CA2073969C - System and method for treating sewage or other fluids - Google Patents
System and method for treating sewage or other fluidsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2073969C CA2073969C CA 2073969 CA2073969A CA2073969C CA 2073969 C CA2073969 C CA 2073969C CA 2073969 CA2073969 CA 2073969 CA 2073969 A CA2073969 A CA 2073969A CA 2073969 C CA2073969 C CA 2073969C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- media
- wastewater
- downward
- set forth
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 239000010865 sewage Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 16
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title description 5
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000002262 irrigation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000003973 irrigation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 claims description 80
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 44
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 claims description 39
- 239000005416 organic matter Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000009738 saturating Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 241000902900 cellular organisms Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005660 hydrophilic surface Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005273 aeration Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000004065 wastewater treatment Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000002352 surface water Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009264 composting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000645 desinfectant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002706 hydrostatic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000380131 Ammophila arenaria Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003912 environmental pollution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 gravel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005661 hydrophobic surface Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009428 plumbing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 231100000614 poison Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000007096 poisonous effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005498 polishing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011045 prefiltration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000135 prohibitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035755 proliferation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012264 purified product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008213 purified water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F3/28—Anaerobic digestion processes
- C02F3/2866—Particular arrangements for anaerobic reactors
- C02F3/288—Particular arrangements for anaerobic reactors comprising septic tanks combined with a filter
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D24/00—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof
- B01D24/007—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof with multiple filtering elements in series connection
- B01D24/008—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof with multiple filtering elements in series connection arranged concentrically or coaxially
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D24/00—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof
- B01D24/02—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof with the filter bed stationary during the filtration
- B01D24/20—Filters comprising loose filtering material, i.e. filtering material without any binder between the individual particles or fibres thereof with the filter bed stationary during the filtration the filtering material being provided in an open container
- B01D24/26—Upward filtration
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
- B09C1/002—Reclamation of contaminated soil involving in-situ ground water treatment
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F3/02—Aerobic processes
- C02F3/06—Aerobic processes using submerged filters
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F3/02—Aerobic processes
- C02F3/10—Packings; Fillings; Grids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2201/00—Details relating to filtering apparatus
- B01D2201/10—Filtration under gravity in large open drainage basins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C2101/00—In situ
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W10/00—Technologies for wastewater treatment
- Y02W10/10—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Biological Treatment Of Waste Water (AREA)
- Treatment Of Biological Wastes In General (AREA)
Abstract
This invention lies in the field of on-site sewage and wastewater treatment.
Standard on-site septic systems require special soil and groundwater conditions with large lot sizes. This invention comprises a method and device for complete treatment of sep-tic tank effluent or other contaminated water by contriving for it to flow in an ultra-thin film over a surface treatment medium such as fabric or sand, providing diffusive aeration, biological reaction, and physical filtration on a molecular scale. The device transfers contaminated water from a container (48) to a final collector (42), completely purifying the liquid in the process. The pu-rified effluent can then be reused for household, industrial, irrigation or other uses, or disposed of as normal surface run-off in streams or lakes. To increase efficiency, said container encloses a progressively more finely pored media (18, 22, 26, 28, 32) pre-cisely situated with effluent seeping gradually through progressively finer pores to provide effective pretreatment.
Standard on-site septic systems require special soil and groundwater conditions with large lot sizes. This invention comprises a method and device for complete treatment of sep-tic tank effluent or other contaminated water by contriving for it to flow in an ultra-thin film over a surface treatment medium such as fabric or sand, providing diffusive aeration, biological reaction, and physical filtration on a molecular scale. The device transfers contaminated water from a container (48) to a final collector (42), completely purifying the liquid in the process. The pu-rified effluent can then be reused for household, industrial, irrigation or other uses, or disposed of as normal surface run-off in streams or lakes. To increase efficiency, said container encloses a progressively more finely pored media (18, 22, 26, 28, 32) pre-cisely situated with effluent seeping gradually through progressively finer pores to provide effective pretreatment.
Description
Pcr/us9liooazo u::.~:~ 91/IO624 SYSTEr4 AND METHOD FOR TREATING SEtJAGE OR OTHER FLUIDS
Background Of The Invention This invention relates to a unique method and device for purification of sewage, wastewater or potable water by thin film aeration and a special prefilter, described in Vandervelde and Helm's U.S. Patent Application #404894, filed September 8, 1989. , Historically, water purification has taken advantage, in some cases, of aerobic or anaerobic biological devices to produce improved effluent using biota fixed on a substrate, or suspended. Anaerobic devices have traditionally been limited to a maximum of about 70%-8J% treatment and proposed as polishing stages prior to some further action, as in E.J. Jordan's (3,950,252 4/1976 & 4,211,655 7/1980), A.A. Monson's (4,152,976 7/1979), and A,W. Green's (4,293,421 10/1981) U.S. Patents.
Sewage and wastewater disposal is becoming a bottleneck in providing housing and employment for an increasing population. As sewage treatment standards become stricter and availability of clean water more restricted, the cost of providing these services rises. The. result is people with substandard or unavailable housing and employment in many communities.
Extending- and_ constructing standard.municipa~l sewage plants to accommodate higher population densities is environmentally unsound and becoming cost prohibitive. These systems use poisonous disinfectants, pollute the surface water into which they discharge and prevent normal beneficial recriarge of aquifers, Standard on-site septic systems, to work well, require special soil and groundwater conditions with large lot sizes. These factors are also becoming less available and more expensive as development proceeds. They discharge incompletely treated effluent into the environment.
More exotic and costly on-site septic systems designed to treat sewage under poor soil and groundwater conditions are being used to fill the gap.
These include Wisconsin Mound Systems, sand filters and a proliferation of types of mechanical aerobic reactors, many of which use chemical disinfectants that repollute their effluent. These expensive systems do a passable job if designed, installed, and maintained properly. However, they seldom are because of their inherent complexity. This results in discharge of untreated or poorly treated sewage to pollute ground and surface water. Pumps and other mechanical devices that they require are often beyond the owner's financial capability, or interest, to maintain.
Commonly used sand and gravel filters rely on mechanical devices to increase the air/sewage interface by spraying, sparging, or spreading it over sand, gravel, or soil beds. This allows the growth of aerobic biota which treat the sewage.
