WO2003010097A1

WO2003010097A1 - Methods for treating effluents and devices therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2003010097A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/002404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lothaire Le
Original assignee: Lothaire Le
Priority date: 2001-07-24
Filing date: 2001-07-24
Publication date: 2003-02-06

Abstract

The invention consists in depolluting water of its heavy effluents so as to convert it into drinking water using 8 phases of two methods, which combine steps known to the person skilled in the art with a novel filtering method comprising a novel bacterial support. All the means of the devices (2, 3 and 4) can be assembled in a minimum space, and even as shown in figure 7 placed on a trailer to supply all life zones, said trailer equipped with its devices and means would then become indispensable in numerous cases.

Description

EFFLUENT TREATMENT METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHODS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a set of new methods for treating effluents or waste water from individual or collective domestic discharges, it also relates to the implementation devices which result therefrom. PRIOR ART

These effluents are currently being spread in an anarchic manner and not treated, as they should be, following the publication in the official journal of the decrees of May 6, 1996 of the Ministry of the Environment which stipulates that individual sanitation or collective (not connected to a central station) must be composed of: a first pretreatment device a second treatment device ensuring -either the purification and the evacuation by the soil -or the purification of the effluents in a area before the surface hydraulic medium.

In the first case, however, there are skeptical pits known as "all waters" which partially respond to the problem by setting up drainage compatible with the standard. The effluents are directed into the pretreatment part in order to separate the greases and to retain the suspended solids by means of said "all-water tank", then the effluent is directed to drains (spreading) in the natural soil, which aims to purify waste water through biological processes that occur naturally in the soil. Soil purification takes place in two stages: 1 -Fixation of materials to be purified by soil particles 2- Degradation under the action of soil bacteria. This purification process can only take place in grounds where water can easily penetrate, which is excluded in heavy and clayey grounds, and in the case where the topography of the places does not lend itself to this process, such as '' a slope of the ground or the proximity of a water table or a well.

It is worth noting that this process is favorable for vegetation, however, crops of raw edible root vegetables should be excluded nearby.

On the other hand, it is important to remember that the symbiosis of purification and cultivation only occurs under optimal conditions, the water supplies from the vegetation being relatively constant all year round, on the other hand, Vegetation's need for water varies greatly with the seasons as well as the temperature, which modifies the behavior of the microbial and bacterial flora essential for a good constant in the treatment of waste water.

The problem that the present invention wants to solve is to set up a process which respects the standards contained in the decree of 96. In accordance with this decree, non-collective sanitation must be composed:

- a pretreatment device - treatment devices ensuring: either the purification and the evacuation by the ground or the purification of the effluents before discharge to the surface hydraulic medium.

The minimum quantity required for rejection, observed at the outlet of the purification device on a representative sample of two hours without decanting is according to the standard: Suspended matter (ME S) less than or equal to 30mg / l

Biochemical Oxygen Demand over 5 days (D.B.O. 5) less than or equal to 25 mg / l.

However, the pollution generated by an inhabitant per day is with a flow of 150 liters and 200 liters

M.E.S 600mg / l 450mg / l

D.B.0. 5 400mg / l 300mg / l

To solve this problem, it is customary to set up during the process phases an aerobic bacterial filtering composed of a support having a large specific surface in order to force the bacteria to reduce the polluting load by absorption of the biomass by that -this.

For this we must consider a well-suited support which would, by avoiding clogging, purify the effluents through a biological film, which most of the known bacterial supports fail to achieve.

In the prior art patent 8710889: "Plastic elements for loose packings with film flow" gives a first part of the solution, it was however an element (plastic ball) which had some disadvantages which the present invention proposes to remedy: insufficient rigidity of the element used delicate delicate mass not optimized.

Furthermore, in this invention of the prior art, no complete description is given concerning the implementation of this element; an extremely important problem which the present invention now proposes to solve in order to respond to the problem posed by bringing a maximum of and with minimum size thanks to the arrangement and the combination of the means put in place.

