System and method for continuous flow treatment of sewage / effluent

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for continuous flow treatment of sewage / effluent using a compact, hermetic advanced oxidation tower, wherein the advanced oxidation process occurs by injecting high concentrations of ozone directly into the raw sewage / effluent inside the advanced oxidation tower (8), in combination with an advanced microfiltration process for the treatment and proper discharge of sewage / effluent and / or production of reusable water, complying with current standards and legislation.

Description

[0001] CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003]

[0001] This invention patent describes a continuous-flow sewage / effluent treatment system and method with a hermetic and compact ultra-oxidation tower. The ultra-oxidation process is carried out through the injection of high-concentration ozone directly into the raw sewage / effluent within the oxidation tower, combined with an advanced micro-filtration process for the treatment and proper disposal of sewage / effluent and / or the production of reused water, complying with current standards and legislation.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005]

[0002] The effluent treatment process consists of removing impurities from wastewater, or sewage, before it reaches aquifers or natural bodies of water. Sewage treatment with the production of reused water not only reduces on-site costs, but also contributes to reducing pollution and the more conscious use of drinking water for other purposes.

[0006]

[0003] For the treatment of effluents, treatment plants basically have four phases: (a) preliminary treatments, with the aim of removing coarse residues capable of causing problems for subsequent installations and systems, (b) primary treatments that aim to remove other suspended solids present in the effluent to be treated, (c) secondary treatments and (d) tertiary treatments.

[0007]

[0004] Depending on the type of effluent, the following are expected:

[0008]

[0005] Conventional sewage treatment plant, which treats sewage through physical, chemical and biological processes. Includes screening, desanding, sedimentation, aeration and decantation.

[0009] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 8 / 22

[0006] Activated Sludge Sewage Treatment Plant: uses microorganisms to biodegrade pollutants present in sewage. Includes aeration tanks and sedimentation tanks.

[0010]

[0007] Anaerobic Reactor Sewage Treatment Plant: uses anaerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter.

[0011]

[0008] Sewage Treatment Plant by Macrophyte Beds: uses aquatic plants to remove contaminants.

[0012]

[0009] Industrial Effluent Treatment Plant: designed to treat effluents from industrial processes, may require specific treatments, depending on the types of pollutants present.

[0013]

[0010] Membrane Sewage Treatment Plant: Uses membranes to separate solids and microorganisms from the effluent.

[0014]

[0011] Sewage Treatment Plant by Physical-Chemical Processes: uses methods such as coagulation, flotation and filtration to remove impurities.

[0015]

[0012] Reverse Osmosis Effluent Treatment Plant: uses semipermeable membranes to remove contaminants. Mainly applied in industrial effluents.

[0016]

[0013] Ultrafiltration Sewage Treatment Plant: uses membranes to retain particles and microorganisms.

[0017]

[0014] However, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants require a complex and extensive structure to accumulate large volumes of effluent to be treated, which generates odors. Furthermore, the process takes a long time, with high energy consumption and intensive labor requirements, often with manual controls. The sludge generated and stored, an inherent residue of conventional processes, generally exceeds the organic load to be treated in volume. This residue requires

[0018] Petition 870240014102, dated February 20, 2024, page 9 / 22 requires intense control and a process to neutralize the organic load for proper disposal, incurring disposal costs and requiring tracking and monitoring of the final disposal of the waste. Furthermore, conventional systems for producing reused water from treated effluent are ineffective.

[0019]

[0015] Thus, the present patent deals with a sewage / effluent treatment system and method that performs treatment by applying a high concentration of ozone directly to the raw effluent. Ozone is the only oxidizing chemical in the treatment and has the main function and not a supporting one as in traditional systems.

[0020]

[0016] This process takes place inside a hermetic, compact oxidation tower that is resistant to ozone attack. Conventional market systems do not apply ozone to hermetic tanks. The oxidation tower was designed to maximize ozone contact with the effluent, ensuring a rapid reduction in organic load and disinfection. It also requires no accumulation time; the tower was designed to promote the oxidizing action of ozone in a single pass, eliminating the need for accumulation at any point in the process, which is characterized by continuous flow.

