Mobile waste water treatment device

• US 5,520,803 A
• Filed: 07/26/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Container-Care International, Inc. (AMP Capital Investors Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Container-Care International, Inc. (AMP Capital Investors Ltd.)
• Inventors: Russell, Larry L., Mohar, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US08/280,359
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 210/609, 210/710, 210/96.1, 210/143, 210/182, 210/184, 210/195.1, 210/202, 210/205, 210/241, 210/257.1, 210/262, 210/206, 210/208
• US Class Current: 210/182
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/14 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/5236 using inorganic agents
• 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 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/12 by de-watering, drying or thickening
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/131 using electromagnetic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/20 Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/308 Dyes; Colorants; Fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/32 Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
• 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 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A simple, rapid, efficient and inexpensive process for on-site recycling of wastewater with minimal odor wherein the solid wastes generated by the water treatment process are dewatering on-site by solar energy to water content levels. below those required for disposal. All operations, including solar dewatering, are accomplished in a compact unit which may be mobile. The solar dewatering unit includes a drying pan over which a solar collector window arrangement is disposed.

In the process, wastewater, a water purifying composition and an oxidizing agent are additively mixed together in a first reactor settling tank and the resulting composition is neutralized to a pH of between 7.5-9.4. The added water purifying composition is then allowed to precipitate wherein it binds to and precipitates heavy metals as well as other impurities. The precipitated purifying composition forms a non-hazardous sludge at the bottom of the tank. The resulting supernatant is pumped through a filter to yield recycled wastewater suitable for disposal or reuse. The remaining sludge is pumped to a third tank where it is accumulated and thickened. Once a sufficient amount of sludge is accumulated, the sludge is pumped to a solar dewatering unit where the sludge is dried to a water content level below 50% water which is suitable for landfill disposal.

Claims

1. A mobile waste water treatment device having a first portion for waste water treatment and a second portion for dewatering sludge generated by said treatment, said first portion arranged within a marine cargo container and said second portion mounted on the top of said container, said first portion for waste water treatment comprising:

a) a reactor-settling tank having a waste water inlet port, a supernatant outlet port and a sludge outlet port;

b) a first holding tank;

c) a second holding tank;

d) means for pumping supernatant liquid from said supernatant outlet port through a filtering means to said first holding tank;

e) means for pumping sludge from said sludge outlet port to said second holding tank;

f) means for pumping sludge from said second holding tank to said second portion for dewatering sludge; and

said second portion for dewatering sludge including a solar dewatering unit comprising;

a) a sludge dewatering pan;

b) drain means forming a portion of said pan for permitting the drainage of liquid from sludge in said pan to said second holding tank;

c) a translucent solar collecting device positioned over said pan.

2. The waste water treatment device of claim 1 further comprising a wash rack, the wash rack having a volume sufficient to receive and store waste water effluent from said first holding tank.

3. The waste water treatment device of claim 1 further comprising means for adding pH neutralizing materials, oxidizing agents and water purifying compositions to said reactor-settling tank.