One of the most advanced and effective examples of this type is covered by U.S.
Patent 4,251,359, currently merchandised by SPEC Industries.
While investigating ultra-thin water film formation, we found that sewage caused to flow in a film over a hydrophillic surface, such as cotton cloth or sand, left its impurities behind and could then be released by gravity in liquid form into a collector. This resulted in a pooled, pure product free of odor and contamination while freeing the medium surface to adsorb more film.
We believe that further review of patents and literature will not reveal a method or device which can accomplish this treatment as we have. Advantages of this invention are submitted in the Summary.
Summary of the Invention This patent combines sui generis use of natural forces to completely purify water by exposing it to a very large hydrophillic solid surface extending up from the contaminated water surface, over the edge of its container and down to a collector at a lower elevation.
Accordingly, the present invention provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a granular or porous filter medium having interstitial pores, said granular or porous filter medium further comprising (i) two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (A) a first media portion, and (B) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, (ii) a downward media leg having a lower tip portion, (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion, and said downward media leg adjacent said edge portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
-3a-(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward media leg;
(f) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said final media portion and thence into said downward leg portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
An ultra-thin layer of water forms on the surface above the water due to physical intermolecular attraction between the water and the polar substrate, leaving contaminants in the container. Depending on the molecular polarity and effective area of the substrate, this film can rise to a height of at least several inches. If the surface curves horizontally, it advances even further, since attractive forces no longer must overcome gravity. If it then turns downward, the film flows with increased velocity, indefinitely, with the assistance of gravity. At the lower, distal end of the surface, still with the aid of gravity, the film can coalesce and pool to drip or run off the surface into the collector.
The film on the above-described inverted U-shaped surface acts as a nearly perfect elastomer. If the weight of the film on the downward flowing leg of the inverted "U" running to the collector is greater than the weight of the connected film on the upward flowing leg rising from the contaminated water, it will create upward elastomeric tension and stretching of the film on the upward leg with a force overcoming gravity, thus drawing the film up and over the top of the -3b-inverted "U" onto the downward leg and down to the collector to be released by gravity into it.
This process continues automatically, transferring purified water to the collector at a velocity dependent on the difference in weight of the upward and downward legs of the film. Velocity will slow, then stop, as the container empties. As the stretched film flows over the surface, energy is lost to friction so that the distance of travel, or, the total length of the inverted "U" limits the velocity of flow.
A greater medium effective surface area holds a greater volume of flowing film for a greater total flow rate at any given velocity. A larger medium pore size has a greater ambient air diffusion and convection rate for more effective aeration and/or evaporation. While we believe the physical principles are as taught above, we don't want to be bound by this.
The present invention also provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and associated dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a series of increasingly finer media portions in the direction of wastewater flow, said series of increasingly finer media portions each having a sufficiently coarse size to thereby provide a packed porosity of sufficient volume that substantially precludes clogging of the next finer media portion, said series of increasingly finer media portions comprising two or more -3 c-preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (i) a first media portion and (ii) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, and (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion;
(c) providing a downward leg portion adjacent said edge portion;
(d) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(f) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward leg portion;
(g) and wherein the number, porosity, and volume of each of said preselected media portions is selected so as to allow said organic matter and said dissolved gasses to be substantially removed from said wastewater, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
The present invention also provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
-3d-(a) providing a container, said container having an edge portion;
(b) providing a downward media leg portion, said downward media leg portion (i) adjacent said edge portion, and (ii) containing therein at least one film forming layer portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said container;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said container to said downward media leg without saturating all of said at least one film forming layer portion with said wastewater;
(e) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said at least one film forming layer portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
Water produced from sewage by this invention has undetectable levels sewage contamination parameters including odor, micro-organisms, biological oxygen demand and suspended solids. The purified product can then be disposed of without concern for human contact or environmental pollution. It can be reused for household, industrial or irrigation purposes or, discharged safely as normal surface precipitation run-off into storm sewers, ditches, streams or lakes. No separation or setback distances need be provided from wells, surface water, buildings or property line, nor does it need particular soil or ground water conditions, as do standard systems.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides An apparatus for the -3e-treatment of waste water comprising:
(a) an open-topped water tight container for receiving and holding the waste water to be treated; said container having a rim and further comprising:
(i) a filter arranged inside of the container; said filter comprising a plurality of layers of granular or porous filter medium, and having a starting layer of relatively course medium with large pores serving as an initial treating layer; a next layer of finer medium with more surface area per unit of volume and smaller pores; and each successive layer filter medium being respectively finer with more surface area and smaller pores than the previous layer;
(ii) a passageway for receiving the waste water to be treated and for discharging the waste water into the starting layer of the filter for distribution through the successive layers of filter medium;
(b) a shapeable medium having hydrophilic surfaces and having an inverted U cross section; said shapeable medium being arranged over the rim of said container with two depending legs of different lengths; the shorter leg of the shapeable medium reaching to the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium in the container, and the longer leg of the shapeable medium reaching to a discharge locale outside of the container; said discharge locale being located at a level which is below the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium inside of the container; whereby the shapeable medium supports and guides a flow of film of the waste water from the filter to the discharge locale, while this film of waste water is simultaneously purified by -3f biological and physical treatments; and (c) a collector for treated liquid, located at the discharge locale, which receives the film of treated liquid from the shapeable medium.
Operation of this invention is cost free, requiring no outside power, 4 . ~ ~ ~~,~~~ PCT/US91/00420~;_:-'~' energy, mechanical devices, nor regular maintenance. Relying on natural °
forces for operation, it will go indefinitely without attention. If, under unusual circumstances, maintenance should be required, it can easily be back-flushed, repaired, or replaced.
This device can work well alone, but the preferred embodiment uses a particular type of physical filter-biological reactor as the container. This container may be a cylinder, wedge or cone shape with the contaminated water introduced at the center or apex from which it seeps gradually through layers of saturated porous media toward the periphery. The first medium layer at the center or apex is coarse with large pores. The water is pretreated here by settling, flotation, physical filtration, composting and fixed film and suspended biological reaction enough to be further treated in the following 1 ayer contai ni ng a fi ner pored medi um wi thout pl uggi ng by bi of ogi cal growth.
