Method and apparatus for treating wastewater

• US 20070075017A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemen Water Technologies Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kuzma, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,563,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/605
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/07 Alkalinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/15 N03-N
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/22 O2
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/38 Gas flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/006 Regulation methods for biological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1268 Membrane bioreactor systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/301 Aerobic and anaerobic treatment in the same reactor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method an apparatus for treating wastewater. The wastewater treatment system includes an aeration system that cycles between biological multiple biological basins. The system also includes one or more membrane basins. A method of the invention includes controlling the introduction of air into each biological basin in response to one or more operating conditions.

Claims

1. A wastewater treatment system comprising:

a bioreactor comprising a first compartment and a second compartment;

means for periodically aerating at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment; and

a membrane bioreactor fluidly connected to at least one of an outlet of the first compartment and an outlet of the second compartment.

2. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1, wherein the means for periodically aerating at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment comprises a jet assembly positioned in the first compartment and a jet assembly positioned in the second compartment.

3. The wastewater treatment system of claim 2, further comprising a source of wastewater fluidly connected to the jet assembly in the first compartment and to the jet assembly in the second compartment.

4. The wastewater treatment system of claim 3, further comprising a source of air fluidly connected to the jet assembly in the first compartment and the jet assembly in the second compartment.

5. The wastewater treatment system of claim 4, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the jet assembly in the first compartment and the jet assembly in the second compartment;

the controller configured to generate a first control signal that adjusts a flow rate of air to the jet assembly in the first compartment, and a second control signal that adjusts a flow rate of air to the jet assembly in the second compartment.

6. The wastewater treatment system of claim 5, further comprising:

a first sensor positioned in the first compartment; and

a second sensor positioned in the second compartment, wherein the controller is responsive to a signal generated by the first sensor and a signal generated by the second sensor.

7. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary membrane bioreactor fluidly connected to at least one of the outlet of the first compartment and the outlet of the second compartment.

8. The wastewater treatment system of claim 7, further comprising:

a recirculation line fluidly connected to an outlet of at least one of the membrane bioreactor and the secondary membrane bioreactor; and

a third sensor positioned at an outlet of the membrane bioreactor.

9. The wastewater treatment system of claim 8, further comprising;

a fourth sensor positioned at an outlet of the secondary membrane bioreactor.

10. The wastewater treatment system of claim 9, wherein the controller is in communication with the outlet of the membrane bioreactor and the outlet of the secondary membrane bioreactor, the controller configured to provide a third control signal response to the third sensor to adjust flow from the membrane bioreactor to the recirculation line, and a fourth control signal responsive to the fourth sensor to adjust flow from the secondary membrane bioreactor to the recirculation line.

11. The wastewater treatment system of claim 10, wherein the controller is in communication with a recirculation inlet in the first compartment and a recirculation inlet of the second compartment, the controller configured to proved a fifth control signal responsive to the first sensor to adjust flow from the recirculation line to the recirculation inlet of the first compartment, and a sixth control signal responsive to the second sensor to adjust flow from the recirculation line to recirculation inlet of the second compartment.

12. The wastewater treatment system of claim 10, wherein the controller is in communication with the jet assembly in the first compartment and the jet assembly in the second compartment, the controller configured to provide a seventh control signal responsive to the first sensor to adjust the flow of air into the jet assembly of the first compartment, and an eighth control signal responsive to the second sensor to adjust the flow of air into the jet assembly of the second compartment.

13. A method of treating wastewater comprising:

providing a wastewater to one of a first compartment, a second compartment, and combinations thereof;

alternating between anoxic conditions and aerobic conditions within the same compartment;

passing the wastewater from the at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment to a membrane bioreactor.

14. The method of treating wastewater of claim 13, wherein alternating between anoxic conditions and aerobic conditions comprises introducing air flow into at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment;

and interrupting the air flow into the at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment.

15. The method of treating wastewater of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a characteristic of the wastewater in the first compartment alternating between anoxic conditions and aerobic conditions in the first compartment.

16. The method of treating wastewater of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a characteristic of the wastewater in the second compartment prior to alternating between anoxic and aerobic conditions in the second compartment.

17. The method of treating wastewater of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting a characteristic of a concentrated mixed liquor in the membrane bioreactor; and

passing a portion of the concentrated mixed liquor in the membrane bioreactor to at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instruction that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method of controlling a wastewater treatment system comprising acts of:

receiving an input signal representative of a characteristic of wastewater in a first compartment of a bioreactor; and

regulating an amount of air directed to the first compartment.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input signal representative of a characteristic of wastewater in a second compartment of the bioreactor; and

regulating an amount of air directed to the second compartment.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input signal representative of a characteristic of a concentrated mixed liquor in a membrane bioreactor; and

directing a flow of the concentrated mixed liquor from the membrane bioreactor to one of the first compartment, the second compartment, and combinations thereof.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

regulating an amount of wastewater entering the first compartment and the second compartment.