By way of example, if we consider the case of a single-family house the methods of the prior art, which most often use spreading by drains. Occupy floor areas of a minimum of 120 square meters, then that the present invention requires only a floor area of 3 to 4 square meters for a filtration area of 400 square meters, which implies a huge reduction in the cost of the work, while obtaining a purification yield 2 to 3 times higher than that of old installations.

Thanks to this effluent treatment process, it can then be completely recycled for a variety of applications:

Watering of swimming pools

Various washing

Use of toilet flush water ... etc

Water reserve for firefighters in case of fire

These devices can be assembled compactly and placed on a mobile unit which can come to treat and recycle the effluents at the desired location; their association or combination to achieve the result does not offer any difficulty or incompatibility.

DESCRIPTION: the drawings helping to understand the invention are defined below:

Figure 1 of plate 1/5 shows the different phases of process 1 and Ibis.

FIG. 2 of plate 2/5 defines a sectional view of the device used to carry out method 1.

Figures 3 and 4 of plate 3/5 show two views including one in cross section of an essential means of the bacterial support which is a hollow sphere whose cavities have particular shapes.

Figure 5 of plate 4/5 gives an overview of the devices used to carry out methods 1 and Ibis.

Figure 6 of plate 5/5 gives a sectional view of the device and of the means making it possible to make the water potable, implementation of the Ibis process.

Figure 7 of plate 5/5 shows all the devices and their means placed on a trailer. The description will therefore include a first part setting out all of the processes 1 and

Ibis.

A second part describing the devices 2 and 3 for implementing method 1 (part corresponding to the depollution of effluents) A third part describing the device 3 which allows the complete recycling of the water. Rid of all its polluting effluents in l '' leading to a stage where it can be made potable, (implementation of process 1a).

This device 3 makes it possible to implement a process which increasingly refines the effluents to arrive at drinking water. Processes 1 and Ibis include 8 essential phases which make it possible to start from domestic effluents affected by heavy pollutants, to arrive at pure water transformable into drinking water. A phase 1 of process 1 which is a simple storage of the efflluents in a tank whose manufacturing material is not corrodable, this tank comprises a partition which separates the fats from the suspended matter.

A phase 2 which is therefore a decantation which takes place in the second part of the tank equipped with a "tarpaulin" station. A phase 3 which is an aerobic bacterial filtration process which includes means such as: clarifier, mud silo, which allow recirculation of the effluent on the bacterial filter.

Phase 4 which is a clarification process allowing the effluents discharged by centrifugation to be refined on a membrane, this using a pump

A phase 5 which is a discharge of effluents brought into compliance with the standards in force previously specified by the MES and the DB05 and which must be satisfied.

The extension of process 1 (called the Ibis process) itself comprises three phases;

A Phase 6 which is a storage of the effluent in a basin which can be a water reserve for various applications.

A Phase 7 which is a treatment by a filtration chain subjected to Ultra violet radiation. Phase 8: in which the water is made potable by treatments such as reverse osmosis or microfiltration ....

The essential and global function of such a process is to combine known phases with new phases to arrive at drinking water, this starting from heavily polluted effluents coming in particular from domestic waste ... The generalization to larger installations is quite possible. Description of the devices 1 and 2 making it possible to implement the method 1

The means necessary for obtaining the process in accordance with FIG. 2 are grouped together in a compact device 2, the functions of which we will detail:

Domestic effluents that we will call E enter under gravity in a decanter 21 which can be made of concrete, non-corrodible steel or preferably of composite material possibly themselves recyclable. This means 21 is called a digester decanter. The discontinuous arrival of effluents E leads to an increase in the level of E in said tank 21; these effluents E will discharge into the tarpaulin station 210 equipped with a pump 27bis with 2 floats (26bis and ter) supplying a pipe 211 in the upper part of 21 on a first deflector 23 which projects them by sprinkling on one or ( s) support (s) 24 and 24bis

The effluents E pass through the bacterial support 24 by gravity by purifying the pollutants, that is to say by getting rid of the pollutant loads under the action of bacteria. The effluents E thus treated biologically accumulate in a buffer reserve 25 which corresponds in most cases to the rejection of the equivalent in volume of a daily consumption. A central clarifier 30 bis equipped with several orifices (260 to 268) receives decanted water from the buffer reserve by gravity flow.