The water is similarly treated in this second layer sufficiently to prevent plugging in the third layer with even finer pores, and so on. Each progressively finer layer has more surface layer, smaller pores, smaller iterstitial distance and more efficient treatment, until the desired level of treatment is reached.
From the final, finest layer the film-forming medium surface rises above the saturated level to provide the final complete treatment described above.
Material for constructing these devices is common and inexpensive, consisting of: the surface medium which may be well graded soil, sand or gravel; the container which may be a geomembrane over sculpted earth, or, sculpted clay, or other soil with fine enough particle size to prevent the escape of untreated effluent. If reuse or direction to disposal of effluent is wanted, a collector and associated plumbing may be needed which could be a trough with pipe and fittings. If only disposal is wanted and there is sufficient unsaturated soil surrounding the apparatus, the substrate for the thin film can be extended over the edge of the container into contact with the unsaturated soil to continue down to natural ground water or impermeable . ", native soil layer.
Location of this invention is compatible with all types of construction.
It may be in or under buildings, parking areas, or used for normal lawn, \~~ :91 / 10624 PCT/LJS9t /00420 garden or agriculture, requiring no irrigation.
The device can be used to purify, concentrate, evaporate or aerate 'liquids or suspensions, or as an automatic self-starting nonpowered pump requiring only slight hydrostatic head to start and drive it. It can be used with aqueous or nonaqueous fluids and a range of hydrophillic to hydrophobic surface substrates.
The container and collector can be made of any stable impermeable material such as metal or plastic. The medium could be any granular, porous, woven, or layered material such as metal, mineral, plastic, fabric, or open celled foam plastic, metal or glass.
Tubing can communicate from various regions in the saturated pretreatment area to the surface, to transfer gasses or sample effluent.
Brief Description Of The Drawings Fig. 1. Side section of cone or vertical. wedge shaped container with sand film surface rising up over the edge and down to collector.
Fi912. Top, see-through, view of verticle wedge shaped container of indeterminate length with sand film surface running along two opposite sides, Fig. 3. Side section of cone or verticle wedge shape container with sand film surface flowing to unsaturated soil to join the local water table, Figi4. Perspective view of horizontal wedge shape container with sand film surface over peripheral edge, F_ig-5. Perspective view of cyl finder shape with effluent going to local ground water.
Detailed Description Of The Drawings In Fig. 1., sewage, septic tank effluent or other liquid to be processed flows into inlet (10) moving by slight hydrostatic force down the pipe (12) to W091/10624 ~~ ~ ~~~~ PCT/US91/00420~~~' t.:
w the settling chamber (14) at the bottom, then through the perforated plate separator (16) into the coarse. medium (18), in this case 2-1/2"xl-1/2" well washed drain rock, where further settling, physical filtration, composting, suspended and fixed film biological reaction treat to the extent that it can seep through a screen separator (20) with pore size similar to the finer medium, into the next finer layer (22), in this example 5/8"x3/8" well washed gravel where further similar treatment takes place allowing it to flow similarly through the next separator (24) into the. next finer medium (26), in this case well washed sand with effective particle size < .80-2.OOmm and a uniformity coefficient < 1.5, without clogging, then similarly through a fabric separator.(27) into a still finer medium (28) in this example, washed sand with an effective particle size < .50-.6Omm and uniformity coefficient of <1.6. Then it seeps through a fabric separator (30) into a film forming layer (32) in this case, of coarse to medium sand which extends over the edge of the container (33) to form the downward leg (34). The downward leg is enclosed in separator fabric (36) and supported on, and embedded in, drain rock (18) to protect it and admit ambient air.
The pretreated effluent forms a film on the upper unsaturated layer. of sand (38), above the upper level of saturation (40), which is drawn laterally up over the edge (33) and onto the downward leg (34) to coalesce as free liquid at its lower tip which then pools (41) in the collector (42) to run out the outlet (44) to storage for reuse. Ambient air convects and diffuses from ground level (46) through the interstices to aerate the film. The container (48) and collector (42) in this example, are made of plastic geomembrane (50) supported by native soil (52),. Arrows (54) indicate direction Of water flow.
Verticle tubes (56) for gas transport or effluent sampling in lower layers.
In Fig. 2., sewage, septic tank effluent or other fluid to be processed ., flows in inlet (10), down under slight hydrosatic pressure to the apex, through the perforated influent distribution pipe (11) that runs the length of the container (46) then upward and outward through the pretreating layers indicated by lines showing intersections with geomembrane (13), as in Fig. 1., forming a thin film at the upper level of saturation (40) which flows outward and upward on the upper layers of unsaturated sand over the container edge (33) and down the downward leg (34) coalescing in the collector (42) buried in drain rock (18) to protect it and admit ambient air. Then it pools (41) to d!;.;:~~:91/10624 ~ ~ ~ PCT/US91/00420 _7_ run out the outlet (44) to storage for reuse.
In Fig. 3., the principle is the same as Fig. 1., except that the purified effluent film (53) is guided to join local ground water (56) for disposal, not saved for reuse.
In Fig. 4., the fluid to be processed flows horizontally through the .
treatment layers laid out in a horizontal wedge or pie-shape container (48) with extra air exposure at the top of each layer. It forms a film that flows over the peripheral edge (33) then through the downward leg (34) as in previous figures.
In Fig. 5., the inlet is at the center of a cylinder to flow radially and axi al ly over the peri pheral edge onto the downward, thence as Fi gs. 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention are herein disclosed for illustrative purposes, it ,is to be understood that all variations lying within the scope of these claims are contemplated.
. . : ~ ::.
Background Of The Invention This invention relates to a unique method and device for purification of sewage, wastewater or potable water by thin film aeration and a special prefilter, described in Vandervelde and Helm's U.S. Patent Application #404894, filed September 8, 1989. , Historically, water purification has taken advantage, in some cases, of aerobic or anaerobic biological devices to produce improved effluent using biota fixed on a substrate, or suspended. Anaerobic devices have traditionally been limited to a maximum of about 70%-8J% treatment and proposed as polishing stages prior to some further action, as in E.J. Jordan's (3,950,252 4/1976 & 4,211,655 7/1980), A.A. Monson's (4,152,976 7/1979), and A,W. Green's (4,293,421 10/1981) U.S. Patents.
