Abstract:
Described herein is a device for the treatment of water and wastewater that provides a biological or chemical reactor a means to enhance performance by initiating a unique flow pattern between the reactive and solids/liquid separation zones. Said device circulates water between the two zones by forcibly directing water that enters the settling zone back toward the reaction zone via an opening in a partition. The fluid motion scours the bottom of the settling chamber to prevent the accumulation of biologically active solids while maximizing the time those solids spend in the reaction zone; thereby increasing the treatment efficiency of the overall process.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 U.S. Patents 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 6,787,035 
                 B2 
                 2004 Sep. 7 
                 Wang 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 U.S. patent application Publications 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Publication Nr. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 20140158614 
                 A1 
                 2014 Jun. 12 
                 Wang 
               
               
                   
                 20130153494 
                 A1 
                 2013 Jun. 20 
                 Wang, Canter 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Nonpatent Literature Documents 
     Metcalf and Eddy,  Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse , McGraw-Hill, Inc., 4th Edition, Boston, Mass., USA (2003) 
     The suspended-growth activated sludge treatment process is one of the most widely used biological processes for removing organic waste in water. The conventional activated sludge process fundamentally comprises a means to culture biomass that consumes organic waste (generally under aerobic conditions) and a means to separate said biomass from the discharge stream. The biomass removed from the effluent stream is returned or retained to the culturing process. The organic removal process, while normally aerobic, may feature a number of electron acceptors other than oxygen that result in anoxic (nitrate or nitrite present) or anaerobic conditions. 
     In most cases the wastewater contains organic nitrogen, ammonia, and phosphorus, constituents that are broadly known as nutrients. Nutrients can increase algal growth in a body of water, and high concentrations of algae can deplete the oxygen available for fish and other aquatic organisms. Nitrogen can be thoroughly removed in the bioreactor. Through a process of nitrification and denitrification. Phosphorous is removed to some degree by the natural uptake of organic phosphorous by cellular organisms and by discarding organic and inorganic particulates with waste sludge. 
     Nitrification and denitrification can be achieved by implementing several variations of hydraulic flow, but fundamentally there must be aerobic and anoxic conditions present within the reactor. Three very common hydraulic process flow types are: (a) use of a pre-anoxic zone and aerobic zone, (b) a reaction zone where the DO is maintained at a threshold such as to allow concurrent nitrification and denitrification to occur within bacterial flocs, and (c) alternating between aerobic and alternating conditions within a reactor. 
     The pre-anoxic option is perhaps the most conventional approach, and is best represented by the Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) Process. This process relies on liquid containing nitrate and nitrite to be returned form the aerobic zone to the pre-anoxic zone for nitrate/nitrite removal. Limitations on denitrification become the amount of fluid returned and the availability of organic carbon in the influent. Organic carbon may be added as a supplement, but this can drastically increases cost and complexity. 
     Metcalf and Eddy discusses a conventional MLE Process for total nitrogen removal. It has an anoxic zone for denitrification followed by an aerobic zone for BOD degradation and nitrification. 
     Mixed liquor in the aerobic zone is forcibly returned to the anoxic zone to provide nitrate. The effluent from the aerobic zone flows through a secondary clarifier for solids-liquid separation, and settled sludge in the secondary clarifier is returned to the anoxic zone to provide appropriate amount of biomass needed for biological functions. Supernatant in the secondary clarifier is discharged. The anoxic zone is continuously mixed, mostly through mechanical mixing devices. Downfalls of this design are the extraordinary equipment requirements, large footprint, process complexity, energy requirements, and the necessity of attention to support the functions of the process. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,035 B2 discusses a reactor that has been designed with an internal settling device to automatically return sludge to the aerobic zone. 
     This system uses an aerobic zone ( 18 ) for BOD removal and nitrification, and returns a portion of the liquor to a pre-anoxic zone ( 16 ) for denitrification. Supplemental sludge is returned from final clarifier ( 36 ) back to the bioreactor through a sludge return device ( 38 ). During normal operation, influent is continuously fed to the bioreactor and the aeration device ( 22 ) is continuously operated to charge oxygen to the bioreactor. 
