Portable, self-contained, bioremediation waste water treatment apparatus with integrated particulate removal

Abstract

A closed-loop wash system is provided for use with a washing assembly that includes a collection basin and a self-contained, bioremediation treatment apparatus. A housing assembly defines a plurality of chambers in series flow communication from an upstream collection chamber to a downstream clean wash fluid chamber. A central media chamber is included in upstream flow communication with the upstream collection chamber and in downstream flow communication with the downstream clean wash fluid chamber. An array of media housing microbes is disposed in the media chamber. The treatment apparatus includes a diffusion assembly configured to aerate the washing fluid contained in selected chambers. A first circulation system continuously circulates flow through the bioremediation system, while an independent second circulation system continuously circulates flow from the collection basin to the bioremediation treatment apparatus, and then back into the collection basin. The first circulation system, the second circulation system and the diffusion assembly cooperate to substantially evenly distribute the microbe population and the oxygenated clean wash fluid throughout the wash system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method and assembly of the present invention has other objects and features of advantage which will be more readily apparent from the following description of the Detailed Description of the Embodiments and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a portable, self-contained, bioremediation waste water treatment apparatus with integrated particulate removal designed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the portable, self-contained, bioremediation waste water treatment apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective photograph of a representative wash platform that the treatment apparatus of FIG. 1 may work in conjunction therewith.

Claims

1. A closed-loop wash system for use with a washing assembly comprising: a collection basin adapted to collect run-off washing fluid from the washing assembly;a self-contained, bioremediation treatment apparatus having a housing assembly that defines a plurality of chambers in series flow communication from an upstream collection chamber to a downstream clean wash fluid chamber, said housing assembly further defining a media chamber in upstream flow communication with the upstream collection chamber and in downstream flow communication with the downstream clean wash fluid chamber,an array of media housing microbes on exposed surfaces thereof, said array of media being disposed in said media chamber such that a substantial portion of washing fluid flowing from the upstream collection chamber to the media chamber flows through the array of media, anda diffusion assembly in direct flow communication with at least one of the upstream collection chamber and the clean wash fluid chamber, and configured to aerate the washing fluid contained therein;a first circulation system having a flow inlet in flow communication with the clean wash fluid chamber and a flow outlet in flow communication with the upstream collection chamber to circulate clean washing fluid from the downstream clean wash fluid chamber into the upstream collection chamber, and in a manner circulating aerated clean washing fluid through the bioremediation system, from the upstream collection chamber through the media chamber and on back to the clean wash fluid chamber; anda second circulation system including a flow inlet from the media chamber, downstream from the array of media, into the collection basin to mix with the collect run-off washing fluid, and a flow outlet from the collection basin into the housing assembly upstream from the clean wash fluid chamber,wherein said first circulation system, said second circulation system and the diffusion assembly cooperate to substantially evenly distribute the microbe population and the aerated wash fluid throughout the wash system.

2. The wash system as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing assembly includes a floor, a front wall, an opposed rear wall, a first end wall and an opposed second end wall, each end wall extending from the front wall to the opposed rear wall;

3. The wash system as defined in claim 2, wherein said bioremediation treatment apparatus includes a first baffle wall that cooperates with said housing assembly and first end wall to define said upstream collection chamber;a second baffle wall that cooperates with said housing assembly and said first baffle wall to define said media chamber in downstream communication flow with the upstream collection chamber, anda third baffle wall upstanding from said floor and terminating below an upper edge of said housing assembly to form an over weir, said third baffle wall and said housing assembly cooperating to define said clean wash fluid chamber oriented downstream from said media chamber.

4. The wash system as defined in claim 3, further including: said bioremediation treatment apparatus further defines a clarifying chamber positioned between the media chamber and the clean wash fluid chamber.

5. The wash system as defined in claim 4, wherein said bioremediation treatment apparatus further defines a fourth baffle wall configured to downstand into the clarifying chamber and terminates above the floor of said housing assembly to form an under weir.

6. The wash system as defined in claim 5, wherein said flow outlet from the second circulation system terminates into said clarifying chamber, between the second baffle wall and the fourth baffle wall.

