Hydroponic Filtration System for Organic Effluent Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating organic effluents from industrial or agricultural sources are costly, require significant space and maintenance, and have limited nitrogen and phosphorus treatment capacities, making them unsuitable for one-off needs and heavy effluents without additional aeration systems.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a buffer tank and a filtration system with superimposed hydroponic cultivation lines that use gravity flow and aeration to treat organic effluents, allowing for reduced installation and operating costs, and featuring a cyclical ventilation system to optimize treatment efficiency, with the option to add organic carbon sources to enhance nitrogen reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional biological purification in sewage treatment plants is used, then effluent treatment requirements are met, but construction and maintenance costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is divided into multiple sequential hydroponic cultivation stages (at least two stages), where each stage processes the effluent independently. This segmentation allows for modular construction, reducing overall system complexity and maintenance costs while maintaining effective treatment through cumulative purification across stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydroponic cultivation lines serve multiple functions simultaneously: they filter effluent, remove nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), produce agricultural output, and aerate the water through plant transpiration. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate treatment processes, reducing both construction and operational costs.
2Reliability
If traditional treatment plants are used, then effluent standards are met, but nitrogen and phosphorus treatment capacities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the effluent by using plants to selectively absorb nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. As effluent passes through multiple hydroponic stages, plant roots uptake these nutrients for growth, progressively reducing their concentration in the water and increasing treatment capacity beyond traditional single-stage systems.
3Reliability
If lagooning and sand bed filtration are used, then filtration is achieved, but a lot of space and compulsory earthworks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal space utilization (lagoons and sand beds requiring large surface areas) to vertical stacking, with multiple hydroponic cultivation stages arranged one above another. This vertical arrangement achieves effective filtration through multiple stages while occupying minimal ground footprint, eliminating the need for extensive earthworks.
4Reliability
If sand bed filtration is used, then filtration is achieved, but regular maintenance and additional aeration systems are required for heavy effluents
Solution Approach 1:
The hydroponic plants automatically aerate the effluent through their metabolic processes and transpiration, eliminating the need for separate mechanical aeration systems. The system is self-maintaining as plants continuously uptake nutrients and oxygenate the water, reducing operational complexity and maintenance requirements compared to traditional sand bed filtration.
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 system achieves a significant reduction in nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) with minimal contamination risk, adapting to discontinuous operation and providing high treatment yields, with the 2mL configuration showing over 95% reduction efficiency and improved performance with optimal C/N ratios.
Implementation Method 1
an inclination so as to allow a gravitational flow of the organic effluents within it
Implementation Method 2
at least one aeration means allowing the injection of air into the buffer tank and, possibly, into all or part of the hydroponic crop lines
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for treating organic effluents using a device which includes at least one inlet for organic effluents which leads to at least one buffer tank, at least one outlet for treated effluents, at least one pump allowing the transfer of organic effluents from the buffer tank to at least one organic effluent filtration system which;takes the form of at least two superimposed levels, each comprising at least one hydroponic growing line comprising insoluble aggregates suitable for plant growth and for capturing suspended particles in organic effluents, having a length of between 1.5 and 2.5 meters and an inclination such as to allow gravity flow of organic effluents within it, and in which the organic effluents arrive from the buffer tank, by the action of the pump, in at least one hydroponic growing line of the highest level of the filtration system, cross it by gravity flow to at least one hydroponic growing line of the lower level, which it also crosses by gravity action before returning to the buffer tank.;