Sewage and wastewater disposal is becoming a bottleneck in providing housing and employment for an increasing population. As sewage treatment standards become stricter and availability of clean water more restricted, the cost of providing these services rises. The. result is people with substandard or unavailable housing and employment in many communities.
Extending- and_ constructing standard.municipa~l sewage plants to accommodate higher population densities is environmentally unsound and becoming cost prohibitive. These systems use poisonous disinfectants, pollute the surface water into which they discharge and prevent normal beneficial recriarge of aquifers, Standard on-site septic systems, to work well, require special soil and groundwater conditions with large lot sizes. These factors are also becoming less available and more expensive as development proceeds. They discharge incompletely treated effluent into the environment.
More exotic and costly on-site septic systems designed to treat sewage under poor soil and groundwater conditions are being used to fill the gap.
These include Wisconsin Mound Systems, sand filters and a proliferation of types of mechanical aerobic reactors, many of which use chemical disinfectants that repollute their effluent. These expensive systems do a passable job if designed, installed, and maintained properly. However, they seldom are because of their inherent complexity. This results in discharge of untreated or poorly treated sewage to pollute ground and surface water. Pumps and other mechanical devices that they require are often beyond the owner's financial capability, or interest, to maintain.
Commonly used sand and gravel filters rely on mechanical devices to increase the air/sewage interface by spraying, sparging, or spreading it over sand, gravel, or soil beds. This allows the growth of aerobic biota which treat the sewage.
One of the most advanced and effective examples of this type is covered by U.S.
Patent 4,251,359, currently merchandised by SPEC Industries.
While investigating ultra-thin water film formation, we found that sewage caused to flow in a film over a hydrophillic surface, such as cotton cloth or sand, left its impurities behind and could then be released by gravity in liquid form into a collector. This resulted in a pooled, pure product free of odor and contamination while freeing the medium surface to adsorb more film.
We believe that further review of patents and literature will not reveal a method or device which can accomplish this treatment as we have. Advantages of this invention are submitted in the Summary.
Summary of the Invention This patent combines sui generis use of natural forces to completely purify water by exposing it to a very large hydrophillic solid surface extending up from the contaminated water surface, over the edge of its container and down to a collector at a lower elevation.
Accordingly, the present invention provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a granular or porous filter medium having interstitial pores, said granular or porous filter medium further comprising (i) two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (A) a first media portion, and (B) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, (ii) a downward media leg having a lower tip portion, (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion, and said downward media leg adjacent said edge portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
-3a-(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward media leg;
(f) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said final media portion and thence into said downward leg portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
An ultra-thin layer of water forms on the surface above the water due to physical intermolecular attraction between the water and the polar substrate, leaving contaminants in the container. Depending on the molecular polarity and effective area of the substrate, this film can rise to a height of at least several inches. If the surface curves horizontally, it advances even further, since attractive forces no longer must overcome gravity. If it then turns downward, the film flows with increased velocity, indefinitely, with the assistance of gravity. At the lower, distal end of the surface, still with the aid of gravity, the film can coalesce and pool to drip or run off the surface into the collector.
The film on the above-described inverted U-shaped surface acts as a nearly perfect elastomer. If the weight of the film on the downward flowing leg of the inverted "U" running to the collector is greater than the weight of the connected film on the upward flowing leg rising from the contaminated water, it will create upward elastomeric tension and stretching of the film on the upward leg with a force overcoming gravity, thus drawing the film up and over the top of the -3b-inverted "U" onto the downward leg and down to the collector to be released by gravity into it.
This process continues automatically, transferring purified water to the collector at a velocity dependent on the difference in weight of the upward and downward legs of the film. Velocity will slow, then stop, as the container empties. As the stretched film flows over the surface, energy is lost to friction so that the distance of travel, or, the total length of the inverted "U" limits the velocity of flow.
A greater medium effective surface area holds a greater volume of flowing film for a greater total flow rate at any given velocity. A larger medium pore size has a greater ambient air diffusion and convection rate for more effective aeration and/or evaporation. While we believe the physical principles are as taught above, we don't want to be bound by this.
The present invention also provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and associated dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a series of increasingly finer media portions in the direction of wastewater flow, said series of increasingly finer media portions each having a sufficiently coarse size to thereby provide a packed porosity of sufficient volume that substantially precludes clogging of the next finer media portion, said series of increasingly finer media portions comprising two or more -3 c-preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (i) a first media portion and (ii) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, and (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion;
(c) providing a downward leg portion adjacent said edge portion;
(d) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(f) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward leg portion;
(g) and wherein the number, porosity, and volume of each of said preselected media portions is selected so as to allow said organic matter and said dissolved gasses to be substantially removed from said wastewater, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
The present invention also provides A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
-3d-(a) providing a container, said container having an edge portion;
(b) providing a downward media leg portion, said downward media leg portion (i) adjacent said edge portion, and (ii) containing therein at least one film forming layer portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said container;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said container to said downward media leg without saturating all of said at least one film forming layer portion with said wastewater;
(e) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said at least one film forming layer portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
Water produced from sewage by this invention has undetectable levels sewage contamination parameters including odor, micro-organisms, biological oxygen demand and suspended solids. The purified product can then be disposed of without concern for human contact or environmental pollution. It can be reused for household, industrial or irrigation purposes or, discharged safely as normal surface precipitation run-off into storm sewers, ditches, streams or lakes. No separation or setback distances need be provided from wells, surface water, buildings or property line, nor does it need particular soil or ground water conditions, as do standard systems.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides An apparatus for the -3e-treatment of waste water comprising:
(a) an open-topped water tight container for receiving and holding the waste water to be treated; said container having a rim and further comprising:
(i) a filter arranged inside of the container; said filter comprising a plurality of layers of granular or porous filter medium, and having a starting layer of relatively course medium with large pores serving as an initial treating layer; a next layer of finer medium with more surface area per unit of volume and smaller pores; and each successive layer filter medium being respectively finer with more surface area and smaller pores than the previous layer;
(ii) a passageway for receiving the waste water to be treated and for discharging the waste water into the starting layer of the filter for distribution through the successive layers of filter medium;
(b) a shapeable medium having hydrophilic surfaces and having an inverted U cross section; said shapeable medium being arranged over the rim of said container with two depending legs of different lengths; the shorter leg of the shapeable medium reaching to the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium in the container, and the longer leg of the shapeable medium reaching to a discharge locale outside of the container; said discharge locale being located at a level which is below the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium inside of the container; whereby the shapeable medium supports and guides a flow of film of the waste water from the filter to the discharge locale, while this film of waste water is simultaneously purified by -3f biological and physical treatments; and (c) a collector for treated liquid, located at the discharge locale, which receives the film of treated liquid from the shapeable medium.