     This configuration is capable of high levels of treatment and is less expensive that the conventional pre-anoxic system. However, return of the settled sludge from the internal settling device is fully dependent on the settling characteristics of the sludge, ability of the aeration device ( 22 ) to create a convective vacuum, and the liquid level difference between the middle and right-hand chambers. 
     U.S. Patent Applications US20130153494 A1 and US20140158614 A1 represent one an improvement on the previous embodiment. The fluid flows from an aerobic or aerobic/anoxic zone ( 52 ) to a static zone ( 54 ). The static zone ( 54 ) is either open or closed at the bottom, and a return pump may be employed to help transfer solids from the static zone ( 54 ) to either the aerobic zone ( 52 ) or the anoxic zone ( 50 ). There are several iterations of this that include multiple zones, but the core principle is the same. 
     One challenge with this design we foresee is the tendency for sludge to accumulate in the static zone ( 54 ). If the partition between the aerobic zone ( 52 ) and static zone ( 54 ) is open, then a convective force from aeration draws solids back to the aerobic zone. This force is relatively weak and solids that are (a) large or (b) settle a significant distance from the partition ( 60 ) will not be affected. If the partition is closed then a pump ( 64 ) is relied upon to convey solids. This mode of operation can be challenging because the intake of the pump is rather limited in size. Solids can settle around the opening and not be affected. If the two methods are combined the interference or the pump with the opening of the partition ( 60 ) can limit the effectiveness of the convective vacuum. 
       FIG. 3  also shows an apparatus to provide large bubble mixing ( 58 ). This apparatus uses a type of siphon effect to pull air that has accumulated in the outer ring into the inner tube once the air level reaches the port on the side of the tube. A tube is used to suck settled solids from around the mixer and distribute them along the surface of the fluid, as opposed to releasing a large bubble directly into the bulk fluid. One challenge we identified with this design is the potential for clogging. Fibrous material such as rags, hair, etc. is common in municipal wastewater treatment plants. This type of material, once deposited in the inner workings of the siphon pump, can lead to reduced, performance and clogging 
     SUMMARY 
     One crucial aspect of wastewater treatment is the separation of water and microbes (i.e., solids) before water is discharged from the reactor (i.e., the effluent). The quality of the effluent is judged by several parameters that include total suspended solids (TSS), which is a direct measurement of the mass of solids per volume of liquid. The solids that are in treatment plant effluent are typically organic in nature and, therefore, their presence affects other measurements of quality including Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Nitrogen, and Total Phosphorous. The efficient and effective removal of solids is paramount to overall treatment quality. On occasion a facility will have additional treatment steps that occur after the primary biological process. Such steps may include additional filtration (e.g., sand filters, cloths filters, etc.) or chemical addition for disinfection, as well as several others. Decreasing the solids concentration that is applied to these downstream treatment steps can decrease the size requirements of equipment and/or prolong equipment life. 
     Low TSS in the effluent is not the sole purpose for solids separation for many types of biological treatment processes. Solids that are removed from the effluent are either retained in the basin or transported to different zones within the process for specific purposes. A higher TSS removal in a reactor can lead to great the overall solids concentration, or Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS), in the process. Processes with high MLSS concentrations are able to treat incoming wastewater more quickly and/or using a smaller treatment basin. Furthermore, a higher MLSS allows a system to be more resistant to any biocides or toxins that may enter the treatment process. Sometimes the sludge (“sludge” being a term for liquid with a very high concentration of solids) is returned from the clarification system (i.e., the equipment providing liquid/solid separation) to specific zones in the treatment process. The Return Activated Sludge (RAS) can be place in zones where specific electron acceptors are selected to allow for desired biological processes. For example, an “anoxic zone” is characterized by a lack of oxygen (generally the preferred electron acceptor) but where nitrate and/or nitrite (both components of Total Nitrogen) is present. Some bacteria will use nitrate/nitrite when no oxygen is available and, by doing so, convert the nitrate/nitrite to nitrogen gas. Similarly, exposing some organisms to anaerobic (no oxygen or nitrate/nitrite) can cause abnormal accumulation of phosphorous in some bacteria and allow for high levels of phosphorous removal. A high MLSS concentration can help maintain the environmental conditions in these zones by limits the effects from carryover of oxygen and/or nitrate/nitrite from preceding zones. 
