Water Raiser Separating Device Sludge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water lifting devices in sewage treatment plants, particularly in SBR reactors, suffer from the initial discharge of activated sludge during the water removal phase, leading to contamination and increased maintenance efforts in downstream systems.

Innovation Solution

A water lifting device with a U-shaped tube and a separating device that includes a deflection pipe with an obliquely oriented intake opening, which deflects clear water below the water level, reducing the accumulation of activated sludge by varying flow velocities across the suction opening, and maintaining the principle of communicating pipes above the minimum water level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional water lifting device with a suction nozzle is used during the aeration phase, then clear water can be lifted from the reactor pool, but activated sludge accumulates in the suction nozzle and is discharged with the initial clear water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of treated wastewaterVSAvoiddischarge of activated sludge residues
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction opening is divided into two distinct parts: an upper suction opening positioned above the minimum water level that draws clear water, and a lower suction opening positioned below the minimum water level that draws water mixed with activated sludge. This segmentation allows the system to selectively remove sludge through the lower opening while maintaining clear water discharge through the upper opening, thereby eliminating the harmful discharge of sludge residues without compromising water lifting reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the suction opening are assigned different functional qualities based on their vertical positions. The upper portion is optimized for clear water extraction during normal operation, while the lower portion is optimized for sludge removal when water levels drop. This local differentiation of quality ensures that each part of the suction system performs its specific function effectively, preventing sludge contamination in the discharged water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the suction opening is positioned low to maximize water lifting, then more clear water can be removed, but more activated sludge is also discharged initially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater removal efficiencyVSAvoidaccumulation of activated sludge
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction opening is segmented vertically into upper and lower portions, allowing the system to maintain high productivity through the upper opening during normal water levels while the lower opening handles sludge removal when water levels drop, thus achieving both high water removal efficiency and minimal sludge discharge

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system operates in periodic cycles corresponding to the SBR reactor phases. During the aeration and settling phases, the water level fluctuates, naturally activating different portions of the suction opening at different times. This periodic action allows the lower opening to periodically flush sludge while the upper opening continuously removes clear water, maintaining productivity while minimizing harmful sludge discharge

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively minimizes the discharge of residual activated sludge, ensuring that almost no activated sludge residues are lifted with the clear water, thereby reducing contamination and maintenance requirements in downstream systems.

Implementation Method 1

a water lifting device for clear water (15) from a purification basin (37), comprising a U-shaped tube (3), the base (4) of which is immersed in a liquid (5) to be cleaned in a purification basin (37) and has a first leg (6) as a lifting tube (7) and a second leg (8) as an aeration tube (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas lift: Gas Lift

Implementation Method 2

The intake manifold is configured as an inverted siphon device, and the inverted siphon device has an inverted first U- or V-shaped elbow that transitions into a first fork leg. With the help of the inverted siphon device, an air bubble barrier is formed, which reduces the accumulation of activated sludge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInverted siphon: Syphon

Data Source

PatentEP3392206B1Water raiser with a separating device
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 KLARO
  • EP3392206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3392206B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3392206B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a water lifting device comprising a cleaning basin (37) with a separator, a U-shaped pipe (3) which is immersed with its base (4) in a liquid (5) to be cleaned in a cleaning basin (37) and has a first leg (6) as a lifting pipe (7) and a second leg (8) as a ventilation pipe (9), wherein the base (4) is designed as a connecting elbow (10) between the lifting pipe (7) and the ventilation pipe (9), and wherein upper ends (11, 12) of the legs (6, 8) protrude from the liquid (5) to be cleaned, a suction port arranged on the ventilation pipe (9) at a lower water level (14) with respect to the cleaned clear water (15) to be lifted, and at least one compressed air connection (16) arranged on the lifting pipe (7) and below the water level (14) of the suction port. which transitions into a first immersion tube nozzle (20),wherein the first immersion tube nozzle (20) transitions into a separating device (50), wherein a deflecting tube (51) of the separating device (50) is connected to one end (52) of the first immersion tube nozzle (20) and is deflected contrary to the orientation of the first immersion tube nozzle (20) to a level (53) below the water level (14), and a second elbow (54) is attached to the deflecting tube (51), to which a second immersion tube nozzle (55) is connected, inclined downwards, which transitions into a vertically oriented intake opening (56). The invention also relates to the corresponding separating device.