WO2007142442A1

WO2007142442A1 - Apparatus for and method of treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves

Info

Publication number: WO2007142442A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002699
Authority: WO
Inventors: In Ho Lee
Original assignee: In Ho Lee
Priority date: 2006-06-02
Filing date: 2007-06-04
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: CN101081707A; KR100815825B1; KR20070115427A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wastewater treatment system including an active electron generator; a hydrated electron generator; a reaction bath; a T-shaped venturi tube; and a multi- frequency wave generator, and using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, in which hydrated electrons and radicals are generated through a high-voltage pulse type discharge, the generated electrons and radicals are mixed into wastewater and flow into a reaction bath, and a multi-frequency wave generator is provided to facilitate oxidation-reduction reaction of the hydrated electrons and radicals against contaminants in the wastewater. This wastewater treatment system can be applied to maximize the efficiency of wastewater treatment, treatment of sanitary waste, sewage and factory wastewater, as well as refractor wastewater such as leaching waste, livestock wastewater and food waste.

Description

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING

WASTEWATER USING HYDRATED ELECTRONS AND

MULTI-FREQUENCY WAVES

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a wastewater treatment system for decomposing and oxidizing refractory materials within wastewater using hydrated electrons and radicals, and more specifically, to a wastewater treatment system using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, in which hydrated electrons and radicals are generated through a high- voltage pulse type discharge, the generated electrons and radicals are mixed into wastewater and flow into a reaction bath, and a multi-frequency wave generator is provided to facilitate oxidation-reduction reaction of the hydrated electrons and radicals against contaminants in the wastewater. Background Art

[2] In general, a wastewater treatment technology may be categorized into biological treatment, chemical treatment, physical and mechanical treatment, and the like.

[3] According to a general concept, a primary treatment means a physical and mechanical treatment, or the like and a secondary treatment means a chemical treatment and a biological treatment.

[4] In addition, a third treatment means a high-level treatment including all the above physical, chemical and biological treatments.

[5] The above biological treatment includes an activated sludge method, a contact- reaction bath, an anaerobic digestion process, a lagoon, a stabilization pond or the like. The chemical treatment employs neutralization, agglomeration and disposition, ion- exchange, and chemical oxidation.

[6] The above physical and mechanical treatment includes a pressure rising method, a membrane separation method, an adsorption process, a physical deposition, an ozone oxidation method, and the like.

[7] As a specific wastewater treatment technique, a high-grade oxidation method

(AOP) has been on the rise, which is a typical physical and mechanical treatment technology for treating contaminants in wastewater using oxidation and reduction reactions.

[8] The above high-grade oxidation method includes typically a Fenton oxidation method using chemicals, an ozone oxidation method using ozone and an ultrasonic technique. Each technique has its own performance in treating refractory wastewater, but also embraces lots of demerits. [9] For example, the Fenton oxidation method using chemicals may increase the maintenance cost and cause a secondary contaminant source due to the use of chemicals. The ozone oxidation method using ozone has higher electricity cost in comparison to its ozone production efficiency, and needs a post-treating facility and a safety control.

[10] In addition, other technologies include a wastewater treatment using ultrasonic, ultra-violet, electron beam, or the like. However, these have not been implemented directly on site, due to difficulties and problems in terms of efficiency and operation.

[11] Accordingly, there is a need for an economically efficient technology for treating wastewater in a high efficiency, along with an easy maintenance, without causing a secondary contaminant source. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[12] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wastewater treatment system using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, in which hydrated electrons and radicals capable of treating refractory materials are generated and a multi-frequency waves generator is provided to generate multi- frequency waves for activating the hydrated electrons and radicals, thereby enabling to treat contaminants through oxidation-reduction reactions.

[13] Another object of the invention is to provide a wastewater treatment system using hydrated electrons and multi- frequency waves, in which a secondary contaminant source rarely occurs through a reduction reaction directly bubbling hydrated electrons against contaminants within wastewater and through an oxidation reaction involving OH-radicals and the like. Technical Solution

[14] To accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, the apparatus comprising: an active electron generator having an electrode of pin-type emitting electrons and radicals by means of application of a high- voltage and high-frequency pulse power; a hydrated electron generator having a plurality of pins and a plurality of corresponding plates attached thereto, for emitting and activating a large amount of high-voltage and high-frequency pulse-type electrons and ions and radicals; a reaction bath having a circulation pump and a circulation pipe and so forth for bubbling into wastewater the ions, electrons and radicals generated from the active electron generator and the hydrated electron generator; a T-shaped venturi tube connected between the active electron generator and a diffuser such that the electrons and radicals outputted from the active electron generator are introduced into the diffuser where the wastewater is circulated ; and a multi-frequency wave generator immersed inside of the reaction bath, for generating multi-frequency wave to cause oxidation-reduction reactions of the hydrated electrons and the radicals against contaminants existing in the wastewater of the reaction bath.

