Membrane bioreactor

• US 8,287,733 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Matthews Jr, Johan A. Perslow, Juergen T. Nick
• Original Assignee: James A. Matthews Jr, Johan A. Perslow, Juergen T. Nick
• Inventors: Nick, Juergen T., Perslow, Johan A., Matthews, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prince, Fred
• Application Number:
  US12/549,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 210/605, 210/252, 210/259
• US Class Current: 210/605
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1273 Submerged membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/30 Aerobic and anaerobic processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to wastewater treatment facilities, and more particularly to an improved membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater. In one embodiment, a membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater includes first and second anoxic basins for anoxic treatment of such wastewater, and first and second aerobic basins for aerobic treatment of such wastewater. The bioreactor also includes a first flow path connecting the first anoxic basin and the first aerobic basin, and a second flow path connecting the second anoxic basin and the second aerobic basin, for flow of the wastewater from the respective anoxic basin into the respective aerobic basin. The bioreactor also includes a membrane chamber with a plurality of membrane tanks, the membrane chamber being arranged in series with the aerobic basins, and the membrane tanks being arranged in parallel with each other, and third and fourth flow paths connecting the membrane chamber to the first and second aerobic basins. The membrane chamber may extend into the aerobic basin.

Claims

1. A membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater, comprising:

first and second anoxic basins for anoxic treatment of such wastewater;

first and second aerobic basins for aerobic treatment of such wastewater, the first and second aerobic basins arranged in series with the first and second anoxic basins, respectively;

a first flow path connecting the first anoxic basin and the first aerobic basin, and a second flow path connecting the second anoxic basin and the second aerobic basin, for flow of the wastewater from the respective anoxic basin into the respective aerobic basin;

a membrane chamber comprising a plurality of membrane tanks, the membrane chamber being arranged in series with the aerobic basins, and the membrane tanks being arranged in parallel with each other; and

third and fourth flow paths connecting the membrane chamber to the first and second aerobic basins, respectively,

wherein the membrane chamber comprises a floor that is elevated above and extends over a floor of at least one of the aerobic basins.

2. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the membrane chamber is located within the first and second aerobic basins.

3. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the membrane bioreactor comprises a first level and a second level constructed above the first level, and wherein the anoxic basins, the aerobic basins, and the membrane chamber are located on the first level.

4. The membrane bioreactor of claim 3, wherein the first level extends at least partially underground.

5. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a common inlet channel and a common outlet channel, and wherein the plurality of membrane tanks are positioned between the common inlet channel and the common outlet channel.

6. The membrane bioreactor of claim 5, further comprising a pump chamber extending into the common inlet channel and housing a pump for pumping clean water from a corresponding membrane tank.

7. The membrane bioreactor of claim 5, wherein the third and fourth flow paths comprise first and second conduits, each conduit connecting the common outlet channel to the first or second aerobic basin, respectively.

8. The membrane bioreactor of claim 7, wherein the first and second conduits each comprise a beam having a sidewall.

9. The membrane bioreactor of claim 8, wherein the first and second conduits comprise an outlet portion where the sidewall is removed, and wherein the outlet portion of each conduit is above a first end of the respective aerobic basin.

10. The membrane bioreactor of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of pipes, each pipe extending between the common inlet channel and one of the membrane tanks.

11. The membrane bioreactor of claim 10, wherein each pipe extends at a non-perpendicular angle between the common inlet channel and the respective membrane tank.

12. The membrane bioreactor of claim 11, wherein each pipe extends below the floor of the membrane chamber.

13. The membrane bioreactor of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of pump chambers, and each pump chamber extending into the common inlet channel and housing a pump for pumping clean water from a corresponding membrane tank.

14. The membrane bioreactor of claim 13, wherein each pump is located at the same elevation as an outlet of a membrane module within the corresponding membrane tank.

