and configured to receive the third filtered sludge from the third porous pipe, where the fourth porosity size is smaller than the third porosity size. The third filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the fourth porous pipe and to provide a fourth filtered fluid while the pores of the fourth porous pipe block a fourth portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the fourth porosity size from passing through the fourth porous pipe. The fourth filtered fluid passes into the second collection chamber.
One or more of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe can be provided with a vibration transducer configured to vibrate the respective porous pipe. One or both of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber can be provided with: a vibration transducer configured to vibrate the respective collection chamber; a pump system comprising one or more pumps and oscillators configured to create positive pulsing pressure pulling input into the respective collection chamber, and to create negative pulsing pressure pushing output from a preceding fluid source; an ultraviolet radiator therein; an aeration supply system therein comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and provide the air through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber; a chemical supply system therein comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of one or more chemicals and provide the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber; and/or an aeration and chemical supply system therein, comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and one or more chemicals and provide the air and the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The water filtration system may also include a tertiary treatment system receiving an input of the second filtered fluid, the third filtered fluid, or the fourth filtered fluid, comprising one or more of an activated carbon filtration system, an ion exchange system, and a reverse osmosis system configured to process the input.
In accordance a second aspect of the present application, a water filtration method is provided. The water filtration method comprises a first treatment process including: providing a water input comprising water and particulate matter to a first treatment system. The first treatment system comprises a first collection chamber and a first porous pipe, arranged in the first collection chamber, with pores of a first porosity size and configured to receive the water input, where the water input is configured to flow through the pores of the first porous pipe and provide a first filtered sludge into the first collection chamber while the pores of the first porous pipe block a first portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the first porosity size from passing into the first collection chamber. The water filtration method further comprises a second treatment process including: providing the first filtered sludge to a second collection chamber and a second porous pipe, arranged in the second collection chamber, having pores of a second porosity size and configured to receive the first filtered sludge, where the second porosity size is smaller than the first porosity size, and where the first filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the second porous pipe and to provide a second filtered fluid while the pores of the second porous pipe block a second portion of the particulate matter having solid particulates greater in size than the second porosity size from passing through the second porous pipe.
Implementations of the water filtration method of the second aspect of the present application may include one or more of the following features. The second filtered fluid can be a second filtered sludge, and the second filtered sludge passes into the second collection chamber. The second treatment process further may include providing the second filtered sludge from the second collection chamber to a third porous pipe arranged in a third collection chamber, the third porous pipe having pores of a third porosity size, where the third porosity size is smaller than the second porosity size, and where the second filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the third porous pipe and to provide a third filtered fluid while the pores of the third porous pipe block a third portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the third porosity size from passing through the third porous pipe. The third filtered fluid can be a third filtered sludge that passes into the third collection chamber. The second treatment process further may include providing the third filtered sludge from the third collection chamber to a fourth porous pipe arranged in a fourth collection chamber, the fourth porous pipe with pores of a fourth porosity size, which is smaller than the third porosity size; and where the third filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the fourth porous pipe and to provide a fourth filtered fluid into the fourth collection chamber while the pores of the third porous pipe block a fourth portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the fourth porosity size from passing through the fourth porous pipe.
The water filtration method may include vibrating, by a vibration transducer arranged thereon, one or more of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe. The water filtration method may include vibrating, by a vibration transducer arranged thereon, one or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber. Each of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe may include a pump system comprising one or more pumps and oscillators configured to create positive pulsing pressure pulling input into the respective porous pipe, and to create negative pulsing pressure pushing output from a preceding fluid source. The water filtration method may include providing ultraviolet radiation within one or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber. The water filtration method may further include aerating, by an aeration supply system arranged therein, one or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber, the aeration supply system may include a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and provide the air through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The method may further comprise supplying one or more chemicals by a chemical supply system arranged in the respective collection chamber, the chemical supply system may include a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of the one or more chemicals and provide the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. One or more of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber may include an aeration and chemical supply system therein comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and one or more chemicals and provide the air and the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The water filtration method may further include a tertiary treatment process comprising processing one or more of the second filtered fluid, the third filtered fluid, or the fourth filtered fluid with one or more of an activated carbon filtration process, an ion exchange process, and a reverse osmosis process. Each of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe and the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, the third collection chamber and the fourth collection chamber may include a downward slope in a direction of fluid flow.