[15] In addition, the plate of the hydrated electron generator may be formed of gold or copper having a high electrical conductivity.

[16] In addition, the reaction bath may be further provided with a hydrated electron aerator installed at an output terminal of the hydrated electron generator so as to facilitate transmission of electrons and radicals outputted from the hydrated electron generator.

[17] In addition, the reaction bath may be provided with a plurality of active electron aerators installed at an output terminal of the active electron generator so as to facilitate transmission of electrons and radicals outputted from the active electron generator.

[18] In addition, the apparatus may further comprise a reaction-agglomeration bath for charging and stirring chemicals for removing contaminants, a deposition bath for depositing the stirred wastewater and removing sludge, and a filtering both for filtering high-grade water passing through the deposition bath, which are connected to one another at a rear end of the reaction bath.

[19] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, the method comprising the steps of: generating hydrated electrons and ions, and radicals from a hydrated electron generator; transferring the hydrated electrons and radicals into a reaction bath containing wastewater; bubbling the hydrated electrons and ions into the wastewater using a hydrated electrons aerator; providing multi-frequency wave to inside of the reaction bath using a multi-frequency wave generator such that the hydrated electrons are activated; and purifying the wastewater through an oxidation- reduction reaction of the hydrated electrons and ions and the radicals.

[20] In addition, the method may further comprise the steps of self-circulating the wastewater using a pump; and supplying active electrons into the circulating wastewater.

Advantageous Effects

[21] The wastewater treatment system of the invention is made into hydrated electrons, which are directly reacted with contaminants inside of wastewater. Thus, this wastewater treatment system can be applied to maximize the efficiency of wastewater treatment, treatment of sanitary waste, sewage and factory wastewater, as well as refractor wastewater such as leaching waste, livestock wastewater and food waste. Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[23] FIG. 1 is a general diagram illustrating an apparatus for treating wastewater according to the present invention;

[24] FIG. 2 shows details on the oxidation bath of the invention;

[25] FIG. 3 shows details on the venturi tube of the invention;

[26] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the hydrated electron generator of the invention;

[27] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hydrated electron generator of the invention;

[28] FIG. 6 shows details on the pin plate constituting the hydrated electron generator of the invention; and

[29] FIG. 7 show operational procedures for treating wastewater according to the invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[30] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[31] It should be noted that like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. In the description, details on well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

[32] FIG. 1 is a general diagram illustrating an apparatus for treating wastewater according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows details on the oxidation bath of the invention. FIG. 3 shows details on the venturi tube of the invention. FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the hydrated electron generator of the invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hydrated electron generator of the invention. FIG. 6 shows details on the pin plate constituting the hydrated electron generator of the invention.

[33] Major components of the invention include an oxidation bath 100, a reaction- agglomeration bath 200, a deposition bath 300 and a filtering bath 400. In particular, the oxidation bath 100 is composed of a hydrated electron generator 110, an active electron generator 120, a reaction bath 130, a multi-frequency wave generator 140, a hydrated electron aerator 150, and an active electron aerator 160.

[34] Hereafter, one of the core elements of the invention, i.e., the oxidation bath 100 will be explained in greater detail.

[35] The hydrated electron generator 110 includes a plurality of panel-type plate 111, where a plurality pins 112 is formed at its end of one side thereof. Two of the plates 111 form one pair. [36] In addition, a voltage supply 113 applies a high voltage to the plates 111 through a line 114 such that a large amount of high-voltage and high-frequency pulse-type electrons, ions and radicals are emitted from the pin 112.

[37] For this purpose, the plate 111 is formed of cold or copper having a good electrical conductivity. In practice, the copper is economically used in terms of manufacturing cost.

[38] Applied to the plate 111 is a positive voltage or a negative voltage to eject electrons or positive holes, which react with contaminants in wastewater. If positive ions are higher in the contaminants, negative charges are generated. If negative ions are higher, positive charges are generated.

[39] Explaining the hydrated electrons in brief, it means electron inside water. The hydrated electrons are surrounded by water molecules. The hydrated electron can be easily produced through radiation of X-ray or ultraviolet rays. In the summer time having intensive sunlight, the hydrated electrons may exist at maximum at the concentration of 10 per one litter of water.

[40] Hydrated electron is rarely employed in treating wastewater.

[41] It is because its typical decomposition rate of organic material is 300 times slower in comparison to hydroxyl radicals (OH) since its main mechanism is a reduction reaction donating electrons.

