Ballasted Sequencing Batch Reactor for Faster Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ballasted sequencing batch reactor (SBR) systems face challenges with slow settling of biological flocs and unreliable solids separation due to issues like overgrowth of filamentous organisms and viscous bulking, limiting system capacity and effluent quality.
Innovation Solution
A ballasted sequencing batch reactor system that incorporates a weighting agent impregnation subsystem to form weighted biological flocs, which settle faster and improve effluent quality, combined with a weighting agent recovery subsystem to recycle and reintroduce the weighting agent, enhancing the system's capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional SBR systems use biological flocs for treatment, then the system can treat wastewater, but the biological flocs settle very slowly and solids separation becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ballast material as an intermediary substance that associates with biological flocs to form weighted flocs. This ballast material serves as a mediator that transfers the settling function from the biological flocs themselves to a denser, more reliable settling component, thereby improving both settling speed and solids separation reliability without compromising the biological treatment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining biological flocs with ballast material to form weighted biological flocs. This composite material integrates the biological activity of the flocs with the high density and reliable settling characteristics of the ballast material, resolving the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and settling performance.
2Reliability
If the settle phase duration is extended to improve solids separation, then separation quality improves, but system capacity and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of the biological flocs by incorporating ballast material, transforming them into weighted flocs with significantly higher density. This parameter change enables the flocs to settle much faster under the same gravitational force, allowing the settle phase to be completed in shorter time while achieving the same or better separation quality, thereby increasing system capacity and productivity.
3Speed
If ballast material is added to form weighted biological flocs, then settling speed and solids separation improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a ballast recovery system that separates and recycles ballast material from the settled sludge. This recovery process allows the ballast to be reused in subsequent operations, preventing the accumulation of excess ballast and reducing the need for continuous ballast addition. The recovery subsystem adds complexity but enables sustainable operation and reduces long-term operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast material serves multiple functions: it provides density for rapid settling, acts as a nucleus for floc formation, and can be recovered and reused. This multi-functionality justifies the added system complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single added component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system increases treatment capacity and improves effluent quality by reducing settling time and suspended solids, while also reducing operational costs through efficient weighting agent recovery and recycling.
Implementation Method 1
A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix biological flocs and weighting agent to form weighted biological flocs
Implementation Method 2
the biological flocs are only marginally heavier than water and therefore settle very slowly
Implementation Method 3
During the settle phase, the biological flocs formed in the previous phases are allowed settle to the bottom of the SBR to form settled sludge
Implementation Method 4
The separator subsystem may include a centrifugal separator
Implementation Method 5
The separator subsystem may include a shear mill
Data Source
AI summary
A ballasted sequencing batch reactor system for treating wastewater including one or more sequencing batch reactors. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix biological flocs and weighting agent to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroduce the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.