A lifting pump 27 combined with a level regulator 26 which determines the high and low positions thanks to a programmable automaton 22 manages the operation of the device 2 by raising the effluents in a pipe 28 towards the centrifugal membrane filter 40 which refines the MES (sizes of suspended particles filtered so that they do not exceed a given size (for example 50 or 100 ", this pump can be used, as the case may be, as a lifting station). a second deflector 250 makes it possible to avoid swirls in the decanted effluent, and the dropping of the sludge in the clarifier 30bis.

These effluents E are then discharged into a superficial hydraulic medium, by the pump 27, its normality being checked by a sampling carried out in a sampling manhole 52.

The means of the device 2 are managed with a known and programmed method using a computer program receiving the information from sensors providing information on the state of E and thus making it possible to obtain the desired level of purity. A sludge silo 30 supplied by the buffer reserve 25 equipped with a pump 27 ter and a float 26 quater bringing the effluents up in a pipe 212 towards a solenoid valve 29 (such as a door "or") offers 2 possibilities:

Possibility 1: it allows a new circulation on the bacterial filter of the buffer volume 25 (a certain number of cycles are to be determined to obtain the desired result)

Possibility 2: it allows the evacuation of the sludge created in the bacterial filter by a line 213 at the head of the digester settler; evacuation managed by means 22 (automat) The bacterial support 24 is constituted by an essential means which may preferably have the shape of a hollow sphere 240, but the dimension and construction of which (shape and materials) are precisely determined , depending on the objectives to be achieved by calculation and test results. In the case of a purification station with an aerobic bacterial filter of capacity between 1 and 500 users, the bacterial support 24 consists of a stack of hollow spheres 240 having a dimension between 60 and 80 mm in diameter. Each sphere has a central reinforcement flange 241 ensuring good mechanical resistance to crushing operated by the mass of effluents E which accumulate under the weight of the others The essential means is therefore a bacterial support 24 constituted for example by a stack of spherical balls 240 or any other support meeting the criterion: maximum mechanical resistance for a maximum specific surface in πfi per m ^ ⁵ characterized in that they have an optimization of their volume determined on a case-by-case basis, by calculation and tests, admitting a maximum compression rate in a mass and a minimum bulk, thus ensuring a good functioning of the device 2 and good aptitude for aging. ^ We will now describe a second device 3 which, thanks to the implementation of method 1, will enable device 2 to recycle Effluents E to make them reusable water for various applications.

The device 3 controlled by the programmable controller 22

1 therefore firstly comprises an open storage tank

31, provided with an overflow orifice 33; said basin 31 contains a lifting pump 32 ensuring the supply of the following means placed in series: a sand filter 34 which pre-filters the materials ^u in suspension in the water. a centrifugal filter 35 having a membrane eliminating fine particles (value given for example 50) a "post ph setting" 36 which adjusts the ph of the effluents E to the desired value, ²⁵ an ultraviolet device 37 which destroys bacteria . an absorbent carbon filter 38 which retains the last active agents which may still be harmful. Example: Chlorine which can be thus eliminated, insecticides and pesticides, and other synthetic materials; if we want to eliminate nitrites and nitrates, we can

^ add a specific filter. The fully refined Eaf effluent can be used for all desired applications: washing, swimming pool, watering, water reserve (for example fire). In a third part of the description the refined Eaf effluents will actually become water pure, made potable by the implementation of a device 4 of which we will describe the operating steps and the means.

Stage 1 pre-filtration to 5μ by means 412 which refines Eaf using a sediment cartridge which removes particles greater than 5μ Stage 2 filtration with medium active carbon 413 which eliminates all chemicals, insecticides pesticides, herbicides chlorine filtration level lμ particles

Stage 3 filtration on reverse osmosis (medium 41), the filtration level reaches 0.000 Iμ and removes more than 98% of undesirable materials, such as bacteria, lead virus, arsenic, sodium, heavy metals, phenols, radioactive materials which are eliminated.