In additional embodiments of the water filtration method of the second aspect of the present application, the second filtered fluid is a second filtered sludge, and the second treatment process further may include providing the second filtered sludge to a third porous pipe, arranged around the second porous pipe, with pores of a third porosity size, where the third porosity size is smaller than the second porosity size. The second filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the second porous pipe and to provide a third filtered fluid while the pores of the third porous pipe block a third portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the third porosity size from passing through the third porous pipe. The third filtered fluid is a third filtered sludge, and the second treatment process further may include providing the third filtered sludge to a fourth porous pipe, arranged around the third porous pipe, with pores of a fourth porosity size, where the fourth porosity size is smaller than the third porosity size. The third filtered sludge is configured to flow through the pores of the fourth porous pipe and to provide a fourth filtered fluid while the pores of the fourth porous pipe block a fourth portion of the particulate matter with solid particulates greater in size than the fourth porosity size from passing through the fourth porous pipe. The fourth filtered fluid passes into the second collection chamber.
The water filtration method may further include vibrating, by a vibration transducer arranged thereon, one or more of the first porous pipe, the second porous pipe, the third porous pipe and the fourth porous pipe. The water filtration method may further include vibrating, by a vibration transducer arranged thereon, one or more of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber. Each of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber may include a pump system may include one or more pumps and oscillators configured to create positive pulsing pressure pulling input into the respective collection chamber, and to create negative pulsing pressure pushing output from a preceding fluid source. The water filtration method may further include providing ultraviolet radiation within one or more of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber. The water filtration method may include aerating, by an aeration supply system arranged therein, one or more of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber, the aeration supply system comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and provide the air through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The water filtration method may further comprise supplying one or more chemicals by a chemical supply system arranged in the respective collection chamber, the chemical supply system comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of the one or more chemicals and provide the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. One or more of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber may include an aeration and chemical supply system therein, the aeration and chemical supply system comprising a further porous pipe configured to receive an input of air and one or more chemicals and provide the air and the one or more chemicals through pores of the further porous pipe into the respective collection chamber. The water filtration method may further include a tertiary treatment process may include: processing one or more of the second filtered fluid, the third filtered fluid, or the fourth filtered fluid with one or more of an activated carbon filtration process, an ion exchange process, and a reverse osmosis process.
In the embodiments of the water filtration system and method described above, the porosity sizes may vary. The first porosity size may be 30,000 microns, or may be a size that ranges in between 10,000 and 30,000 microns, such as between 25,000 and 30,000 microns, between 20,000 and 30,000 microns, between 15,000 and 30,000 microns. The second porosity size may a size be between 1,000-10,000 microns, such as 1,000 microns, 2,000 microns, 3,000 microns, 4,000 microns, 5,000 microns, 6,000 microns, 7,000 microns, 8,000 microns, 9,000 microns, and 10,000 microns. The third porosity size may a size be between 250-1,000 microns, such as 250 microns, 300 microns, 400 microns, 500 microns, 600 microns, 700 microns, 750 microns, 800 microns, 900 microns, and 1,000 microns. The fourth porosity size may a size be between 1-250 microns, such as 1 micron, such as 1-10 microns, 25 microns, 50 micron, 100 microns, 200 microns, and 250 microns.
The porous pipe filtering and processing systems for wastewater treatment of the present application are described in further detail below with reference to
The control system 40 may control several components of the porous pipe filtering system, including: pump systems 34a, 34b; vibration transducers 33a, 33b; an aeration and chemical supply system 60; a methane collection and release valve; an ultraviolet radiator; and a comminutor. The control system may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers transmitting and providing signaling, data, and instructions to and from the components of the porous pipe filtering system and to and from sensors in the porous pipe filtering system configured to monitor factors such as flow, temperature, pressure, and particulate size. The control system 40 may comprise a non-transitory computer readable medium or memory stored with instructions configured to implement the operations of the control system 40.