[0021]

[0017] The process continues with the passage of the effluent through the flotation, decantation, filtration, and microfiltration tanks until the final storage of the treated effluent for its appropriate disposal or the reuse water produced. Depending on the need for reducing the organic load and disinfection, intermediate contact tanks can be installed. At all stages, the flow of the treated effluent is continuous.

[0022] SUMMARY

[0023] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 10 / 22

[0018] The invention describes a continuous flow effluent treatment system with low volume retention, significantly reducing the effluent treatment time and the physical space required for its implementation.

[0024]

[0019] The invention describes a wastewater treatment system that combines ultra-oxidation by high ozone concentration and microfiltration, in a continuous flow treatment process. Ozone generation is carried out in the plant itself and oxidation occurs in a hermetic and compact tower exclusively designed for the effectiveness of the treatment process.

[0025]

[0020] The invention describes an effluent treatment system that meets quality standards for sewage treatment and production of reused water.

[0026]

[0021] The invention describes an effluent treatment system with low operating costs, both in terms of labor, chemicals and electrical energy.

[0027]

[0022] The invention describes an effluent treatment system that generates inorganic sludge with a residual proportional to the organic load of the treated effluent, much lower than conventional plants.

[0028]

[0023] The invention describes a fully automated effluent treatment system with remote monitoring.

[0029]

[0024] The invention describes an effluent treatment system with low complexity maintenance.

[0030]

[0025] The invention describes an effluent treatment system that does not reserve large quantities of raw or treated effluents given its continuous and rapid treatment process.

[0031]

[0026] The invention describes an effluent treatment system equipped with a hermetic ultra-oxidation tower that does not emit odors and can be installed inside the buildings themselves.

[0032] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 11 / 22 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033]

[0027] To complement this description, in order to obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of this patent, and in accordance with a preferred practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached, where in an exemplified but not limitative manner, the following is represented:

[0034]

[0028] Figure 1 shows the schematic representation of the sewage / effluent treatment system.

[0035]

[0029] Figure 2 shows a schematic drawing of the hermetic ultra oxidation tower.

[0036]

[0030] Figure 3 shows the simplified flowchart of the effluent treatment method and production of reused water.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038]

[0031] According to the aforementioned figures, and in their details, the present patent comprises a system and the respective method for treating continuous flow sewage / effluents, including a hermetic and compact ultra-oxidation tower and an ozone production unit from atmospheric air, not requiring an external supply of the main and only oxidizing agent. Self-production guarantees autonomy to the treatment plant.

[0039]

[0032] The continuous flow sewage / effluent treatment system comprises an air compressor for capturing atmospheric air (1), compressed air tanks (2), compressed air dryers (3), high-efficiency oxygen concentrators (4) (subject of patent BR1 02024003331-0), large, high-efficiency ozone generator (5) (subject of patent BR102024003332-9), raw effluent capture box and screening (6), flow regulation box (7), hermetic and compact ultra-oxidation tower (8), polymer tank (9), flotation tank (10), settling tank (11),

[0040] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 12 / 22 sludge tank (12), centrifugal filter assembly (13), microfiltration tank (14), treated effluent tank for reuse water (15).

[0041]

[0033] In the initial stage, the raw effluent from the building is dumped into the collection and grating box (6), where the coarse solid waste is retained and, subsequently, the raw effluent is directed to the flow regulation box (7).

[0042]

[0034] From the flow regulation box (7), the raw effluent is directed through piping to the hermetic ultra oxidation tower (8).

[0035] The pressurized raw effluent is pumped through the lower part of the ultra oxidation tower (8), through an inlet connection (8.1), and moves by upward flow under ozone injection. The high concentration ozone (between 50 g / h and 500 g / h) is fed through an inlet connection (8.2), in communication with a Venturi tube (8.3), for the entry of ozone received from the ozone generator (5), by negative pressure.

[0043]

[0036] In the internal region of the ultra oxidation tower (8), internal baffles (8.4) are arranged transversely to the effluent flow in order to maximize contact between the ozone and the effluent, promoting the elimination of the organic load and its disinfection.

[0044]

[0037] After passing through the oxidation tower (8), the effluent is released through the outlet connection (8.6) of the ultra oxidation tower (8) and sent to the flotation tank (10) where it receives a load of polymers stored in a tank (9).

