Fluidized Bed Activated Carbon Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for treating aqueous fluids using fluidized beds of coagulated and possibly flocculated activated carbon (CAF) face challenges in maintaining constant performance and carbon concentration, leading to increased operating costs due to overconsumption of activated carbon and instability caused by changes in water quality and suspended matter.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction and separation of a fraction of the fluidized bed of powdered activated carbon using a hydrocyclone to concentrate the carbon content, thereby stabilizing the fluidization height and improving purification performance, while reducing activated carbon consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If powdered activated carbon is continuously injected into the reactor to maintain constant treatment performance, then purification performance is improved, but activated carbon consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state and concentration parameters of activated carbon by using hydrocyclones to separate and concentrate carbon flocs from the treated water. This allows the system to maintain effective carbon concentration in the reactor without continuous injection, reducing carbon consumption while preserving purification performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where a portion of the treated water containing carbon flocs is extracted, concentrated through hydrocyclones, and reinjected into the reactor. This closed-loop feedback maintains constant carbon concentration and purification performance while minimizing carbon loss
2Length of stationary object
If the coal content in coal flocs decreases, then the height of the coal bed increases, but the separation between coal flocs and aqueous fluid becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary concentration of carbon flocs using hydrocyclones before reinjection into the reactor. This preliminary action ensures that the carbon bed maintains adequate concentration and separation effectiveness, preventing the problem of ineffective separation that occurs when carbon content decreases
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the treated water flow into different streams: one stream is extracted for carbon concentration through hydrocyclones, while another continues to the discharge. This segmentation allows selective concentration of carbon flocs to maintain separation effectiveness without affecting overall bed height
3Stability of the object's composition
If the coal content in coal flocs decreases, then the activated carbon bed becomes loosened, but purification performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop feedback system extracts carbon-containing flocs from treated water, concentrates them through hydrocyclones, and reinjects them into the reactor. This feedback mechanism maintains stable carbon bed composition and prevents loosening, thereby preserving purification performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of carbon flocs through hydrocyclone separation and reinjection. By controlling the concentration of reinjected flocs, the system maintains stable carbon bed composition and prevents the loosening that would otherwise deteriorate purification performance
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
This method effectively manages the fluidization height, stabilizes the CAF bed, and enhances purification performance by concentrating the carbon bed, resulting in reduced activated carbon consumption and lower operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one separation of the sludge extracted in step (a) so as to obtain a fraction having an insoluble HCl index at least 5 percentage points higher than that of the sludge before separation, said separation step (b) being carried out using at least one hydrocyclone
Implementation Method 2
The purpose of aqueous fluid treatment processes using fluidized, coagulated and possibly flocculated activated carbon (FAC) is to eliminate organic micropollutants present in aqueous fluids
Implementation Method 3
coagulated CAP, possibly flocculated by the addition of polymer, is present as coal flocs
Implementation Method 4
Equilibrium is reached when the settling velocity of the suspension is matched to the hydraulic fluidization velocity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for treating an aqueous fluid, comprising bringing into contact the aqueous fluid with a fluidised bed of powdered activated carbon, and separating the aqueous fluid from the bed of powdered activated carbon, including a step of managing the fluidised bed of powdered activated carbon. The management step comprises the extraction of a fraction of the fluidised bed of powdered activated carbon in the form of sludge, at least a separation of the sludge extracted in the previous step so as to obtain a fraction having an insoluble index HC1 which is higher than that of the sludge before separation by at least 5 percentage points, and a reinjection of said fraction into the fluidised bed of powdered activated carbon.