Each of the pump systems 34a, 34b may comprise pumps, oscillators, and flow measurement devices 34a, 34b which pump, pulse, and measure the wastewater flow through the porous pipes 30a, 30b. Pulses break down larger soft sludge and moves the particulate. The pressure and pulse frequencies are determined and controlled by the control system 40. The pump creates low pressure in its input and higher pressure in its output and the control system 40 regulates the pump pressure. The oscillators create the frequency and phases of the pulses, and the control system 40 controls the oscillators to synchronize the frequency and phases creating positive interference which doubles the amplitude of the pulses, as described below in reference to
The control system 40 controls the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the vibration transducers 33a, 33b that create the vibrations in the porous pipes 30a, 30b and collection chamber. Vibrations break down larger soft sludge and moves the particulate. The vibrations used for each filtering step can be tuned to the size of the particulate.
The control system 40 also regulates the aeration and chemical supply system 60, which comprise aeration pumps for air or hot air supply and pumps for optional chemical treatment. The aeration and chemical supply system 60 uses a porous pipe 62, separate from the porous pipes performing the wastewater filtering, to break down the air into fine steams that facilitate the mixing of the air or hot air for aeration and chemical distribution. As the filtration levels increase the effluent flow becomes a spray which increase the surface contact between the effluent, the air, the heat and the chemicals. The increased surface contact makes the process more efficient. This process and system are shown in
The control system 40 balances the required power for the system, which comes from various sources such as the grid, solar arrays and a gas turbine, as shown in
The control system 40 further is configured to regulate any ultraviolet radiating components. Ultraviolet (UV) treatment in the porous pipe system can be optionally provided. Disinfection is a primary mechanism for the inactivation or destruction of pathogenic organisms to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases to downstream users and the environment. It is important that wastewater be adequately treated prior to disinfection for any disinfectant to be effective. The effectiveness of a UV disinfection system depends on the characteristics of the wastewater, the intensity of UV radiation, the amount of time the microorganisms are exposed to the radiation, and the reactor configuration. For any one treatment plant, disinfection success is directly related to the concentration of colloidal and particulate constituents in the wastewater. The components of a UV disinfection system may include mercury arc lamps, a reactor, and ballasts. The source of UV radiation is either the low-pressure or medium-pressure mercury arc lamp with low or high intensities. UV has many advantages over other disinfection processes: UV is effective and quick; there is no need for holding tanks and reaction times; there is no need for storing chemicals; UV does not alter the taste of water, which makes it ideal for use in bottling plants and food processing applications; UV is safe; there is no need to add or handle hazardous chemicals or risk polluting the environment; UV is compatible with all other water treatment processes there is no need for de-chlorination if using reverse osmosis (RO) systems.
The comminutor grinds up the large sludge and particulate into smaller sizes. In various embodiments of the system, the porous pipe power system comminutor is the TASKMASTER® TITAN®, which is a unique, high-flow channel grinder with a full-cut design that offers protection for pumps, filter presses and other downstream equipment.
Wave interference is the phenomenon that occurs when two waves meet while traveling along the same medium. The interference of waves causes the medium to take on a shape that results from the net effect of the two individual waves upon the particles of the medium. With two pulses of the same amplitude traveling in different directions along the same medium, each pulse is displaced upward one unit at its crest and has the shape of a sine wave. As the sine waves move towards each other, there will eventually be a moment in time when the waves completely overlap. At that moment, the resulting shape of the medium would be an upward displaced sine pulse with amplitude of two units. When the two out of phase waves meet, the compression and rarefactions overlay and the resultant wave has zero compression and rarefaction, as the waves cancel each other with destructive interference. If two waves meet in-phase, the compression is additive and the rarefaction is additive.
With respect to pressure waves for the wastewater control system for the porous pipe system, in linear media, any wave pattern can be described in terms of the independent propagation of sinusoidal components. In a dispersive medium, the phase speed (magnitude of the phase velocity) depends upon the frequency of the wave, making the relationship between wavelength and frequency nonlinear. Depending on the length of the porous pipe the control system will regulate the pump pressure and the oscillating frequencies to achieve constructive interference in the flows. The optimum frequency will depend on the particulate size flowing through each porous pipe. The filtered flow exiting a porous pipe is equal to the flow into the porous pipe less the filtered particulate.
