Biofermentor Microbes for Wastewater Sludge Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wastewater treatment facilities face challenges in increasing volumetric or mass pollutant loading and hydraulic capacity without physical expansion, which is costly and often impractical, especially in urban areas.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Biofermentor system that uses microbes to enhance sludge removal and improve settling characteristics, allowing for increased hydraulic loading without physical expansion and reducing operating costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If physical expansion of wastewater treatment facilities is implemented, then hydraulic capacity and pollutant loading capacity increase, but capital costs and land requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the biological characteristics of sludge through controlled fermentation processes. By changing the sludge's settling properties and biodegradability parameters, the system achieves higher hydraulic loading rates without increasing physical plant capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fermentation process between primary and secondary treatment. This intermediary step modifies sludge properties to improve settling characteristics and reduce biomass accumulation, enabling increased hydraulic capacity without proportional increases in physical infrastructure
2Productivity
If conventional activated sludge systems operate at higher loading rates, then productivity increases, but sludge production and handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of excessive sludge production into a benefit by implementing anaerobic fermentation that reduces sludge volume and improves its settling characteristics. The fermentation process transforms problematic excess biomass into a more manageable form that settles better and requires less handling, thus converting the harm of high sludge production into the benefit of improved sludge properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and biological parameters of sludge through controlled fermentation, altering its composition, settling velocity, and biodegradability. These parameter changes enable the system to handle higher pollutant loading rates while producing less problematic sludge, resolving the contradiction between productivity and substance loss
3Reliability
If membrane bioreactor systems are used to retain activated sludge, then solids retention time increases and treatment efficiency improves, but the system becomes more limited in processing high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into distinct fermentation and clarification stages. By separating the sludge modification function from the clarification function, the system achieves reliable treatment efficiency through improved sludge settling while maintaining the ability to handle variable flow rates, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
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 Biofermentor system significantly increases volumetric pollutant loading, improves sludge settling, reduces sludge production, and lowers operating costs by minimizing the need for sludge handling and disposal.
Implementation Method 1
The microbes are not isolated, concentrated or freeze dried between the steps of growing and applying. The microbes reduce contaminants in the contaminated wastewater.
Implementation Method 2
the enhanced sludge process produces a biological sludge with improved settling characteristics
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to methods and systems of improving sludge removal and maintaining effluent quality. The methods include directing an incoming wastewater stream to a treatment facility, the stream having a flow of at least 75 708 litres per day; the incoming wastewater stream having at least 50 mg/L solids and 100 mg/L BOD; removing solids and BOD from the incoming wastewater stream in the treatment facility to provide a final effluent stream; the final effluent stream having less than 10% of the solids of the wastewater stream and less than 10% of the BOD of the wastewater stream; the removal of solids and BOD yielding less than about 0.25 kilo of secondary sludge per kilo of BOD removed.