     The present invention provides a means to efficiently and effectively separate solids from liquid. By immediately returning solids to the reaction zone the device increases the overall treatment efficiency of the reactor by keeping bacteria in a location where they provide treatment, rather than in a large settling device or return piping. The device also incorporates a recirculatory effect whereby a significant portion of the fluid that is returned back to the reaction zone reenters the settling zone. The result is a fluid pattern that improves flocculation and overall treatment. If desired, the solids can be returned, just as they reenter the reaction zone, back to preceding zones for anoxic or anaerobic contact. 
     The present invention can be incorporated into new or existing treatment systems. A number of embodiments are possible that comprise one or more reaction zones, anoxic/anaerobic zones, and other equipment necessary for complete wastewater treatment. Existing treatment systems can be made to accept the present invention for increased performance and/or decreased operating costs/complexity. One example, among several potential embodiments, is the incorporation of the present invention into an existing clarifier (i.e., a liquid/solids separation system). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 100  is a side view of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 200  is side view of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 300  is an overhead view of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 400  is a flow diagram that illustrates the water flow pattern of the first and second embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
       FIG. 100 
     
     
         
           101 . Zone  1   
           102 . Inlet of Flow Inducing Mechanism 
           103 . Bottom of the Tank 
           104 . Converging Port 
           105 . Air Injection Point 
           106 . Partition between Zone  1  and Zone  2   
           107 . Neck of Flow Inducing Mechanism 
           108 . Air Release Point 
           109 . Trunk of Flow Inducing Mechanism 
           110 . Discharge point of Flow Inducing Mechanism 
           111 . Zone  2   
           112 . Diverging Port 
           114 . Partition Opening
   FIG. 200   
           201 . Water Line 
           202 . Inlet 
           203 . Contact Chamber 
           204 . Anoxic/Anaerobic Reaction Zone 
           205 . Mixer(s) 
           206 . Outlet of Internal Recycle 
           207 . Anoxic/Anaerobic Discharge Port 
           208 . Partition Separating Reaction Zones 
           209 . Air Supply for Mixing Device 
           210 . Aerobic Reaction Zone 
           211 . Fine-Bubble Diffusers 
           212 . Intake of Internal Recycle Line 
           213 . Air Release Point of Mechanism(s) Providing Internal Recycle 
           214 . Partition Separating Aerobic Reaction Zone from Static Zone 
           215 . Outlet of Scum Removal Device 
           216 . Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           217 . Air Supply for Internal Recycle 
           218 . Inlet of Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           219 . Air Supply for Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           220 . Air Release Point of Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           222 . Outlet of Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           224 . Opening(s) in Partition Separating Aerobic Reaction Zone from Static Zone 
           225 . Scum Removal Device 
           226 . Sloped Floor of Static Zone 
           227 . Outlet 
           228 . Static Zone
   FIG. 300   
           302 . Inlet 
           303 . Contact Chamber 
           304 . Anoxic/Anaerobic Reaction Zone 
           305 . Mixer(s) 
           306 . Outlet of Internal Recycle 
           307 . Anoxic/Anaerobic Discharge Port 
           308 . Partition Separating Reaction Zones 
           309 . Solenoid Valve to Control Mixing Pump(s) 
           310 . Aerobic Reaction Zone 
           311 . Fine-Bubble Diffusers 
           313 . Air Release Point of Mechanism(s) Providing Solids Return 
           314 . Partition Separating Aerobic Reaction Zone from Static Zone 
           315 . Air Supply Manifold 
           316 . Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           317 . Air Supply for Internal Recycle 
           319 . Air Supply for Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           320 . Air Release Point of Mechanism(s) Providing Flow from Reaction Zone to Static Zone 
           323 . Outlet of Scum Removal Device 
           325 . Scum Removal Device 
           327 . Outlet 
           328 . Static Zone
   FIG. 400   
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     FIG.  1   
     The first general embodiment is represented in  FIG. 100 . The device may be made from any number of materials, but most likely will be aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic. In this general embodiment the device is seen as being rectangular in shape, but the embodiment may be formed into several different shapes (e.g., oval, circular, etc.) depending on the application and surrounding structure. 