A wastewater source 101, which may be any residential, commercial, industrial or municipal water source provides the wastewater with contaminants to a pump system 102. The pump system 102 comprises pumps, oscillators and flow measurement devices as previously described. The pump system 102 pumps, pulses, and measures the wastewater flow. Pulses break down larger soft sludge and move the large particulate. The pressure and pulse frequencies are determined and controlled by the control system 40 (not shown). A flow 103 of very large particulate and sludge passes through the porous pipe 100. The pump and oscillator of the pump system 102 create positive pulsing pressure and the pump and oscillator of a pump system 111 at the opposite end of the porous pipe 100 create negative pulsing pressure, which combine to create constructive enhancing flow, as previously described with respect to
Following the first phase wastewater treatment of
A first, innermost porous pipe 191 is provided receiving the large particulate sludge 201 as a second treatment phase. The porous pipe 191 comprises pores smaller than the pores of the porous pipe 100, for example, between 1,000-10,000 microns to allow fluid flow paths of 1,000-10,000 microns out of the porous pipe 191, wherein particulate over this size do not pass through the pores of the porous pipe 191, but are provided to a discharge 151 for further processing. The porous pipe 191 is also provided with a vibration transducer 121.
A second porous pipe 192 is provided around the innermost porous pipe 191 and receives a medium particulate sludge 202 that passes through the pores of the porous pipe 191 as a third treatment phase. The porous pipe 192 comprises pores smaller than the pores of the porous pipe 191, for example, between 250-1,000 microns to allow fluid flow paths of 250-1,000 microns out of the porous pipe 192, wherein particulate over this size do not pass through the pores of the porous pipe 192, but are provided to a discharge 152 for further processing. The porous pipe 192 is also provided with a vibration transducer 122.
A third porous pipe 193 is provided around the second porous pipe 192 and receives a smaller particulate sludge 203 that passes through the pores of the porous pipe 192 as a fourth treatment phase. The porous pipe 193 comprises pores smaller than the pores of the porous pipe 192, for example, between 50-250 microns to allow fluid flow paths of 50-250 microns out of the porous pipe 193, wherein particulate over this size do not pass through the pores of the porous pipe 193, but are provided to a discharge 153 for further processing. The porous pipe 193 is also provided with a vibration transducer 123.
The smallest particulate sludge 204 passes through the porous pipe 193 into the collection chamber 140. The collection chamber 140 may comprise an ultraviolet radiator 170 and an aeration and chemical supply system 130, as previously described above and shown in
The system 300a further comprises a pump system 112. The pump and oscillator of the pump system 111 creates positive pulsing pressure and the pump and oscillator of a pump system 112 at the opposite end of the system 300a creates negative pulsing pressure, which combine to create constructive enhancing flow, as previously described with respect to
Alternatively to the concentric porous pipe system 300a of
The discharge module of
In the various systems 300a, 300b described above, the sludge that is filtered by the porous pipes 191, 192, 193 is discharged for further processing.
The following optional processing can be added as additional tertiary processing to the porous pipe system: activated carbon filtering, sand filtering, stabilization ponds, biodisc system, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and nano-bubbles.
In activated carbon filtering, the process of adsorption consists of the capture of soluble substances on the surface of a solid. A parameter for activated carbon filtering is the specific surface of the solid, as the target soluble compound to be eliminated must be concentrated on the surface. Activated carbon filtering is considered to be a refining treatment, and is applied at the end of common treatment systems, especially after a biological treatment. Factors that affect adsorption include solubility (i.e., less solubility leads to better adsorption), molecular structure (i.e., more branched leads to better adsorption), molecular weight (i.e., larger molecules lead to better adsorption), problems of internal diffusion can alter the standard, polarity (i.e., less polarity leads to better adsorption), and the degree of saturation (i.e., less saturation leads to better adsorption). The solid that is used in this process is activated carbon, although in recent years, various solid materials have been developed that improve the properties of activated carbon in certain applications. The economic viability of this process depends on the existence of an efficient means of regeneration of the solid once its capacity for adsorption is finished. The properties of the activated carbon deteriorate which is why it is necessary to replenish part of it with new carbon in each cycle. Alternatives to activated carbon are zeolites and clays (montmorillonite, sepiolite, bentonite, etc.), and recently, derivatives of polysaccharides have been developed. Activated carbon filtering devices and systems are known in the art.
Tertiary wastewater processing can be provided with and without reverse osmosis. An additional ion exchange option may also be provided to support reverse osmosis. Ion exchange processes and devices are known in the art, and remove or replace ions in the water.
