Water treatment apparatus

Abstract

Abstract The invention provides a specific technique in the water treatment apparatus to disinfect and discharge the water to be treated so as to supply the water to be treated to the disinfection tank in an affirmative manner. The treatment tank body of the water treatment apparatus is provided with a disinfection tank 170 having a baffle portion 171a and a chemical cartridge 180. In the disinfection tank 170, a water to be treated transferring pump 192 discharges the water to be treat in the first direction. The baffle portion 171a changes the water flowing direction to the second direction different from the first direction and supplies to the chemical cartridge 180. Representative drawing: Fig. 8 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 Abstract in an affirmative manner. ［図2］ 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 f 1 0 4 1 0 4 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 c 1 2 0 1 5 1 , 1 5 1 a 1 6 0 1 0 1 d 1 5 0 1 5 1 , 1 5 1 b 1 5 2 1 4 0 1 0 1 e 1 9 1 a 1 0 8 1 0 6 a 1 4 1 1 9 2 1 0 7 1 0 5 1 9 1 1 0 6 1 0 5 a W L 1 0 4 1 7 0 1 7 1 1 5 3 F i g . 2 2 / 9 20 22 22 47 98 0 1 Se p 20 22 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 Fig. 2 104 104 191a 102 171 WL 141 105a 2 / 9 110 107 101 153 105 101c 120 152 101e 140

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application 2021-178217 filed on 29 October 2021, the contents of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by this reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] The invention relates to a water treatment apparatus for treating sewage such like domestic wastewater. [Background art]

[0003] The discussion of the background to the invention herein is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0004] According to a known septic tank, water after the predetermined treatment is transferred to a disinfection tank and then, after being disinfected, the treated water is discharged to the outside. For example, Japanese utility model laid-open HOI-139894 discloses a specific structure of the disinfection tank within the septic tank. According to this disinfection tank, the water to be treated is transferred in a natural manner from the upper stream side to the disinfection tank according to the predetermined water level 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 within the septic tank. And the water to be treated is contacted with a chemical cartridge disposed in the disinfection tank having a disinfectant. Thus, the water to be treated is disinfected.

[0005] On the other hand, having regard to the recent viewpoint of a sophisticated treatment by the septic tank, a technique is necessarily required to provide with a water transferring device such like an air lift pump and so on, in order to supply the water to be treaded to the disinfection tank without depending on the water level within the septic tank. Thus, it is required to improve the disinfection treatment and the dischargement in an affirmative manner.

[0006] In this respect, according to the known septic tank as explained above, the negative aspect regarding the affirmative supply of the water to be treated to the disinfection tank is not well considered for coping. Therefore, with respect to the sophistication of the water treatment in the septic tank, further improvement is desired. [Prior art references] [Patent reference]

[0007] [Patent reference 1] Japanese utility model HOI-139894 [Summary of the invention] [Summary of the invention]

[0008] It is desirable to provide with a specific technique in the water treatment apparatus to disinfect and discharge the water to be treated so as to supply the water to be treated to the disinfection tank in an affirmative manner. 2022224798   16 Sep 2026

[0009] According to the preferred embodiment of the water treatment apparatus according to the invention, a water treatment apparatus is provided for a water treatment in which the water to be treated includes sludge. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water treatment apparatus for treating water to be treated including sludge comprising: an inflow tank into which the water to be treated flows, an anaerobic treatment tank provided on a downstream side of the inflow tank and configured to anaerobically treat the water to be treated, an aerobic treatment tank provided on a downstream side of the anaerobic treatment tank and configured to aerobically treat the water to be treated, a disinfection tank provided on a downstream side of the aerobic treatment tank and configured to disinfect the water to be treated, a baffle portion provided in the disinfection tank, a chemical cartridge disposed at a chemical cartridge chamber in the disinfection tank, the chemical cartridge containing the disinfectant for the water to be treated and being configured such that the disinfectant dissolves into the water to be treated by coming into contact with the water to be treated, a water-to-be treated transfer pump for transferring the water to be treated to the disinfection tank, wherein the water-to-be treated transfer pump discharges the water to be treated in a predetermined first direction in the disinfection tank, the baffle portion converts a flow direction of the water to be treated to a second direction different from the first direction in the disinfection tank and supplies the water to be treated to the chemical cartridge in a state where a flow velocity of the water to be treated is reduced, and a sidewall of the chemical cartridge chamber functions as the baffle portion. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022

[0010] In a case to use the water to be treated transferring pump to the disinfection tank in an affirmative manner, it may possibly occur that the flowing speed of the water to be treated is increased due to such affirmative transfer. As a result, the consumption speed of the disinfectant within the disinfection tank possibly unnecessarily becomes high resultantly to cause a shortage of the disinfectant, due to such strengthened water flow. The invention can effectively prevent such situation before it takes place, by adopting the baffle portion. Specifically, the baffle portion changes the flowing direction of the water to be treated in a second direction different from the first direction to supply to the chemical cartridge.