Operation of this invention is cost free, requiring no outside power, 4 . ~ ~ ~~,~~~ PCT/US91/00420~;_:-'~' energy, mechanical devices, nor regular maintenance. Relying on natural °
forces for operation, it will go indefinitely without attention. If, under unusual circumstances, maintenance should be required, it can easily be back-flushed, repaired, or replaced.
This device can work well alone, but the preferred embodiment uses a particular type of physical filter-biological reactor as the container. This container may be a cylinder, wedge or cone shape with the contaminated water introduced at the center or apex from which it seeps gradually through layers of saturated porous media toward the periphery. The first medium layer at the center or apex is coarse with large pores. The water is pretreated here by settling, flotation, physical filtration, composting and fixed film and suspended biological reaction enough to be further treated in the following 1 ayer contai ni ng a fi ner pored medi um wi thout pl uggi ng by bi of ogi cal growth.
The water is similarly treated in this second layer sufficiently to prevent plugging in the third layer with even finer pores, and so on. Each progressively finer layer has more surface layer, smaller pores, smaller iterstitial distance and more efficient treatment, until the desired level of treatment is reached.
From the final, finest layer the film-forming medium surface rises above the saturated level to provide the final complete treatment described above.
Material for constructing these devices is common and inexpensive, consisting of: the surface medium which may be well graded soil, sand or gravel; the container which may be a geomembrane over sculpted earth, or, sculpted clay, or other soil with fine enough particle size to prevent the escape of untreated effluent. If reuse or direction to disposal of effluent is wanted, a collector and associated plumbing may be needed which could be a trough with pipe and fittings. If only disposal is wanted and there is sufficient unsaturated soil surrounding the apparatus, the substrate for the thin film can be extended over the edge of the container into contact with the unsaturated soil to continue down to natural ground water or impermeable . ", native soil layer.
Location of this invention is compatible with all types of construction.
It may be in or under buildings, parking areas, or used for normal lawn, \~~ :91 / 10624 PCT/LJS9t /00420 garden or agriculture, requiring no irrigation.
The device can be used to purify, concentrate, evaporate or aerate 'liquids or suspensions, or as an automatic self-starting nonpowered pump requiring only slight hydrostatic head to start and drive it. It can be used with aqueous or nonaqueous fluids and a range of hydrophillic to hydrophobic surface substrates.
The container and collector can be made of any stable impermeable material such as metal or plastic. The medium could be any granular, porous, woven, or layered material such as metal, mineral, plastic, fabric, or open celled foam plastic, metal or glass.
Tubing can communicate from various regions in the saturated pretreatment area to the surface, to transfer gasses or sample effluent.
Brief Description Of The Drawings Fig. 1. Side section of cone or vertical. wedge shaped container with sand film surface rising up over the edge and down to collector.
Fi912. Top, see-through, view of verticle wedge shaped container of indeterminate length with sand film surface running along two opposite sides, Fig. 3. Side section of cone or verticle wedge shape container with sand film surface flowing to unsaturated soil to join the local water table, Figi4. Perspective view of horizontal wedge shape container with sand film surface over peripheral edge, F_ig-5. Perspective view of cyl finder shape with effluent going to local ground water.
Detailed Description Of The Drawings In Fig. 1., sewage, septic tank effluent or other liquid to be processed flows into inlet (10) moving by slight hydrostatic force down the pipe (12) to W091/10624 ~~ ~ ~~~~ PCT/US91/00420~~~' t.:
w the settling chamber (14) at the bottom, then through the perforated plate separator (16) into the coarse. medium (18), in this case 2-1/2"xl-1/2" well washed drain rock, where further settling, physical filtration, composting, suspended and fixed film biological reaction treat to the extent that it can seep through a screen separator (20) with pore size similar to the finer medium, into the next finer layer (22), in this example 5/8"x3/8" well washed gravel where further similar treatment takes place allowing it to flow similarly through the next separator (24) into the. next finer medium (26), in this case well washed sand with effective particle size < .80-2.OOmm and a uniformity coefficient < 1.5, without clogging, then similarly through a fabric separator.(27) into a still finer medium (28) in this example, washed sand with an effective particle size < .50-.6Omm and uniformity coefficient of <1.6. Then it seeps through a fabric separator (30) into a film forming layer (32) in this case, of coarse to medium sand which extends over the edge of the container (33) to form the downward leg (34). The downward leg is enclosed in separator fabric (36) and supported on, and embedded in, drain rock (18) to protect it and admit ambient air.
The pretreated effluent forms a film on the upper unsaturated layer. of sand (38), above the upper level of saturation (40), which is drawn laterally up over the edge (33) and onto the downward leg (34) to coalesce as free liquid at its lower tip which then pools (41) in the collector (42) to run out the outlet (44) to storage for reuse. Ambient air convects and diffuses from ground level (46) through the interstices to aerate the film. The container (48) and collector (42) in this example, are made of plastic geomembrane (50) supported by native soil (52),. Arrows (54) indicate direction Of water flow.
Verticle tubes (56) for gas transport or effluent sampling in lower layers.
