Wastewater Concentrator Using Vortex Separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wastewater collection piping systems often become overloaded in growing cities, leading to capacity issues that are costly and disruptive to address through traditional methods like laying parallel pipes or expanding treatment facilities.

Innovation Solution

A system that diverts a portion of wastewater, separates solids from liquids, treats the liquid for local reuse, and reintroduces concentrated solids back into the piping system, adjusting the wastewater loading to increase system capacity without needing larger pipes or additional treatment facilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional methods like laying parallel pipes or expanding treatment facilities are used to address capacity issues, then the wastewater collection system capacity is improved, but the cost and disruption to neighborhoods and roads increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater collection system capacityVSAvoidcost and disruption of implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts water from the wastewater stream using a vortex separator, separating it from solids. This extracted water is then treated and reused locally, while the concentrated solids are returned to the sewer system. This approach increases system capacity without requiring new pipes or treatment facilities by removing and reusing a portion of the wastewater volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of the wastewater by removing water through vortex separation. This concentrates the solids in the remaining wastewater, allowing the system to handle higher organic loading without increasing pipe size or treatment capacity, thereby avoiding costly infrastructure projects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wastewater collection piping system is designed to handle projected future demand, then the system can accommodate growth, but the system becomes overloaded or will be overloaded when actual demand exceeds design capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacity for future growthVSAvoidsystem performance under actual demand

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic solution where a vortex separator is installed at the head of the sewer system to continuously separate water from solids based on actual flow conditions. This dynamic separation allows the system to adapt to varying demand levels in real-time, preventing overload conditions without requiring oversized infrastructure designed for peak future demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If water is removed from wastewater and treated for local reuse, then the wastewater loading on the collection system is reduced, but additional treatment processes are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater loading reductionVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vortex separator as an intermediary device that performs initial water-solids separation before the wastewater enters the main collection system. This intermediary step simplifies subsequent treatment by pre-concentrating solids and removing excess water, reducing the overall treatment complexity compared to treating full-strength wastewater.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach effectively increases the capacity of wastewater treatment piping systems by reducing water volume and increasing solid concentration, allowing for more efficient operation without the need for new infrastructure, and can be strategically placed to manage peak demands.

Implementation Method 1

a vortex separator that uses centrifugal force to separate the water from the solids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS8066887B1Wastewater concentrator

Publication Date: 2011.11.29 ECO WORLD WATER CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a system for reducing the demand of wastewater volume flowing through a wastewater collection piping system and thereby increasing the effective capacity of the system. A portion of the wastewater is diverted from a sewer main. The solids are separated from the liquid, for example, by a vortex separator. The recovered liquid can be treated and made available for local reuse. The concentrated solids are reintroduced into the main sewage line in a portion that adjusts the wastewater loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range. Also disclosed is a system capable of reintroducing the concentrated solids into the sewer main in a portion that adjusts the solids loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range.