Patent ID: 8313655

Claim:
A method of reacting water having suspended solids with a flocculant, comprising the steps of: a) providing a reaction tank comprising: i) a housing having an input, an output, and a water flow path disposed between the input and the output, the flow path passing through a mixing section and a reaction section, the mixing and reactions sections disposed in the housing and each section further comprising sidewalls, the mixing section disposed above the reaction section, the mixing section comprising the input and a first flow port configured for providing communication for the water flow path between the mixing section and the reaction section, the reaction section further comprising the outlet, ii a top plate disposed on top of the mixing section the top plate comprising flocculant ports for inserting the flocculant into the mixing section, and iii each of the mixing section and the reaction section containing baffles, the mixing section baffles comprising a plurality of first baffles disposed substantially in a spaced-apart configuration in a central portion of the mixing section and further comprising a plurality of second baffles disposed substantially in a spaced-apart configuration along at least one of the sidewalls of the mixing section extending inwardly towards the central portion of the mixing section, the mixing section configured to encourage turbulent flow to increase contact with the flocculant, the reaction section baffles encouraging turbulent flow and increasing the length of the water flow path; b) inserting the flocculant into the mixing section through the flocculant ports; and c) pumping water into the reaction tank at a rate such that the turbulent flow caused by the baffles allows the flocculant to react with the suspended solids in the reaction section, and such that the water exits the output of the housing prior to the flocculated solids substantially settling from the water.