Method and apparatus for treatment of water and wastewater

• US 9,193,614 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas R. Mcguffin
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Mcguffin
• Inventors: McGuffin, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORRIS, CLAIRE A
• Application Number:
  US13/735,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20150307381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 210/205, 210/760, 210/627, 210/620, 261/123, 261/DIG.42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

Method and apparatus for sealed pressurized enclosure containing a sludge digester designed to receive wastewater from commercial establishments for the purpose of removing fats, oils and greases using the high velocity impact provided by the sludge digester. Air containing ozone is pumped through the sludge digester causing a flow of material so that the stream of material is directed onto a series of stationary concentric ridges wherein the solids in the liquid material are forcefully impacted against the stationary concentric ridges so as to break the solid particles up into smaller particles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating fluid, the fluid comprising water and wastewater, comprising:

a) an L-shaped enclosure adapted for being sealed;

said enclosure having a horizontal foot portion and a vertically extending upright portion, and an internal area extending throughout said portions;

b) a sludge digester within said upright portion for digesting pollutants;

c) an inlet port for said fluid on a first side of said upright portion adjacent a top thereof and an outlet port disposed below and spaced from said inlet port of said upright portion for the fluid to be inlet into said enclosure and outlet from said enclosure, respectively;

d) a fluid strainer disposed internal said enclosure between said inlet and outlet ports so that the fluid is strained as the fluid is inlet into said enclosure;

e) said foot portion forming a base for an air supply for supplying air through a second side of said upright portion to an air inlet conduit at a top of said sludge digester, and an air filter for filtering said air supply,

f) an ozone generator mounted on said foot portion adjacent said air supply for injecting ozone into an air intake to a blower supplying said air to said sludge digester,

g) a side opening in said sludge digester for receiving said fluid, said sludge digester having an aeration chamber in which flowing air and fluid mix; and

h) said sludge digester being constructed and arranged so that said fluid along with an aerating mixture of air and ozone are upwardly flowing and pass out through a digester outlet port at an upper end of said sludge digester surrounding said air inlet conduit, said exiting mixture impinging on concentric ridges surrounding said inlet conduit above said digester outlet port so that solids in said fluid are forcefully impacted to break larger solid particles into smaller particles to facilitate removal of fats, oils and greases by oxidation;

whereby

i) said fluid substantially cleansed of fats, oils and greases by oxidation exit said enclosure through said upright outlet port for discharge into oil/water separators, lift stations or municipal sewer systems.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a weighted base being disposed on said lower end of said aeration chamber so that said aeration chamber is substantially stationary in the body of fluid in said enclosure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said strainer comprises a horizontal portion extending out from said first side of said upright portion and an upwardly extending portion of said screen at a distal end of said horizontal portion of said screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said blower pressurizes said enclosure.

5. A method for treating fluid comprising water and wastewater, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an L-shaped enclosure adapted for being sealed;

said enclosure having a horizontal foot portion and a vertically extending upright portion, and an internal area extending throughout said portions;

b) providing a sludge digester within said upright portion for digesting pollutants;

c) providing an inlet port for said fluid on a first side of said upright portion adjacent a top and an outlet port disposed below and spaced from said inlet port of said upright portion for the fluid to be inlet into said enclosure and outlet from said enclosure;

d) straining the fluid entering said enclosure between said inlet;

e) said foot portion forming a base for an air supply for supplying air through a second side of said upright portion to an air inlet conduit at a top of said sludge digester, and an air filter for filtering said air supply;

f) providing an ozone generator mounted on said foot portion adjacent said air supply for injecting ozone into an air intake to a blower supplying said air to said sludge digester;

g) said sludge digester receiving said fluid through a side opening, said sludge digester having an aeration chamber in which flowing air and fluid mix; and

h) said sludge digester being constructed and arranged so that said fluid along with an aerating mixture of air and ozone are upwardly flowing and pass out through a digester outlet port at an upper end of said sludge digester surrounding said air inlet conduit, said exiting mixture impinging on concentric ridges surrounding said inlet conduit above said digester outlet port so that solids in said fluid are forcefully impacted to break larger solid particles into smaller particles to facilitate removal of fats, oils and greases by oxidation;

whereby

i) said fluid substantially cleansed of fats, oils and greases by oxidation exit said enclosure through said upright outlet port for discharge into oil/water separators, lift stations or municipal sewer systems.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a weighted base on the lower end of the aeration chamber so that the aeration chamber is substantially stationary in a body of fluid in the enclosure.

7. The method of claim 6, providing said strainer with a horizontal portion extending out from said first side of said upright portion and an upwardly extending portion at a distal end of said horizontal portion thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, in which said blower pressurizes the enclosure.