System for treating drinking water that comprises steps of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for treating drinking water that comprises the steps of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, characterised by the interaction of different elements, phases and the arrangement thereof, which includes a semi-buried reinforced concrete structure, comprising: a coagulant dosing shed, a coagulation channel provided with a Parshall flow meter, a hydraulic flocculator provided with three gradients of speed between chambers, a sedimentation unit provided with a decanting accelerator panel, a mixed filter bed, a filtered water interconnecting channel for backwashing the remaining filtering units, a contact chamber for disinfection and a storage tank. The field of application of the present invention is intended for the basic sanitation, health and public utilities sectors.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRINKING WATER, WHICH INTEGRATES STAGES OF COAGULATION, FLOCCULATION, SEDIMENTATION, FILTRATION AND DISINFECTION.

[0002] TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

[0003] The present invention is located in the sector of basic sciences, especially in environmental, chemical, civil and sanitary engineering.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In 2001, the inventor worked as an operator at a water treatment plant in the municipality of Agrado, Department of Hulla, a job he held for three years. During that time, he closely observed the operation of the water treatment plant and realized that the aqueduct needed to increase the treatment flow to complete the supply to the connected population. The aqueduct manager requested a quote for a treatment module, which could not be financed because it was too expensive. Therefore, the inventor proposed the construction of a semi-buried treatment module that would perform the same conventional treatment function at one-third of the usual and quoted cost. The project materialized; it was designed for a flow rate of 10 liters per second, was constructed of reinforced concrete, and is currently operating satisfactorily.

[0006] Then, in 2018, a rural community in the municipality of Garzón-Hulla (Claros-Aguablanca) needed a treatment system for its water supply system. They requested a quote for a compact WWTP, as it was too expensive. They contacted the inventor, who shared the solution to their problem with the proposed method. The proposal was accepted, and a design for 10 liters per second was developed. This treatment plant is currently operating satisfactorily and benefits 516 families, with a capacity of up to 800.Regarding the water treatment plant proposed and delivered to the communities of Garzón (Zuluaga) and Gigante (Lavega), a substantial change is evident from the usual model used by the various agents involved in the sector. This included coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. However, in the transition from flocculation to coagulation, there was a difference in levels that caused the floc to rupture, resulting in incomplete sedimentation. This occurred because when the floc ruptured, the particles became lighter and smaller, and therefore the settler could not decant them. This caused additional work for the filters and, consequently, lower quality in the final treated water. This also caused the filters to deteriorate more quickly due to their overloading with retained particles, making them less effective in treating and cleaning the water.

[0007] Similarly, conventional water treatment models required a greater amount of excavation depth due to their fully buried design, to prevent the walls from collapsing due to the pressure exerted by the water stored or contained within the plant. The plant proposed by the inventor is built with stronger and more efficient materials, utilizing new construction techniques and using structural cement reinforced with corrugated rebar. This allows for greater resistance to tension and compression in a plant that is effectively proposed to be semi-buried, significantly reducing the cost of implementation for the operator or interested party.

[0008] The problematic situation regarding sedimentation and waste recharge generated in filters with conventional mechanisms is solved by maintaining equal levels between the flocculator and the settler, facilitated by the level construction of the modules proposed by the inventor. This allows the water treatment plant to operate with a smoother flow rate, avoiding damage to the floc, thus ensuring that the particle remains at an optimal size for the settler to effectively decant it.

[0009] After sedimentation, unlike the conventional model, this proposed invention features an improved filter, as it has valves to drain the filter bed well for maintenance purposes. This option is not available at the aforementioned point, and when filter maintenance is required, the relevant agents must be contacted to pump out the stagnant water in the filter.

[0010] Of particular note is the proposed water treatment plant's 50% cost reduction compared to existing plants, due to the reduced use of accessories, its semi-buried construction, optimizing space, and, among other factors, its ability to allow for normal flow between the various stages, mitigating damage to its internal structures.

[0011] Thus, the state of the art analyzed to determine the viability of the present patent process is unavoidably subject to the application previously filed by the inventor NC2020 / 0016022 entitled Accessory device in C to optimize the backwashing operation of the filter bed in water treatment plants, It is an accessory device in C to optimize the backwashing operation of the filter bed in water treatment plants, built in reinforced concrete, comprising two 90 ° elbows, cast into a concrete wall vertically at 15.24 cm, 20.32 cm, 25.4 cm and 30.48 cm.2. The coupling flange is characterized in that it houses the butterfly valve, which allows or prevents the passage of water either upwards or downwards through the action of the aerodynamically shaped stainless steel disc.The aerodynamic shape as the term is defined, prevents friction of the fluids when passing in their ascending or descending forms within the accessory device in C. Another patent analyzed within the state of the art is W02009101157A1 entitled Water treatment process using a nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane system that allows high conversion rates due to the elimination of organic matter, this patent is used to make water drinkable having as phases cleaning-sieving, oxidation, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and / or membrane filtration such as microfiltration or ultrafiltration of water. When done by membrane filtration, it is a slower process with low performance, which would be for domestic use.Additionally, this patent implements oxidation, which allows for the elimination of organic compounds in wastewater that are too diluted to be incinerated or too concentrated to be subjected to biological treatment.

