Multi-Chamber Basin for Wastewater Storage and Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combined sewer systems face challenges in managing excess wastewater during heavy rainstorms, leading to potential untreated sewage discharge into water bodies, and traditional basin systems are costly and require substantial pumping equipment.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber basin system with interconnected vertical shafts allows for high disinfectant contact time and efficient separation of solids and floatables, minimizing disinfectant usage and land acquisition costs by using a treating agent only in the overflow chamber, and utilizing pumps to return treated sewage to the system when capacity is available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional basin systems are used to store excess combined storm and sanitary sewage, then untreated sewage discharge into water bodies is prevented, but construction costs increase and land acquisition costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber for storage, second chamber for treatment) that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the system to handle different functions separately, reducing overall construction complexity and cost while maintaining effective sewage storage and treatment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal basin layouts to a vertical multi-chamber configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension with interconnected chambers at different elevations, the system achieves high storage capacity and treatment effectiveness within a compact footprint, reducing land acquisition costs while maintaining construction feasibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional basin systems are used to store excess combined storm and sanitary sewage, then untreated sewage discharge into water bodies is prevented, but land acquisition costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes vertical space through multi-chamber configuration at different elevations, transforming a two-dimensional land use problem into a three-dimensional storage solution. This allows high-capacity sewage storage within a compact footprint, significantly reducing the land area required while maintaining effective discharge prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The basin chambers are nested or closely integrated vertically, with the second chamber positioned above or adjacent to the first chamber. This nested arrangement maximizes storage capacity within minimal land footprint, as the chambers share common walls and access points, reducing overall structural requirements.
3Reliability
If disinfectant is added to all basin chambers, then complete disinfection is achieved, but operating costs increase and disinfectant discharge into environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
Disinfectant is selectively added only to the second chamber (treatment chamber) rather than uniformly to all chambers. This localized application ensures complete disinfection of sewage that will be discharged, while avoiding unnecessary disinfectant usage in the first chamber where sewage is merely stored and will be returned to the system, thereby reducing operating costs and environmental discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies disinfectant partially - only where and when it is necessary (in the treatment chamber for discharged sewage) rather than excessively applying it to all sewage throughout the entire system. This partial action approach maintains reliable disinfection of discharged waste while minimizing overall disinfectant consumption and associated costs.
4Productivity
If pumping equipment is used to return sewage to the system, then treatment capacity utilization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gravity-driven flow between chambers and natural sewage flow patterns to return treated sewage to the treatment plant, minimizing or eliminating the need for mechanical pumping equipment. The vertical arrangement and gravity flow paths enable the system to self-regulate and return sewage automatically, maintaining high treatment capacity utilization while reducing device complexity.
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 effectively prevents untreated sewage discharge, reduces disinfectant usage, and lowers operational costs while maintaining high sewer system performance and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
a system for introducing a disinfectant into the waste stream system
Implementation Method 2
for separating solids as well as floatables from any basin discharge
Implementation Method 3
for separating solids as well as floatables from any basin discharge
Implementation Method 4
the sewage in the basin will be pumped back into the sewage system
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-chamber basin is sized to collect excess waste water exceeding the processing capacity of a sewage system. In order to disinfect the waste water exceeding the basin capacity, disinfectant is added at a point in the system after the first basin. After the rain event is over and there is excess sewage treatment capacity, the sewage treatment in the multi-chamber basin is returned to the sewage system. By not disinfecting the waste water in the first basin chamber, the overall disinfectant usage can be minimized.