Wastewater Treatment Mechanical Cleaning Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wastewater treatment plants require large areas and spaces due to the spatial separation of mechanical and biological purification steps, and the low solids content of primary sludge necessitates extensive processing and dewatering, leading to inefficient use of resources.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a mechanical cleaning device, such as a fine screen with perforated drums or belts, above or within the reaction vessel for biological purification, allowing mechanical cleaning to occur before biological treatment, thereby reducing the space needed for mechanical cleaning and enhancing the efficiency of organic contaminant removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical cleaning and biological purification are performed in separate devices arranged next to each other, then each process can be optimized independently, but the total area and space requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess optimizationVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical cleaning device and biological purification reaction vessel into a single integrated system. The mechanical cleaning device is positioned within the reaction vessel such that its boundary surfaces form part of the vessel's internal structure, allowing both processes to occur in the same spatial envelope and eliminating the need for separate adjacent devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical cleaning device is nested within the reaction vessel for biological purification. The cleaning device occupies the upper portion of the vessel while the biological purification occurs in the lower portion, creating a vertical nesting arrangement that maximizes space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If primary sludge with low solids content (2-5% by weight) is removed and processed, then mechanical cleaning can be performed, but extensive dewatering facilities and large processing volumes are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical cleaning efficiencyVSAvoidsludge volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cleaning device performs preliminary removal of suspended matter and solids from wastewater before the biological purification process begins. By pre-cleaning the wastewater and removing solids at the boundary surfaces, the system prevents these solids from entering the biological purification zone, thereby reducing the volume of sludge that would otherwise require extensive dewatering processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a fine screen device with small clear width (0.005-1 mm) is used for mechanical cleaning, then removal of undissolved substances is extensive, but the device complexity and space requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning precisionVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cleaning device uses boundary surfaces with fine screen structures (clear width 0.005-1 mm) located at specific critical positions where wastewater enters and exits the biological purification zone. This localized application of fine screening at boundary surfaces achieves extensive solid removal without requiring the entire device to be complex, maintaining simplicity in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration minimizes the space required for wastewater treatment by integrating mechanical and biological processes, reduces the volume of sludge to be processed, and enhances the removal of suspended solids and organic contaminants, resulting in a more compact and efficient treatment plant.

Implementation Method 1

a device for mechanical cleaning, such as a fine screen with perforated drums or belts, above or within the reaction vessel for biological purification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

reaction vessel for biological purification of the waste water treatment plant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2225012B1Wastewater treatment system and method for the treatment of wastewater
Publication Date: 2012.08.08 BILFINGER PASSAVANT WATER TECH GMBH
  • EP2225012B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2225012B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2225012B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a

AI summary

The invention relates to a wastewater treatment system, in which an apparatus for mechanical purification is integrated into a reaction vessel for biological purification, to a sewage plant that comprises such wastewater treatment systems, and to a method for purifying wastewater. By arranging the apparatus for mechanical purification above the footprint of the reaction vessel for biological purification, the space and volume requirements of the system are reduced.