[0012] Finally, patent AU2017383081B2 entitled Installation and process for water treatment, includes means for supplying water to be treated, optionally coagulation and flocculation zones, flotation reactor and gravitational filter, washing means and optionally membrane filter, this treatment is characterized in that said bed of monolayer filter medium is distributed over a height greater than or equal to 0.5 m and less than 1 m, and the granular material is composed of anthracite, pumice, filtralite, activated carbon or Zeolite. For the above reasons, respectable New Creations Department, we consider that our device meets the three requirements for patenting, since, in the state of the art there is no patent that integrates its essential characteristics, nor is there evidence that the implementation of existing ones generates such an evident benefit in systems for the treatment of drinking water. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

[0013] A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, which has as a particularity the interaction of different elements, phases and their arrangement, within which there is a structure built in reinforced concrete, semi-buried, comprising: a coagulant dosing booth, a coagulation channel, provided with a Parshall flume, a hydraulic flocculator, provided with three velocity gradients between chambers, a settler, provided with a settling accelerator panel, a mixed filter bed, an interconnecting filtered water channel for backwashing the other filter units, a contact chamber for disinfection and a storage tank.

[0014] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES.

[0015] 1. Front View: where a regulating box (1), a coagulation booth (3), a butterfly-type influent valve (601), and storage tanks (11) are described.

[0016] 2. Rear View: where a regulating box (1), a coagulation house (3), and a butterfly-type influent valve (601) are described.

[0017] 3. Left side view: where a regulating box (1), coagulation house (3), digital electric pump (301), chambers (4), holes (401), settler (5), perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), butterfly type influent valve (601), mixed filter beds (7), filtered water channel (701), drainage pipe (702), false bottom of joists (8), gutters (9), contact chamber (10), storage tanks (11) and valves (13) are described.

[0018] 4. Top View: where a regulating box (1), a T (101), a gate valve (102), a Y filter (103) and macrometer (104), coagulation channel (2), coagulation house (3), chambers (4), settler (5), perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), butterfly type influent valve (601), drainage pipe (702), gutters (9), contact chamber (10), storage tanks (11), removal pipe (12) and valves (13) are described.

[0019] 5. Isometric View: where a regulating box (1), a T (101), a gate valve (102), a Y filter (103) and macrometer (104), coagulation channel (2), coagulation house (3), the digital electric pump (301), chambers (4), holes (401), settler (5), perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), mixed filter beds (7), filtered water channel (701), drainage pipe (702), gutters (9), contact chamber (10), storage tanks (11), removal pipe (12) and valves (13) are described.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention relates to a system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, where the system integrates different elements and particularities to achieve the function of purifying and disinfecting the water, through the stages indicated in its name. The elements, which will be mentioned in subsequent lines, allow the stages, in their order, to achieve the cleaning and disinfection of water in compliance with the parameters for Colombia, contained in Resolution 2115 of 2007, issued by the Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development, today Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, which establishes the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics that water must contain for suitable human consumption.

[0022] This system, as stated, integrates different stages ranging from coagulation to disinfection of drinking water from surface water sources. In order, the system initially receives water directly from the water source and enters a regulating box (1), which contains accessories with which the flow rate to treatment is regulated, which are: a T (101), a gate valve (102), a Y filter (103) and macrometer (104), connected to each other through a flanged connection. The regulated water continues its course through a pipe reaching the coagulation channel (2), which is provided with a Parshall gauge, where the coagulant discharge from the coagulation house (3) is received.This booth (3) is provided elevated to allow gravity discharges, in case of failures in its electrical system, inside which the digital electric pump (301) is installed that doses the coagulant discharge, which in turn is placed in a container inside the booth (3).

[0023] Following the order that the system fulfills to achieve the relevant purposes and after overcoming the stage of the coagulation module, it enters the phase of the flocculation module, where by the action of gravity the coagulated water passes through some holes (401) of interconnection between chambers (4), which generate three speed gradients, where the floc forms in the water, grows, gains weight, and is then trapped by the settler (5). The holes (401) that will be in number equal to the number of chambers, are characterized because their initial size X increases by 4 cm for the second speed gradient and increases 8 cm for the third gradient.Another peculiarity that these holes have is that which concerns their position in the chambers (4), since they are interspersed among them, some in the upper part and others in the lower part, in order to cause agitation that helps the ionization of the colloidal particles, for the formation and growth of the floc.

