Device for decanting supernatant

• US 6,423,214 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glen D. Lindbo
• Original Assignee: Glen D. Lindbo
• Inventors: Lindbo, Glen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barry, Chester T.
• Application Number:
  US09/978,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 210/122, 210/121-129, 210/242.3
• US Class Current: 210/122
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/006 Water distributors either inside a treatment tank or directing the water to several treatment tanks; Water treatment plants incorporating these distributors, with or without chemical or biological tanks for settling tanks B01D21/24
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/44 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/022 Laminar
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/024 Turbulent
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/02 Aerobic processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1242 Small compact installations for use in homes, apartment blocks, hotels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/30 Aerobic and anaerobic processes
• 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

A wastewater treatment tank with influent gates (24) and pre-react zone with an outwardly flared lower portion. Influent passes over influent gates (24), which introduce turbulence, causing aeration, and reducing flow velocity. As influent flows out of the influent gate housing (20), flow velocity is further reduced by contact with the surface of the wastewater in the basin and influent flow is directed laterally by an influent gate bottom (30). A pre-react zone director (34) spaced apart from the bottom (42) of the basin encloses the influent gate housing (20) and utilizes an outwardly flared lower portion, or flap (38), to further reduce flow velocity and enhance laminar flow. This results in minimal disturbance of settled sludge blanket, allowing it to act as a natural biological filter, which in turn results in a superior supernatant.

Claims

1. A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid'"'"'s surface, comprising:

a body having a bottom and a plurality of holes;

a bladder within said body that provides buoyancy for said body so that said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface, said bladder defining a space between said body and said bladder;

a decanter riser having an effluent port in fluid communication with one of said holes;

a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port;

activatable drawing means for drawing supernatant through said discharge line;

a check valve riser in fluid communication with another of said holes having a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid'"'"'s surface when said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface;

a valve operatively connected to said supernatant intake port that prevents substantial portions of any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake port when said liquid is aerated;

whereby when said drawing means is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake port, through said valve, through said check valve riser, through said space between said bladder and said body, through said decanter riser, and out said discharge line.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said valve is a recessed ball check valve, comprising:

a check valve housing positioned above said supernatant intake port, said check valve housing having a ball aperture with an aperture diameter; and

a ball set into said ball aperture, said ball having a ball diameter greater than said aperture diameter;

whereby supernatant drawn through said supernatant intake port will raise said ball and open said ball check valve.

3. A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid'"'"'s surface, comprising:

a buoyant body having an interior, a bottom and a plurality of holes;

a decanter riser having an effluent port in fluid communication with one of said holes;

a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port;

activatable drawing means for drawing supernatant through said discharge line operatively connected to said discharge line;

a check valve riser in fluid communication with another of said holes having a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid'"'"'s surface when said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface;

a valve operatively connected to said supernatant intake ports that prevents substantial portions of any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake port when said liquid is aerated;

whereby when said drawing means is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake port, through said valve, through said check valve riser, through said interior and said body, through said decanter riser, and out said discharge line.

4. A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid'"'"'s surface, comprising:

a buoyant body;

a decanter riser attached to said body having an effluent port and a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid'"'"'s surface when said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface;

a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port;

activatable drawing means for drawing supernatant through said discharge line operatively connected to said discharge line;

a valve operatively connected to said supernatant intake port that prevents substantial portions of any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake port when said liquid is aerated;

whereby when said drawing means is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake port, through said valve, through said decanter riser, out said effluent port, and out said discharge line.

5. A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid'"'"'s surface, comprising:

a body having a bottom and a plurality of holes;

a bladder within said body that provides buoyancy for said body so that said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface, said bladder defining a space between said body and said bladder;

a decanter riser having an effluent port in fluid communication with one of said holes;

a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port;

a decanter pump operatively connected to said discharge line;

a check valve riser in fluid communication with others of said holes having a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid'"'"'s surface when said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface;

valves operatively connected to said supernatant intake ports that prevent any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake ports when said liquid is aerated;

whereby when said decanter pump is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake ports, through said valves, through said check valve risers, through said space between said bladder and said body, through said decanter riser, and out said discharge line.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said valves are recessed ball check valves, each of said check valves comprising:

a check valve housing positioned above said supernatant intake port, said check valve housing having a ball aperture with an aperture diameter; and

a ball set into said ball aperture, said ball having a ball diameter greater than said aperture diameter;

whereby supernatant drawn through said supernatant intake port will raise said balls and open said ball check valves.

7. A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid'"'"'s surface, comprising:

a buoyant body having a hollow interior, a bottom and a plurality of holes;

a decanter riser having an effluent port in fluid communication with one of said holes;

a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port;

a decanter pump operatively connected to said discharge line;

a check valve riser in fluid communication with others of said holes having a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid'"'"'s surface when said body floats on said liquid'"'"'s surface;

valves operatively connected to said supernatant intake ports that prevent any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake ports when said liquid is aerated;

whereby when said decanter pump is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake ports, through said valves, through said check valve risers, through said hollow interior and said body, through said decanter riser, and out said discharge line.