SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR TREATING WASTEWATER

• US 20110068057A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioprocessh20, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bioprocessh20, LLC
• Inventors: Kitchner, Shawn R., Ahrens, Toby D., Haley, John W. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,809,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/619
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/001 Runoff or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/32 from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/006 Regulation methods for biological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/06 using submerged filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/103 Textile-type packing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/302 Nitrification and denitrification treatment C02F3/308 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods of treating wastewater are provided. In some aspects, a container may be provided and may include a first member, a second member spaced apart from the first member, and media supported by and extending between the first and second members. An organism may be introduced into the container and wastewater may be introduced into the container for treatment. The media may be loop cord media. In other aspects, two containers may be provided and wastewater may be initially introduced into a first container for treatment, removed from the first container, and subsequently introduced into the second container for further treatment. A first species of organism may be present in the first container and a second species of organism may be present in the second container. Methods of using these containers are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of treating wastewater, the method comprising:

providing a container including a first member, a second member spaced apart from the first member, and a media supported by and extending between the first and second members, wherein the first member, second member, and media are at least partially positioned within the container;

introducing an organism into the container, wherein the organism is supported on the media;

introducing wastewater into the container;

submerging the organism and at least a portion of the media in the wastewater; and

rotating the first member, second member, and media within the container.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the organism and introducing the wastewater occur simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the organism is introduced into the container in the wastewater.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the organism into the container occurs prior to introducing the wastewater into the container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the first member, second member, and media further comprises rotating the first member, second member, and media with a motor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the first member, second member, and media further comprises rotating the first member, second member, and media with wastewater movement in the container.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising partially filling the container with wastewater to provide a headspace in the container above the wastewater.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein rotating the first member, second member, and media within the container further comprises rotating at least a portion of the media and the organism from submersion in the wastewater to exposure in the headspace.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a liquid management system for introducing the wastewater into the container, the liquid management system including at least one pipe in fluid communication with the container and at least one pump in fluid communication with the pipe.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a gas management system; and

introducing a gas into the container with the gas management system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein introducing a gas into the container further comprises introducing the gas into the wastewater positioned in the container.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising partially filling the container with the wastewater to provide a headspace in the container above the wastewater, and wherein introducing a gas into the container further comprises introducing the gas into the headspace in the container.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes an elongated member and a plurality of projections extending from the elongated member.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes an elongated member and a plurality of loops extending from the elongated member.

15. A method of treating wastewater, the method comprising:

providing a first container including a first member, a second member spaced apart from the first member, and a first media supported by and extending between the first and second members, wherein the first member, second member, and first media are at least partially positioned within the first container;

providing a second container including a third member, a fourth member spaced apart from the third member, and a second media supported by and extending between the third and fourth members, wherein the third member, fourth member, and second media are at least partially positioned within the second container;

introducing a first species of organism into the first container, wherein the first species of organism is supported on the first media;

introducing wastewater into the first container;

submerging the first species of organism and at least a portion of the first media in the wastewater;

removing the wastewater from the first container;

introducing a second species of organism into the second container, wherein the second species of organism is different than the first species of organism and the second species of organism is supported on the second media;

introducing the wastewater into the second container after removing the wastewater from the first container; and

submerging the second species of organism and at least a portion of the second media in the wastewater.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating the first member, second member, and first media within the first container when the first species of organism and at least a portion of the first media are submerged in the wastewater.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating the third member, fourth member, and second media within the second container when the second species of organism and at least a portion of the second media are submerged in the wastewater.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second medias each include an elongated member and a plurality of projections extending from the elongated member.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second medias each include an elongated member and a plurality of loops extending from the elongated member.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising introducing a first gas into the first container and introducing a second gas into the second container.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first gas and the second gas are different types of gases.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

partially filling the first container with the wastewater to provide a first headspace in the first container above the wastewater; and

partially filling the second container with the wastewater after removing the wastewater from the first container to provide a second headspace in the second container above the wastewater.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising introducing a first gas into the first headspace of the first container and introducing a second gas into the second headspace of the second container.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first gas and the second gas are different types of gases.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

rotating the first member, second member, and first media within the first container such that the first species of organism and at least a portion of the first media rotate from submersion in the wastewater to exposure in the first headspace; and

rotating the third member, fourth member, and second media within the second container such that the second species of organism and at least a portion of the second media rotate from submersion in the wastewater to exposure in the second headspace.