Rotating Contactor Reactor with Fabric Mesh for Wastewater Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste water treatment methods face challenges in processing large volumes of liquid streams efficiently, particularly in terms of space requirements and the susceptibility of biological processes to shock loads and pH variations, leading to inefficiencies and space constraints in industrial operations.
Innovation Solution
A reactor design incorporating rotating contactors with fabric mesh catalysts and ion exchange materials, enhanced by microwave and ultraviolet energy, allows for increased reaction time and surface area, enabling efficient treatment of high flow rates while minimizing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biological treatment processes are used to treat waste water, then contaminants can be removed through bacterial action, but the process requires long residence times (more than 24 hours) and is susceptible to shock loads, poisoning, temperature and pH variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental treatment parameter from biological to chemical processes. The rotating contactor uses chemical catalysts and oxidation reactions instead of biological bacteria, enabling treatment to proceed rapidly (minutes vs hours) and resist shock loads, poisoning, and pH variations that compromise biological systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the biological system (living bacteria) with a chemical system (catalysts and oxidation reactions). This substitution eliminates the vulnerabilities of biological processes while maintaining contaminant removal capability through chemical transformation of pollutants.
2Productivity
If multiple waste stream processing units or greater capacity units are used to compensate for treatment bottlenecks, then processing capacity increases, but the space required for these units increases vastly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional horizontal/vertical spatial arrangement to a three-dimensional rotating contactor design. The contactor rotates through the liquid stream, creating a dynamic treatment interface that maximizes surface area exposure within a compact reactor volume, dramatically increasing processing capacity per unit space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic motion (rotation) to the treatment process. The rotating contactor continuously exposes fresh catalyst surfaces to the liquid stream, enhancing mass transfer and reaction efficiency. This dynamic approach allows compact reactor design while maintaining high processing capacity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the contactor rotates through the liquid stream and headspace, then a layer of liquid is formed on the contactor surface with increased residence time for chemical reactions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the rotating contactor: it serves as the reaction surface, the mixing element, and the phase separator. The rotation mechanism simultaneously creates liquid films on the contactor surface, provides continuous renewal of reaction interfaces, and facilitates separation of treated liquid from the contactor, reducing the need for additional separate components.
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 reactor effectively treats large volumes of liquid streams by increasing reaction time and surface area, reducing the need for multiple units and space, and achieving high removal efficiency of metal cations and organic contaminants without generating sludge.
Implementation Method 1
the fabric mesh includes a catalyst
Implementation Method 2
the fabric mesh includes an ion exchange material
Implementation Method 3
enhanced by microwave and ultraviolet energy
Implementation Method 4
enhanced by microwave and ultraviolet energy
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a reactor for the treatment of a liquid stream, the reactor comprising: a liquid stream inlet, a reaction zone for holding the liquid stream, at least one rotating contactor in the reaction zone arranged to rotate through the liquid stream, and a liquid outlet, wherein the at least one rotating contactor includes a fabric mesh.