Improvements in the Bacterial Treatment of Sewage and Effluents from Sewage Works
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Bacterial Treatment of Sewage and Effluents
from Sewage Works.
We, JAMES BRIGHTMORE, of Tideswell, in the County of Derby, Sculptor,
THOMAS SWANN, of Ashford, near Bakewell, in the said County, Engineer, and
FRANK SWETNAM GOODWIN, of Bakewell aforesaid, Solicitor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in the bacterial treatment of sewage
and effluents from sewage works, and in accordance therewith we provide a series
of chambers or tanks of suitable size constructed in sections, the whole con-
struction being preferably composed of iron with an outer sustaining wall of
brick or ashlar stone.
The outer chambers, exposed to the air, at the surface are hereinafter dis-
tinguished as the aerobic tanks, while the sealed or central chambers are
referred to as the anaerobic tanks.
The diversions or partitions in the aerobic tanks are situated diagonally
thereof, and in the construction, a grooved slot, placed at a proper angle, is pro-
vided for each partition, which is slid perpendicularly into position to form a
water tight joint.
At a suitable distance from the bottom of the aerobic tanks and close to the
bottom of the sliding panel, and throughout the entire length of the tanks, we
provide a perforated bed preferably forined of half inch thick iron grating, each
perforation preferably measuring three quarters of an inch, the said grating
resting on cantilevers or supports to sustain the same. On this is placed, in each
division, anthracite" coal of about one inch in size which forms a filtrate.in
the aerobic tanks of about nine feet in thickness, leaving a space of about two
feet below the grating and approximately one foot to top of tank from the filtrate
bed. The action in the aerobic tank is termed downward filtration and nutrifies
those germs which are destroyed with oxygen, this action also completing the
first, process of nutrification on passing through the perforated grid into the two
feet space at the bottom of the tank.
Intersecting from the inner division of the aerobic tank about six inches from
the bottom and directly in the centre of each division are the conveying pipes
from the aerobic tank's passing under the inspection chambers and into the
anaerobic tanks, which are constructed as follows:-
.
The pipes of about four inch diameter are shaped in the form of a semicircle,
the exact centre of the pipe being under the inspection chamber. Into the said
chamber and about eighteen inches from the floor are the handles of the govern-
ing valves, which admit the effluent after its first treatment into the anaerobic
tanks. In the inspection chambers, thick glass plates are inserted in each tank
and on the iron plates of the aerobic and anaerobic tanks, the glass is placed as
follows:-
T
11.
funt
vision
the
lass is about tra
feet from the top:
in

page_text: the second tank about three feet from the top and dropping about
one foot in each division, exactly similar, the glass being put on both sides
while each panel of glass is about six inches circular in diameter and about one
inch thick.
Immediately after passing the effluent through the said pipes into the anaerobic
tanks under the floor of the inspection chambers, the upward filtration commences
producing the complete nutrification of the organic matter in solution by destroy-
ing those germs which are killed without air, in the following manner:
The anaerobic tanks, have, unlike the aerobic tanks, the divisions placed at
right angles across the tanks each division forming a square. In the said divi-
sion are placed trays or perforated boxes of galvanized iron, of about one eighth
of an inch thickness having perforated tops, bottoms, sides and ends, with holes
of about one eighth of an inch apart from each other, the boxes being fitted with
hinged lid and copper fastening. Each box is filled with anthracite of about a
quarter of an inch in size, the said boxes resting on brackets attached, which are
hinged to the sides of tanks to admit of the boxes passing the spaces between the
boxes when being placed in position. The sides of the boxes are provided with
handles to admit of such boxes being lifted when required. The tops of covers
of the anaerobic tanks are each fastened down, each cover being provided with
an outlet valve on the apex for air to escape, but so constructed as to shut off the
admission of air. The outlet from the anaerobic tank is placed in the centre, at
a distance of about six inches above the top tray. We claim by the use of our
invention that the effluent will be rendered quite harmless and will be up to the
standard required by the Local Government Board, all the organic matter being
oxidised and the effluent containing the ratio of oxygen required by the said
authority.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1899
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55/6, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in the Bacterial Treatment of Sewage and Effluents
from Sewage Works.
We, JAMES BRIGHTMORE, of Tideswell, in the County of Derby, Sculptor,
THOMAS SWANN,. of Ashford, near Bakewell, in the said County, Engineer, and
FRANK SWETNAM GOODWIN, of Bakewell aforesaid, Solicitor, do hereby declare
the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In this statement we refer by the term "aerobic tank to a tank open to the
admission of air and consequently capable of developing aerobic organ-
isms being those organisms or bacteria which are active as decom-
ponents in the presence of air and We refer by the term anac-
robic tank" to a tank closed against the admission of air and con-
sequently capable of developing anaerobic organisms being those organisms
or bacteria which are active as decomponents in the absence of air.
And we refer by the term "tank" to any receptacle or chamber of suitable
shape size and material for containing sewage and the necessary filtrating medium.
In our invention we use a group or a series of taaks so arranged that the sewage
in treatment is subjected first to treatment by downward filtration in an aerobic