15. The membrane bioreactor of claim 13, wherein each pipe has an inlet that is positioned away from the pump chamber in the common inlet channel.

16. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the membrane chamber floor extends into both the first and second aerobic basins.

17. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the membrane chamber floor is sloped.

18. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, further comprising a headworks station upstream of the anoxic basins, the headworks station comprising a coarse screener, a grit vortex, and a fine screener that are contained in series within a housing, and a fluid flow path passing through the coarse screener, the grit vortex, and the fine screener, wherein the fluid flow path curves by about 180°

between the coarse screener and the fine screener.

19. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein a common wall is shared by each of the following:

the first anoxic basin and the first aerobic basin, the second anoxic basin and the second aerobic basin, the first and second anoxic basins, and the first and second aerobic basins, and wherein the anoxic basins and the aerobic basins are covered.

20. The membrane bioreactor of claim 1, wherein each aerobic basin comprises a first end proximate the respective anoxic basin and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the membrane bioreactor further comprises a first recycle flow path connecting the second end of the first aerobic basin to the first anoxic basin, and a second recycle flow path connecting the second end of the second aerobic basin to the second anoxic basin, the first and second recycle flow paths being located proximate the floor of the respective aerobic basin.

21. A membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater, comprising:

first and second anoxic basins for anoxic treatment of such wastewater;

first and second aerobic basins for aerobic treatment of such wastewater, the first and second aerobic basins being connected by first and second fluid flow paths to the first and second anoxic basins, respectively, for flow of the wastewater from the respective anoxic basin into the respective aerobic basin, wherein each aerobic basin comprises a first end proximate the respective anoxic basin and a second end opposite the first end;

a membrane chamber extending into the first and second aerobic basins, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a common inlet channel, a common outlet channel, and a plurality of membrane tanks between the common inlet channel and the common outlet channel, and wherein the membrane chamber comprises a floor elevated above a floor of the aerobic basins;

a membrane module in each of the plurality of membrane tanks;

a first conduit extending from the common outlet channel across the first aerobic basin to the first end of the first aerobic basin; and

a second conduit extending from the common outlet channel across the second aerobic basin to the first end of the second aerobic basin.

22. The membrane bioreactor of claim 21, wherein the first and second conduits each comprise a beam having one or more sidewalls forming a trough, and wherein each beam comprises an outlet portion over the respective aerobic basin.

23. The membrane bioreactor of claim 22, wherein each beam comprises a structural beam that provides structural support to the bioreactor.

24. The membrane bioreactor of claim 21, wherein the anoxic basins and the aerobic basins are covered and are located on a lower level of the membrane bioreactor, and further comprising an upper level constructed above the lower level.

25. The membrane bioreactor of claim 21, further comprising a first recycle flow path connecting the second end of the first aerobic basin to the first anoxic basin, and a second recycle flow path connecting the second end of the second aerobic basin to the second anoxic basin, the first and second recycle flow paths being located proximate the floor of the respective aerobic basin.

26. The membrane bioreactor of claim 21, further comprising a headworks station upstream of the anoxic basins, the headworks station comprising a coarse screener, a grit vortex, and a fine screener that are contained in series within a housing, and a fluid flow path passing through the coarse screener, the grit vortex, and the fine screener, wherein the fluid flow path turns by about 180°

between the coarse screener and the fine screener.

27. A membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater, comprising:

first and second anoxic basins for anoxic treatment of such wastewater;

first and second aerobic basins for aerobic treatment of such wastewater, the first and second aerobic basins being connected by first and second fluid flow paths to the first and second anoxic basins, respectively, for flow of the wastewater from the respective anoxic basin into the respective aerobic basin;

a membrane chamber extending into the first and second aerobic basins, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a common inlet channel, a common outlet channel, a plurality of membrane tanks between the common inlet channel and the common outlet channel, and a plurality of feed pipes extending between the common inlet channel and the membrane tanks, and wherein the membrane chamber comprises a floor elevated above a floor of the aerobic basins;

a membrane module in each of the plurality of membrane tanks;

a first conduit extending from the common outlet channel to the first aerobic basin; and

a second conduit extending from the common outlet channel to the second aerobic basin

wherein each feed pipe extends below the floor of the membrane chamber and has an outlet in the corresponding membrane tank.