[42] In addition, the hydrated electrons have a strong reduction potential providing a reduction reaction, which donates electrons.

[43] Thus, it is appreciated that the decomposition of organic material by means of hydrated electron is considered as decomposition through a reduction reaction.

[44] In the above active electron generator 120, a plus electrode 121 of a plate-type faces a minus electrode 122 of a pin-type. Electron beams outputted from the minus electrode 122 are radiated into the aqueous solution of contaminants to break water molecules or change its structure in a short period of time and finally cause various rapid reactions.

[45] That is, the water molecules are collided with the accelerated high-energy electrons and then destroyed to form various forms of radicals. These act on organic solutes and cause a series of reactions, and then decompose molecules of the contaminants.

[46] The reaction bath 130 takes on a polygonal container temporarily storing wastewater. The reaction bath 130 includes a circulation pump 170 and a diffuser 180 capable of introducing ions and electrons from the active electron generator 120 and the hydrated electron generator 110 into wastewater where bubbling action can occur.

[47] In order to supply the electrons and radicals emitted from the active electron generator 120 into the diffuser 180, a T-shaped venturi tube 190 is connected. The venturi tube 190 increases the flow rate such that the electrons and radicals outputted from the active electron generator 120 can be smoothly suctioned into the diffuser 180.

[48] The multi-frequency wave generator 140 is one element immersed into the reaction bath 130 and generates multiple frequencies having different waveforms. In other words, the multi-frequency wave generator 140 provides various frequencies corresponding to contaminants and functions to oxidize the contaminants using resonant effect.

[49] That is, multiple waveforms are outputted in an overlapped fashion to cause frequencies corresponding to various contaminants. Thus, the contaminants are destroyed due to a resonant effect of being matched with frequencies of the contaminants.

[50] Wherein, the multi-frequency wave generator 140 of the invention can be composed of an oscillator for generating source high-frequencies, an oscillator for generating bias high-frequencies, a frequency-mixer for mixing the two frequencies generated from the oscillators, an middle amplifier for amplifying the mixed-frequencies, a power amp to amplify the high-frequencies and output to a need volume, a low pass filter to transmit only frequencies to be needed among the amplified high-frequencies, a SWR circuit for regularly controlling the outputted high-frequencies, and control circuits and power circuits for safely holding the high-frequency power.

[51] That is, the multi-frequency wave generator can generate two frequencies using two oscillator emitting other frequencies, respectively, and then mix them to one frequency by the frequency-mixer, and then amplify the mixed frequencies in the middle amplifier and transmit to the last amplifier, thereby be outputted a diversity of frequency bands, such as 40-90KHz, as disclosed in KR Patent Application No. 10-2001-68090.

[52] The multi- frequency wave generator also is used in the field of an ultrasonic washing.

[53] On the other hand, further connected to the rear end of the reaction bath 130 are a reaction- agglomeration bath 200, a deposition bath 300 and a filtering bath 400. Chemicals for removing contaminants are applied to and stirred in the reaction- agglomeration bath 200. In the deposition bath 330, the stirred wastewater is deposited to form sludge, which is then removed. High-grade water passing through the deposition bath 300 flows through the filtering bath 400 to complete the treatment of wastewater.

[54] Hereafter, the operation of the invention will be explained.

[55] According to the present invention, the hydrated electron generator 110 supplies hydrated electrons to the reaction bath. The active electron generator 120 provides electrons and radicals to circulating wastewater. The multi-frequency wave generator 140 immersed in the reaction bath 130 provides various frequencies to rapidly oxidize or reduce wastewater inside of the reaction bath 130 to remove contaminants.

[56] For this purpose, first, a high voltage is applied to the hydrated electron generator

110 such that the pin 112 formed in the plate 111 emits hydrated electrons. The hydrated electrons flow into the bottom floor of the reaction bath through the hydrated electron aerator 150.

[57] The hydrated electron aerator 150 has a cylindrical pipe form. A propeller is installed at the lower end portion of the hydrated electron aerator to forcibly distribute the hydrated electrons into the reaction bath 130.

[58] In addition, the circulation pump 170 functions to forcibly circulate wastewater through the diffuser 180 connected to the lower end of the reaction bath 130. The active electron generator 120 is connected to one end of the diffuser 180 via the venturi tube 190. Thus, during circulation of wastewater, the active electrons produced by a high- voltage are supplied to the wastewater to thereby cause oxidation reaction of contaminants within the wastewater.

[59] The wastewater, which is supplied with active electrons from the active electron generator 120, is repeatedly circulated to inside of the reaction bath 130 through the active electron aerator 160.