[0024] After passing through the coagulation and flocculation stage given by the elements mentioned previously, the system is characterized by having a sedimentation module, where ABS accelerating panels (5) are installed with an inclination of 60 °, which allows an optimal decantation of the flocs present in the water. From the flocculation chambers (4) the water reaches the sedimentation zone through a pipe arranged in its lower part, as a bushing, where the flocculated water ascends to the perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), which are kept at the level of the surface water layer of the flocculator.As the flocculated water passes through the perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), it passes through the accelerating panels (5) where their 60° inclination forces the flocs to clump together into heavy mud formations, which fall to the bottom of the settler, from where the sludge is purged through a removal pipe (12) and valves (13) provided for this purpose. In this event, the solids are separated from the clarified water and it passes through to the filtration module.

[0025] In the filtration module of the present system, the decanted water arrives in a descending manner towards mixed filter beds (7) after passing through the perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6), from where it passes through a butterfly-type influent valve (601), which will allow the opening or closing at the time for the purposes of backwashing mixed filter beds (7). These mixed filter beds (7) are characterized by containing 4 layers in ascending order, of: 5 cm diameter gravel, 2 cm gravel, natural granite No. 2, sand with a granulometry of 0.5 to 2 mm and anthracite with a granulometry of 1.2 mm. Mixed filter beds (7) that are supported on a false bottom of joists (8) in concrete provided with holes that allow the passage of water to the filtered water channel (701). The mixed filter beds (7) have a drainage pipe (702) that allows total drainage, for maintenance purposes, located at the base of the structure.

[0026] In the filtration action or phase generated by this system, concrete channels (9) are provided, which are located above the mixed filter beds (7), allowing the backwash action to be performed on them. In this system, after the previously mentioned phases have been completed, the sedimented and filtered water, free of turbidity and color, is disinfected in the contact chamber (10), where the broad-spectrum microbicidal gaseous disinfectant is applied to it through a suction injector. After that, the water is stored pure and disinfected in storage tanks (11), located within the system itself or located externally. This water will also pass through pipes to the final consumer.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, characterized in that from its stages it achieves the cleaning and disinfection of water from surface water sources, which is composed of: a) A regulating box (1) through which the water from the water source enters directly, which contains a T (101), a gate valve (102), a Y filter (103) and macrometer (104), connected between them through a flanged connection. b) A coagulation module provided with a coagulation channel (2) and a coagulation house (3). c) A flocculation module with chambers (4) provided with holes (401). d) A sedimentation module, which has installed ABS accelerating panels (5) and perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6).e) A filtration module with mixed filter beds (7) supported on false bottoms of concrete joists (8) and with concrete gutters (9). f) A contact chamber (10) where the broad spectrum microbicidal gaseous disinfectant is applied to the turbidity and color-free water through a suction injector, and is finally stored in storage tanks (11).

2. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1, wherein the coagulation channel (2) is provided with a Parshall flowmeter, which receives the coagulant discharge from the coagulation house (3).

3. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claims 1 and 2, where the coagulation booth (3) is provided elevated to discharge the water by gravity, in case of electrical failures and, has a digital electric pump (301) that doses the discharge of coagulant and is placed in a container inside the booth (3).

4. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1, where the holes (401) arranged in the chambers (4) generate three speed gradients, where the floc forms in the water, grows, gains weight, and is then trapped by the settler (5).

5. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claims 1 and 4, where the holes (401) will have a number equal to that of the chambers (4), which are characterized in that the initial size X increases by 4 cm for the second velocity gradient and increases by 8 cm for the third gradient.

6. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1, where the flocculated water to reach the perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6) passes through the accelerating panels (5) where, due to their inclination of 60°, it forces the flocs to clump together in heavy mud formations, which fall to the bottom of the settler, from where a sludge purge is carried out through a removal pipe (12) and a valve (13).

7. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1 and 6, where the perforated tubes for collecting decanted water (6) have a butterfly-type influent valve (601), to opening and closing of the water passage for backwashing purposes of mixed filter beds (7).

8. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1, where the mixed filter beds (7) are characterized by containing 4 layers in ascending order of: gravel of 5 cm in diameter, gravel of 2 cm, natural granite No. 2, sand with a granulometry of 0.5 to 2 mm and anthracite with a granulometry of 1.2 mm.

9. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1 and 8, where the false bottom of beams (8) that supports the mixed filter beds (7) is provided with holes that allow the passage of water to the filtered water channel (701).

10. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1 and 8, where the mixed filter beds (7) have a drainage pipe (702) that allows total drainage, for maintenance purposes, located at the base of the structure.

11. A system for the treatment of drinking water, which integrates stages of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, according to claim 1, where the concrete channels (9) are located above the mixed filter beds (7), allowing the backwashing action to be carried out on them.

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