Vacuum Waste Dewatering System for Odor and Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current municipal sewage treatment processes are inefficient, leading to environmental hazards and high energy costs, as they result in malodorous wastewater with low solid content, and the processing of waste into fertilizer or fuel pellets requires substantial energy and time, with potential environmental risks from air and water contamination.
Innovation Solution
A waste processing system utilizing a burnable filter aid and microwaving technology to reduce moisture content, producing clean water, fertilizer concentrate, and combustible energy pellets, which can be reused or returned to the sewage treatment plant, thereby minimizing environmental impact and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard sewage treatment pools are used, then wastewater is treated and discharged, but the process produces malodorous wastewater with low solid content (1.5% solids) and requires large land area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical evaporation process in large open pools with a vacuum system that uses pressure differential to rapidly remove moisture. The vacuum filter and vacuum pump create negative pressure to draw moisture through filter media, achieving rapid dewatering without requiring large surface areas for evaporation pools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through evaporation in a controlled vacuum environment. The vacuum system lowers the boiling point and accelerates the phase transition, enabling rapid moisture removal from waste materials without requiring the large land areas needed for natural evaporation pools.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wastewater is spread on fields as fertilizer, then nutrients are reused, but environmental damage risk increases due to viruses, bacteria, and contamination of surface water and groundwater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful contaminants (viruses, bacteria, pathogens) from the waste stream through the vacuum filtration process. The filter media physically separates and retains these harmful substances while allowing moisture to pass through, concentrating the contaminants in the solid residue that can be safely disposed of or treated further.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces filter media as an intermediary substance between the wastewater and the environment. This filter medium acts as a barrier that captures and retains harmful pathogens and contaminants, preventing them from being dispersed into the environment while allowing the dewatering process to continue.
3Productivity
If waste is processed into fuel pellets using current methods, then biomass fuel is produced, but substantial time, energy, transport fuel and labor inputs are required resulting in net energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the waste material to essentially dehydrate itself through the vacuum process. The vacuum system creates conditions where moisture is rapidly removed without requiring external heating or energy input, allowing the organic material to concentrate into fuel-ready pellets through moisture removal alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces energy-intensive thermal drying processes with a mechanical vacuum-based moisture removal system. Instead of using heat energy to evaporate water, the system uses pressure differential created by vacuum pumps to rapidly remove moisture, dramatically reducing the energy input required for fuel pellet production.
4Ease of operation
If heavy, high-moisture waste is transported by truck, then waste is moved to treatment facilities, but air pollution from truck fuel increases and transport costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary dewatering of the waste material before transport is required. By removing a significant portion of the moisture content through vacuum filtration at the source, the waste becomes lighter and more concentrated, reducing the weight and volume that needs to be transported and thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
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 reduces moisture content, produces reusable clean water and energy-positive fuel pellets, decreases land and operational costs, and mitigates environmental hazards by efficiently processing waste into valuable products while minimizing odors and energy loss.
Implementation Method 1
water in the waste begins to evaporate
Implementation Method 2
remove significant moisture content from human, animal, vegetable, and plant materials
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a burnable filter aid and microwaving technology to reduce moisture content
Implementation Method 4
utilizing a burnable filter aid and microwaving technology to reduce moisture content
Implementation Method 5
microwaving technology to reduce moisture content
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method that removes moisture from human, animal, vegetable, and plant materials, yielding clear discharge water that can be returned to a sewage treatment plant. Some wastes can also yield fertilizer and an energy positive fuel source.