Current-Based Solids Bed Treatment for Fouling-Resistant Wastewater

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wastewater treatment technologies face issues such as fouling, clogging, and chemical contamination of system components, leading to high costs, limited throughput, and waste generation, while conventional adsorption processes are limited by finite adsorption sites and require frequent replacement.

Innovation Solution

A process and system using a solids bed with electrically conductive particles and electrodes to dissolve a portion of the bed, generating constituents that react with wastewater to separate suspended or dissolved components, avoiding fouling and chemical contamination, and utilizing the entire particle volume for continuous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If filtration processes are used to separate suspended contaminants, then separation efficiency is improved, but filter media fouling increases leading to reduced throughput and frequent servicing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful suspended contaminants from wastewater through electrocoagulation, forming coagulates that are then removed by filtration. This separates the contamination removal function from the main filtration system, preventing fouling of primary filter media while maintaining high throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces electrocoagulation as an intermediary process between the wastewater and filtration system. The electrocoagulation process transforms dissolved contaminants into removable coagulates, serving as a mediator that protects the filtration system from fouling while maintaining separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If electrocoagulation is used to treat wastewater, then contaminant removal is improved, but electrode fouling and clogging occur limiting process usefulness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant removal efficiencyVSAvoidprocess continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges electrocoagulation with a solids bed filtration system, where the coagulates formed during electrocoagulation are captured by the solids bed. This combination allows continuous operation as the solids bed can be backwashed or replaced without interrupting the electrocoagulation process, maintaining both contaminant removal efficiency and process reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If chemical additives are added to wastewater for treatment, then contaminant coagulation is improved, but system component corrosion and fouling increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant coagulation efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical coagulation with electrocoagulation, using electrical current to generate coagulating ions directly at the electrodes. This substitution eliminates the need for chemical additives, thereby preventing corrosion and fouling of system components while maintaining effective contaminant coagulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If adsorptive beds are used to remove dissolved contaminants, then contaminant removal capacity is improved, but adsorption sites become finite requiring bed replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant removal capacityVSAvoidadsorbent material

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a solids bed that can be backwashed to recover and remove accumulated coagulates and contaminants. This allows the adsorbent material to be regenerated and reused multiple times, preventing loss of substance while maintaining contaminant removal capacity. The solids bed is replaced only when necessary, significantly extending material life compared to conventional adsorption beds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 process achieves efficient, continuous wastewater treatment with minimal downtime and reduced waste generation, maintaining water chemistry integrity and extending the life of treatment components.

Implementation Method 1

An electric current is passed through at least the at least one pair of spaced electrodes to thereby dissolve at least a portion of the solids bed to produce dissolved constituents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The dissolved constituents react with the wastewater stream to enable separation of the wastewater components from the aqueous component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentUS12454469B2Current based water treatment process and system

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 WATERSTRIDER TREATMENT INC

AI summary

Process for treatment of wastewater is provided. The wastewater includes suspended or dissolved wastewater components and an aqueous component. During the treatment process, at least a portion of a solids bed through which the wastewater is passed is dissolved using an electric current. Dissolution of the solids bed produces constituents which react with the wastewater and enable separation of the suspended or dissolved wastewater components from the aqueous component. Also provided is a system for carrying out the process.