In Fig. 2., sewage, septic tank effluent or other fluid to be processed ., flows in inlet (10), down under slight hydrosatic pressure to the apex, through the perforated influent distribution pipe (11) that runs the length of the container (46) then upward and outward through the pretreating layers indicated by lines showing intersections with geomembrane (13), as in Fig. 1., forming a thin film at the upper level of saturation (40) which flows outward and upward on the upper layers of unsaturated sand over the container edge (33) and down the downward leg (34) coalescing in the collector (42) buried in drain rock (18) to protect it and admit ambient air. Then it pools (41) to d!;.;:~~:91/10624 ~ ~ ~ PCT/US91/00420 _7_ run out the outlet (44) to storage for reuse.
In Fig. 3., the principle is the same as Fig. 1., except that the purified effluent film (53) is guided to join local ground water (56) for disposal, not saved for reuse.
In Fig. 4., the fluid to be processed flows horizontally through the .
treatment layers laid out in a horizontal wedge or pie-shape container (48) with extra air exposure at the top of each layer. It forms a film that flows over the peripheral edge (33) then through the downward leg (34) as in previous figures.
In Fig. 5., the inlet is at the center of a cylinder to flow radially and axi al ly over the peri pheral edge onto the downward, thence as Fi gs. 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention are herein disclosed for illustrative purposes, it ,is to be understood that all variations lying within the scope of these claims are contemplated.
. . : ~ ::.
Claims (30)
1. A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a granular or porous filter medium having interstitial pores, said granular or porous filter medium further comprising (i) two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (A) a first media portion, and (B) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, (ii) a downward media leg having a lower tip portion, (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion, and said downward media leg adjacent said edge portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward media leg;
(f) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said final media portion and thence into said downward leg portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
(a) providing a granular or porous filter medium having interstitial pores, said granular or porous filter medium further comprising (i) two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (A) a first media portion, and (B) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, (ii) a downward media leg having a lower tip portion, (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion, and said downward media leg adjacent said edge portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward media leg;
(f) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said final media portion and thence into said downward leg portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wastewater passes through a separator between each of said preselected media portions, said separator substantially preventing each of said preselected media portions from migrating into adjacent preselected media portions.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wastewater further comprises suspended particulates, and wherein said suspended particulates are substantially physically removed from said wastewater by said two or more preselected media portions.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said porous hydrophilic medium provides sites for biological growth without plugging of said medium, so that at least a portion of said organic matter in said wastewater may be consumed by said biological growth.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dissolved gasses in said wastewater are substantially consumed by said biological growth.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing ambient air to pass through said unsaturated final media portion to evaporate a portion of said wastewater.
7. A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and associated dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a series of increasingly finer media portions in the direction of wastewater flow, said series of increasingly finer media portions each having a sufficiently coarse size to thereby provide a packed porosity of sufficient volume that substantially precludes clogging of the next finer media portion, said series of increasingly finer media portions comprising two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (i) a first media portion and (ii) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, and (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion;
(c) providing a downward leg portion adjacent said edge portion;
(d) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(f) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward leg portion;
(g) and wherein the number, porosity, and volume of each of said preselected media portions is selected so as to allow said organic matter and said dissolved gasses to be substantially removed from said wastewater, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
(a) providing a series of increasingly finer media portions in the direction of wastewater flow, said series of increasingly finer media portions each having a sufficiently coarse size to thereby provide a packed porosity of sufficient volume that substantially precludes clogging of the next finer media portion, said series of increasingly finer media portions comprising two or more preselected media portions, said two or more preselected media portions comprising at least (i) a first media portion and (ii) a final media portion, said final media portion being finer in size than said first media portion, said final media portion having a larger surface layer area than said first media portion, and (b) providing a common container for said two or more preselected media portions, said common container having an edge portion;
(c) providing a downward leg portion adjacent said edge portion;
(d) directing said wastewater into said first media portion;
(e) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydraulic action from said first media portion to said final media portion, without saturating all of said final media portion with said wastewater;
(f) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said final media portion to said downward leg portion;
(g) and wherein the number, porosity, and volume of each of said preselected media portions is selected so as to allow said organic matter and said dissolved gasses to be substantially removed from said wastewater, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said wastewater comprises sewage effluent.
9. The method of claim 1 or of claim 7, wherein said first media portion is selected from the group consisting of (a) rock, (b) gravel, (c) soil, (d) sand (e) glass, (f) plastic, (g) open cell foam, and (h) metal.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said gravel comprises well washed drain rock.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said well washed drain rock is approximately two and one-half inches by one and one-half inches in size.
12. The method of claim 1 or of claim 7, wherein said final media portion is selected from the group consisting of (a) rock, (b) gravel, (c) soil, (d) sand, (e) glass, (f) plastic, (g) open cell foam, and (h) metal.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said sand comprises fine sand having an effective particle size from about 0.50 to about 0.60 mm.
14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fine sand has a uniformity coefficient of less than about 1.5.
15. The method as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 7, wherein said common container comprises an impervious liner.
16. The method as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 7, wherein said two or more porous filter media are inoculated with selected biota.
17. The method as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 7, wherein said downward leg portion comprises an impermeably lined channel.
18. The method as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 7, wherein said treated wastewater effluent is discharged for reuse.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said treated wastewater effluent is reused for landscape irrigation.
20. A method for treatment of wastewater, said wastewater of the type comprising organic matter and dissolved gases, said method comprising:
(a) providing a container, said container having an edge portion;
(b) providing a downward media leg portion, said downward media leg portion (i) adjacent said edge portion, and (ii) containing therein at least one film forming layer portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said container;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said container to said downward media leg without saturating all of said at least one film forming layer portion with said wastewater;
(e) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said at least one film forming layer portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
(a) providing a container, said container having an edge portion;
(b) providing a downward media leg portion, said downward media leg portion (i) adjacent said edge portion, and (ii) containing therein at least one film forming layer portion;
(c) directing said wastewater into said container;
(d) allowing said wastewater to flow by hydrophilic action from said container to said downward media leg without saturating all of said at least one film forming layer portion with said wastewater;
(e) wherein said wastewater flows in a thin film through said at least one film forming layer portion, whereby said wastewater is effectively treated for removal of organic matter, so as to provide a treated wastewater effluent.
21. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said downward media leg portion is provided in a generally inverted U-shaped configuration, and wherein said inverted U-shaped configuration comprises a short upper end which extends downward into said container to place said at least one film forming layer portion in contact with said wastewater, and allowing said wastewater to flow hydrophilically upward through said short upper end of said downward media leg portion, and thence downward through a long end of said U-shaped downward media leg portion, so that said long end of said U-shaped downward media leg portion allows said wastewater to migrate downward and outward.
22. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said downward media leg portion is enclosed in a separator fabric.
23. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said downward media leg portion is supported on, and embedded in drain rock, so as to protect said downward media leg portion and to admit ambient air into said downward media leg portion.
24. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said film forming layer portion comprises sand.
25. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said sand comprises coarse to medium sand.
26. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said wastewater is drawn laterally up over said edge portion, and thence flows downwardly through said downward media leg portion, and then coalesces as a free liquid at a lower tip portion of said downward media leg portion.
27. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein ambient air diffuses into said downward media leg portion, so as to create a mechanism for transport of gases from said wastewater as it traverses said downward media leg portion.
28. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein said free liquid is discharged into the ground, for recharge of local groundwater.
29. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein said free liquid is collected in a storage device for reuse.
30. An apparatus for the treatment of waste water comprising:
(a) an open-topped water tight container for receiving and holding the waste water to be treated; said container having a rim and further comprising:
(i) a filter arranged inside of the container; said filter comprising a plurality of layers of granular or porous filter medium, and having a starting layer of relatively course medium with large pores serving as an initial treating layer; a next layer of finer medium with more surface area per unit of volume and smaller pores; and each successive layer filter medium being respectively finer with more surface area and smaller pores than the previous layer;
(ii) a passageway for receiving the waste water to be treated and for discharging the waste water into the starting layer of the filter for distribution through the successive layers of filter medium;
(b) a shapeable medium having hydrophilic surfaces and having an inverted U cross section; said shapeable medium being arranged over the rim of said container with two depending legs of different lengths; the shorter leg of the shapeable medium reaching to the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium in the container, and the longer leg of the shapeable medium reaching to a discharge locale outside of the container; said discharge locale being located at a level which is below the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium inside of the container; whereby the shapeable medium supports and guides a flow of film of the waste water from the filter to the discharge locale, while this film of waste water is simultaneously purified by biological and physical treatments; and (c) a collector for treated liquid, located at the discharge locale, which receives the film of treated liquid from the shapeable medium.
(a) an open-topped water tight container for receiving and holding the waste water to be treated; said container having a rim and further comprising:
(i) a filter arranged inside of the container; said filter comprising a plurality of layers of granular or porous filter medium, and having a starting layer of relatively course medium with large pores serving as an initial treating layer; a next layer of finer medium with more surface area per unit of volume and smaller pores; and each successive layer filter medium being respectively finer with more surface area and smaller pores than the previous layer;
(ii) a passageway for receiving the waste water to be treated and for discharging the waste water into the starting layer of the filter for distribution through the successive layers of filter medium;
(b) a shapeable medium having hydrophilic surfaces and having an inverted U cross section; said shapeable medium being arranged over the rim of said container with two depending legs of different lengths; the shorter leg of the shapeable medium reaching to the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium in the container, and the longer leg of the shapeable medium reaching to a discharge locale outside of the container; said discharge locale being located at a level which is below the top of the uppermost layer of filter medium inside of the container; whereby the shapeable medium supports and guides a flow of film of the waste water from the filter to the discharge locale, while this film of waste water is simultaneously purified by biological and physical treatments; and (c) a collector for treated liquid, located at the discharge locale, which receives the film of treated liquid from the shapeable medium.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US46714190A | 1990-01-18 | 1990-01-18 | |
| US07/467,141 | 1990-01-18 | ||
| PCT/US1991/000420 WO1991010624A1 (en) | 1990-01-18 | 1991-01-14 | System and method for treating sewage or other fluids |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2073969A1 CA2073969A1 (en) | 1991-07-19 |
| CA2073969C true CA2073969C (en) | 2001-06-05 |
Family
ID=23854538
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2073969 Expired - Lifetime CA2073969C (en) | 1990-01-18 | 1991-01-14 | System and method for treating sewage or other fluids |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5281332A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2073969C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991010624A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (34)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5362397A (en) * | 1991-06-05 | 1994-11-08 | Biogenie Inc. | Method for the biodegradation of organic contaminants in a mass of particulate solids |
| ES2076858B1 (en) * | 1993-03-31 | 1996-08-01 | Mora Montajes Ind S L | "PROCEDURE FOR THE WASHING OF WASTE WATER" |
| GB9308085D0 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 1993-06-02 | British Nuclear Fuels Plc | Liquid filtration system |
| US7422902B1 (en) | 1995-06-07 | 2008-09-09 | The University Of British Columbia | Lipid-nucleic acid particles prepared via a hydrophobic lipid-nucleic acid complex intermediate and use for gene transfer |
| ES2124666B1 (en) * | 1996-12-10 | 1999-12-01 | C S I C | PROCEDURE TO DISINFECT WASTEWATER THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF ELECTROSTATIC FIELDS. |