[0011] By such construction, even when the water to be treated with relatively high speed is discharged into the disinfection tank by the water to be treated transferring pump, the baffle portion changes the flowing direction from the first direction to the second direction to decrease the flowing speed of the water to be treated and contact with the disinfectant. Therefore, any events that the consumption speed of the disinfectant is unnecessarily increased and the disinfectant unintentionally runs short.

[0012] Note that it is sufficient to arrange the baffle portion at least being able to change the flowing direction of the water to be treated. Typically, a flat shaped baffle plate can be used for the baffle portion. Otherwise, curved shaped baffle plate can be used for the baffle portion by adjusting the curvature to enhance the preciseness of the direction change. Or a tubular shaped baffle portion and / or any combination of these elements can be used for the baffle portion. Further, as to the water to be treated transferring pump, an air lift pump can typically be used, while, for example, an underwater pump can also be used. It might happen that stagnation is generated partly in the water to be treated and thus, flowing 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 retention takes place. However, in such a case, when flowing direction of the water to be treated can be changed as seen in a macroscopic manner (macroscopically) from the first direction to the second direction, it is embraced within the scope of the invention.

[0013] Further, as one of preferable aspects of the invention, the baffle portion may be provided with a tank wall of (to form) the disinfection tank. By having the tank wall of the disinfection tank also a function of the baffle portion, the component element of the disinfection tank and the flowing direction changing device of the water to be treated can be realized by a single member. As a result, further rationalization of the component parts can be achieved.

[0014] Further, as one of preferable aspects of the invention, the flowing direction changing angle of the water to be treated by the baffle portion may be set to be 90 degrees or more. By setting the flowing direction changing angle in a large scale, the water to be treated affirmatively supplied to the disinfection tank by the water to be treated transferring pump can sufficiently be decelerated and the consumption control of the disinfectant can be further improved. Note that, same with the above-explained aspect, the invention relates to the drainage (sewerage, sewage or waste water). Therefore, if the flowing direction of the water to be treated can be changed as seen in a macroscopic manner (macroscopically) by 90 degrees or more, it is sufficient for exploiting the aspect of the invention. For example, even when the stagnation partly takes place in the water to be treated in the disinfection tank to partly cause flowing retention, it can be embraced within the scope of the invention if the flowing direction of the water to be treated is entirely changed by 90 degrees or more. Same with that, even when the changing angle is less than 90 degrees in part, it can be embraced within the scope of the invention if the flowing direction of the water to be treated is entirely 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 changed by 90 degrees or more.

[0015] Further, as one of preferable aspects of the invention, a treated water tank may be disposed at a downstream side of the aerobic treatment tank and at an upper stream side of the disinfection tank. Further, the water to be treated transferring pump may be arranged to transfer the water to be treated in the treated water tank to the disinfection tank. By providing the treated water tank at the upper stream side of the disinfection tank, further subsidence of the sludge and further remove of the SS (suspended solid) can be improved. As result, the disinfection effect at the disinfection tank can be improved. Especially for the affirmative supply of the water to be treated to the disinfection tank by using a water to be treated transferring pump such like the invention, it is preferable to provide the treated water tank for calming down the water to be treated after the anaerobic treatment and the aerobic treatment.

[0016] Further, as one of preferable aspects of the invention, the chemical cartridge may be provided with a plurality of cartridge bodies in each of which a disinfectant is equipped. Further, the water to be treated the flowing direction of which is changed by the baffle portion may be sequentially transferred to the plurality of cartridge bodies. By providing a plurality of cartridge bodies, the amount of dissolution at each chemical cartridge can be appropriately controlled and thus, disinfection treatment can be precisely controlled. Note that, as to the plurality of cartridge bodies, typically the same type can be utilized, while it can be utilized with different amount of disinfectant at each chemical cartridge body. [Effect of the invention]

[0017] According to the invention, in the water treatment apparatus to disinfect and discharge the water to be treated, a specific technique is provided to supply the water to be treated to the disinfection 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 tank in an affirmative manner.

[0018] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing an outline of the water treatment apparatus according to the representative embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view at the A-A line in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic front view showing an outline of the water treatment apparatus. [Fig. 3] Fig 3 shows a treatment flow of the water to be treated in the water treatment apparatus. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic front view showing the structure of a disinfection tank of the water treatment apparatus according to the representative embodiment. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the disinfection tank of the water treatment apparatus according to the representative embodiment. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a front view showing the structure of a chemical cartridge used in the disinfection tank. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the detail of transferring the water to be treated by a second air lift pump. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the flow state of the water to be treated within the disinfection tank. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 [Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic front view showing the flow state of the water to be treated within the disinfection tank. [Embodiment to exploit the present invention]

[0019] A water treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is now explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. According to the embodiment of the present invention, a water treatment apparatus 100 for receiving and treating raw water (also referred to as “wastewater” or “water to be treated”) discharged from general houses and apartment houses in a water treatment region is explained.