28. A membrane bioreactor for treatment of wastewater, comprising:

first and second anoxic basins for anoxic treatment of such wastewater;

first and second aerobic basins for aerobic treatment of such wastewater, the first and second aerobic basins being connected by first and second fluid flow paths to the first and second anoxic basins, respectively, for flow of the wastewater from the respective anoxic basin into the respective aerobic basin;

a membrane chamber extending into the first and second aerobic basins, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a common inlet channel, a common outlet channel, a plurality of membrane tanks between the common inlet channel and the common outlet channel, and a plurality of feed pipes extending between the common inlet channel and the membrane tanks, and wherein the membrane chamber comprises a floor elevated above a floor of the aerobic basins;

a membrane module in each of the plurality of membrane tanks;

a first conduit extending from the common outlet channel to the first aerobic basin; and

a second conduit extending from the common outlet channel to the second aerobic basin

wherein the membrane chamber further comprises a plurality of pump chambers, each pump chamber extending into the common inlet channel and having a pump operably connected to one of the membrane tanks for pumping clean water from the membrane tank.

29. The membrane bioreactor of claim 28, wherein the pump is located at the same elevation as an outlet of the corresponding membrane tank.

30. A membrane bioreactor for treatment of water, comprising:

an anoxic basin for anoxic treatment of water;

an aerobic basin for aerobic treatment of the water, the aerobic basin being fluidically connected in series with the anoxic basin, wherein the aerobic basin comprises a first end proximate the anoxic basin and a second end opposite the first end;

a common inlet channel fluidically connected in series with the aerobic basin; and

a plurality of membrane tanks fluidically connected in parallel with each other and in series with the common inlet channel,

wherein the common inlet channel is positioned above the second end of the aerobic basin, and further comprising a vertical feed pipe for lifting the water from the second end of the aerobic basin through the vertical feed pipe into the common inlet channel.

31. The membrane bioreactor of claim 30, wherein the membrane tanks comprise a floor that is elevated above and extends over a floor of the aerobic basin.

32. The membrane bioreactor of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of feed pipes, each feed pipe connecting the common inlet channel to one of the membrane tanks, and wherein the feed pipe extends below the floor of the membrane tanks.

33. The membrane bioreactor of claim 31, further comprising a common outlet channel fluidically connected in series with the membrane tanks, and further comprising a gravity flow path connecting the common outlet channel to the first end of the aerobic basin for flow of the water from the common outlet channel to the first end of the aerobic basin by gravity, and wherein the flow path extends over the aerobic basin.

34. The membrane bioreactor of claim 33, wherein the flow path comprises a structural beam providing a conduit for water flow and providing structural support to the membrane bioreactor.

35. The membrane bioreactor of claim 30, wherein the membrane bioreactor comprises a first level and a second level constructed above the first level, and wherein the anoxic basin, the aerobic basin, and the membrane tanks are located on the first level, and further comprising a headworks station upstream of the anoxic basin, the headworks station being located on the second level and comprising a coarse screener, a grit vortex, and a fine screener that are contained in series within a housing, and a fluid flow path passing through the coarse screener, the grit vortex, and the fine screener, wherein the fluid flow path turns by about 180°

between the coarse screener and the fine screener.

36. The membrane bioreactor of claim 30, wherein each membrane tank is coupled to a pump for pumping clean water from the respective membrane tank, and wherein the pump is vertically aligned with an outlet of the respective membrane tank.

37. The membrane bioreactor of claim 36, wherein the pump is housed in a pump chamber that is located within the common inlet channel.