Rotating Media Wheels for Algae Wastewater Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wastewater treatment systems face challenges in maintaining large bacterial colonies, leading to costly equipment and mechanical failures, and algae-based systems require large land areas and are limited by sunlight exposure, while also producing greenhouse gases. Additionally, there is a need for renewable energy sources that can replace finite fossil fuels.
Innovation Solution
A wastewater treatment system utilizing rotating wheels for algae and bacterial growth, where wastewater is treated through aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic zones, producing algae bio-solids that can be used for hydrogen gas, biofuel, fertilizer, and animal feed, with a symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria reducing biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids, and utilizing sunlight for photosynthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large bacterial colonies are used for secondary treatment, then organic material and suspended solids removal rates improve, but equipment complexity and mechanical failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines algae production with wastewater treatment in a single integrated system. Algae grow on the surface of wastewater in raceway ponds, simultaneously removing organic material and suspended solids while producing biomass. This merges two functions (treatment and biomass production) into one process, improving productivity without proportionally increasing equipment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The algae biomass produced in the treatment system serves multiple purposes: it can be used as animal feed, fertilizer, or feedstock for biofuel production. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high removal rates while the byproduct provides additional value, offsetting the complexity through versatility.
2Quantity of substance
If algae-based treatment systems are used, then renewable biomass is produced, but large land areas are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic flow in closed-loop raceway ponds to circulate wastewater, allowing intensive algae cultivation in a compact footprint. The hydraulic design enables high biomass production per unit area by maximizing water circulation and light exposure efficiency, reducing the land area required compared to open pond systems.
3Illumination intensity
If open algae ponds are used for treatment, then sunlight exposure is maximized, but algae blooms overrun and clog the system
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop raceway pond design with controlled hydraulic flow prevents stagnant conditions that lead to uncontrolled algae blooms. The continuous circulation maintains optimal light exposure while preventing localized overgrowth, ensuring system reliability through hydrodynamic control.
4Area of moving object
If algae raceway is used to increase surface area, then sunlight exposure improves, but water level must be shallow limiting volume and flow
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway pond design uses hydraulic flow to circulate wastewater through a controlled channel system. This allows the water to continuously expose its surface to sunlight during circulation while maintaining sufficient depth for adequate treatment volume, resolving the contradiction between surface area and volume through dynamic flow rather than static shallow geometry.
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 efficiently treats wastewater, reduces greenhouse gas production, and produces renewable biofuel and fertilizer, achieving self-sustaining operation with minimal external power requirements and reduced land use, addressing the limitations of previous systems.
Implementation Method 1
Algae produces oxygen necessary for aerobic bacterial growth and bacteria produces CO2 needed for algal growth. The only external input to fuel this symbiotic relationship is sunlight.
Implementation Method 2
bacteria produces CO2 needed for algal growth
Implementation Method 3
Algae produces oxygen necessary for aerobic bacterial growth
Data Source
AI summary
A wastewater treatment system and process includes a treatment system for biologically treating wastewater to produce substantially clean water effluent and byproducts. The treatment system includes an array of rotating media wheels for sustained algae growth. The media wheels are supported so that the algae rotates into and out of the wastewater for exposure to sunlight. One byproduct is algae removed from the rotating media wheels, which may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-diesel fuel. Waste CO2 may also be provided to the facility for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria is provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. Rotation of the media wheels can be accomplished by air jets that also operate to dislodge excess algae as a byproduct of the system and process.