     The Inlet  102  or the first embodiment consists of a Converging Port  104 . The Converging Port may be designed to allow the uptake of liquid from an area wider than the rest of the device. This general embodiment shows the Converging Port positioned close to the Partition Opening  114  and angled toward said opening. Space is left between the Bottom of the Tank  103  and the Converging Port to allow some fluid transfer back to Zone  1   101 . An Air Injection Point  105  is generally located directly below the Converging Port. Two things should be noted; (a) that the Air Injection Point could be attached to, or located in, the device and (b) the device could be operated using any means to convey fluid and not necessarily an air lift type of pump. 
     The Inlet is connected to a Neck  107  of the device that continues to the Partition between Zone  1  and Zone  2   106 . The Trunk  109  of the device stretches from the Partition into Zone  2   111 . An Air Release Point  108  is shown in this embodiment as being on the Trunk in Zone  2 . It should be noted that the Air Release Point may be located on either the Neck or the Trunk, and may be at, above, or below the liquid level of Zone  1  and/or Zone  2 . At the bottom of the Trunk is a Discharge Point  110  that includes, on this embodiment, a Diverging Port  112 . At the bottom of the Partition there is a Partition Opening  114 . 
     Operation 
     FIG.  100   
     Liquid enters the device through the inlet  102  via the Converging Port  104 . The Converging Port may be designed wider than the rest of the device to allow maximum uptake of liquid from the Partition Opening  114  to create recirculation. An Air Injection Point  105  is shown in this embodiment as being directly below the Converging Port. Continuous or intermittent airflow enters the device the density of the fluid in the device becomes less than the density in the surrounding fluid, thereby creating flow through the device. 
     Fluid and, in this embodiment, air travel up the Neck  107  of the device and across the Partition between Zone  1  and Zone  2   106 . Air leaves the fluid and device at the Air Release Point  108 ,  208 ,  308 ,  408 ,  508 , and the fluid then travels down the Trunk  109  of the device. The Truck is designed to minimize head loss and positioned to direct fluid flow out of the Discharge Point  110 , through a Diverging Port  112 , and toward the Partition Opening  114 . Flow direction in the embodiment may be designed to push solids from Zone  2  and into Zone  1  while creating the Recirculation Effect. 
     FIGS.  200 - 400   
     Alternative Embodiments 
     An alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention is a suspended-growth bioreactor and method comprising of two reaction zones and one static zone, and is illustrated in a side and overhead view in  FIG. 200  and  FIG. 300 , respectively. The influent to the bioreactor is directed to the zones without oxygen (i.e., anaerobic or anoxic)  202 ,  302 , and generally, but not always, enters said reactor above the water line  201 . Once in the reactor, the influent enters the contact chamber  203 ,  303  where it blends with a recycled liquor that contains high nitrate and solids concentrations being discharged from the outlet of the internal recycle  206 ,  306 , creating mixed liquor. Said mixed liquor exits said contact chamber and enters the anoxic/anaerobic reaction zone  204 ,  304 , where mixers  205 ,  305  provide additional blending. In the case of this embodiment, the said mixers are driven by air and there is an air supply line  209  and solenoid valve  309  to control said mixers. 
     Said anoxic/anaerobic zone is generally situated adjacent to the aerobic reaction zone  210 ,  310  with a partition separating the two said reaction zones  208 ,  308 . Said mixed liquor exits said anoxic/anaerobic zone through the anoxic/anaerobic discharge port.  207 ,  307  and enters said aerobic zone. Aerobic conditions can be maintained in said aerobic zone by the use and function of fine bubble diffusers  211 ,  311 , although other means are possible, and mixed liquor undergoes several chemical and biological reactions in said aerobic zone before being conveyed out of said aerobic zone. 
     Eventually said mixed liquor reaches a partition  214 ,  314  that separates said aerobic zone from a static zone  228 ,  328  that has the function of maintaining quiescent conditions so that liquid separates from solids via gravitational settling; allowing supernatant to discharge through the outlet  227 ,  327  as effluent while said solids gravitate towards the bottom of the reactor. It should be noted that any floatable materials in said static zone are collected by, and conveyed through, a scum removal device  225 ,  325 . 
     Said mixed liquor in said aerobic zone will enter a mechanism providing flow from said aerobic zone to said static zone  216 ,  316  through the inlet  218  of said mechanism. Flow of said mixed liquor into said mechanism may, but not necessarily always, be induced via air lift where an air supply for said mechanism  219 ,  319  provides said air to an air supply manifold  315  that releases said air into said mechanism. Said air and said mixed liquor travel in said mechanism and through said partition. Said air is discharged from said mechanism at the air release point  220 ,  320  while said mixed liquor is discharged to said static zone via the outlet of said mechanism  222 . 
