Bioreactor Vibration Prevents Sludge Sedimentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bioreactors face issues with insufficient stirring and sludge accumulation, leading to inadequate anaerobic and aerobic reactions, especially in larger volumes, and increased installation and maintenance costs, which hinder efficient treatment of wastewater with high pollutant concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor design featuring a cylindrical inner tank divided into aerobic and anaerobic sections with a sedimentation-solidification prevention device, including a vibrating device, scraper, and stirring flow generation system, to maintain high circulation rates and prevent sludge accumulation, allowing continuous treatment of wastewater with high pollutant concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the bioreactor volume is increased to treat high concentrations of contaminants, then the treatment capacity is improved, but sludge accumulation becomes more severe and circulation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a vibrating device to the inner tank to generate vibrations that prevent sludge from accumulating and solidifying at the bottom of the bioreactor. The vibrations keep the sludge in a suspended state, maintaining circulation efficiency even in large-volume reactors treating high concentrations of contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable inner tank that can be vibrated and positioned dynamically within the outer tank. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to varying sludge accumulation conditions and maintain effective circulation throughout the bioreactor volume.
2Quantity of substance
If the bioreactor volume is increased, then the treatment capacity is improved, but stirring and reaction adequacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrating device generates vibrations throughout the bioreactor volume, ensuring adequate mixing and contact between microorganisms and contaminants even in large reactors. This maintains reaction adequacy without requiring proportionally larger stirring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrating device is activated before and during sludge accumulation to prevent solidification in advance. This preliminary action ensures that sludge remains circulatory and reactive throughout the treatment process, maintaining reliable reaction conditions.
3Reliability
If high-concentration activated sludge is used to treat high concentrations of contaminants, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but oxygen supply and stirring become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrating device creates micro-turbulence and enhances oxygen transfer efficiency by preventing sludge settling and maintaining homogeneous distribution. This improves oxygen supply to high-concentration sludge without requiring complex aeration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrating device enables the sludge system to self-mix and self-aerate to some extent, reducing the need for external mechanical stirring and complex oxygen supply infrastructure while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
4Quantity of substance
If the bioreactor volume is increased, then the treatment capacity is improved, but installation costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor is segmented into an outer tank and a movable inner tank, with the inner tank containing the vibrating device. This segmentation allows for modular installation and maintenance, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining large treatment capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable inner tank design allows for flexible installation and positioning within the outer tank. The dynamic configuration simplifies installation procedures and reduces the need for complex fixed mounting structures, lowering installation costs for large-volume reactors.
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 ensures continuous anaerobic and aerobic microorganism treatment with high tank circulation rates, preventing sludge sedimentation and facilitating efficient wastewater treatment, even in large volumes, while reducing installation complexity and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a sedimentation-solidification prevention device, comprising a vibrating device (12a) provided on an inner wall or outer wall of a lower part of the outer tank (2) at which sludge sediments
Implementation Method 2
a scraper (12d) provided on the inner wall
Implementation Method 3
an stirring flow generation device (12f-12h)
Data Source
AI summary
An aim of the invention is to provide a bioreactor and a waste water treatment method that employs this tank, whereby anaerobic and aerobic microorganism treatment can be continuously carried out, even when the volume of the bioreactor is large, and whereby installation costs can be minimized. The invention comprises an outer tank (2), a cylindrical inner tank (3) disposed inside this outer tank and having openings above and below, a circulation rate control device (4) for controlling the circulation rate of water to be treated in the bioreactor, the circulation rate control device (4) being provided at an upper part of this cylindrical inner tank, a cylindrical control plate (5) for bringing about sedimentation of sludge, the cylindrical control plate (5) being provided at the outer circumference of an upper part of the cylindrical inner tank, a treated-water quality measurement device (6) that is provided outside and inside of the cylindrical inner tank, a waste water supply opening (10) that is provided in the circulation pathway of the water to be treated circulating through the outer tank and inner tank, a treated water discharge opening (11) that is provided in an upper part of the outer tank, and a sedimentation-solidification prevention device (12) for preventing sedimentation-solidification of sludge that has sedimented.