[0020] (Entire structure of the water treatment apparatus 100) Fig. 1 is a plane view of the water treatment apparatus 100. And Fig. 2 is a front view of the water treatment apparatus 100 (The cross-sectional view at the A-A line of Fig. 1). The water treatment apparatus 100 includes a treatment tank body 101 that defines the body structure (outer body) of the water treatment apparatus 100. As shown in Fig .1 and Fig. 2, the treatment tank body 101 is substantially formed as a rectangular shape in a plane view. The treatment tank body 101 includes a side wall 101a and a 101b which are parallel to each other, a side wall 101c and a 101 d which are parallel to each other, and a bottom wall lOle and a top wall 101 f. The water treatment apparatus 100 according to the embodiment is configured to treat domestic wastewater (domestic sewage) together with excrement.

[0021] The treatment tank body 101 is provided with a inlet pipe 102 and an outlet pipe 103. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 The inlet pipe 102 is provided as an opening portion to introduce the water to be treated (raw water) into the inner space of the treatment tank body 101. The outlet pipe 103 is provided as an opening portion to discharge the treated water from the inner space of the treatment tank body 101. Further, the treatment tank body 101 includes a manhole portion 104. The manhole portion 104 is provided as a part in which a manhole for an entrance, internal inspection and cleaning is formed.

[0022] (Definition of component parts and directions of the water treatment apparatus) The manhole portion 104 side (the upper wall lOlf side) of the treatment tank body 101 is defined as a tank upper side or a tank upper part, and the opposite side (the bottom wall lOle side) as a tank lower side, a tank lower part or a tank bottom part. Further, the inlet pipe 102 side (the side wall side 101c) of the treatment tank body 101 is defined as an upper stream side, and the outlet pipe 103 side (the side wall side lOld) is defined as a downstream side. Further, in Fig. 2, the direction in line with the extending face of the manhole portion 104 is defined as a horizontal direction (also referred to as a tank front rear direction) and the direction crossing the horizontal direction is defined as a vertical direction (tank upper lower direction). Moreover, the direction perpendicular to the face of Fig. 2 (the direction perpendicular both to the tank front rear direction and to the tank upper lower direction and the upper lower direction in Fig 1) is defined as a tank right left direction. Note that the arrow line in each Figure shows the flow of the water to be treated.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, in the internal space of the treatment tank body 101, a water treatment region is formed for performing a predetermined water treatment while storing raw water 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 introduced (led) in through the inlet pipe 102. In this water treatment region, a sedimentation separation tank 120, a cleaning hole 130, an anaerobic treatment tank 140, an aerobic treatment tank 150, a treated water tank 160 and a disinfecting tank 170 are formed, respectively.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, wastewater led into the treatment tank body 101 (an inflow baffle 110) through the inlet pipe 102 is treated in the sedimentation separation tank 120, the anaerobic treatment tank 140, the aerobic treatment tank 150, the treated water tank 160 and the disinfecting tank 170 in sequence, and thereafter discharged out of the treatment tank body 101 through the outlet pipe 103. Further, it is configured such that water to be treated circulates between the sedimentation separation tank 120 and the cleaning hole 130 and between the anaerobic treatment tank 140 and the aerobic treatment tank 150. The water treatment apparatus 100 may be configured as a septic tank which releases water discharged out of the treatment tank body 101 as it is, or as a water recycling apparatus for reusing water discharged out of the treatment tank body 101 as water for flushing toilets or watering.

[0025] The inflow baffle 110 forms an uppermost upstream region in the water treatment region. Wastewater led into the inflow baffle 110 through the inlet pipe 102 flows into the sedimentation separation tank 120. The water is then separated into solid and liquid in the sedimentation separation tank 120, and a solid component separated from the water is deposited as precipitated sludge on the bottom of the sedimentation separation tank 120. Wastewater is first led into the inflow baffle 110 and then indirectly led into the sedimentation separation tank 120, so that sludge precipitated in the sedimentation separation tank 120 is prevented from being agitated. The sedimentation separation tank 120 having the inflow baffle 110 is an example embodiment that corresponds to the “inflow tank” according to this invention. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a partition wall 105 is provided between the sedimentation separation tank 120 and the anaerobic treatment tank 140 on the downstream side thereof and extends in the tank vertical direction. The partition wall 105 is mounted to the side walls 101a, 101b and the bottom wall lOle. At the upper region of the partition wall 105, an opening portion 105a and an inflow baffle 107 are provided to communicate the sedimentation separation tank 120 and the anaerobic treatment tank 140. This inflow baffle 170 is also defined as an outflow baffle. The water to be treated in the sedimentation separation tank 120 is transferred to the downstream side to the anaerobic treatment tank 140 through the opening portion 105 a and the inflow baffle 107. The anaerobic treatment tank 140 according to the embodiment is an example of the “anaerobic treatment tank” according to the invention.