     Said mixed liquor is discharge in a downward direction towards an opening in the partition that separates the aerobic zone form the static zone  224 , and flow may be directed toward said opening by said outlet of said mechanism and/or a sloped floor  226  in said static zone. Once in said static zone the aforementioned solids/liquid separation phase occurs, and said mixed liquor has been concentrated and is now considered sludge. Said sludge is returned through said opening(s) in said partition by flow induced by said mechanism that transports mixed liquor from said aerobic zone to said static zone. Said flow also helps to scour said sloped floor. This function, and the speed and efficiency of sludge return greatly contribute to the effectiveness of the embodiment and the operational and treatment process therein. Occasional wasting of sludge may be a necessary function of operation, but can be accomplished by any number of methods without the use of a specific device or means. 
     A significant portion of said sludge, once returned through said partition, re-enters said mechanism providing flow from said aerobic zone to said static zone. This recirculation effect is highly effective at producing sludge with excellent settling characteristics and significantly contributes to the effectiveness of the treatment system. Said sludge that is not taken up into said mechanism, or dispersed back into said aerobic zone, enters the intake port of the recycle line  212  along with nitrified liquor from said aerobic zone. Said recycle flow may be, but not necessarily, conveyed via airlift and, as such, an air supply  217 ,  317  may be required to provide air. Said recycle liquid and air are conveyed together until the air is evacuated through the air release point of said recycle mechanism  213 ,  313 . Said scum removal device located in said static zone may discharge into said recycle mechanism at this point via the outlet of the scum removal device  323 . Said recycle flow enters said contact chamber via said outlet. 
     The unique flow pattern of the first embodiment, and of the first embodiment when incorporated into a treatment process as described in the second embodiment, is illustrated in  FIG. 400 . The circulatory flow effect of the first embodiment has several beneficial aspects that affect the performance of the second embodiment. The short-circuiting effect of the return sludge into the forward flow of the system and back again aids in flocculation and performance of the static zone. Larger flocs of solids are recycled to the front of the process, as seen in the second embodiment, where they contribute to higher levels of biological performance. The shape and function of the first embodiment prevents accumulation of sludge on the floor of the static zone and eliminates the potential of floating sludge in this zone. 
     Advantages 
     As per the descriptions above, a number of advantages of the Bow Pump and Reactor for Wastewater Treatment become evident: 
     (a) The unique flow pattern produced by the Bow Pump inside the Bow Reactor immediately introduces and blends return sludge with mixed liquor to create superior flocculation and sludge settling characteristics that increases both the biological and physical performance of the reactor. 
     (b) The design of the Bow Pump in the Bow Reactor can be used to scour and convey solids from the settling zone to the reaction zone, eliminating solids build-up that results in floating sludge and poor effluent quality. 
     (c) The Bow Pump can operate completely on compressed air, which must be supplied to provide aerobic conditions to at least one reaction zone. As such, the Bow Pump offers minimal additional cost; both in terms of capital and operational expenditures. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the treatment device offers an improvement over the more traditional means of conveying water between reaction and settling zones in a wastewater or water treatment reactor. Using air-based conveyance decreases electrical costs associated with operation, as well as ongoing maintenance associated with mechanical pumps. Immediately returning solids from the separating zone to the reaction zone increases the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the reactor by maintaining as much biomass or chemical reactants in the reaction zone as possible. The unique circulatory flow pattern that the device creates improves solids scouring of the bottom of the settling zone that prevents biologically active solids from going anaerobic, forming gas bubbles, and floating to the zone&#39;s surface where they may contaminate the effluent. Lastly, the blending and recirculation of sludge from the settling zone with mixed liquor creates a highly flocculated sludge with biological and physical (i.e., settling) characteristics that are superior to other activated sludge processes. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one (or several) embodiment(s) thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the fluid conveyance device may extend the entire length of the partition, or there may be several conveyance devices located along a single partition. Another example is using more than one uptake orifice on the uptake side of the device. 
     Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiment(s) illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.