Stage 4 filtration by means 414 on a Post activated carbon cartridge which absorbs more than 99% of chemical substances.

Step 5 the water is stored in a means 415 which is none other than a food tank subjected to UV supplied by a pump 417 provided with a safety closure 418 preventing access to bacteria, viruses etc. Finally, that -this still passes through a sterilizer under UV 419 action which confirms complete disinfection. A volumetric counter 420 allows the cartridge lifespan to be managed.

The drinking water Ep thus obtained from processes 1 and Ibis implemented by the devices 2 and 3 and 4 is drinkable, it comes from heavy effluents E very polluted at the start. The essential functions of this invention therefore reside in the combination of known methods with a new aerobic filtration process, the substrate of which includes a new type of bacterial support 24 previously ment described; offering a minimum of bulk and mass with maximum efficiency. The entire operation and control of the devices 2, 3, and 4 can be carried out by one or more computers comprising a software package for managing the quality of the effluents at all levels; this software can also manage the operation and implementation of the means of the devices already described. The quality of the effluent and its parameters (MES and DB05) are thus managed and at least comply with the standards in force.

Each device is made up of modular and interchangeable subassemblies which can be connected together by pipes and connectors which are very simple to implement.

All of the devices 2 and 3 and possibly 4 can be assembled on a trailer (Figure 7). In this case, this mobile unit can move to any base station where its intervention will be necessary: field hospital, health base, intervention during natural disasters, etc.

The maintenance of the elements comes down to an annual periodic check of these, such as the solenoid pumps, membranes, centrifugation means as well as means involving changes of activated carbon and sand, a check of UV lamps. is also necessary.

All these devices are compatible with each other, there is no prohibition or difficulties in their association or combination; they are easy to maintain in condition, because they are assembled in interchangeable modular elements, it is therefore easy to assemble and disassemble them to exchange the defective element, which can be immediately detected and located for example: by consulting the software package. the computer specially designed for this purpose.

It is obvious that the device has a natural ventilation V, not described, but obvious to the skilled person. (see figure 2 plate 2/5)

Claims

CLAIMS 1-Processes (1) and (1a) for refining heavy effluents from domestic discharges, characterized in that they comprise eight phases breaking down into five plus three. Either for process 1: a phase 1 which is a simple storage of efflluents in a tank whose manufacturing material is not corrodable, this tank comprises a separating partition which separates the fats from the suspended matter. a phase 2 which is therefore a decantation which takes place in the second part of the tank equipped with a "tarpaulin" station a phase 3 which is an aerobic bacterial filtration process comprising means such as: clarifier, mud silo allow recirculation of the effluent on the bacterial filter. a phase 4 which is a clarification process making it possible to confirm the effluent discharged by centrifugation on a membrane. This using a pump. a phase 5 which is an effluent discharge whose characteristics must remain in accordance with the standards in force such that the suspended matter (M.E.S.) is less than 30

Mg / 1 and such as the Biochemical Oxygen Demand at 5 days

(DB05) is less than or equal to 25 mg / 1, the process (Ibis) being added to the process (1) and comprising 3 additional phases: a phase 6: defined by storage of the effluent in a basin which can be a water reserve for various applications (watering, washing, etc.) phase 7: which is a filtration chain subjected to Ultra Violet radiation phase 8: which corresponds to the fact that the water must be made potable this by methods such as osmosis or microfiltration treatments; the essential function of the suit various phases of said process being to arrive at drinking water Ep starting from water laden with heavy effluents called E.

2-Device (2) allowing the implementation of the method (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises: a means (21) called decanter digester for storing the effluents up to a certain level in the tank ( 21) a tarpaulin station (210) receiving the pretreated water, a pump (27bis) with two floats (26bis and ter), the combination of these means having the function of discharging the effluents by sprinkling on a first deflector (23) then on supports (24 and 24bis).

3-Device (2) for implementing the method (1) comprising: a clarifier (30bis) equipped with several orifices (260 to

268) a lifting pump (27) combined with a level regulator (26) a centrifugal filter (40) with membrane these elements combined in their function making it possible to refine the particles of P effluent E.

