System and method for biological wastewater treatment and for using the byproduct thereof

• US 7,776,211 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Algaewheel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Algaewheel Incorporated
• Inventors: Limcaco, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRINCE JR, FREDDIE GARY
• Application Number:
  US11/856,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 210/252, 210/259, 210/150, 210/151, 210/170.01, 210/170.08, 210/198.1, 210/202, 210/221.1, 210/221.2
• US Class Current: 210/150
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/082 Rotating biological contactors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/32 characterised by the animals or plants used, e.g. algae
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A wastewater treatment system and process includes a treatment system for biologically treating wastewater to produce substantially clean water effluent and byproducts. The treatment system includes an array of rotating media wheels for sustained algae growth. The media wheels are supported so that the algae rotates into and out of the wastewater for exposure to sunlight. One byproduct is algae removed from the rotating media wheels, which may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-diesel fuel. Waste CO₂ may also be provided to the facility for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria is provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. Rotation of the media wheels can be accomplished by air jets that also operate to dislodge excess algae as a byproduct of the system and process.

Claims

1. A wastewater treatment facility comprising:

an inlet flow path for receiving wastewater from a source outside the treatment facility;

a secondary treatment system connected to said inlet flow path for receiving wastewater therefrom, said secondary treatment system including;

a tank for containing wastewater received through said inlet flow path; and

at least one media wheel configured to continuously support the algae thereon for continued growth of the algae until the algae reaches a critical mass, said media wheel mounted for rotation within said tank so that a portion of the media wheel is immersed in wastewater during rotation and a portion of the media wheel is above the wastewater during rotation to alternately and continuously expose algae growing on the media wheel to sunlight and immerse the algae in the wastewater until the algae reaches the critical mass; and

an effluent flow path connected to said tank for discharging wastewater that has been treated by said secondary treatment system.

2. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said inlet flow path includes a primary tank connectable between the source of wastewater and said tank of said secondary treatment system.

3. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 2, wherein said primary tank is buried underground.

4. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 3, wherein said primary tank includes an access port accessible above ground.

5. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 2, wherein said primary tank includes an internal weir defining a settling area for settling of solids contained in the wastewater.

6. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said effluent flow path includes a tertiary tank connected to said tank of said secondary treatment system for receiving wastewater treated therein.

7. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 6, wherein said tertiary tank is buried underground.

8. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 7, wherein said tertiary tank includes an access opening accessible above ground.

9. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 6, wherein said tertiary tank includes a discharge outlet and an effluent filter for removing solids from effluent discharged through said outlet.

10. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said effluent flow path includes a clarifier configured for extracting bio-solids from wastewater treated by said secondary treatment system.

11. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said effluent flow path includes a chlorine disinfection chamber.

12. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said effluent flow path includes an aeration component.

13. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein said secondary treatment system includes an array of several media wheels, each receiving wastewater from said inlet flow path.

14. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein at least said secondary treatment system is housed within a greenhouse.

15. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 1, wherein the secondary treatment system further includes means for dislodging the algae from said at least one media wheel when the algae reaches the critical mass.

16. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 15, wherein said means for dislodging the algae includes an air jet directed toward said at least one media wheel.

17. The wastewater treatment facility of claim 15, wherein said means for dislodging the algae includes a scraper.

18. A wastewater treatment facility comprising:

an inlet flow path for receiving wastewater from a source outside the treatment facility, said inlet flow path including;

an intake channel bordering a wall of said tank;

a diverter plate at an upper edge of said wall of said tank between said intake channel and said tank; and

a series of spaced notches along said diverter plate configured for controlled flow of wastewater from said intake channel through said notches into said tank; and

a secondary treatment system connected to said inlet flow path for receiving wastewater therefrom, said secondary treatment system including;

a tank for containing wastewater received through said inlet flow path; and

an array of several media wheels configured for growth of algae thereon, said media wheel mounted for rotation within said tank so that a portion of the media wheel is immersed in wastewater during rotation and a portion of the media wheel is above the wastewater during rotation to alternately expose algae growing on the media wheel to sunlight and to the wastewater; and

an effluent flow path connected to said tank for discharging wastewater that has been treated by said secondary treatment system.

19. A wastewater treatment facility comprising:

an inlet flow path for receiving wastewater from a source outside the treatment facility; and

a secondary treatment system connected to said inlet flow path for receiving wastewater therefrom, said secondary treatment system including;

a tank for containing wastewater received through said inlet flow path; and

an array of several media wheels configured for growth of algae thereon, said media wheel mounted for rotation within said tank so that a portion of the media wheel is immersed in wastewater during rotation and a portion of the media wheel is above the wastewater during rotation to alternately expose algae growing on the media wheel to sunlight and to the wastewater; and

an effluent flow path connected to said tank for discharging wastewater that has been treated by said secondary treatment system, said effluent flow path including;

an effluent channel bordering a wall of said tank;

a diverter plate at an upper edge of said wall of said tank between said effluent channel and said tank; and

a series of spaced notches along said diverter plate configured for controlled flow of wastewater from said tank through said notches into said effluent channel.