7. The wash system as defined in claim 5, wherein said bioremediation treatment apparatus further defines a fifth baffle wall extending into the housing assembly between the second baffle wall and the fourth baffle wall, said fifth baffle wall defining portions of both the media chamber and the clarifying chamber, and separating each other from one another.

8. The wash system as defined in claim 7, wherein said first baffle wall is configured to upstand from the floor of said housing assembly, and terminates below said upper edge of said housing assembly to form an over weir, andsaid second baffle wall is configured to downstand into the medial chamber and terminates above the floor of said housing assembly to form an under weir.

9. The wash system as defined in claim 1, wherein said diffusion assembly includes a respective diffusion element oriented proximate the bottom of both the upstream collection chamber and the clean wash fluid chamber.

10. The wash system as defined in claim 1, further including: a heater assembly configured to heat the wash fluid in at least one of the clean wash fluid chamber and the upstream collection chamber.

11. The wash system as defined in claim 1, further including: an independent clarifying assembly positioned in the flow outlet of the second circulation system in-line between the collection basin and the housing assembly.

12. The wash system as defined in claim 1, wherein said flow inlet from the media chamber into the collection basin, in said second circulation system, is by way of gravity flow.

13. The wash system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first circulation system includes a pump device disposed between said flow inlet from the clean wash fluid chamber and said flow outlet from the upstream collection chamber.

14. A self-contained, continuous recirculation, bioremediation wash fluid treatment system for use with a washing assembly cleansed washing fluid from said bioremediation wash fluid treatment system, said system comprising: a collection basin adapted to collect run-off washing fluid from the washing assembly;a housing assembly having a floor, a front wall, an opposed rear wall, a first end wall and an opposed second end wall, each end wall extending from the front wall to the opposed rear wall;a first baffle wall cooperates with said housing assembly and first end wall to define an upstream collection chamber;a second baffle wall cooperates with said housing assembly and said first baffle wall to define a media chamber in downstream communication flow with the upstream collection chamber, said media chamber housing an array of media containing microbes, on exposed surfaces thereof, said array of media being disposed in said media chamber such that a substantial portion of washing fluid flowing from the upstream collection chamber to the media chamber flows through the array of media;a third baffle wall upstanding from said floor and terminating below an upper edge of said housing assembly to form an over weir, said third baffle wall and said housing assembly cooperating to define a clean wash fluid chamber oriented downstream from said media chamber;a diffusion assembly in direct flow communication with at least one of the upstream collection chamber and the clean wash fluid chamber, and configured to aerate the washing fluid contained therein; anda first circulation system having a flow inlet in flow communication with the clean wash fluid chamber and a flow outlet in flow communication with the upstream collection chamber to circulate clean washing fluid from the downstream clean wash fluid chamber into the upstream collection chamber, and in a manner circulating aerated clean washing fluid, through the bioremediation system, from the upstream collection chamber through the media chamber and on back to the clean wash fluid chamber; anda second circulation system including a flow inlet from the media chamber, downstream from the media array of media, into the collection basin to mix with the collect run-off washing fluid, and a flow outlet from the collection basin into the housing assembly upstream from the clean wash fluid chamber,wherein said first circulation system, said second circulation system and the diffusion assembly cooperate to substantially evenly distribute the microbe population and aerated wash fluid throughout the distribution.

15. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 14, further including: said housing assembly further defines a clarifying chamber positioned between the media chamber and the clean wash fluid chamber.

16. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 15, further including: a fourth baffle wall is configured to downstand into the clarifying chamber and terminates above the floor of said housing assembly to form an under weir.

17. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 16, wherein said flow outlet from the second circulation system terminates into said clarifying chamber, between the second baffle wall and the fourth baffle wall.

18. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 16, further including: a fifth baffle wall extending into the housing assembly between the second baffle wall and the fourth baffle wall, said fifth baffle wall defining portions of both the media chamber and the clarifying chamber, and separating each other from one another.

19. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 18, wherein said first baffle wall is configured to upstand from the floor of said housing assembly, and terminates below said upper edge of said housing assembly to form an over weir, andsaid second baffle wall is configured to downstand into the medial chamber and terminates above the floor of said housing assembly to form an under weir.

20. The bioremediation wash fluid treatment system as defined in claim 14, wherein said flow inlet from the media chamber into the collection basin, in said second circulation system, is by way of gravity flow.