Patent ID: 8062529
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating water comprising: directing untreated water into a mixing zone in a water treatment system, the water treatment system including the mixing zone, a settling zone, a separator, and a ballast trapping device; mixing the untreated water with a flocculating agent and a ballast in the mixing zone to form a ballast-floc mixture; directing the ballast-floc mixture from the mixing zone to the settling zone, settling the ballast-floc mixture in the settling zone, and forming sludge and treated water; discharging the treated water from the settling zone; directing the sludge from the settling zone to the separator and separating at least a portion of the ballast from the sludge in the separator; directing the separated ballast from the separator to the mixing zone; directing the sludge from the separator to the ballast trapping device; settling at least some of the remaining ballast from the sludge in the ballast trapping device and forming a substantially ballast-free sludge; and directing a flow of the substantially ballast-free sludge to sludge treatment equipment, wherein clogging, abrasion, and mechanical weir caused by ballast is minimized in said sludge treatment equipment.