Integrated Wastewater Tank with Gas Diffuser and Biomass Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biological wastewater treatment systems face inefficiencies in clarifying and treating wastewater, particularly in managing turbulence, oxygenation, and sludge removal, which affects the quality of treated water and the efficiency of the process.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a tank with distinct regions for turbulence, solids settling, and sludge collection, utilizing biomass carriers and a gas diffuser assembly to create bubble curtains and supply oxygen, along with a sludge removal conduit and optional clarification enhancement agents to enhance treatment and clarification processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single tank is used for both biological treatment and clarification, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to create distinct turbulence and settling regions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The single tank is segmented into distinct functional regions using internal structures: a turbulence region with biomass carriers and gas diffusers for oxygenation and mixing, and a settling region below for solid-liquid separation. This segmentation allows both treatment and clarification functions to coexist in one tank without compromising region separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tank are given different local qualities: the upper region has high turbulence and oxygenation for biological treatment, while the lower region has calm conditions for settling. The gas diffuser assembly creates localized turbulence only where needed, preserving quiet zones for clarification.
2Productivity
If gas bubbles are provided to create turbulence and oxygenation, then biological treatment efficiency is improved, but sludge settling and separation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gas diffuser assembly is positioned to create bubbles that rise through the turbulence region but dissipate before reaching the settling region. This segmentation of gas injection zones ensures turbulence and oxygenation occur only where needed for biological treatment, while the settling region remains calm for effective sludge separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vertical zonation to separate functions: gas bubbles provide turbulence in the upper horizontal plane, while the lower horizontal plane maintains calm conditions for settling. This dimensional separation allows both turbulent aeration and quiet settling to occur simultaneously without interfering with each other.
3Productivity
If biomass carriers are added to increase biological treatment capacity, then treatment productivity is improved, but sludge collection and removal becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gas bubbles act as an intermediary mechanism to transport lightweight biomass carriers from the turbulence region to the settling region. Carriers that become overloaded with sludge naturally float to the surface where bubbles can carry them to the settling zone, simplifying sludge collection without requiring complex mechanical removal systems.
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 improves wastewater treatment by creating effective turbulence, oxygenation, and sludge management, resulting in clarified and treated water with reduced sludge accumulation, enhancing the overall efficiency and quality of the biological wastewater treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a gas diffuser assembly arranged generally between the upper turbulence region and the lower solids settling region for providing gas bubbles which move upwardly through the wastewater and the biomass carriers in the upper turbulence region
Implementation Method 2
providing turbulence and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
a multiplicity of biomass carriers disposed in the upper turbulence region
Implementation Method 4
a lower solids settling region below the upper turbulence region
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for integrated biological wastewater treatment and clarification including a tank having a wastewater inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and having a treated, clarified wastewater outlet for providing treated, clarified wastewater for use, the tank having an upper turbulence region, a lower solids settling region below the upper turbulence region and a sludge collection region below the lower solids settling region, a multiplicity of biomass carriers disposed in the upper turbulence region, a gas diffuser assembly arranged generally between the upper turbulence region and the lower solids settling region for providing gas bubbles which move upwardly through the wastewater and the biomass carriers in the upper turbulence region, providing turbulence and oxygen and a sludge removal conduit communicating with the sludge collection region for removal of sludge therefrom.