[60] In addition, the multi-frequency wave generator 140 is immersed in the lower portion of the reaction bath 130. The multi-frequency wave generator 140 applies various frequencies of different waveforms to the contaminants in wastewater to cause a resonant effect to thereby facilitate oxidation of the contaminants.

[61] Similar to an ultrasonic cleaner to strip contaminants using only ultrasonic wave, the multi-frequency wave generator 140 sprays a variety of frequencies to contaminants, which can be then removed.

[62] Consequently, in the present invention, the hydrated electron generator 110, the active electron generator 120 and the multi-frequency wave generator 140 are cooperated to provide hydrated electrons, active electrons and multi-frequencies, thus removing contaminants existing in wastewater according to oxidation-reduction reactions.

[63] In addition, when necessary, the reaction-agglomeration bath 200, the deposition bath 300 and the filtering bath 400 are further installed rearwards of the oxidation bath 100, thereby enabling to more completely remove and discharge contaminants of wastewater.

[64] FIG. 7 summarizes operational concepts for treating wastewater according to the invention.

[65] A method of treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi-frequencies includes the steps of: generating hydrated electrons and ions, and radicals from a hydrated electron generator (SlOO); transferring the hydrated electrons and radicals into a reaction bath containing wastewater (S200); bubbling the hydrated electrons and ions into the wastewater using a hydrated electrons aerator (S300); providing multi- frequency wave to inside of the reaction bath using a multi-frequency wave generator such that the hydrated electrons are activated (S400); purifying the wastewater through an oxidation-reduction reaction of the hydrated electrons and ions and the radicals (S500); self-circulating the wastewater using a pump (S600); and supplying active electrons into the circulating wastewater (S700). Industrial Applicability

[66] As described above, in the wastewater treatment system using hydrated electrons and multi- frequency waves according to the invention, ion and radicals are activated and remain at the activated state. These are made into hydrated electrons, which are directly reacted with contaminants inside of wastewater. Thus, the efficiency of wastewater treatment is maximized in an economical way. The system of the invention can be applied to treatment of sanitary waste, sewage and factory wastewater, as well as refractor wastewater such as leaching waste, livestock wastewater and food waste.

[67] In addition, an electrical control system is provided such that the operation is simplified. The installation and maintenance cost can be reduced. Both a large scale and small scale wastewater treatment can be applied.

[68] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

[1] An apparatus for treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi- frequency waves, the apparatus comprising: an active electron generator having an electrode of pin-type emitting electrons and radicals by means of application of a high- voltage and high-frequency pulse power; a hydrated electron generator having a plurality of pins and a plurality of corresponding plates attached thereto, for emitting and activating a large amount of high- voltage and high-frequency pulse-type electrons and ions and radicals; a reaction bath having a circulation pump and a circulation pipe and so forth for bubbling into wastewater the ions, electrons and radicals generated from the active electron generator and the hydrated electron generator; a T-shaped venturi tube connected between the active electron generator and a diffuser such that the electrons and radicals outputted from the active electron generator are introduced into the diffuser where the wastewater is circulated; and a multi-frequency wave generator immersed inside of the reaction bath, for generating multi-frequency wave to cause oxidation-reduction reactions of the hydrated electrons and the radicals against contaminants existing in the wastewater of the reaction bath.

[2] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate of the hydrated electron generator is formed of gold or copper having a high electrical conductivity.

[3] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction bath is further provided with a hydrated electron aerator installed at an output terminal of the hydrated electron generator so as to facilitate transmission of electrons and radicals outputted from the hydrated electron generator.

[4] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction bath is provided with a plurality of active electron aerators installed at an output terminal of the active electron generator so as to facilitate transmission of electrons and radicals outputted from the active electron generator.

[5] The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reaction- agglomeration bath for charging and stirring chemicals for removing contaminants, a deposition bath for depositing the stirred wastewater and removing sludge, and a filtering both for filtering high-grade water passing through the deposition bath, which are connected to one another at a rear end of the reaction bath.

[6] A method of treating wastewater using hydrated electrons and multi-frequency waves, the method comprising the steps of: generating hydrated electrons and ions, and radicals from a hydrated electron generator (SlOO); transferring the hydrated electrons and radicals into a reaction bath containing wastewater (S200); bubbling the hydrated electrons and ions into the wastewater using a hydrated electrons aerator (S300); providing multi-frequency wave to inside of the reaction bath using a multi- frequency wave generator such that the hydrated electrons are activated (S400); and purifying the wastewater through an oxidation-reduction reaction of the hydrated electrons and ions and the radicals (S500).

[7] The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of self-circulating the wastewater using a pump (S600); and supplying active electrons into the circulating wastewater (S700).