[0027] At an intermediate region in the upper lower direction of the anaerobic treatment tank 140, an anaerobic filter bed 144 is provided so as to be supported by the treatment tank body 101. The anaerobic filter bed 144 is filled with a prescribed amount of anaerobic filter media to which anaerobic microorganisms for anaerobically treating organic pollutant adhere. As the anaerobic filter media, plate-like filter media and ball-like skeleton filter media may be suitably used. In the anaerobic filter bed 144, water to be treated is anaerobically treated and filtered, so that BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) is reduced and SS (suspended solids) is removed.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a partition wall 106 is provided between the anaerobic treatment tank 140 and the aerobic treatment tank 150 located at the downstream of the anaerobic treatment tank 140. The partition wall 106 extends in the upper lower direction. The partition 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 wall 106 is provided with an inflow baffle 108 and an opening portion 106a to communicate the anaerobic treatment tank 140 with the aerobic treatment tank 150. The water to be treated in the anaerobic treatment tank 140 is transferred to the aerobic treatment tank 150 at the downstream side of the anaerobic treatment tank 140 through the inflow baffle 108 and the opening portion 106a. The inflow baffle 108 and the opening portion 106a are disposed at the upper stream side of the treatment tank body 101. Thus, the water to be treated in the anaerobic treatment tank 140 is transferred to the aerobic treatment tank 150 from the upper stream side. Note that, in Fig. 2, the water lever WL of the water to be treated in the treatment tank body 101 is just the same height with the height of the inflow baffle 108. Therefore, Fig. 2 shows a state that the water to be treated which is anaerobically treated in the anaerobic treatment tank 140 is able to be transferred to the aerobic treatment tank 150.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, at the downstream side of the partition wall 106, the aerobic treatment tanks 150, 150 are respectively provided both at the right and the left side regions with respect to the right and left direction. Also, the treated water tank 160 is provided at the central region. Note that, while it is not explicitly shown in the drawings, the aerobic treatment tanks 150, 150 at the right side region and the left side region are communicated to each other at the lower region across the treated water tank 160. And the lower region of the aerobic treatment tank 150 is communicated with the water treatment tank 160.

[0030] In the aerobic treatment tank 150, aerobic filter bed portion 151 is provided to which aerobic microorganisms for aerobically decomposing (aerobically treating) organic pollutant in the water to be treated adhere. The aerobic filter bed portion 151 includes a net like block body filter bed 151a and a net like granular body filter bed 151b. The net like block body filter bed 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 151a is disposed above the net like granular body filter bed 151b.

[0031] The net like block body filter bed 151a is formed of a net like and a block-like (single) filter medium. Specifically, the block like filter medium is a net which is formed of wire rods made of resin such as polypropylene and polyethylene and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, and is formed in one piece like a block. Thus, as a result, the net like block body filter bed 151a serves as a lid to prevent the filter media of the lower net like granular body filter bed 151b from flowing out. The net like block body filter bed 151a is held by a net, a plate-like member or other similar holding member supported by the treatment tank body 101. Further, the aerobic filter medium of the net like block body filter bed 15 lamay be shaped otherwise, for example, into a plate-like form, as long as it is formed in one piece.

[0032] The net like granular body filter bed 15 lb is formed of a plurality of net-like rolled filter medias. Specifically, the net-like rolled filter mediums may be a net which is formed of wire rods made of resin such as polypropylene and polyethylene and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, and is formed into a cylindrical shape having a diameter of about 100 mm and a length of about 100 mm. Note that, as the net like granular body filter bed 151b, net-like, spherical or plate-like filter media, or filter media formed of porous material may be used.

[0033] At the lower region of the aerobic treatment tank 150, namely at the lower region of the net like granular body filter bed 15 lb, an air supply device 152 is provided. The air (oxygen) provided by the air supply device 152 is supplied to the net like granular body filter bed 151b and then, to the net like block body filter bed 15 la in a sequential manner. As a result of this aspect, the water to be treated in the aerobic treatment tank 150 is aerobically 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 treated by the air supplied from the air supply device 152. The water to be treated which is aerobically treated is transferred from the lower region of the aerobic treatment tank 150 to the treated water tank 160. Note that, at the same height position with the air supply device 152, a support frame 153 is provided to support the lower region of the aerobic treatment tank 150.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the treated water tank 260 is provided with a first air lift pump 191. An intake portion of the first air lift pump 191 is disposed at the lower region of the treated water tank 160. Apart of the water to be treated which is transferred from the aerobic treatment tank 150 to the treated water tank 160 through the first air lift pump 191 is led (introduced) by the intake portion at the region to be transferred into the treated water tank 160. And then, the water to be treated is fed back to the intake baffle 110 through the feedback passage 191a. As a result, the water to be treated within the water treatment apparatus 100 is circulated though the intake baffle 110, the sedimentation separation tank 120, the anaerobic treatment tank 140 and the aerobic treatment tank 150. Having regard to these aspects, the first air lift pump is able to be called as a “circulation pump”.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the disinfection tank 170 is disposed at the upper region of the treated water tank 160. The disinfection tank 170 is divided from the treated water tank 160 by a division wall 171. The division wall 171 can be defined as a “Disinfection tank forming wall”. Further, the treated water tank 160 is provided with a second air lift pump 192. The second air lift pump 192 transfers the water to be treated within the treated water tank 160 to the disinfection tank 170 so as to discharge to the outside over the disinfection treatment. Having 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 regard to these aspects, the second air lift pump 192 can be defined as a “discharge pump”. As is shown in Fig. 5, the second air lift pump 192 is mainly structured by a pump body 193, a suction portion 194 and a discharge portion 195. The pump body 193 has a U-bent tubular shape. The suction portion 194 inhales the water to be treated within the water treated tank 160. The discharge portion 195 discharges the water to be treated to the disinfection tank 170.

[0036] The air supply device 152, the first air lift pump 191, the second air lift pump 192 and the feedback passage 191a are integrally made in a concatenated manner within the treatment tank body 101 respectively by utilizing a resin pipe shaped material. Note that the first air lift pump 191, the second air lift pump 192 and the air supply device 152 are respectively communicated to a predetermined air supplying apparatus which are not specifically shown in the drawings. And thus, by opening and closing the air valve of the air supplying apparatus, the supply and cut of the air can be switched. Note that the air valve is controlled by a manual operation or by a controller (not specifically shown in the drawings).

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a water treatment routine as a block diagram at each treatment tank according to the representative embodiment. Specifically, the water to be treated in the water treatment apparatus 100 is led (introduced) into the treatment tank body 101 through the inlet pipe. The water to be treated is respectively treated at the inflow baffle 110, at the sedimentation separation tank 120, at the anaerobic treatment tank 140, at the aerobic treatment tank 150, at the treated water tank 160 and at the disinfection tank 170. And then, the treated water is discharged from the outlet pipe 103 to the outside. Further, a part of the water to be treated which is aerobically treated at the aerobic treatment tank 150 is fed back from the treated water tank 160 to the inflow baffle 110 by the first air lift pump 191 so as to have further water treatment. As a result, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 Demand) can further be reduced and SS (Suspended solids) can further be removed.

[0038] Further, the water to be treated stored in the treated water tank 160 is affirmatively transferred to the disinfection tank 170 by the second air lift pump 192 to have the disinfection treatment. Then, the water to be treated is discharged from the outlet pipe 103 to the outside. The terminology of “affirmative transfer” is defined by an aspect such that the water to be treated is transferred by applying kinetic energy to the water to be treated by means of a fluid machine without respect to the water level. This is that the terminology “affirmative transfer” is an antonym for the aspect that the water to be treated is transferred to the disinfection tank 170 in accordance with the water level.

[0039] (Regarding the disinfection tank 170) Next, the structure of the disinfection tank 170 as one of characteristic aspects of the representative embodiment is explained in greater detail in reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 9. As is explained above, the disinfection tank 170 is disposed at the upper region of the treated water tank 160. The disinfection tank 170 provides a disinfection treatment to the water to be treated which is transferred to the disinfection tank 170 by the second air lift pump 192 in order to discharge the disinfected water to be treated to the outside of the water treatment apparatus 100. Detailed structure of the disinfection tank 170 is shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Note that in these figures, because the disinfection tank 170 is located at the upper region of the treated water tank 160, the treated water tank 160 is shown only with a numeral reference and the entire structure of which is not explicitly shown in these figures when the structure of the disinfection tank 170 should be shown in detail. The disinfection tank 170 is divided by the division wall 171 (disinfection tank forming wall). 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 A chemical cartridge housing portion 172 and a water to be treated storage portion 174 are generally integrally provided.

[0040] The chemical cartridge housing portion 172 includes a concave portion 172a the upper region of which is opened. A chemical cartridge 180 is provided at the concave portion 172a. As to the chemical cartridge 180, three same types of tubular bodies are placed adjacent to each other (first, second and third chemical cartridges 180a, 180b and 180c). In other words, according to the representative embodiment, the same types of three chemical cartridges (cartridge bodies) are utilized. The second air lift pump 192 is displaced adjacent to (in the vicinity of) the chemical cartridge housing portion 172. The water to be treated can be led to the concave portion 172a by the second air lift pump 192. And the water to be treated led to the concave portion 172a can be contacted with the lower portion of the chemical cartridge 180.