page_text: tank and secondly and next before its discharge to treatment by upward filtra-
tion in an anaerobic tank.
We use tanks constructed of iron with or without an outer sustaining, wall of
brickwork or stone, and built up in three or four sections each of about 4 feet in
height, the sections being bolted together and thus being capable of being
attached to the structure as required. Each aerobic tank is divided by perforated
vertical partitions placed at right angles or diagonally to the sides and ending at
a distance of about 2 feet from the bottom of the tank at a point where a hori-
zontel grating of rustless iron perforated with holes of about inch diameter is
fixed or held on brackets. Within the tank and for a space of about nine feet
in height from the said grating which supports it is placed the filtrating medium.
This medium consists of coal or coke and preferably of anthracite coal, but in
cases where the sewage to be treated contains any quantity of alkali or acid (as
in the case of certain trade effluents) it is of great advantage to pack the tank
with coal and limestone in alternate layers. Below the grating there is left a
clear space of about two feet in depth
Each anaerobic tank is of the same height as the aerobic tanks and is closed
by means of a fastened cover so as to prevent the admission of the outer air the
cover being fitted with an outlet valve to allow the escape of air and gas. This
tank is divided by vertical partitions each partition containing about seven or
eight iron trays or boxes perforated at the bottom and sides with holes of about
th inch diameter the holes in the sides being cut obliquely. Each tray is filled
with the filtrating medium of coal coke or limestone as before described the
lowest tray being fixed or held at a point about three feet from the bottom of
this tank thus forming a clear space or chamber of about three feet in height.
The three tanks are connected at or near their bottom levels by two or more
pipes of four to six inches in diameter and of any convenient length according
to the situation of the tanks each pipe being fitted with a valve and stop cock.
It is necessary in practice from time to time to rest" each aerobic tank for
a week or thereabouts in order to reoxygenate the filtrating medium and only
one aerobic tank is used at a time in co-operation with the anaerobic tank.
<
If coal alone is used in the anaerobic tank it requires no attention or replenish-
ing, but limestone if used will require to be renewed about once in six months
during the use of the tanks.
In this statement for convenience we describe the process as used by means of
one set only of tanks namely two aerobic tanks and one anaerobic tank but in
practice the process operated by means of any number of tanks necessary to do
the required work and so arranged that the effluent to be treated shall always
pass first downwards through an aerobic tank and then upwards through an
anaerobic tank before being discharged.
The sewage to be treated has been first "screened" in any convenient way
is allowed to enter the aerobic tank at the top. It passes by downward filtration
through that tank into the space or chamber beneath and thence through the
outlet at the bottom and through the connecting pipes to the bottom chamber or
space of the anaerobic tank. The effluent then by force of the liquid filling and
passing into the aerobic tank passes upward through the perforated trays of the
anaerobic tank and the filtrating medium contained therein and passes out at
the top of the tank through a pipe or pipes of suitable size fitted with a ball
valve or valves. The effluent so discharged is the finished effluent and absolutely
purified from noxious elements.
We have in the drawings accompanying this specification illustrated a set of
three tanks as above described with the fixed settings or beds thereof and con-
venient arrangements for man holes and inspection apertures.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation (partly in section) of our apparatus for the bacterial
treatment of sewage and effluents from sewage works constructed and arranged
in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a view in plan of same, and

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus (partly in scetion) and upoų
the line A B C D E F of the plan view Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a diagram view (in plan) of an arrangement of four sets of tanks
working in unison. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in each of
the figures.
The aerobic tanks are marked a and the anaerobic tanks are distinguished by
the letter b in all the figures.
ce (see particularly Figs. 1 and 3) are the horizontal gratings of rustless iron
previously alluded to as being fixed about two feet from the bottom of the aerobic
tanks a. Upon these gratings and within the spaces marked c c¹ Figs. 1 and 3
is placed the filtrating medium.
Each anaerobic tank is closed by means of an air tight cover d (see Figs. 1, 2
and 3) fitted with an outlet valve e for the escape of air and gas, and is divided
vertically into compartments containing the horizontally arranged perforated
trays or boxes f (see Fig. 1) for holding the filtration medium. The lowest tray
being fixed at a point to allow a clear space fl of about three feet in height between
it and the bottom of the tank. The three tanks ab are connected near their
bottom levels by the pipes y fitted with valve and stop cock gỗ;
The sewage enters the aerobic tank a at the top passes downwards and through
the connecting pipes into the bottom space f₁ of the anaerobic tank b then
upwards through the perforated trays f and the filtration medium therein and
finally passes out at the top through a pipe or pipes fitted with a ball valve or
valves.
ii are corridors between and around the rows of tanks (see Fig. 1 and 2) which
may be roofed in and glazed as shewn at kk (Fig. 1).
An inspection glass 7 may be fitted in each of the anaerobic tank air tight
covers (see Fig. 2) and sight holes m may be arranged in the sides of the
tanks as shewn particularly in (Fig. 3).
rest
"
For reoxygenating the filtering medium of the aerobic tanks when at
said tanks are provided with valves (see Figs. 1 and 3) whilst in (Fig. 2)
o indicates an arrangement of pump for said tanks..
We do not restrict our invention to the treatment of sewage effluent by filtra-
tion through such tanks only as are described in the drawings. The tanks
described are of a construction which we have found best suited for the purpose
and working with the most economy but any tanks or chambers constructed
arranged and working substantially in the same manner as the tanks described
might answer the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
The application and use in the manner described of a system of double filtra-
tion or treatment of sewage both by the aerobic process and by the anaerobic pro-
cess as described by means of apparatus constructed and arranged substantially
as described.
Dated this 10th day of April 1900.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.