PORTABLE, NON-BIOLOGICAL, CYCLIC SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

• US 20160023934A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E3 Water, LLC
• Original Assignee: E3 Water, LLC
• Inventors: SMITH, DANIEL R., ROBERSON, KENNETH A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,710,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/004 using large scale industrial sized filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/5245 using basic salts, e.g. of aluminium and iron
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/5281 Installations for water purification using chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/56 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/122 using filter presses C02F11/123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/007 Processes including a sedimentation step
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/007 Modular design
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/003 Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/26 H2S
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/026 Spiral, helicoidal, radial
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/046 Recirculation with an external loop
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/02 : Odour removal or prevention of malodour
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/18 : Removal of treatment agents after treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/22 : Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/24 : Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/26 : Reducing the size of particles, liquid droplets or bubbles, e.g. by crushing, grinding, spraying, creation of microbubbles or nanobubbles
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/04 : Surfactants, used as part of a formulation or alone
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 : Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 7/00 : Fertilisers from waste water, sewage sludge, sea slime, ooze or similar masses
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/46 : on sewage, house, or town refuse C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/20 : Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

A mobile sewage treatment and water reclamation system for rapid deployment to augment existing wastewater systems and provide interim service in lieu of permanent facilities, includes: (a) denaturing stage wherein raw sewage is first ground into suspendable grit, its pH first lowered to kill acid-sensitive bio-organisms, then raised to kill base-sensitive bio-organisms, and then neutralized; (b) clarifying stage employing an inverted-cone tank to circulate the solution after injection with chemicals to flocculate small particles for collection in a layer for siphoning off; and (c) disposal stage wherein clarified water passes through media filters to remove remaining solids and odors, the effluent water being clean enough for irrigation, aquatic life and discharge into waterways; and wherein sterile sludge is pressed into semi-dry solids, then dried, crushed, powdered and bagged for use as high-nitrate biomass fertilizer or for fossil-fuel power co-generation applications.

Claims

1. A portable sewage water treatment system comprising

sewage water intake means for receiving untreated sewage water and directing it into said treatment system in a sewage water stream;

a clarifier coupled to said sewage water intake means said clarifier having

a tank having

a vertical axis extending between a top and a bottom;

tank walls surrounding said vertical axis and defining a clarifier interior, said tank walls further defining

a holding chamber disposed adjacent said top, said holding chamber having substantially vertical, cylindrical sides extending a spaced distance below said top; and

a circulating chamber disposed below said holding chamber and extending to said bottom, said circulating chamber having substantially conical walls converging at a select angle relative to said vertical axis from adjacent said holding chamber to adjacent said bottom;

a sewage water stream injection port coupled to said circulating chamber adjacent said bottom and in fluid communication with said clarifier interior; and

header means disposed within said holding chamber and adapted to siphon a treated sewage water stream of treated sewage water from said clarifier;

disinfecting means coupled between said sewage water intake means and said clarifier for non-biologically disinfecting said sewage;

flocculation means coupled between said disinfectant means and said clarifier for causing solid materials suspended in said sewage water to precipitate out of solution and to clump together for removal;

polymer treatment means for treating said sewage water to discourage flocculated solid materials from sticking to said tank walls within said clarifier interior; and

filtering means for filtering said treated sewage water.

4. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 wherein

said sewage water stream injection port is adapted to inject said sewage water stream into said clarifier in a direction tangential to said conical walls.

5. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 wherein

said select angle is no greater than twenty-nine (29 deg.) degrees.

7. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 wherein said disinfectant means comprises

acid injection means coupled downstream of said surge tank for lowering the pH of said sewage water stream by injecting into said sewage water stream a select compound selected from a group of acid compounds comprising

sulphur, bromine, chlorine, halogen, chloramines and ozone;

alkaline injection means coupled downstream of said acid injection means for raising the pH of said sewage water stream by injecting into said sewage water stream a select alkaline compound selected from a group of alkaline compounds comprising

calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH); and

neutralizer injection means coupled to said downstream of said alkaline injection means for injecting a pH neutralizer into said sewage water stream for returning said pH of said sewage water stream to a value substantially equal to 7.0.

10. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 7 wherein

said select compound ionizes within said sewage water stream to produce dissolved sulphur dioxide (SO₂).

11. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 7 wherein

said select compound is ozone (O₃).

12. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 10 wherein

said select compound ionizes to produce a concentration of sulphur dioxide suspended within said sewage water stream of between twenty (20) parts per million (ppm) and 100 ppm by volume.

13. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 12 wherein said concentration of sulphur dioxide is 75 ppm.

15. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 7 wherein said acid injection means comprises

a sulphur dioxide generator coupled within said sewage water stream upstream of said surge tank and having

a sewage water holding chamber;

an oxygen source; and

a sulphur incinerator coupled to said chamber,

whereby said sulphur incinerator causes sulphur to react with oxygen from said oxygen source to produce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) gas within said sewage water holding chamber and in the presence of said sewage water; and

whereby said sewage water absorbs a select amount of said sulphur dioxide gas.

19. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 wherein said flocculation means comprises

a flocculant compound selected from a group of iron compounds comprising

ferric chloride (FeCL), ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) and aluminum sulfate (AlSO₄).

21. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 wherein said polymer treatment means comprises

a polymer compound selected from a group of compounds comprising

proprietary chemicals having the trade names of CAT FLOC, CAT FLOC+HI, CAT FLOC+LO, CAT CO HI, AN FLOC HI, AN FLOC MED, and AN CO, available from PFP Technology of Houston, Tex.

25. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 and further comprising

a sludge handling system coupled to said clarifier and having

a sludge exit port disposed within said conical walls;

a sludge exit valve coupled to said sludge exit port;

a sludge tank coupled to said sludge exit valve;

a sludge mixer coupled within said sludge tank; and

a sludge filter press coupled to said sludge storage tank.

26. The portable sewage water treatment system of claim 1 and further comprising

at least one trailer adapted to carry said portable sewage treatment system on public roadways, said trailer having

a substantially planar deck having

a longitudinal axis extending between a tongue end and a truck end;

a top surface substantially coextensive with said longitudinal axis and an opposite bottom surface;

a plurality of rails disposed on said bottom surface parallel to and a spaced distance apart on opposite sides of said longitudinal, said rails adapted to engage a bearing surface to support said portable sewage treatment system when said portable sewage system is in operation;

tongue means coupled to said tongue end and adapted to couple to a towing tractor for towing said at least one trailer on said public roadways; and

a truck disposed on said truck end and having a plurality of truck wheels adapted to

engage said roadway and to support said trailer when said tongue means is coupled to said towing tractor; and

suspend above said bearing surface when said portable sewage water treatment system is in operation.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8-9. -9. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16-18. -18. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22-24. -24. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

29. An improved method of non-biological treatment of untreated sewage water, the improved method comprising

providing a sewage treatment system having

sewage water intake means for receiving said untreated sewage water and directing it into said treatment system in a sewage water stream;

a clarifier coupled to said sewage water intake means said clarifier having

a tank having

a vertical axis extending between a top and a bottom;

tank walls surrounding said vertical axis and defining a clarifier interior, said tank walls further defining

a holding chamber disposed adjacent said top, said holding chamber having substantially vertical, cylindrical sides extending a spaced distance below said top; and

a circulating chamber disposed below said holding chamber and extending to said bottom, said circulating chamber having substantially conical walls converging at a select angle relative to said vertical axis from adjacent said holding chamber to adjacent said bottom;

a sewage water stream injection port coupled to said circulating chamber adjacent said bottom and in fluid communication with said clarifier interior; and

header means disposed within said holding chamber and adapted to siphon a treated sewage water stream of treated sewage water from said clarifier;

disinfecting means coupled between said sewage water intake means and said clarifier for non-biologically disinfecting said sewage water;

flocculation means coupled between said disinfectant means and said clarifier;

polymer treatment means for introducing polymer into said sewage water;

filtering means for filtering said treated sewage water;

monitoring means for controlling said sewage water treatment system;

then

directing said untreated sewage water into said sewage water intake means;

then

disinfecting said untreated sewage water using said disinfecting means;

then

operating said flocculation means to cause solid materials suspended in said sewage water to precipitate out of solution and to clump together;

then

introducing polymer from said polymer treatment means into said sewage water to discourage flocculated solid materials from sticking to said tank walls within said clarifier interior;

then

clarifying said sewage water using said clarifier to remove said solid materials from said sewage water by carrying out the steps of;

injecting said sewage water in a continuous sewage water stream into said sewage water stream injection port;

then

siphoning said treated sewage water in a continuous treated sewage water stream from said holding chamber using said header means;

then

directing said treated sewage water stream to said filtering means;

then

filtering said treated sewage water with said filtering means;

then

discharging said treated sewage water from said sewage treatment system.

30-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A portable sewage water treatment system comprising

a sewage water intake having

a reservoir adapted to accumulate influent sewage water from diverse sewage sources;

a circulating pump adapted to create a sewage water stream circulating within said reservoir;

a dense materials filter coupled downstream of said circulating pump within said sewage water stream;

at least one grinder coupled downstream of said dense materials filter and adapted to grind solid materials of indeterminate size within said sewage water stream into solid material particles of substantially similar size;

at least one macerating pump adapted to further reduce in size said solid material into particles of substantially similar size;

a forwarding pump coupled downstream of said macerating pump and adapted to forward said sewage water stream within said portable sewage water treatment system; and

a surge tank coupled downstream of said forwarding pump and adapted to equalize sewage water stream pressure within said portable sewage water treatment system;

clarifier means coupled to said sewage water intake for clarifying said sewage water to become treated sewage water;

disinfecting means coupled between said sewage water intake and said clarifier means for non-biologically disinfecting said sewage;

flocculation means coupled between said disinfectant means and said clarifier means for causing solid materials suspended in said sewage water to precipitate out of solution and to clump together for removal;

polymer treatment means for treating said sewage water to discourage flocculated solid materials from sticking to said clarifier means; and

filtering means for filtering said treated sewage water.