4- Device (2) allowing the implementation of method 1 according to claim 1 and 2 characterized in that its bacterial support (24 or 24bis) is preferably composed of hollow spheres (240) having a diameter between 60 and 80 mm, fixing bacteria or any other support meeting the maximum mechanical strength criterion for a maximum specific surface in m ^ by m ^ 5-Device (2) allowing the implementation of the method (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pump (27) can be used as the lifting station

6-Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims for implementing the method (1) comprising: a deflector (250) a mud silo (30) equipped with a pump (27ter) with a float (26 quater) and pipes (212 and 213) connected to a solenoid valve (29) the functions provided by these means offering two possibilities a first which is the recirculation of the buffer volume (25) on the bacterial filters (24 and bis) a second possibility which is the evacuation at the head of the means (21).

7- Device (2) allowing the implementation of method 1 according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its deflector (250) makes it possible to avoid swirls in the decanted effluent and the dropping of the sludge in the clarifier ( 30bis)

8- Device (3) implementing the method (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, in accordance with phases 6, 7 of said method: an open storage tank (31) provided with an orifice overflow (33); said basin (31) contains a lifting pump (32) ensuring the supply of the following means placed in series: a sand filter (34) which performs a pre-filtration of the suspended matter in the water. a centrifugal filter (35) having a membrane eliminating fine particles (greater than 50) a "ph setting station" (39) which adjusts the ph of the effluent to the desired value, an ultraviolet sterilization device ( 37) which makes the water sterile. an absorbent carbon filter (38) which retains the last active agents which can still be harmful. The chlorine, insecticides, pesticides and other synthetic materials are thus eliminated, the fully refined effluent Eaf can then be used for all the desired applications. : washing, swimming pool, sprinkling water reserve for firefighters in the event of fire, these means being controlled by a programmable automaton (22).

9- Device (4) making it possible to implement the processes (1 and Ibis Characterized in that it complies with five operating stages of phases 7 and 8 of said processes and using the following means:

Stage 1 prefiltration to 5μ by means (412) which refines the Eaf effluent by a sediment cartridge which removes particles greater than 5μ

Stage 2 filtration with activated carbon by a means (413) eliminating the chemical products, insecticides, pesticides, chlorine, the level of particles eliminated being lμ. Step 3: filtration on a medium reverse osmosis unit (41) the filtration level reached at 0.0001 // and more than 98% of undesirable materials such as bacteria, lead virus, arsenic, sodium, heavy metals, phenols. Radioactive materials being eliminated. Step 4: filtration by means (414) on a Post activated carbon cartridge which absorbs more than 99% of chemical substances

Step 5: storage of the water in a means (415) which is none other than a food tank previously subjected to UV comprising a pump (417) provided with a safety closure (418) preventing access to bacteria, viruses, etc., the effluent still passing through a sterilizer under UV action (419) which confirms the complete disinfection, the drinking water Ep thus obtained from the processes (1 and Ibis) implemented by the devices (2 ) (3) and (4) being potable it comes from heavy E effluents which are very polluted at the start.

10- Devices for implementing the process (2) (3) and (4) corresponding to phases 3,4,7 and 8 of the said process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the level of refining of the effluents E can be entirely managed by a computer with a software package; this using sensors and control means making it possible to analyze the normality of Effluents E. in particular by a sampling carried out in a manhole (52) provided for this effect.

11-Installatioπ for the implementation of the methods (1 and Ibis) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means which make up the device (2,3,4) are brought together in modular elements on a mobile assembly, such as a trailer (6). which can be used in the desired places and applications. 12-Installation for the implementation of the methods (1 and 1a) according to any one of claims characterized in that the devices (2,3,4) are easily assembled modules, all of these modules can be fixed to the ground or in the ground or capable of being made mobile.

13- Installation according to any one of claims

7 and 8 .characterized in that the means used which make up the devices (2,3,4) are compatible with each other and thus make it possible to refine the effluents E until obtaining drinking water Ep.