[0045]

[0038] In the flotation tank (10) an automated conveyor belt is arranged to remove the floated sludge by dragging it to a sludge reservoir (12).

[0046]

[0039] From the flotation tank (10) the effluent is directed to a settling tank (11) equipped with an extractor pump to remove the settled sludge, which is sent to the sludge tank (12).

[0047] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 13 / 22

[0040] The effluent under treatment goes to a set of centrifugal filters (13) and, after this stage, to a membrane microfiltration unit (14) for final filtration.

[0048]

[0041] After the microfiltration stage, the treated effluent is directed to the reuse water storage tank (15).

[0049]

[0042] In the reserve tank (15), the reused water is stored, receiving dye, with the aim of distinguishing it from drinking water, and a specific chlorine load, in accordance with legislation.

[0050]

[0043] In an experimental stage, raw sewage from a Shopping Center was treated using the system and method that is the object of the present invention, with data related to the sewage treatment process and production of reused water being presented.

[0051]

[0044] Table 1 - Experimental stage indicators

[0052] (a) Acidity level of water

[0053] (b) Quantity of suspended particles (nephelometric unit of turbidity)

[0054] (c) Quantity of 02 required to decompose organic matter.

[0055] (d) Microbiological analysis, most likely number in 100 mL

[0056] (e) Added chlorine.

[0057] Petition 870240014102, dated 02 / 20 / 2024, page 14 / 22 (f) Assesses the total weight of mineral constituents present in the water. WHO classifies <300 mg / L as excellent.

[0058] (g) Salt content in water (micro-siemens per centimeter)

[0059] Petition 870240014102, dated February 20, 2024, page 15 / 22

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM comprising an air compressor for capturing atmospheric air (1), compressed air tanks (2), compressed air dryers (3), oxygen concentrators (4) and ozone generator (5), characterized by comprising: a) a collection and grating box (6) that receives the raw effluent; b) a flow regulation box (7) that receives the effluent from the collection and grating box (6); c) a hermetic ultra-oxidation tower (8) that receives the raw effluent from the flow regulation box (7) via piping, said ultra-oxidation tower (8) having a lower inlet connection (8.1) for the effluent to enter under pressure treatment, an inlet connection (8.2) in communication with a Venturi tube (8.3) for the inlet of ozone received from the ozone generator (5) and internal and transversal baffles (8.4), to the ascending flow of the effluent; d) a flotation tank (10) that receives the effluent released by the outlet connection (8.6) of the ultra oxidation tower (8) for addition of polymers; e) a settling tank (1 1 ) that receives the effluent from the flotation tank (10); f) a sludge tank (12) that receives the sludge removed from the flotation tank (10) and the settling tank (1 1 ); g) centrifugal filters (13) that receive the effluent under treatment; h) a membrane microfiltration unit (14);. i) a reuse water storage tank (15) that receives the effluent treated in the membrane microfiltration unit (14).

2. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer is stored in a tank (9) in communication with the flotation tank (10).

3. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the flotation tank (10) has a conveyor belt.

4. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the settling tank (11) has an extraction pump.

5. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT METHOD using the system claimed in 1, characterized by comprising the steps: a) receiving raw effluent from the building in the collection and grating box (6); b) retaining coarse solid waste in the collection and grating box (6); c) forwarding the raw effluent to the flow regulation box (7); d) forwarding the raw effluent to the hermetic ultra-oxidation tower (8) by piping; e) pressurized raw effluent pumped through the lower inlet connection (8.1) for entry and upward displacement in the internal region of the ultra-oxidation tower (8) under injection of ozone in concentration between 50 g / h and 500 g / h and negative pressure fed through the inlet connection (8.2) in communication with a Venturi tube (8.3); f) effluent released through the outlet connection (8.6) of the ultra oxidation tower (8) and sent to the flotation tank (10); g) polymer load added to the flotation tank (10); h) effluent is directed to the settling tank (11); i) effluent under treatment directed to a set of centrifugal filters (13) and, subsequently, to a membrane microfiltration unit (14); j) treated effluent is directed to the reuse water reserve tank (15).

6. CONTINUOUS FLOW SEWAGE / EFFLUENT TREATMENT METHOD, according to claim 5, characterized in that the reused water receives dye and chlorine.

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