| FR2760737B1 (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 1999-04-30 | Omnium Traitement Valorisa | DEVICE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION AND / OR COLLECTION OF WATER TRANSITING IN AN IMMERSE FILTER BED AND BIOLOGICAL FILTER EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE |
| US5871640A (en) * | 1997-03-25 | 1999-02-16 | Gavin; Norman | Filter and housing |
| US6015488A (en) * | 1997-03-25 | 2000-01-18 | Gavin; Norman W. | Filter system for septic tank |
| US6187194B1 (en) | 1998-09-02 | 2001-02-13 | Ichthyotech, Ltd. | Packaged aeration and filtration system |
| US6277274B1 (en) | 1999-04-16 | 2001-08-21 | Larry Steven Coffman | Method and apparatus for treating stormwater runoff |
| US6777449B2 (en) | 2000-12-21 | 2004-08-17 | Case Logic, Inc. | Method of making and using nanoscale metal |
| US20040218979A1 (en) * | 2003-02-10 | 2004-11-04 | Ohio State University | System and method for draining soil profiles |
| US7081203B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2006-07-25 | Glenn Helm | Compact surface mounted on-site wastewater treatment unit |
| WO2008014087A2 (en) * | 2006-07-25 | 2008-01-31 | Fountainhead, Llc | Buoyant plant habitat and process for its manufacture |
| US8287728B2 (en) * | 2009-02-10 | 2012-10-16 | Fountainhead L.L.C. | Elevated swale for treatment of contaminated stormwater |
| US8192635B2 (en) * | 2009-04-20 | 2012-06-05 | Dholakia Jayant M | Method for reducing clogging of filters |
| US8142651B1 (en) * | 2009-09-18 | 2012-03-27 | Chernoff Larry J | Mass transfer tank system |
| US8894849B1 (en) * | 2011-03-03 | 2014-11-25 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force | Upward flow constructed wetland for treatment of water contaminated with chlorinated aliphatics |
| JP5214070B1 (en) * | 2011-07-29 | 2013-06-19 | パナソニック株式会社 | Artificial soil structure and method for forming the same |
| US8974672B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2015-03-10 | Wasserwerk, Inc. | Self-contained irrigation polishing system |
| US9771710B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2017-09-26 | Wasserwerk, Inc. | System and method for treating contaminated water |
| US9011681B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2015-04-21 | Wasserwerk, Inc. | Self-contained irrigation polishing system |
| US10053372B1 (en) | 2011-11-19 | 2018-08-21 | Jayant M. Dholakia | Method and apparatus for filtering stormwater |
| US9085474B2 (en) | 2012-12-28 | 2015-07-21 | Lean Environment Inc. | Modular system for storm water and/or waste water treatment |
| US11851347B2 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2023-12-26 | Wasserwerk, Inc. | System and method for treating contaminated water |
| US20150083652A1 (en) | 2013-09-23 | 2015-03-26 | Wayne R. HAWKS | System and method for treating contaminated water |
| US11554969B2 (en) * | 2013-08-09 | 2023-01-17 | Aquablok Ltd. | Reactive treatment cell and systems for environmental remediation |
| US8920642B1 (en) * | 2014-01-27 | 2014-12-30 | Glenn Helm | Wastewater treatment unit |
| US9884272B1 (en) | 2014-05-12 | 2018-02-06 | Jayant M. Dholakia | Method and apparatus for filtering stormwater |
| US10384962B1 (en) | 2014-05-12 | 2019-08-20 | Jayant M Dholakia | Method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water |
| US10675565B1 (en) | 2018-01-31 | 2020-06-09 | Dipen M Patel | Method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water |
| US10682591B1 (en) | 2018-02-06 | 2020-06-16 | Dipen M Patel | Method for filtering contaminated water |
| CN112285321B (en) * | 2020-10-09 | 2021-06-01 | 合肥工业大学 | Test device and test method for aeration remediation of VOCs polluted soil |
| CN114309037B (en) * | 2021-12-16 | 2023-05-12 | 邓明利 | High security purification treatment device of soil pollutant |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3950252A (en) * | 1974-03-11 | 1976-04-13 | Jet Aeration Company | Upflow filter |
| US4211655A (en) * | 1977-11-14 | 1980-07-08 | Jet Aeration Company (Jet Inc.) | Upflow filter construction |
| US4162976A (en) * | 1978-05-30 | 1979-07-31 | Monson Arnold A | Sewage disposal system |
| US4251359A (en) * | 1979-05-21 | 1981-02-17 | C2 F Investment Company | On-site wastewater treatment system |
| US4293421A (en) * | 1980-04-30 | 1981-10-06 | Green Alvin W | Method and equipment for a wrap-around upflow submerged anaerobic filter for sewage |
| JP2708454B2 (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1998-02-04 | 実男 稲垣 | Evapotranspiration wastewater treatment equipment |
| US4997568A (en) * | 1989-09-08 | 1991-03-05 | Vandervelde Don M | Process and apparatus for a biological reactor to purify water |
-
1991
- 1991-01-14 CA CA 2073969 patent/CA2073969C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-01-14 WO PCT/US1991/000420 patent/WO1991010624A1/en active Application Filing
- 1991-05-30 US US07/711,560 patent/US5281332A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1991010624A1 (en) | 1991-07-25 |
| CA2073969A1 (en) | 1991-07-19 |
| US5281332A (en) | 1994-01-25 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2073969C (en) | System and method for treating sewage or other fluids | |
| US5632896A (en) | Method for treating sewage and other liquids | |
| JP3068645B2 (en) | Biological reaction method and apparatus for purifying water | |
| AU711957B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for treating storm water runoff | |
| US4218318A (en) | Process and apparatus for treating and purifying waste water | |
| US3770623A (en) | System for purification of polluted water | |
| KR100648794B1 (en) | River water and lake water purification device | |
| KR102248461B1 (en) | Auto Backwashing System Mounted on Non-Point Pollution Treatment Apparatus | |
| KR101815246B1 (en) | High efficiency composite wetland system | |
| KR100533596B1 (en) | Purification system for nonpoint pollution source | |
| KR20130033738A (en) | Modular infiltration trench combined with filter cartridges | |
| KR100424289B1 (en) | nature equilibrium vertical flow type artificial swamp facility for purging contaminate matter away contaminated water | |
| CN117049693A (en) | Integrated sewage treatment equipment | |
| EP1017638A1 (en) | Waste water treatment system | |
| US20020185426A1 (en) | Environmental flexible remediation system | |
| CA2252441C (en) | Apparatus and method for treating storm water runoff | |
| KR102816086B1 (en) | Hybrid water treatment facility capable of purifying water and treating non-point source pollutants, and methods for operating the same | |
| KR200405662Y1 (en) | Road drainage purification device using soil microorganisms | |
| JPH11347313A (en) | Water treatment utilizing capillarity and apparatus therefor | |
| SU947081A1 (en) | Apparatus for purifying water | |
| JP2958316B1 (en) | Water purification equipment | |
| JP2919448B1 (en) | Water purification equipment and water purification equipment | |
| KR20020057775A (en) | Waste water treatment system by sewage sludge pellet | |
| BRISSAUD et al. | Waste water, infiltration-percolation for aquifer | |
| KR20010102624A (en) | Sewage and waste water disposal plant and its method using large wood chip |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |