Facultative Membrane Bioreactor for Sludge Digestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sludge treatment methods, such as aerobic activated sludge processes, result in excessive sludge production, high investment costs, energy consumption, environmental pollution, and space requirements, with issues like groundwater and atmospheric pollution.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a facultative membrane bioreactor system comprising a facultative digestion tank, membrane module, aeration system, sludge pump, and drainage pump for sludge digestion and filtration, maintaining an anaerobic or facultative state with low oxygen levels to decompose sludge into water and carbon dioxide, reducing excess sludge yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aerobic activated sludge process is used to treat sewage, then sewage treatment is achieved, but excess sludge production increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the oxygen parameter from aerobic conditions to anaerobic conditions (DO concentration 0-2 mg/L), which fundamentally alters the biological process to reduce sludge production while maintaining sewage treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from aerobic to anaerobic phase in the reaction tank, creating a facultative anaerobic environment that enables endogenous respiration and reduces excess sludge generation
2Reliability
If conventional sludge dehydration and transportation methods are used, then sludge disposal is achieved, but investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex dehydration and transportation equipment by using in-situ anaerobic digestion that produces biogas for energy and reduces sludge volume, thereby reducing system investment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own produced biogas to provide energy for operation, making the sludge treatment process self-sufficient and reducing external energy input requirements
3Reliability
If incineration method is used for sludge treatment, then sludge disposal is achieved, but energy consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful sludge into beneficial biogas through anaerobic digestion, and the biogas is used to provide energy, thereby converting waste into a resource that offsets energy consumption
4Reliability
If landfill method is used for sludge disposal, then sludge disposal is achieved, but transportation cost and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms sludge from a harmful waste product into a source of biogas energy through anaerobic digestion, eliminating the need for landfill and associated environmental pollution
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers energy from sludge in the form of biogas and uses it internally, while the digested sludge residue is reduced in volume and stability improved, eliminating the need for external landfill disposal
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 method effectively digests sludge, reducing treatment costs and environmental impact, achieving near-zero sludge discharge and minimizing pollution.
Implementation Method 1
The above-mentioned sludge digestion refers to the disintegration of excess sludge due to the endogenous respiration of microbe
Implementation Method 2
The facultative digestion tank provides reaction conditions for facultative or anaerobic digestion of sludge, and most area of the facultative digestion tank is maintained in a facultative or anaerobic state
Implementation Method 3
pumping the sludge by the drainage pump and filtrating by the membrane module so that sludge and water are separated
Implementation Method 4
The aeration system mainly provides air-water scouring against the membrane module so as to prevent sludge from depositing and polluting the membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treatment of sludge with a facultative-organism-adapted membrane bioreactor by providing a sludge treatment system comprising a facultative digestion tank, a membrane module, an aeration system, a sludge pump, and a drainage pump, pumping sludge into the facultative digestion tank via the sludge pump and allowing for digestion, synchronously aerating and scouring the membrane module by the aeration system, pumping the sludge by the drainage pump and filtrating by the membrane module so that sludge and water are separated, and draining the water via the drainage pump. The method can digest sludge completely in the digestion tank, and solves problems existing in conventional sludge treatment methods such as large investment and high transportation cost, even achieves a subject of zero discharge of sludge.