Variable Volume MBER Reactor for Wastewater Flow Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wastewater treatment facilities face challenges in maintaining a constant wastewater inflow rate due to variable flow rates caused by weather and seasonal changes, which can affect treatment efficiency and pollutant removal processes.
Innovation Solution
A variable liquid depth, variable volume hydraulic flow equalization basin reactor (MBER) using moving bed media to treat wastewater, with aeration and separation processes to maintain a bacteria population for efficient removal of carbonaceous BOD, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, allowing for a constant outflow rate despite varying inflow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed-volume MBBR is used to treat wastewater, then the treatment capacity is limited by the fixed reactor volume, but the patent achieves enhanced pollutant removal efficiency within a smaller reactor volume by using a variable liquid depth, variable volume MBER
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a fixed-volume MBBR to a variable liquid depth, variable volume MBER. The reactor volume can dynamically adjust based on the bacteria population concentration and treatment requirements, allowing the system to optimize its effective treatment volume rather than being constrained by a fixed design volume. This enables enhanced pollutant removal efficiency within a smaller physical footprint.
2Productivity
If the wastewater inflow rate varies widely due to weather and seasonal changes, then the treatment process efficiency is affected, but the patent maintains a substantially constant average outflow rate through flow equalization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing the MBER to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a treatment reactor and a flow equalization basin. The variable volume capability allows the reactor to accommodate inflow variations while maintaining constant outflow, making the system adaptable to different weather and seasonal conditions without requiring separate equalization infrastructure.
3Quantity of substance
If moving bed media are used to provide large inner surface area for biofilm growth, then bacteria concentration increases for better treatment, but the media require suspension and mixing through aeration or other mixing apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the pneumatics and hydraulics principle by using compressed air diffusion through air diffusers at the bottom of the MBER to achieve both mixing and suspension of the moving bed media. This pneumatic approach eliminates the need for complex mechanical mixing apparatus, reducing device complexity while maintaining high bacteria concentration through effective media suspension and biofilm growth on the moving bed carriers.
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 MBER system enhances pollutant removal efficiency and treatment capacity within a smaller reactor volume, ensuring a stable effluent flow without exceeding pollutant limits, even during fluctuations in wastewater volume, by maintaining a high bacteria concentration and utilizing aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
The moving bed media are suspended and mixed within the MBER by diffusing compressed air through air diffusers located at the bottom of the MBER tank for an aerobic process
Data Source
AI summary
Moving bed media serving as a growth surface for bacteria that remove soluble carbonaceous BOD, soluble inorganic ammonia nitrogen, phosphorous, nitrate nitrogen or nitrite nitrogen from wastewater are contained in a variable liquid depth, variable volume, hydraulic flow equalization basin. The equalization basin can be divided into different treatment sections by installing separator screens. Fat accumulation on the moving media, which could cause the media to float or in some other way cause the media to be ineffective, can be prevented by a fat, oil, and grease removal process in a dissolved air flotation cell upstream of the flow equalization basin containing the moving bed media. The moving bed media are retained in the basin by a suitable media screen as the liquid level and volume increases or decreases in the basin depending upon the effluent pumping rate vs. the influent flow rate.