Method for biological wastewater purification

The invention relates to a method for carrying out biological purification of wastewater with the aid of activated sludge, in which the wastewater is introduced into a tank for phosphor elimination (P tank), then into an activated sludge tank (B tank) and then into at least one sedimentation and recirculation tank (SU tank), in which a number of operating cycles are carried out, including a sludge return phase, a recirculation phase, a pre-sedimentation phase and a draw-off phase (S phase, U phase, V phase, and A phase respectively), wherein the method further includes the elimination of settleable solids of the inflow, the storage of the produced primary and excess sludge and the reduction of the rising of the water level in the wastewater purification system by using an additional tank (S tank), wherein the S tank is hydraulically connected with the P tank, the P tank with the B tank, and the B tank with the at least one SU tank, wherein the wastewater is first introduced into the S tank, then into the P tank, then into the B tank and subsequently into the at least one SU tank, wherein in the S phase the thickened activated sludge is introduced from the at least one SU tank into the P tank, in the U phase the volume of the at least one SU tank is mixed, in the V phase the activated sludge is settled, and in the A phase the treated wastewater is flowing out of the system and wherein the settled sludge of the S tank is transported from time to time to another special treatment plant.

The present invention relates to a method for carrying out biological purification of communal or similar wastewater with the aid of activated sludge according to the preamble of claim1, in which the wastewater is first introduced into a tank for biological phosphor elimination (hereinafter referred to as P tank), wherein the P tank can be mixed, then into an activated sludge tank that can be ventilated (hereinafter referred to as the B tank) and then into at least one sedimentation and recirculation tank (hereinafter referred to as SU tank), in which a number of operating cycles are carried out over the course of a day, including a sludge return phase, a recirculation phase, a pre-sedimentation phase and a draw-off phase (hereinafter referred to as the S phase, the U phase, the V phase and the A phase, respectively), wherein, consecutively, in the S phase the thickened activated sludge is returned in succession from the SU tank into the P tank, in the U phase the activated sludge is again mixed with the water, in the V phase the activated sludge is sedimented, and, in the A phase treated water is drawn off, wherein in the SU tanks the cycles are phase-shifted in relation to one another, a flow passes through the SU tank in the A phase, a rising water level in the other phases is provided and, therefore, a wastewater treatment system discharge corresponding to the wastewater treatment system supply develops (“filling up”-principle), and, wherein the P tank is hydraulically connected with the B tank, and, wherein the B tank is hydraulically connected with the at least one SU tank. Moreover, the present invention relates to devices for carrying out this method.

A method for biological purification of wastewater with the aid of activated sludge, in which the wastewater is first introduced into an activated sludge tank that can be ventilated and then into a sedimentation tank, in which activated sludge and treated water are separated and, after the separation process, activated sludge is fed back into the activated sludge tank and treated water is drawn off, is known from European patent EP 0 851 844. A number of operating cycles are carried out in the sedimentation tank over the course of a day and comprise a stirring phase U, a pre-sedimentation phase V and a draw-off phase A, wherein, in the stirring phase, the activated sludge is again mixed with the water, in the pre-sedimentation phase the activated sludge is sedimented, and in the draw-off phase treated water is drawn off. In accordance with the method according to this document, the purification process takes place in a biological twin-tank system that is to say in the activated sludge tank and in the sedimentation tank, with continuous inflow and intermittent outflow. During the period of no outflow, the water level increases as a result of the inflow (“filling-up”-principle). The patent claim of this method consists in the fact that sedimented activated sludge is returned to the activated sludge tank of the “twin-tank system with filling operation” after the pre-sedimentation phase and before the stirring phase. In the stirring phase, the contents of the B tank (activated sludge tank) are mixed with the contents of the SU tank (sedimentation tank) until a constant dry substance concentration is obtained. Both tanks border one another and are continuously interconnected hydraulically in the base region. (Three phase system: U, V, A phase).

A similar method is known from international patent PCT/AT00/00322, in which sedimented, thickened activated sludge is returned from the SU tanks into the B tank after the V phases, but before the U phases (S phase). In the S phase, thickened sludge is conveyed from the base of the SU tanks into the upper region of the B tank, and the contents of the B tank thus displaced are returned via the openings in the central region of the tank. In the U phase, the contents of the SU tank are swirled and homogenized, without generation of a circulating flow via the B tank. In the A phase, there is a flow from the B tank into the SU tank, likewise through the openings in the central region. The stirring in the SU tanks (U phase) is achieved by blowing in air. The B tank is continuously connected hydraulically to two SU tanks by one or more openings in the central region of the tank. (Four phase system: S, U, V, A phases; “throughflow”-principle).

