SOLAR WASTEWATER DISINFECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20170081210A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pasteurization Technology Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pasteurization Technology Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Ryan, Gregory, Kalika, Vlad, ALTASSERRE, Antoine
• Application Number:
  US14/858,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20170081210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A solar wastewater disinfection system and method, the system including a solar collector configured to heat wastewater from a first temperature up to at least a second temperature, using solar energy; a pre-heater configured to heat the wastewater up to at least the first temperature, by transferring heat from the wastewater heated by the solar collector; a pump configured to circulate the wastewater between the pre-heater and the solar collector; and a controller configured to control the pump, such that the wastewater remains at or above the second temperature for a time period sufficient to pasteurize the wastewater.

Claims

1. A solar wastewater disinfection system comprising:

a solar collector configured to heat wastewater from a first temperature up to at least a second temperature using solar energy;

a pre-heater configured to heat the wastewater up to at least the first temperature, by transferring heat from the wastewater heated by the solar collector;

a pump configured to circulate the wastewater between the pre-heater and the solar collector; and

a controller configured to control the pump, such that the wastewater is maintained at least at the second temperature for a time period sufficient to disinfect the wastewater.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature ranges from about 69°

C. to about 75°

C.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second temperature ranges from about 72°

C. to about 76°

C.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump, such that the wastewater is maintained at least at the second temperature for a time period ranging from about 10 to about 20 seconds.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the pump, such that the wastewater is maintained at least at the second temperature for a time period of about 15 seconds.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a distribution conduit connecting an outlet of the pre-heater to an inlet of the solar collector; and

a collection conduit connecting an outlet of the solar collector to an inlet of the pre-heater.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a contact chamber disposed between the collection conduit and the pre-heater, wherein the contact chamber has a larger diameter than a diameter of at least one of the distribution conduit and the return conduit.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary heat source; and

a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) configured to transfer heat generated by the secondary heat source to the wastewater,

wherein the secondary heat source is a combined heat and power system comprising a turbine and an electrical generator.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the system does not include a condenser; and

the controller is configured to operate the pump, such that the wastewater is maintained at a temperature of below 100°

C. between the distribution conduit and the collection conduit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar collector is configured to directly heat the wastewater using solar energy by circulating the wastewater through the solar collector.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a fluid heated by the solar collector to the wastewater.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar collector comprises tubes disposed in parabolic reflectors or flat-plate collectors.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the wastewater in the system,

wherein the controller is configured to control the speed of the pump according to the detected temperature.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar collector is floated on a body of water.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an input channel configured to connect the pump to an external wastewater source;

an output channel configured to connect an output of the pre-heater to an external wastewater destination; and

a recycling conduit configured to selectively connect the input channel to the output channel.

16. A method of disinfecting wastewater, comprising:

heating wastewater from a first temperature to at least a second temperature using heat from a solar collector;

maintaining the wastewater at least at the second temperature, for a time period sufficient to disinfect the wastewater; and

heating incoming wastewater to at least the first temperature using heat extracted from the disinfected wastewater.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein heating wastewater from a first temperature to at least a second temperature comprises using heat from both a combined heat and power system and the solar collector, to heat the wastewater.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein maintaining the wastewater at least at the second temperature comprises controlling a flow rate of the wastewater based on a temperature of the wastewater.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein heating incoming wastewater to at least the first temperature comprises using a heat exchanger and a closed circulation loop, until the wastewater reaches the first temperature.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the solar collector floats on a body of water.