[0041] The water to be treated storage portion 172 is provided as a concaved space being deeper in the upper lower direction. The water to be treated to which the disinfection treatment has already made can be stored in the concaved space. Further, a discharge opening portion 175 is formed at the upper region of the water to be treated storage portion 174. Thus, when the water level of the water to be treated in the water to be treated storage portionl74 reaches the discharge opening portion 175, the water to be treated in the water to be treated storage portion 174 can be moved to the outside of the disinfection tank 170 through the discharge opening portion 175. The discharge opening portion 175 is communicated with the outlet pipe 103 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and the water to be treated is discharged from the water treatment apparatus 100. Note that any other tank such like a discharge pump tank with a discharge pump can be provided at the downstream of the disinfection tank 170. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022

[0042] The baffle portion 173 is provided between the chemical cartridge housing portion 172 and the water to be treated storage portion 174. By the baffle portion 173, the water to be treated led to the concave portion 172a of the chemical cartridge housing portion 172 is prevented from immediately moving to the water to be treated storage portion 174. To the contrary, the water to be treated stays at the concaved portion 172a and thus, sufficient time to contact with the chemical cartridge 180 can be secured. Not that a communicating opening portion 173a is formed at the baffle portion 173 as shown in Fig. 8 wherein the disinfection tank 170 is viewed as a plain view. As a result, the water to be treated which has been sufficiently disinfected can be transferred to the water to be treated storage portion 174 through the communicating opening portion 173a.

[0043] Fig. 6 shows the detailed structure of the chemical cartridge 180 as a front view. The chemical cartridge 180 is formed as an elongated tubular hollow body to have a chemical cartridge main body 181, a dissolving amount controlling portion 182 and a disinfectant exposing portion 184. The chemical cartridge main body 181 is structured to house the disinfectant 183 within the hollow inner space. According to the representative embodiment, the disinfectant 183 is provided with a plurality of tablets comprising sodium hypochlorite (disinfecting preparation) which are sequentially accumulated. In this representative embodiment, each tablet is structured to have a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 80 millimeter, a height of 30 millimeter and twelve tablets at maximum can be equipped. The tablet at the lowermost position of the disinfectant 183 is placed to face with the outside from the disinfectant exposing portion 184 such that the disinfectant 183 can be contacted with the water to be treated. The area of the exposure of the disinfectant exposing portion 184 to the outside can be arbitrarily 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 manually adjusted by operating the dissolving amount controlling portion 182. Specifically, by a rotating operation of the dissolving amount controlling portion 182 around the longitudinal axis of the chemical cartridge 180, the area of the exposure of the disinfectant exposing portion 184 can be changed. When the area of the exposure is increased, the exposure area to the water to be treated is increased and the dissolution of the disinfectant can be promoted. To the contrary, when the area of the exposure is decreased, the exposure area to the water to be treated is decreased and the dissolution of the disinfectant can be reduced.

[0044] Fig. 7 schematically shows a state that the water to be treated is transferred from the treated water tank 160 to the disinfection tank 170 by the second air lift pump as a front view. Note that, as explained above, the flow of the water to be treated is shown by an arrow in the drawings. The suction portion 194 of the second air lift pump 192 is located substantially at the same height with the bottom portion of the disinfection tank 170 in the treated water tank 160. On the other hand, the discharge portion 194 of the second air lift pump 192 is located higher than the position of the suction portion 194 by the predetermined amount. As a result, the difference in height is defined as the pump head.

[0045] Further, Fig. 8 schematically shows a state that the water to be treated is transferred from the treated water tank 160 to the disinfection tank 170 by the second air lift pump 192 and then, flows within the disinfection tank 170 as a front view. Note that, as the same with Fig. 7, the flow of the water to be treated is shown by an arrow in the drawings. The water to be treated transferred from the discharge portion 195 of the second air lift pump 192 to the disinfection tank 170 is to contact with the inner wall face of the division wall 171 at 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 the concave portion 172a such that the flowing direction is changed by the inner wall face and then, heads (flows) to the chemical cartridge 180 within the concave portion 172a. In other words, the water to be treated in the disinfection tank 170 is arranged that its flowing direction is changed by means of a reflection at the division wall 171 from the first direction from the discharge portion 195 of the second air lift pump 192 to the division wall 171, to the second direction (different from the first direction) from the division wall 171 to the chemical cartridge 180.

[0046] According to the representative embodiment, the area of the division wall 171 to change the flowing direction of the water to be treated does not only defines the disinfection tank 170 but also defines the baffle portion 171a (a baffle plate and / or a baffle wall) as a flowing direction changing device for the water to be treated. Namely, the baffle portion 171a of the division wall 171 is a component element parts of the disinfection tank 170 and also is an element part corresponding to “baffle portion” according to the invention. Note that, according the representative embodiment, the division wall 171 of the disinfection tank 170, namely the tank wall is utilized for the direction changer of the water to be treated. On the other hand, any other baffle device separately from the division wall 171 can be applied. In such a case, for example, plate like baffle plate, curved baffle plate or a combination thereof can be applied.

[0047] Because the flowing direction of the water to be treated is changed from the first direction to the second direction, the water to be treated reaches the chemical cartridge 180 in a state the flowing speed is decreased (in a state that the water potential is decreased). Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6, the flowing speed of the water to be treated when contacting with 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 the disinfection exposing portion 184 of the chemical cartridge 180 is relatively highly decreased in comparison with the case that the water to be treated is directly flows to the chemical cartridge from the discharge portion 195 of the second air lift pump 192.

