Bioreactor with Backwashing Cartridge Filter for Sewage Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sewage treatment processes, such as the A2/O process, are ineffective in removing harmful bacteria and microorganisms, and the treatment of surplus sludge is costly and inefficient, with high generation volumes and limited practical application due to high costs and low reduction efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A bioreactor system incorporating an aerobic tank for organic substance adsorption by activated sludge, a backwashing cartridge filter for floc separation, and an anaerobic tank for denitrification using anammox bacteria, which reduces sludge generation and treatment time while producing biogas, and a sewage treatment system that includes primary and secondary sedimentation, dehydration, and anaerobic digestion tanks to manage sludge and nitrogen removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional A2/O process is used for nitrogen and phosphorus removal, then nutrient removal efficiency is improved, but harmful bacteria and microorganisms in sewage are not removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen and phosphorus removalVSAvoidharmful bacteria and microorganisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment process is divided into distinct functional zones: an aerobic tank for organic substance adsorption, a backwashing cartridge filter for floc separation, and an anaerobic tank for denitrification. This segmentation allows each component to target specific contaminants, with the filter physically removing bacteria and microorganisms while the biological tanks handle nutrient removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A backwashing cartridge filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the aerobic and anaerobic tanks. This filter acts as a physical barrier that separates and removes harmful bacteria and microorganisms from the sewage stream, complementing the biological nutrient removal processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If biological treatment method is used for sewage treatment, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but surplus sludge generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidsurplus sludge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The backwashing cartridge filter enables separation of floc from treated water, allowing the floc (containing microorganisms and organic matter) to be discarded or recovered separately. This reduces the amount of surplus sludge that would otherwise be generated by conventional biological treatment while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional sludge treatment methods are used, then sludge disposal is achieved, but treatment costs increase and reduction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesludge disposalVSAvoidsludge reduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The backwashing cartridge filter extracts and removes floc from the sewage stream before it enters the anaerobic tank. This extraction reduces the total sludge volume requiring disposal and concentrates organic matter in a manageable form, improving both disposal ease and reduction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If complex sewage treatment systems are used, then treatment comprehensiveness is improved, but device complexity and treatment area increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment comprehensivenessVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple treatment functions into a compact integrated system: organic substance adsorption in the aerobic tank, physical floc separation in the backwashing cartridge filter, and denitrification in the anaerobic tank. This combination achieves comprehensive treatment (nutrient removal plus pathogen removal) while minimizing device complexity and treatment area compared to conventional separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 bioreactor system enhances solid-liquid separation efficiency, reduces sludge discharge, and minimizes treatment area, achieving improved sewage treatment efficiency and biogas production while extending cartridge filter replacement cycles and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

an aerobic reactor tank continuously coupled to the mixing cell, in which the activated sludge adsorbs organic substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a backwashing cartridge filter for removing floc resulting from growth of the activated sludge adsorbing the organic substance from the sewage discharged through the outlet of the aerobic tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

an anaerobic tank for carrying out a denitrification process for denitrifying treated water having been passed through the backwashing cartridge filter, using anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDenitrification: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 4

a digestion tank for anaerobically digesting the raw sludge and the surplus sludge dehydrated in the dehydration tank to produce biogas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnaerobic digestion: Anaerobic Digestion

Data Source

PatentEP3392208B1Bioreactor for treating sewage, sewage treatment system comprising the same and method of treating sewage
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 DOOSAN HEAVY IND & CONSTR CO LTD
  • EP3392208B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(b)
  • EP3392208B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3392208B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed is a bioreactor for treating sewage comprising an aerobic tank including a mixing cell for receiving sewage to be supplied from an inlet and mixing the sewage with activated sludge and an aerobic reactor tank in which the activated sludge adsorbs organic substance existing in the sewage; a backwashing cartridge filter for removing floc resulting from growth of the activated sludge adsorbing the organic substance; and an anaerobic tank for carrying out a denitrification process for denitrifying treated water flowed through the backwashing cartridge filter using anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria wherein the backwashing cartridge filter allows the sewage discharged from the aerobic tank to pass through the cartridge filter and separates the floc and the treated water using difference in size between the floc contained in the sewage and pores in the cartridge filter, and wherein foreign matter adsorbed on the cartridge filter is easily removed by means of washing water to be injected into the cartridge filter.