The object of the present invention is to improve and/or complement the method described in the introduction for biological wastewater purification in such a way that an application for wastewater treatment plants is also made possible.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim1and by devices for carrying out this method. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The method according to the invention is characterized by using a tank for the sedimentation and storage of settleable solids of the inflow, by storage of excess sludge and by reducing the rising of the water level in the V phase (hereinafter referred to as S tank). The S tank is hydraulically connected with the P tank via one or more openings. The crude wastewater is first introduced into the S tank and subsequently into the P tank, wherein consecutively excess sludge is taken out and introduced into the S tank, in the S phase thickened activated sludge is introduced from the SU tank into the P tank, in the U phase the activated sludge is again mixed with the water, in the V phase the activated sludge is sedimented, and, in the A phase treated water is drawn off, wherein in the SU tanks the cycles are phase-shifted in relation to one another, a flow passes through the at least one SU tank merely in the A phase, and, therefore, a wastewater treatment system discharge corresponding to the wastewater treatment system supply develops (“filling up”-principle), and, wherein the volume of the P tank is mixed permanently or intermittently.

In order to save space and costs, the S tank is applied in the special wastewater treatment systems described in claim1of the present invention. The additional constructional costs for the implementation of the S tank and the costs for the transportation and treatment of the sludge outside of the treatment system are moderate compared to the costs for a screen, a sand- and grease-chamber as well as to the additional costs for the larger B tank. The elimination of the settleable solids reduces the BOD-load and an aerob sludge treatment is not necessary: 40 g BOD/PE and not 60 g BOD/PE, sludge age 10 days and not 18 days. The B tank will be approximately 50% smaller than without the S tank. The S tank produces in the same way an equalization of the concentrations of the waste water in the B tank. The method according to the invention is suited only for small wastewater treatment systems and not for large wastewater treatment systems.

It is particularly cost-effective and energy-saving if the thickened activated sludge (S phase) is returned using air lift pumps and if compressed air is likewise used to mix the contents of the at least one SU tank (U phase). The compressed air provided for ventilation of the B tank is also sufficient for this.

Different devices can be used for the draw-off of the treated wastewater. The excess sludge will be preferably received by the P tank. The excess sludge is drawn off from the base of the P tank before a mixing of the volume of the P tank begins. The activated sludge is then thickened to the greatest possible extent.

In order to obtain a cascade effect, more than one P tank, e.g. two or more P tanks, can be provided in the method according to the invention. Preferably, the volume of the P tank is approximately V/3, with V being the volume of the SU tanks.

Excellent purification with a very low energy requirement and low costs is achieved as a result of the special water level in the B tank (seeFIG. 1) and in the at least one SU tank, as a result of the use of compressed air for operation of the S and U phases (simultaneous entry of oxygen) and as a result of the extensive (endogenous) denitrification.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a wastewater purification device comprising a tank for a phosphor elimination (hereinafter referred to as P tank) that can be mixed and is hydraulically connected with the B tank, an activated sludge tank that can be ventilated (hereinafter referred to as the B tank), a at least one sedimentation and recirculation tank (hereinafter referred to as SU tank) continuously connected hydraulically to the B tank and in which a number of operating cycles are carried out over the course of a day, including a sludge return phase, a recirculation phase, a pre-sedimentation phase and a draw-off phase (hereinafter referred to as the S phase, U phase, V phase, and A phase respectively), and wherein the at least one SU tank and the P tank are connected by a pipe for allowing the activated sludge to flow from the at least one SU tank into the P tank. In order to obtain a cascade effect, the wastewater purification devices preferably contain more than one P tank, e.g. two or more P tanks. Preferably, the volume of the P tank is approximately V/3, with V being the volume of the SU tank. In the P tank, means are provided to permanently or intermittently mix the waste water with the thickened activated sludge that flows from the at least one SU tank into the P tank. The wastewater purification devices of the invention are characterized in that the S tank is hydraulically connected with the P tank.

FIG. 1shows the operating cycle for the SU tank and the associated water level in the SU tank, wherein time extends in horizontal direction from left to right. The course and function of the individual phases, i.e. S phase, U phase, V phase and A phase, have already been discussed above in greater detail.FIG. 1also shows a possible operation of the P tank comprising three steps: mixing of the volume11, sedimentation of the settleable solids12and drawing-off of the excess sludge13.

FIG. 2shows a schematic ground plan of a wastewater treatment system, in which the following features are designated with the following reference signs:

1flow from the S tank to the P tank

2flow of the excess sludge from the P tank to the S tank

3flow of thickened activated sludge from the SU tank into the P tank,

4flow of the P tank volume to the B tank

5flow of the B tank volume to the SU tank

6outlet with an overflow and a closure with compressed air

7airlift for the excess sludge

8airlift for the thickened activated sludge

FIG. 3shows a vertical sectional view of the system ofFIG. 2(along a line which, inFIG. 2, extends between A-A). Qinsignifies the flow of the wastewater introduced into the S tank, wherein Qoutis the flow of the treated water flowing off the water treatment system. The thickened activated and aerated sludge flows from the SU tank into the P tank (flow3) via an airlift8. In order to mix the waste water in the P tank efficiently with the thickened activated sludge9, the volume of the P tank is mixed permanently or intermittently. The mixture of waste water and sludge is then transferred into the B tank and further to the SU tank via one or more openings connecting the P tank with the B tank (flow4) and the B tank with the SU tanks (flow5), respectively.8signifies the airlift operation unit for operation of the S phase.

The volume of the P tank is approximately V/3, with V being the volume of the SU tank. The SU tank is mixed in the U phase with coarse air bubbles10.