Hemispherical Carrier Element with Central Passage for Wastewater Biofilm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dome-shaped carrier materials for wastewater treatment are prone to clogging due to biofilm growth, leading to sinking and reduced cleaning efficiency, and may float and be washed out due to air accumulation, with high turbulence causing biofilm removal and inefficient ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A hemispherical shell carrier element with a central passage opening for flow, radially arranged lamellae, and webs on the outer surface to protect against abrasion, ensuring a metered flow and preventing clogging, while maintaining suspension and ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If dome-shaped carrier material with internal lamellae is used to increase biofilm growth surface, then biofilm growth surface area is improved, but the cavity is not flown through and clogging occurs leading to sinking
Solution Approach 1:
The hemispherical shell is segmented by internal lamellae divided into multiple compartments, increasing biofilm growth surface area while maintaining flow pathways. The lamellae are arranged to create niches for biofilm attachment while leaving central flow channels open.
Solution Approach 2:
A central passage opening is extracted from the hemispherical shell along the axis of rotational symmetry, creating a dedicated flow channel that ensures liquid can pass through the carrier element without being blocked by biofilm accumulation on the lamellae.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If semi-closed hollow body is used for protected biofilm growth, then biofilm protection from abrasion is improved, but air bubbles collect causing floating and washout
Solution Approach 1:
The central passage opening extracts the air bubble accumulation problem by providing a direct pathway for trapped air to escape from the hemispherical shell, preventing buoyancy-induced floating while maintaining the protective enclosed structure for biofilm growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The hemispherical shell with its central passage opening creates a controlled porous structure that allows gas permeation while maintaining structural integrity for biofilm protection, balancing enclosure benefits with ventilation requirements.
3Productivity
If high turbulence with strong air intake is used for ventilation, then ventilation efficiency is improved, but biofilm is removed by high flow velocities
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the carrier element have different flow characteristics: the central passage opening provides high-velocity flow for ventilation and air bubble escape, while the lamellae compartments provide low-velocity protected zones for stable biofilm growth, creating local quality variations that satisfy conflicting requirements.
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 carrier element maintains effective biofilm growth, prevents sinking and floating, and ensures high cleaning performance with reliable retention and reduced biofilm removal, achieving a high specific surface area for efficient biological purification.
Implementation Method 1
At least one passage opening is provided in the hemispherical shell in the region of this axis of rotational symmetry. This passage opening allows a flow through the hemispherical shell.
Implementation Method 2
The specific weight of the hollow bodies is selected in adaptation to that of the mixture and to its flow forces in such a way that the hollow bodies float in the flow.
Implementation Method 3
air bubbles can collect in the semi-closed mold, causing the carrier material to float and possibly be washed out
Implementation Method 4
bacterial growth adhering to the carrier material, which causes the biological purification of the wastewater
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a support element for the biological treatment of wastewater in a settling tank, in which a plurality of the support elements are held in the settling tank without the supply of oxygen or with the supply of air or oxygen in a possibly intermittently swirling suspension state, wherein the support element is designed in the form of a hemispherical shell with an axis of rotational symmetry and in which internal lamellae are provided in the open hollow body spanned by it to increase the biofilm growth area protected from abrasion, wherein at least one passage opening (13) is provided in the hemispherical shell (10) near or on the axis of rotational symmetry (Z).