[0048] As a result, the water to be treated contacts with the disinfectant 183 relatively in a “gentle” manner. Thus, unintended increase of the dissolution speed of the disinfectant 183 can be prevented and resultantly, the consumption control of the disinfectant 183 can be optimized. Note that, having regard to the consumption control, the direction change from the first direction to the second direction may preferably be more than 90 degrees in order for sufficient speed decreasing. For example, in this representative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the water to be treated led to the left in Fig. 8 contacts with the baffle portion 171a (namely, division wall 171) and then, the direction is changed more than 90 degrees so as to decrease the flowing speed and as a result, the water to be treated flows to the upper right direction in Fig. 8 to reach the chemical cartridge 180. In other words, according to the representative embodiment, the left direction in Fig. 8 is defined as the first direction and the right direction in Fig. 8 is defined as the second direction.

[0049] Further, as shown in Fig. 8, the water to be treated, the flowing direction of which is changed from the first direction to the second direction in the disinfection tank 170, is sequentially to contact with the first chemical cartridge 180a, the second chemical cartridge 180b and the third chemical cartridge 180c in this order, due to the relationship with the flowing direction changing device. Therefore, by appropriately adjusting the dissolving speed of the disinfectant at each chemical cartridge 180, the entire consumption speed of the disinfectant for the chemical cartridge 180 can be delicately controlled. For example, with respect to the first chemical cartridge 180a which is disposed at the closest 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 location to the flowing direction changing device, the dissolution speed may preferably be adjusted relatively low. In other words, the opening area of the disinfectant exposing portion 184 of the first chemical cartridge 180a may preferably be set as small. On the other hand, with respect to the third chemical cartridge 180a which is disposed at the remotest location from the flowing direction changing device, the dissolution speed may preferably be adjusted relatively high, because the flowing distance of the water to be treated becomes relatively longer and thus, the flowing speed becomes relatively slower. In other words, the opening area of the disinfectant exposing portion 184 of the third chemical cartridge 180c may preferably be set as large. And then, with respect to the second chemical cartridge 180b, the dissolution speed may preferably be adjusted at the intermediate level.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 9, the water to be treated to which the disinfection treatment is made by the chemical cartridge 180 is transferred in the disinfection tank 170 to the water to be treated storage portion 174 through the baffle portion 173. Thereafter, when reaching the water level of the discharge opening portion 175 at the water to be treated storage portion 174, the water to be treated is discharged from the discharge opening portion 175 to the outside of the disinfection tank 170 and then, discharged from the outlet pipe 103 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 to the outside of the water treatment apparatus 100.

[0051] With respect to the affirmative transferring of the water to be treated from the treated water tank 160 to the disinfection tank 170 by using a second air lift pump 192, there might be a concern that the transferring speed of the water to be treated to the disinfection tank 170 is too fast so as to cause the unintentional fast consumption of the disinfectant. However, according to the representative embodiment, the flowing direction of the water to be treated is changed to 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 decrease the flowing speed and hen, the water to be treated contacts with the chemical cartridge 180. Therefore, such concern can be alleviated. Specifically, once the water treatment apparatus 100 periodically inspected, it will not be maintained till to the next periodical inspection. In this connection, unintentional fast consumption of the disinfectant should be avoided as much as possible. According to the representative embodiment, such trouble can be avoided before it happens. Therefore, it is effective with respect to the environmental load. Further, according to the water treatment apparatus 100, the division wall 171 as itself is used for the flowing direction changing device of the water to be treated. Thus, it is not necessary to prepare any exclusive parts for the flowing direction change and parts composition can be well rationalized.

[0052] Further, if the technical purpose is only to decrease the flowing speed of the water to be treated, an overflow weir on the flowing passage, for example, can be used. However, in such a case, it is necessary to secure the passage with certain distance before the overflow and after the overflow, respectively. It is not effective in line with the space design efficiency. According to the representative embodiment, the flowing direction of the water to be treated is changed in order to decrease the flowing speed (especially direction change by 90 degrees or more). As a result, space saving design in the disinfection tank 170 is realized.

[0053] It might happen that stagnation is generated partly in the water to be treated and thus, flowing retention takes place. However, in such a case, when flowing direction of the water to be treated can be changed as seen in a macroscopic manner (macroscopically) from the first direction to the second direction by the baffle portion 171a, sufficient effect can be resulted. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022

[0054] By the water treatment apparatus 100 according to the representative embodiment, when the water to be treated is affirmatively transferred to the disinfection tank 170, the problem that might be occur as a trade-off of such affirmative transfer can be avoided before it happens. As a result, a specific technique for such affirmative transferring is provided.

[0055] Note that, in the representative embodiment, the water treatment apparatus 100 is provided with an air lift pump. However, as a fluid machine instead of the air lift pump, an underwater pump, for example, can be used. In this case, the controller may control total amount of transfer of the water to be treated by the underwater pump, for example, in accordance with the change of the water level.