Tertiary treatment of sewage water without reverse osmosis includes processes like filtration, lagooning, nutrient removal, and disinfection, which are discussed below: In the filtration process, either sand, charcoal or activated carbon are used to filter the wastewater. Tertiary treatment, or effluent polishing, is carried out to improve water quality. Most wastewater plants use at last one tertiary water treatment process, and some use two or more to decontaminate wastewater. Filtration is a common method of tertiary treatment, with either sand or activated carbon used to filter wastewater. The water is passed through a filter media, such as a bed of sand and/or charcoal, allowing particulate matter in the water to adhere to the filter medium, removing it from the water. The filtered water is then provided for disposal, and a backwash tank may also be provided to wash the filtering tank after treatment, and the backwash water provided back for primary treatment. Lagooning is a method in which water is stored for some time in man-made ponds where plants and invertebrate animals in the water ingest remaining particulate matter.
A further tertiary wastewater processing option is reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis systems can be used combined with other water filtration units. Reverse osmosis removes impurities from contaminated water by applying pressure and forcing the contaminated water through membranes. After the water is treated it can be reused in production or can be disposed of safely. Reverse osmosis is a widely accepted unit operation for water purification, and methods and systems for reverse osmosis are known in the art. The water is typically pressured between 150 to 600 psi and passes through membranes, such as a thin film composite or cellulose acetate membranes. Reverse osmosis water recoveries of 70-90% are typical and salt rejection rates are between 90-99%. A factor in treating industrial wastewater with reverse osmosis is the pretreatment that protects the membrane against organic fouling, mineral scaling and chemical degradation. Before reverse osmosis should be considered, a complete cation/anion balance can be required and potential foulants must be identified. High Biological Oxygen Demand (“BOD”) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (“COD”) levels can also contribute to membrane fouling. The porous pipe system of the present application prepares the effluent for reverse osmosis.
The porous pipe modular wastewater treatment system described herein is flexible and can address many different wastewater problems. Depending on the application the system and the optional add-ons (depending on required potability) can help to solve wastewater issues with financially competitive and viable solutions. Inputs to the porous pipe modular system design include flow volume, nature of the particulates, nature of the sludge, potability required (some applications can use non-potable water that recycles into their process), chemicals required, levels of particulate separation required, UV required, aeration required, heat required, and cost of electricity.
The wastewater treatment system 300b provides filtered out larger particulates 245 to a particulate disposal 240. The wastewater treatment system 300b also provides sludge 200 that has been filtered through the porous pipes to a sludge processing system 260. The sludge processing system 260 comprises a sludge digester 230, which digests the sludge as previously described, and provides it to a drying system 250 comprising a dryer to dry the digested sludge and a dry sludge finisher to process the dried sludge, which provides the final processed sludge to crops 270 for crop growth. Methane 160b recovered from the sludge processing system 260 can be provided to the power system 70, which also provides electricity 76 to the sludge processing system 260.
The wastewater treatment system 300b provides filtered out larger particulates 245 to a particulate disposal 240. The wastewater treatment system 300b also provides sludge 200 that has been filtered through the porous pipes to a sludge processing system 261. The sludge processing system 261 comprises a sludge digester 230, which digests the sludge as previously described, and provides it to one or more belt presses 265 configured to press out liquid remaining in the digested sludge, and final processed and dried sludge is provided to crops 270 for crop growth. Methane 160b recovered from the sludge processing system 261 can be provided to the power system 70, which also provides electricity 76, 77 to the sludge digester 230 and the belt presses 265.
The wastewater treatment system 300b provides filtered out larger particulates 245 to a particulate disposal 240. The wastewater treatment system 300b also provides sludge 200 that has been filtered through the porous pipes to a sludge processing system 262. The sludge processing system 262 may comprise one or more of a sludge holding tank, one or more sludge digesters, and a drying mechanism such as dryers, belt presses, or screw presses. The sludge processing system 262 outputs the dried digested sludge to crops 270 for crop growth. Methane 160b recovered from the sludge processing system 262 can be provided to the power system 70, which also provides electricity 78 to the sludge processing system 262 and the belt presses 265.
Relative terms used in the description of the porous pipe filtering system of the present application to indicate the size of particulate, such as “very large”, “large”, “medium”, “small”, or “smallest”, are not intended to imply a particular meaning or size and are used for the purpose of identifying the relative sizes of the particulates as they are filtered through the system.
It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the Figures herein are not drawn to scale. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/289,369 filed Dec. 14, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/081571 | 12/14/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63289369 | Dec 2021 | US |
