Gravity-fed Wastewater Inflow for Biological Sludge Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing semibatch biological wastewater treatment methods require the use of pumps for wastewater introduction, leading to increased running costs and a desire for a simpler configuration.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment method and device where the wastewater is introduced into the reaction tank through an inflow port positioned below the biological sludge bed, allowing the wastewater to flow down an inflow section due to gravity, eliminating the need for pumps and enabling efficient biological treatment and settling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump is used to introduce wastewater into the reaction tank, then the wastewater can be reliably supplied, but the running costs increase and the configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the pump component from the wastewater introduction system. By positioning the inflow port below the sludge bed interface level, the system uses gravity and hydraulic pressure differential to drive wastewater flow, completely removing the need for mechanical pumping equipment and reducing both complexity and running costs while maintaining reliable wastewater supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a hydraulic equipotential condition by setting the inflow port at a lower elevation than the sludge bed interface. This elevation difference establishes a natural hydraulic gradient that enables wastewater to flow into the reaction tank without external energy input, equalizing the energy state and eliminating the need for active pumping.
2Device complexity
If the inflow port is positioned above the sludge bed interface, then the configuration is simpler, but the wastewater cannot effectively contact the sludge bed for treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by positioning the inflow port at a specific location below the sludge bed interface. This localized positioning ensures that wastewater is introduced directly into the active biological treatment zone where it can effectively contact the sludge bed, maximizing treatment efficiency while maintaining configuration simplicity.
3Speed
If the wastewater is introduced at high velocity, then the introduction speed is faster, but the sludge bed becomes disturbed and settling properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the flow velocity parameter by introducing wastewater at a controlled, moderate velocity through the inflow port. This parameter optimization allows sufficient introduction speed while preventing excessive turbulence that would disturb the sludge bed, thereby maintaining both productivity and sludge bed stability.
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 approach reduces equipment and operational costs by eliminating the need for pumps while maintaining effective biological treatment and sludge settling, allowing for the formation of biological sludge with superior settling properties.
Implementation Method 1
the wastewater flows down the inside of the inflow section due to gravity and is supplied into the biological sludge bed from the inflow port
Implementation Method 2
a settling step of allowing the biological sludge to settle
Data Source
AI summary
A water treatment method that uses a reaction tank and involves repeatedly performing an operation cycle including: an inflow step for causing an inflow of waste water; a biological treatment step for subjecting the waste water to biological treatment using biological sludge; a sedimentation step for causing the biological sludge to settle; and a drainage step for draining biologically-treated water that has undergone the aforementioned biological treatment. The reaction tank is provided with an inflow port that is disposed at a position lower than an interface position of a biological sludge bed formed at the bottom of the reaction tank in the sedimentation step, and an inflow pipe that extends upward in the vertical direction from the inflow port. In the inflow step, the waste water is caused to gravitationally flow down in the inflow pipe so as to be fed into the biological sludge bed from the inflow port.