[0056] Further, the water treatment apparatus 100 according to the representative embodiment is provided with the inflow baffle 110, the sedimentation separation tank 120, the anaerobic treatment tank 140, the aerobic treatment tank 150, the treated water tank 160 and the disinfection tank 170. In this regard, total quantity and type of treatment element can be appropriately selected in accordance with the necessity.

[0057] Moreover, the above-explained representative embodiment is explained by adopting the water treatment apparatus 100 for treating the raw water discharged from general houses and apartment houses. On the other hand, other than the general houses and apartment houses, the invention is applicable to a water treatment apparatus for treating the raw water discharged from, for example, the equipment of commercial facility, public facility and plant. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022

[0058] Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0059] (Relationship between each element of the representative embodiment and each element of the invention) The representative embodiment as explained above is an example for exploiting the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the structure of the representative embodiment. Following is the relationship between each element of the representative embodiment and each element of the invention. The water treatment apparatus 100 is an example of “water treatment apparatus” of the invention. The inflow baffle 110 is an example of “inflow tank” of the invention. The Sedimentation separation tank 120 is an example of “inflow tank” of the invention. The anaerobic treatment tank 140 is an example of “anaerobic treatment tank” of the invention. The aerobic treatment tank 150 is an example of “aerobic treatment tank” of the invention. The treated water tank 160 is an example of “treated water tank” of the invention. The disinfection tank 170 is an example of “disinfection tank” of the invention. The baffle portion 171a is an example of “baffle portion” of the invention. The chemical cartridge 180 is an example of “chemical cartridge” and “cartridge body” of the invention. The second air lift pump 192 is an example of “water to be treated transferring pump” of the invention. 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 [Explanation of Numeral References]

[0060] 100: Water treatment apparatus 101: Treatment tank body 101a: Side wall 101b: Side wall 101c: Side wall lOld: Side wall lOle: Bottom wall lOlf: Upper wall 102: Inlet pipe 103: Outlet pipe 104: Manhole portion 105: Partition wall 105 a: Opening portion 106: Partition wall 106a: Opening portion 107: Inflow baffle 108: Inflow baffle 110: Inflow baffle 120: Sedimentation separation tank 140: Anaerobic treatment tank 141: Anaerobic chamber 150: Aerobic treatment chamber 2022224798 01 Sep 2022 151a: Net-like block body filter bed 151b: Net-like granular body filter bed 152: Air supply device 153: Support frame 160: Treated water tank 170: Disinfection tank 171: Division wall (Disinfection tank forming wall) 171a: Baffle portion (Baffle plate, Baffle wall) 172: Chemical cartridge housing portion 172a: Concave portion 173: Baffle portion 174: Water to be treated storage portion 175: Discharge opening portion 180 (180a, 180b, 180c) Chemical cartridge 181: Chemical cartridge main body (Disinfectant housing portion) 182: Dissolving amount controlling portion 183: Disinfectant (Disinfecting Preparation, Tablet) 184: Disinfectant exposing portion 191: First air lift pump (Recirculation pump) 191a: Feedback passage 192: Second air lift pump (Discharge pump) 193: Pump body 194: Suction portion

Claims

Claim 1A water treatment apparatus for treating water to be treated including sludge comprising:an inflow tank into which the water to be treated flows,an anaerobic treatment tank provided on a downstream side of the inflow tank and configured to anarerobically treat the water to be treated,an aerobic treatment tank provided on a downstream side of the anaerobic treatment tank and configured to aerobically treat the water to be treated,a disinfection tank provided on a downstream side of the aerobic treatment tank and configured to disinfect the water to be treated,a baffle portion provided in the disinfection tank,a chemical cartridge disposed at a chemical cartridge chamber in the disinfection tank, the chemical cartridge containing the disinfectant for the water to be treated and being configured such that the disinfectant dissolves into the water to be treated by coming into contact with the water to be treated,a water-to-be treated transfer pump for transferring the water to be treated to the disinfection tank,wherein the water-to-be treated transfer pump discharges the water to be treated in a predetermined first direction in the disinfection tank,the baffle portion convers a flow direction of the water to be treated to a second direction different from the first direction in the disinfection tank and supplies the water to be treated to the chemical cartridge in a state where a flow velocity of the water to be treated is reduced, and a sidewall of the chemical cartridge chamber functions as the baffle portion.2022224798   16 Sep 2026Claim 2The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle through which the flow direction of the water to be treated is changed by the baffle portion is set to 90 degrees or more.Claim 3The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a treatment water tank is provided on a downstream side of the aerobic treatment tank and on an upper stream side of the disinfection tank, andthe water-to-be treated transfer pump is configured to transfer the water to be treated in the treatment water tank to the disinfection tank.Claim 4The water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chemical cartridge is constituted a plurality of cylinders in which a disinfectant for disinfecting the water to be treated is accommodated, and the water to be treated whose flowing direction is changed by the baffle portion is sequentially transferred to the plurality of cylinders.

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